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AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY
OF
THE HOLY BIBL E:
BEING A CONNECTED ACCOUNT OF THE
REMARKABLE EVENTS AND DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS
CONTAINED IN
THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS,
AND IN
JEWISH HISTORY DURING THE FOUR HUNDRED YEARS
INTERVENING BETWEEN THE
TIME OF MALACHI AND THE BIRTH OF CHRIST;
INCLUDING ALSO THE
LIFE OF CHRIST AND HIS APOSTLES:
THE WHOLE EMBRACING
A PERIOD OF FOUR THOUSAND YEARS,
WITH NOTES CRITICAL, TOPOGRAPHICAL, AND EXPLANATORY.
BY JOHN KITTO, D.D., F.S.A.,
AUTHOR OF THE " LONDON PICTORIAL BIBLE.," "CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE," ETC., ETC.
EDITED BY
ALVAN BOND, D.D.,
FORMERLY PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE IN THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT BANGOR, MAINE; AND FOR
MANY YEARS PASTOR OF THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN NORWICH, CONN.
ASSISTED IN GEOLOGY BY PROF. C. H. HITCHCOCK,
LATE OF AMHERST COLLEGE.
EMBELLISHED AND ILLUSTRATED BY ABOUT
THREE  HUNDRED  ENC RAVIN C S,
Including accurate copies from the Nineveh Marbles, from Ancient Egyptian Paintings, and from articles now in
the British Museum; and a large number of Engravings from designs by GUSTAVE DORA, the most
eminent of living artists; together with four beautiful maps of the Countries of the Bible, and a
PORTRAIT OF THE AUTHOR, ENGRAVED ON STEEL.
NORWICH, CONN.:
PUBLISHED BY HENRY' BILL.
1869.




Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year i868, by
HENRY BILL,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the District of Connecticut.
Rand, Avery & Frye, Electrotypers and Printers, Boston.




PREFACE.'   BLE  History," says Dr. Lange, which is nowhere found but in the Old Tes"differs from the general history of tament.  True, there are fabulous legends
the kingdom  of God, in that it delineates and cosmogonies in which may be found a
only the foundation of this kingdom  by confused intermingling of traditional lore and
means of and during the course of revelation. the inventions of the imagination, but they
It traces, in historical succession, the narra- are wanting in all the essential elements of
tive contained in the Scriptures in all its authentic history.
essential features.  In the Old Testament it   The Bible supplies, either by express
shows us all the elements of the life of faith, statement or obvious implication, facts and
and sets before us many a precious example principles which constitute genuine history,
of faith  and patience for our imitation; and go far to give the past all the value which
while in the New Testament it exhibits the it can possess for the men of these times.
history of faith and salvation' made perfect,'   The history of the pre-Christian era emboth in the miracles and triumphs of the braces, 1. The primeval ages till the deluge,
Lord, and in the deeds of His apostles. and the re-settlement of Noah and his family
Thus Bible history forms the basis of Church in Armenia. 2. The dispersion of the posterhistory."                                  ity of Noah's three sons till the calling of
As a department of useful knowledge, it Abraham. 3. The origin and establishment
possesses an intrinsic value and interest, sur- of the Hebrew Theocracy, and its relations to
passing whatever can be claimed for any the ancient empires of the world, comprising
other history.  It covers a long period in the the period from Moses to David - the period
age of human society, whose chronicles, in an of the kings from David to the Babylonian
authentic form, have been nowhere else pre- exile- the period of sacerdotal rule under
served.  It runs back to the eventful epoch the Maccabsean administration, or what is
whence the creation of the world, in its pres- called the middle period. 4. Primitive Chrisent organic state, dates its existence; and tianity to the close of the first century.
furnishes the only reliable record of the ori-   Thus surveyed, it appears that Biblical
gin of man, of his primitive condition, his history covers a period of four thousand
fall, his subsequent development, and the for- years or more -  from the morning of creatunes of his family.                       tion to the establishment of Christianity in
Biblical history is the source of all we know  all parts of the Roman empire.  When conof the antediluvian period, and subsequent sidered in respect to the infallible sources
ages of the world down to the time of Herodo- whence it is derived, and the long flight of
tus. the father of history.  It contains the ages which it embraces, it must be regarded
only truthful account of the ancient and long as possessing the highest claims to our caresince vanished civilizations.  Herodotus was ful study.
a contemporary of Ezra and Nehemiah, the    " Viewed merely as a literary production,
last of the Old Testament historians.  The the Bible," says the able and learned editor of
antediluvian  period, and  that intervening Dr. Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scripbetween the Noachian deluge and the times tures, " is a marvellous book, and without a
of Nehemiah, embrace an era of about three rival.  All the libraries of theology, philosthousand five hundred years, the history of ophy, history, antiquities, poetry, law, and
ix




x                                   PREFACE.
policy would not furnish material enough for trations of scenes in sacred history, which
so rich a treasure of the choicest gems of afforded him  much pleasure, and induced
human genius, wisdom, and experience.  It him to read the Scriptures.  The course of
embraces works of about forty authors, rep- an eventful life is not unfrequently shaped
resenting the extremes of society, from the by some single incident in the experience of
throne of the king to the boat of the fisher- childhood.  In the case of Kitto, it is very
man; it was written during a long period evident that there was a connection between
of sixteen centuries, on the banks of the his interest in the old family Bible, with its
Nile, in the desert of Arabia, in the land of pictures, and his subsequent fondness for
promise, in Asia Minor, in classical Greece, Biblical studies.
and in imperial Rome; it commences with    When he was ten  years old, he was
the creation, and ends with the final glorifi- brought back to the parental home; his
cation, after describing all the intervening father, a journeyman mason, required John
stages in the revelation of God and the spir- to assist him.  In the mean time, he imitual development of man; it uses all forms proved every leisure day and hour in reading
of literary composition; it rises to the high- such books as he could find or borrow.
est heights, and descends to the lowest depths While other boys were at play, he was readof humanity; it measures all states and ing.
conditions of life; it is acquainted with   In the year 1817, the thirteenth of his
every grief and every woe; it touches every age, young Kitto suffered an injury which
chord of sympathy; it contains the spiritual cast a disheartening cloud over his future
biography of every human heart; it is suited prospects.  He was employed in carrying
to every class of society, and can be read slates to the roof of a house which his father
with the same interest and profit by the king was repairing, when, stepping from the ladand the beggar, by the philosopher and the der to the roof, his foot slipped, and he fell
child; it is as universal as the race, and to the pavement below.  He was conveyed
reaches beyond the limits of time into the in a senseless state to his home, and for two
boundless regions of eternity."           weeks there seemed to be but little hope of
The Illustrated History of the Bible is his recovery.  At the expiration  of this
one of the important works of Kitto, who time he opened his eyes and consciousness
has contributed several other valuable and returned.  His first thoughts were directed
voluminous works to the cause of Biblical to his books, his mind reverting to the sublearning.  For the numerous notes intro- ject with which it was occupied at the time
duced, recourse has been had to the most of the casualty.  He seemed greatly surreliable authors, and especially to the later prised to find himself weak and helpless.
researches in the department of sacred lite- As yet he was not aware that, in conserature.                                   quence of the injury he had received, he
As some readers may be interested in a had become entirely deaf.  On inquiring for
brief biographical notice of the distinguished a book which he was reading just before he
Christian scholar referred to above, the fol- fell, he heard no answer.  " Why do you
lowing is here inserted.                  not speak?" he asked with some impatience.
JOHN KITTO was born in Plymouth, Eng- The painful information was given to him, in
land, Dec. 4, 1804.  His father was a com- writing, that he was deaf.
mon laborer, in humble circumstances.  Be-   The fact of his deafness, depressing as
ing addicted to intemperance, he squandered it was, and unfitting him as it did for most
his earnings in ale-houses, and his family kinds of business, did not extinguish his
was subjected to poverty and mortification. thirst for knowledge.  He resorted to a vaHis son, John, was consequently removed riety of resources and expedients for earnto the home of his maternal grandmother, ing small sums of money, which he expended..
where he was tenderly cared for and in- in the purchase of cheap books.  But his
structed.  Very early he manifested a strong scanty earnings were not sufficient for the
desire for knowledge, and sought the society purchase of such books as he now craved,
of those who would entertain him with sto- and for procuring food and clothing, which
ries or loan him books.                   his parents in their poverty could no longer
In his grandmother's library he found a provide for him.  Consequently, in the fiffamily Bible, containing many pictorial illus- teenth year of his age, the poor deaf boy




PREFACE.                                     xi
was sent to the poor-house. This stern, hu- i where he engaged in the department of labor
miliating necessity seemed intolerable to his for which he had been set apart.  On finding
noble and sensitive spirit. After a while, that his workwas lessfavorable to intellectual
however, he became resigned to this hard lot, and spiritual growth than he had expected,
and conducted himself in a manner that won he resigned the situation.
the sympathy and kindness of the overseer.    As a missionary company was about to be
In the latter part of the year 1821, John sent to Bagdad, he readily accepted an invi-.
Kitto was apprenticed to a shoemaker, who tation to join the same.  The voyage to that
proved to be an unreasonable and cruel mas- oriental city occupied six months, which time
ter.  But in these circumstances, trying as he improved in careful observations on men,
they were, and though required to work six- customs, and places.  While residing in that
teen or eighteen hours a day, he redeemed time city, it was visited by the plague, the terrific
from sleep for the pursuit of knowledge. ravages of which swept off more than oneHis was a mind that rose above the pressure half the inhabitants in two months. Amidst
of the most depressing adversity.         this fearful desolation he remained calm and
The promising abilities of this unfortunate active at his post.  His connection with this
youth were at last brought to the notice of mission continued about three and a half
several gentlemen in Plymouth.  Measures years.
were proposed by them in 1823, with a view    On returning to England, he settled near
to procuring for him a situation favorable to London, and engaged in literary pursuits.
the attainment of that knowledge and cul- About this time he was married to a very
ture on which he was so intent.  As the result excellent woman, who aided him in his labors.
of these humane efforts, he was removed His first worlk was a book of travels in the
from the work-house to the position of sub- East.  Soon he commenced his great work,
librarian in the Plymouth Public Library. the "Pictorial Bible," in three volumes.
Having triumphed over discouragements and His "Pictorial History of Palestine and the
difficulties which would have utterly disheart- Holy Land," followed.  Then another great
ened a less brave and resolute spirit, he work, the "Cycloppedia of Biblical Literafound himself on the upward career of sue- ture," was published in two very large volcessful literary culture and achievement.  umes.  Another work was the "Gallery of
Two grand ideas now impressed and af- Scripture Engravings and Landscape," in
feoted his mind, viz.: that he must make three volumes.  Among hislast productions
himself, and that usefulness should be the may be mentioned the " Daily Bible Illustraruling purpose in the prosecution of his lite- tions," in two series of four volumes each,
rary labors and attainments.  The eventful designed for morning and evening reading.
history of his life affords abundant evidence Other works, besides numerous contributions
that these noble ideas were not theoretical to magazines, were among his literary proelements, but practical forces, the influence ductions.  They have, as a whole, greatly
of which was signally manifested in the enriched the department of Biblical Literastrength and affluence of a cultivated intel- ture, and been regarded as valuable helps in
lect, and in the widely appreciated useful- the explanation and illustration of the Sacred
ness resulting from his manifold and elabo- Scriptures.  Their acknowledged value has
rate contributions to the department of Bib- secured for them a wide circulation among
lical learning.  There were other elements Bible students in England and in our own
of character which contributed to his mas- country.
terly activity and  signal success.  These   The religious change in the experience of
were singleness of aim, thoroughnessof exe- Dr. Kitto, which occurred at the age of
cution, rigid system, personal independence, twenty-two, is referred to by him in a manand strong faith in God.                  ner showing that it was deep and thorough.
The friends of Kitto advised him to en- He speaks of it as the rising of " the daygage in the work of a printing-office, for the spring from on high" upon his soul, through
purpose of qualifying himself to superintend the grace of God.
a mission press.  He did so, and in 1827    His intense and unremitting applicationto
he received from the Church Missionary So- literary labors impaired his health, sG that,
ciety the appointment of lay missionary.  In when fifty years of age, he was compelled to
this capacity he sailed for the Island of Malta, suspend his labors, and resort to measures




xii                PREFACE  TO  THE REVISED  EDITION,
for recruiting his overtasked constitution. and irrelevant matter.  As an humble conHe visited Germany for this purpose, but tribution to the department of Bible history,
without any benefit.  He rapidly declined, this work is offered to Christian readers, and
and died at Cannstadt, near Stuttgard. especially to the young, with the prayer and
His wife, who was with him, has furnished a the hope that it may not only contribute
beautiful record of his last days, which shows something towards a popular and attractive
that his end was peace.                   illustration of the Historical Scriptures, but
It has been the special care of the editor, create an increased interest in the sacred book
in preparing this work, to verify references, given of God for the edification, enlightento review, and, in some instances, revise the ment, and spiritual benefit of all nations and
marginal notes, and to eliminate doubtful all ages.                        A. B.
PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION.
THE extensive sale of the Illustrated His- the department of Biblical Geography and
tory of the Bible (over a hundred thousand Topography.  From the fresh materials thus
copies) has required the issue of so many supplied, such selections have been made as
editions, that the type has become too much will impart to the work a more modern aspect.
worn for further use.  It has been decided,   Appended to the first chapter will be
therefore, that the future editions be printed found a supplemental article on the relation of
from new and larger type.  This arrange- Geology to the Mosaic record of the work
ment has afforded opportunity for the editor of creation, prepared by Prof. C. H. HITCHto subject the work to a careful revision.  In  COCK, late of Amherst College.  The main
the text, but few changes have been judged body of the history has been thoroughly
advisable; but many have been introduced compared with the third edition, published
among the notes, - some of which have been by the author in London.  The sources from
omitted, others abridged, and many new ones which was compiled the history of the midadded.  In selecting the new notes, recourse dle  period  of the  Jewish nation, from
has been had to the London edition of Dr. Malachi to the advent of Christ, have been
William Smith's " Dictionary of the Bible." reviewed.  The improvements in the work
Other writers also have been consulted.  As will, it is believed, enhance its value, and
travellers and scholars have explored the render it still more  worthy  the  favor
Holy Land since Dr. Kitto wrote, new and and patronage it has so extensively received.
valuable information has been acquired in   AUGUST, 1868.                  A. B.
NOTICE BY THE PUBLISHER.
To prevent any misapprehension which may arise from finding in the community an occasional copy of Dr. Kitto's work, it is due to the public to state that an edition was issued
by an American publisher, under his own name, some time since.
The literary reputation of this publisher not being generally known, the work failed of
attaining the extensive circulation which its intrinsic merits warrant.
The present publisher of this work has restored the author's name; and, as other improvements have been made by the editor, Dr. Bond, it is now offered in a new and much
more attractive form.
HENRY BILL. -
NORWICH, CONN., August, 1868.




TABLE OF CONTENTS.
HISTORIC AND LITERARY INTRODUCTION.
Authorship of the Bible. The several books. Their divisions. Hebrew manuscripts. The
Hebrew language. Integrity of the text. Various readings. Ancient versions. Schism
between the Jews and Samaritans. The Septuagint. The Septuagint and Vulgate.
ilIodern foreign versions. English versions. The Apocrypha.
HISTORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.
CHAPTER I.                               CHAPTER IV.
The Creation. The Bible account con-      The call of Abram. Description of Ur.
sistent with Geology. Opinions of         Abram removes, with Lot and Sarai,
distinguished writers. The Firma-         to the land of Canaan. Description
ment. Order of Creation. Adam.            of Canaan. Famine.  Abram's reEve. The Seventh Day. Site of             moval to Egypt. He calls his wife
the Garden of Eden. The Tempta-           his sister. Abram's return to Canaan.
tion.  The Fall.  Expulsion from          Friendly separation of Abram  and
Eden. Mosaic Cosmogony.           65      Lot. Lot chooses the plain of Sodom
and Gomorrah. The Jordan. Abram
C:H PTER S*I.                    settles in the plain of Mamre. He
Birth of Cain and Abel. Their Sacri-          rescues Lot.  Melchisedec.  God's
fices. Murder of Abel. Genealogy          promise to Abram  of a numerous
of Cain. Birth of Seth. His Pos-          posterity. Hagar. Ishmael. Change
terity. Great depravity of the race.      of name to Abraham. Promise of a
Noah ordered to build the ark. De-        son to Sarah. Circumcision.        92
scription of it. The Deluge. Mount
Ararat.  Noah's intoxication.  Canaan's curse.                     77
Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham warned
of their destruction. His petitions
The Tower of Babel.  Description of           for their salvation. Lot warned to
Babylon.  Language.  Its origin.          flee. Lot's wife. Destruction of the
Different dialects.   Genealogy of        cities of the plain. Wickedness of
Noah's sons. Countries possessed by       Lot's daughters. Abraham's removal
their descendants.  Description of        to Gerar. His second equivocation
Nineveh. Modern discoveries of its        in regard to his wife. The Talmudiruins by Botta and Layard. They           cal story of it. Primitive longevity
confirm the prophecies.  Important        and vigor. Birth of Isaac. Hagar
results to Biblical history. The pos-     and  Ishmael banished.  Analogy
terity of Shem.  Terah, the father        of Hebrew and Druidical worship.
of Abraham. His removal from Ur           Abraham  commanded to sacrifice
to Haran, in Mesopotamia.   His           Isaac. His rescue. Death of Sarah.
death.                            84      Her burial in the cave of Machpexiii




xiv                         TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.
lah. Marriage of Isaac and Rebecca.      in the ark of rushes. Found, adopt.
Eastern customs. Death of Abraham.        ed, and educated by the King's
Account of the Ishmaelites.      100      daughter. He avenges his brethren.
He flees to Midian —helps the woCHAPTER VI.                      men at the well — is invited to the
house of Jethro - marries his daughBirth of Esau and Jacob. Esau sells his      ter, and becomes his shepherd. The
birthright. Explanation of the birth-     Lord appears to him in the burning
right. Isaac removes from Beersheba       bush. Commissions him to deliver
to Gerar. His prosperity. Enmity          his people. Aaron accompanies him
of the Philistines.  Wells.  Isaac        to Pharaoh. Pharaoh refuses to let
returns to Beersheba. He calls his       the people go. Moses performs a
wife his sister. Description of Beer-     miracle before Pharaoh.  The ten
sheba.  Stratagem  of Rebecca to          plagues. The borrowed jewels. The
obtain the parental benediction for       departure from Egypt. The column
Jacob. The Edomites. Jacob's de-          of fire and cloud.  Pursuit of the
parture to find a wife. His dream.        Egyptians. The Israelites pass the
ethel.  He meets Rachel at the           Red  Sea.  The Egyptians overwell. He marries Leah and Rachel.         whelmed.  The song of triumph.
Leah's sons. Birth of Joseph. Jacob's     Egypt-its learning, language, reliprosperity. His flight from Laban.        gion, and idolatry.              162
taban's pursuit. Treaty of alliance.
Images. List of idols mentioned in
Scripture.  Meeting of Esau and
Jacob.  Tents.  Dinah's disgrace.     Journey of the Israelites. They are miThe revenge of her brothers. Slaugh-      raculously supplied with quails and
ter of the Shechemites.  Jacob's          manna.  The palm-tree.  Smiting
return to Bethel.  Birth of Benja-        of the rock. Defeat of the Amalemin, and death of Rachel. Jacob           kites. Mount Sinai. Giving of the
visits his father at Mamre. Death         Decalogue. Description of the Tabof Isaac.                        115      ernacle. The golden calf. Punishment of the idolaters.  Table of
CHAPTER VII.                     Hebrew months and sacred festivals.
Joephb. His' party-colored coat. East-        The sacrifices explained. Aaron constituted High Priest.            1 89
ern fabrics.  Jealousy of Joseph's
brethren. His two dreams. He is
sent to Shechem.  Description of                   CHAPTER
Dothan. Ishmaelites.  Midianites.     Census of the people. Plan of the IsraelitCaravans. Account of the commerce         ish encampment. Mode of marching.
of Eastern nations. Joseph sold to        Murmurings of the people. Jealousy
the Ishmaelites. The plot to deceive      of Aaron and Miriam against Moses.
his father. Joseph sold to Potiphar.      Miriam punished with leprosy. God
He is made chief manager of his           pardons and heals her upon the
master's affairs. His temptation and      prayer of Moses. Spies are sent to
triumph. His false accusation and         Canaan. The people desire to return
imprisonment. His interpretation of      to Egypt. Rebellion of Korah, Dathe dreams of the cup-bearer and          than, and Abiram. They are swalbaker. Pharaoh's dreams. Joseph's        lowed up by a miraculous opening
interpretation, and his wise advice.      of the earth. Death of Miriam at
His deliverance from prison. He is        Kadesh. Second smiting of the rock
appointed chief deputy of the king.       for water. Death of Aaron. Eleazer,
The Nile. Famine. Visit of Joseph's       his son, succeeds him in the priestbrethren to Egypt. Joseph discovers       hood.                            207
himself to them. His father removes
to Egypt. Jacob's dying words. His                CHAPTER XI.
death. He is buried in the cave of   Mountr.  Murmuringsofthe people.
cMhaacthpelahr.  Jos3eph's deth.His c fPunishment by fiery serpents. The
character.                     136      brazen serpent. Victories over the
Ammonites.  Balaam  is called to
CHAPTER VIII.                     curse Israel. He is met in the way
Oppression of the Hebrews. Pharaoh's          by an angel. His ass speaks to him
order to drown all their male chil-      in reproof.  Balaam pronounces a
dren. Birth of Moses. He is hidden        blessing instead of a curse. Israel's




TABLE OF CONTENTS.                                  xv
idolatry and punishment. Successful       His capture by the Philistines. He
expedition against the Midianites.        carries off the gates of Gaza. He
Slaughter of five kings. Balaam is        pulls down the temple, and kills great
slain. The Israelites draw near to        numbers of his enemies, with himCanaan. The tribes of Reuben and          self; 1222 B. c.                 253
Gad settle upon the east of Jordan,
with the half tribe of Manasseh.                  CHAPTER XV.
Moses appoints the division of Ca-    Eli. His neglect of family government.
naan by lot. Cities of refuge. Fare-      Punishment denounced upon him.
Punishment denounced upon him.
well address of Moses to the tribes.The Israelites defeated by the PhilUrim  and Thummim.   Death of
istines. The ark taken. Death of
Moses. Mount Pisgah.             218      Eli. Samuel judges Israel. Israel
renounces idolatry.  Great victory
CHAPTER XII.                     over the Philistines.  Wickedness
of Samuel's sons. The people deThe Conquest. Joshua succeeds Moses.
mand a king.  Jahn's estimate of
Spies sent to Jericho. Rahab con-         mand a king.  Jahn's estimate of
ceals them. Crossing of the Jordan.       the causes that led the nation to this
ceans them. Crossing of the Jordan.
Joshua is informed in a vision how
to take Jericho. The walls of the         suade them.- Saul the  rst king.
Chosen b  lot, 1'11-0 -B. c. Jahn's
city fall down. Description of Jeri-      Chosen by lot, 1110 B. C. Jahn's
cho.  Achan's theft.  Its conse-         account of the times and the office
cho. Achan's theft. Its consequences.  Achan stoned.  Capture          of the judges.                   265
of Ai.  Sacrifices and reading of                 CHAPTER XVI.
the law upon Mount Ebal. Treaty
with the Gideonites.  Joshua routs    Saul's reign. His victory over the Amand slays the confederate kings. The      monites at Jabesh Gilead. He consun stands still. The whole country       quers the Amalekites.  His sinful
subdued. Death of Joshua and Elea-        neglect to destroy King Agag and
zer. Burial of the bones of Joseph        the booty. The prophet Samuel's
at Shechem.                      228      rebuke of Saul.  Samuel anoints
David to be king. Saul's mental
CHAPTER XIII.                     malady. He is soothed by David's
harp.  War with the Philistines.
The Hebrews become corrupted by their         Story of David and Goliah. Glory
idolatrous neighbors. Idolatry pre-       of David.  Jealousy of Saul. His
vails. They are subdued and become        efforts to kill David. Friendship of
tributary to the king of Mesopotamia.     David and Jonathan.  Death of
Othniel delivers them. Again sub-         Samuel. Saul's continued hostility.
dued by the Moabites.  Ehud is            David's generous forbearance. Saul
their deliverer. Eighty years of rest,    consults the witch of Endor, and
B. c. 1426.   Story of Ruth. War          hears his doom. Israel is overcome
with the Canaanites.  The great           by the Philistines. Death of Saul's
victory of Deborah and Barak over         three sons. Saul's suicide.      279
Sisera.  Sisera slain by Jael, the
wife of Heber. Song of Deborah.                  CHAPTER XVII.
Incursions of the Midianites. Gideon, the deliverer. His great victory  David reigns at Hebron. His lamentawith three hundred men. The Israel-      tion over the death of Saul. Wars
ites offer to make him king.  He          between the houses of David and Saul.
refuses. His death.              237      Description of Hebron.  Death of
Abner. The inauguration of David.
CHAPTER XIV.                      He takes possession of Mount Zion.
He prepares to build a temple to
Abimelech, spurious son of Gideon, mur-       Jehovah. His victories over Eastern
ders all his brothers except Jotham.      nations. His fall, and his murder of
He takes the government. He op-           Uriah. The reproof of Nathan, the
presses the people. They expel him.       prophet. The rebellion of Absalom.
He is killed by a woman. Tola and         Battle in the forest of Ephraim.
Jair govern Israel. Jephtha defeats       Absalom slain. Absalom's sepulchre.
the Ammonites. Jephtha's vow. He          The famine. Revolt of Adonijah.
judges Israel six years, 1247 B. c.       The anointing of Solomon. David's
Idolatry and subjection of the Israel-    last counsel to Solomon. Death of
ites. Birthof Samson. His strength.       David. His burial on Mount Zion. 304




xvi                        TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.
CHAPTER xvIII.                I    aphat. Jehoram comes to the throne
904 B. C. His wife was Athaliah,
Solomon comes to the throne, 1030 B. C.       daughter of Jezebel. Jehoram murHis great wealth and power. Plot          ders his six brothers. Idolatry again
of Adonijah to gain the kingdom.          established.  Judgments denounced
Adonijah and Joab are put to death.      by Elisha. Death and disgrace of
Solomon marries the daughter of          the king. Ahaziah succeeds to the
Pharaoh.  Building of the Temple         throne. A bad man.  Reigns one
on Mount Moriah. Description of           year. Athaliah slays all her grandit. Solomon's pools. His splendid         sons except Joash.  Joash hidden in
palaces. Account of the commerce          the temple. The people rise and
and revenues of his kingdom. Solo-        slay Athaliah, and make Joash king.
mon reigns forty years. His death. 336    Jehoiada, the chief priest, is regent.
Joash repairs the temple. His aposCHAPTER XIXk                     tasy and murder.  Amaziah reigns.
Victory over the Edomites. He is
Rehoboam succeeds Solomon. Revolt of          Victory over the Edomites. He is
killed by conspirators, B. c. 809.
the ten tribes under Jeroboam. Judah      Uzziah succeeds. He is struck with
and Benjamin adhere to Rehoboam.          leprosy. Jotham, his son, administers
Jeroboam establishes other places of     the government. Death of Uzziah.
worship besides Jerusalem, and a new      Death of Jotham.  Ahaz on the
priesthood.  Jeroboam's death, 968        throne. A corrupt, idolatrous monB. C.  He is followed by Nadab,. Dies, 725 B. c. He isnot
Baasha, Zimri, and Omri.  Omri
builshSaZmria,  He adOmrie    Omr1 B.allowed a place in the sepulchre of
builds Samaria. He dies, 931 B. C.        the kins.                          83
Description of Samaria.
(Judah, from B. C. 990 to B. C. 929.)            CHAPTER XXI.
Rehoboam soons falls into idolatry. He        (Israel, from B. C. 895 to B. C. 719.)
is conquered, and Jerusalem plun-     Jehu comes to the throne, B. C. 895. The
dered by Shishak, king of Egypt.          country east of the Jordan seized by
Rehoboam dies, 973 B. c.  Abijah          Hazael, king of Syria.  Death of
succeeds him. Asa follows, a pious        Jehu.  Death of Elisha.  Jonah's
and prosperous king.                      mission. Conquest of Samaria and
(Israel, from B. C. 931 to B. C. 895.)   the whole country by Shalrnaneser,
Ahab succeeds Ori. Evil influence of  king of Assyria. The principal inAhab succeeds~ TOmri           habitants carried away captive.
Jezebel. Idolatry becomes prevalent.
Elijah announces famine. He -con-         (Judah, from B. C. 725 to B. C. 586.)
founds the prophets of lBai, whom     Hezekiah, a pious prince. Description of
the people slay, and acknowledge          the sepulchre of the kins. Hezekiah
Jehovah. Great victory of Israel     -
Jehovah.  Great vitory of 1 Ael  1        restores the true worship. The passover Ben Hadad. Doom of Ahab              over revived. Hezekiah subject, for
pronounced by Elijah. Ahab slain,         a time, to Sennacherib, the Assyrian
909 B.c. Ahaziah. Jehoram. Elisha.aises   Ade    *,unamite's so.  <king. Destruction of the Assyrian
raises the Shunamite's son. Story of      host by a "blast" from the Lord.
Naaman. Famine. Panic and flight          Sickness of Hezekiah. His life proof the Syrian host. Jehu anointed
king by Elisha. Jehoram, Ahaziah, 
kingT byr 1a    1 n  *X*death. Manasseh succeeds, at twelve
and Jezebel slain. Destruction of          eat
the family of Ahab. Jehu destroys         years of age.  He becomesn  corrupt
Defeated by Esarhaddon, taken capthe temple of Baal, and roots out         tive, and sent to Babylon. He reidolatry.                        354      pents and is released. Josiah, a good
king. He overturns idolatry. Killed
CHAPTER XX.                      in battle against Necho, king of
(Judah, from B. C. 929 to B. C. 725.)    Egypt.  Jehoiakim.  Warning by
Jehoshaphat begins to reign, 929 B. c. -      Jeremiah.   His imprisonment by
one of the best of the Hebrew kings.      Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim  subdued by
He continues to root out idolatry.       -Nebuchadnezzar.  Forty thousand
One million one hundred and sixty        of the people sent into captivity.
thousand men enrolled to bear arms.       Zedekiah made king. He revolts.
Judges are placed in all the princi-      Nebuchadnezzar burns the temple
pal cities. Jehoshaphat's admirable       and city, demolishes the walls, carries
charge to them. Death of Jehosh-          off all the sacred vessels and treasure.




TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.                               xvii
Zedekiah is taken, and carried in         lished. Battle of Marathon, B. C.
fetters to Babylon.  The country           490. Darius dies, 485 B. C. Sucdepopulated.                      394      ceeded by Xerxes, the Ahasuerus of
Ezra. Artaxerxes. The rebuilding
CHAPTER XXII.                      of Jerusalem stopped. Queen Vashti
deposed. Esther promoted. Ezra
The seventy years' captivity. Discussion      commissioned to go to Jerusalem and
of the causes of the downfall of the      beautify the Temple.  The plot of
Hebrew nation. The divine inten-          Haman.  The Jews savedbyEstlher.
tion in its establishment not frustrat-   Nehemiah gains permission to rebuild
ed. Media the scene of the Captivity,     the walls. Jeremiah appointed GovThe captivity a colonization rather       ernor of Judsea.   Collection and
than a slavery. Tobit. Daniel and         revisal of the sacred books of the
his three friends. Their Chaldvean         Old Testament. The Chaldee dialect
names. Nebuchadnezzar's dream of          displaces the old Hebrew. A temple
the image. Daniel's interpretation.       builton Mount Gerizim. Endof the
Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges God.           Old Testament Canon.             423
Daniel and his friends promoted.
They refuse to worship the image.                CHAPTER XXIV.
The fiery furnace.  Other dreams.
Their interpretation and accomplish-         (From B. C. 420 to B. c. 163.)
ment. Nebuchadnezzar again honors     Inspired History is discontinued from 420
Jehovah. He dies, 561 B. C. Suc-          B. C. to His birth. Hebrew history
ceeded by Evil Merodach, who is           derived from Josephus and others.
slain in battle with Cyrus. Belshaz-      Artaxerxes succeeded by Xerxes on
zar comes to the throne. He pro-          the Persian throne. Wars of the
fanes the sacred vessels. The hand-       Persians with the Egyptians. The
writing upon the wall.  Daniel's          Jews faithful to the Persians. Deinterpretation. Belshazzar's death,       struction of Sidon.  Overthrow  of
553 B..  Darius takes the kingdom.        Egypt by the Persian King, 350 B. C.
Daniel exalted.  Jealousy. He is          Invasion of Persia by Alexander, 334
thrown to lions for praying to the        B. C.  Fulfilment of the prophecy of
Almighty. His deliverance. Jeho-          Zechariah. Alexander invades Syria.
vah honored. Death of Darius, 551         He is met in his march against JeruB. c. Cyrus succeeds. Defection of        salem by a procession of priests. He
Nabonadius.   Babylon taken by            is shown the prophecy of Daniel.
Cyrus. Prophecy of Isaiah. Cyrus          Offers sacrifices. Grants the Jews
acknowledges the supremacy of Je-         free enjoyment of their national laws.
hovah. He allows the captives to          Exemption from tribute every seventh
return to the Holy Land.         411      year.  Alexander dies at Babylon.
Ptolemy. He favors the Jews. DeCHAPTER XXmII.                     population of Babylon. The High
Priest, Simon, repairs the temple and
The Restoration. The honor of Jehovah         city of  Jerusalem.  He completes
maintained  and extended  by the          the Canon of the Old Testament.
Captivity. Why was Judah allowed          Simon dies, 291 n. C. Ptolemy Plilto return, and not Israel? Remarks       adelphus executes the translation of
of Professor Jahn.  What became           the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek,
- of the Ten Tribes?  Remarlks of         called the Septuagint, B. C. 278. InRabbi Benjamin -of Major Rawlin-         fluence of the Greeks.  Origin of
son. Zerubbabel and Joshua, with    I    the Sadducees. Persecution of the
fifty thousand of the people, return tolemy Philopater. DePalestine.  Daniel remains at the         struction of the temple by Appolonius,
Court of Cyrus.  Zerubbabel is ap-        167 B.C. Idolatry established. Judas
pointed Governor of Judoea. He re-        Maccabseus desires to maintain the
ceives from Cyrus the sacred vessels of   true worship. He gains the mastery
the Temple. Feast of Tabernacles          of Judaea. Attempts to rebuild the
celebrated at Jerusalem. An altaris       temple. Wars of the Maccabees.   439
built on the ruins of the Temple.
The people assemble to rebuild the                CHAPTER X
Temple. Death of Cyrus. Darius
Hystaspes elected King. The Tem-      Death of Judas Maccabseus. Jonathan
ple completed, 516 B. c. The dedi-        succeeds him. His treaty with the
cation. The temple service re-estab-      Syrian king. Siege of the citadel
2




xviii                       TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.
of Jerusalem. Jonathan taken and          given to rebuild the walls of Jerumurdered. Simon, his brother, sue-        salem. Herod made king, 40 B. C.
ceeds him as leader of the Maccabees.     His cruelty. He builds cities and
Simon gains possession of the coun-       splendid palaces. He builds heathen
try.  Alliance with the Romans.           temples. He also rebuilds the temnCleopatra becomes mistress of Syria.      ple of Jehovah at Jerusalem, B. c. 17.
Pompey enters Syria, 65 B. c. The         Birth of John the Baptist, B. c. 5.
country becomes a Roman province.         Birth of Jesus Christ. Slaughter of
The temple taken and complete estab-      the infants of Bethlehem. Account
lishment of the Roman power, B. c.        of Herod's ten wives. His death.
63. Cicero and Antonius, Roman            Archelaus, his son, succeeds him.
Consuls. The Jews obliged to pay          Account of the Herods.            494
large tribute. Hyrcanus appointed
High Priest.                     475             CHAPTER XXVII.
CHAPTER XXVI.                  Prophecies concerning Christ, and the
Christian religion. The time of His
Antipater, governor of Judaea. The San-       appearance. The place of His birth.
hedrim suppressed. The government         The family from which He was to
changed to an aristocracy. Hyrcanus       come. His life and character. His
and the Jewish government restored,       sufferings and death. The nature of
B. c. 44, by Julius Caesar. The tem-      His doctrine. The extent of His
pie plundered by Crassus. Liberty         Kingdom. The value of the Bible.  514
NEW  TESTAMENT.
CHAPTER I.                      precious ointment. Description of
Tiberias. The stilling of the temThe New Testament the best commentary                Casting out of devils. Rison the Old. The promise of the            pest. Casting out of devils. RaisAngel Gabriel to  Zacharias and           ing of the daughter of Jairus. FeedElisabeth.  The announcement by           ing of the multitude. The storm
abrielto    he announceMry ent by ofupon the lake. Peter's attempt to
John. BetolehemV.  Birt     h of Christ.  walk upon the water. Second miraJohn.y Bethlehem. Birth of Christ.        culous supply of food to the multitude.
The joy of the aged Simeon and            Christ's transfiguration. Healing of
Anna. The wbl se men. The Star.           the lunatic. Payingtribute. TeachHerod's bloody purpose.  Flight of        ing in the Temple. Discussions with
Joseph to Egypt. Death of Herod.          the Scribes.  Jericho.  The  oly
Return  of Joseph and Mary.   iazaeturn of Johnseph and Mary. Naza-         Land in the time of Christ, with
reth. John the Baptist.  Baptism  Parable of the Prodigal. The
of Christ. His fast of forty days.        map. Parable of the Prodil  T
His temptation. Testimony of John.        sight to the blind. Christ blestori
sight to the blind. Christ blesses
Christ's miracle at Cana. Descrip-        little children.   ary and  arth.
tion of Cana. Cleansing the Temple.       little cilren. Mary and Martha.
Nicodemus. Death of John. Christ          Raising of Lazarus.               530
in Galilee. Attempt of the people                  CHAPTER III
to kill him.  Call of Simon and
Andrew, James and John.   The         The Passover at Jerusalem. Description
great draught of fishes. Healing of       of Jerusalem, with a plan.  Plan
the demoniac, and of Peter's wife's       of the Temple. Blind Bartimeus.
mother.  Sermon on the Mount.             Bethany. The anointing by Mary.
Miracles. Pool of Bethesda.  The          Triumphal entry into  Jerusalem.
man with the withered hand. The           Expulsion of the money-changers
twelve Apostles. Their commission. 521    from  the Temple.  Treachery of
Judas. The Last Supper. GethsemCHAPTER II.                      ane. The olive-trees.  Peter's zeal.
The agony. Peter's fall.  His reRaising the widow's son at Nain. Christ       pentance. Remorse of Judas. His
is anointed from the alabaster box of     suicide.                          538




TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.                                 xix
CHAPTER IV.                       is delivered by an angel in answer
to prayer. Death of Herod. BarnaJesus at the bar of Pilate. His condem-        toprayer. Deatof Ilerod. Carnabas and Saul journey to Cyprus,
nation. Mocking. Scourging. Crown-,
nation.  hocking. Scourging. Crown-        Paphos, Perga, and Antioch, preaching with thorns. Crucifixion. The
ing. Paul's discourse in the synatwo thieves. Description of the cross,      ng. Paul's discourse in the synaand the mode of execution.  Christ's                                       t
filial affection. The darkness. Rend-      preach again.   He proclaims the
inoftheveil of theTemple  Rend-  doctrine that salvation is fobr the.in of theveil of the Temple. Rend-        Gentiles as well as the Jews. He is
ing of the rocks. Opening of the
iug of the rocks.  Opening of the        driven out of the city. He heals the
graves. Piercing of the body. Christ's
burial by Joseph. Closing the tonmb.       cripple at Lystra. The people wish
The guard. The constancy of the           to offer sacrifice to him and Barnabas.
Thwomen. The Resurrectionstancy of tAbsurd  They forbid it. Paul stoned.     574
women. The Resurrection. Absurd
falsehood of the chief priests. Christ's           CHAPTER VIII.
appearance to Mary -to Thomas -
to the  two disciples on the way to    Paul and Silas make an extensive tour to
Emmaus —   to the disciples at the         preach. The cure of the demoniac.
Sea of Tiberias. His final instruc-        Paul and  Silas are taken before the
tions to the Apostles. His ascension       magistrates. Imprisoned, with their
from  the Mount of Olives.  The            feet in the stocks. They pray and
character of Christ. The Christian         sing. The prison doors opened by
religion.  Contrast with han earthquake.   Conversion  and
List of Christ's Miracles, Parables,       baptism of the jailer and his fimily.
and Discourses.                   543      Paul at' Athens.  Idolatry of the
city. Paul brought before the AreoCHAPTER V.                       pagus. His discourse to the judges.
Conversion of some persons of' rank.
From the Ascension to the full establish-      Paul at Corinth. Description of the
ment of Christianity.   Choice of          city. Paul writes his second letter
Matthias as successor to Judas. Pen-       to the Thessalonians. Paul's success
tecost. The gift of tongues.  Preach-      at Ephesus. Geographical notices.  583
ing of Peter, Conversion of three
thousand people.  Healing of the                    CHAPTER IX.
cripple at the beautiful gate. Peter.
and John thrown into prison. Peter's   Description of Ephesus. Disorderly conaddress to the Council. They are           duct of some Christians at Corinth.
released. The gift of the Holy Ghost.      Paul writes them a letter. He also
Charity of tle believers. Ananias           ritesto the Galatians. Jealousy of
and Sapphira. Cures wrought by             Demetrius, the silversmith. Paul's
the Apostles. They are again cast          deliverance from  the fury of the
into prison. Miraculous deliverance.       people. He leaves Timothy in care
They are scourged. Choice of seven         of the Church  at Ephesus.  He
deacons to care for the poor. Stephen.     travels through Macedonia and AchaHis arrest. His address to the Coun-       ia.  He preaches at Troas.  The
cil. His martyrdom. Dispersion of          death  of Eutychus. Paul restores
the Christians from Jerusalem.    557       im  to life. Geogaphical notices.
Paul's farewell discourse to the EplleCHAPTER VI.                       sian  Christians.  He visits Tyre.
Here he is advised not to go to JeruPhilip flees from Jerusalem. His success-      salem. Paul at Jerusalem. He is
ful preaching in Samaria.  Philip        falsely accused and dragged from the
and the Eunuch. Saul's persecution         Temple. He is allowed by the Roman
of Christians. His miraculous con-         commander to speak. He gives a
version. Csesarea. Damascus. His           detailed account of his conversion.
powerful preaching. Description of         They dare not scourge him, because
Joppa. Peter raises Tabitha. His           he is a Roman citizen. The plot to
vision and commission to the Gen-          kill him. It is frustrated. He is
tiles. Cornelius. Peter's discourse.       sent under guard to Cwsarea to Felix,
Descent of the Holy Ghost. Con-            the Roman governor.               593
version and baptism of many.      567
CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER VIL.
Paul brought before Felix.  Tertullus
Persecutions under Herod Agrippa. He           speaks against him. Paul's defence.
kills James. Peter imprisoned. He          Paul speaks again before Felix and




CXX                         TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.
his wife, Drusilla, upon the doctrines    tion. Account of Patmos. St. John,
of Christianity.  Paul is kept in         the only Apostle who escaped a vioprison two years.  He is brought          lent death.  St. Philip, crucified.
before the new  governor, Festus.         St. Bartholomew, beaten and cruciPaul's defence and appeal to Caesar.      fled. St. Matthew. Thoughtto have
His speech before Agrippa. He is          been slain with a halberd.   St.
sent to Rome.   The shipwreck.            Thomas. Pierced with a lance. St.
Paul's vision. He foretells the safety    Simon the Zealot.  Crucified. St.
of all. They land on the island of        Jude. Cruellyputtodeath. St. MatMalta.  Account of Malta.  Paul           thias. Stoned. St. Mark.  Bound
heals the governor's father. Performs     and dragged through rough places
many other cures. They remain three       till he died. St. Luke. Hung on
months on the island. Arrival at          an olive-tree. St. Barnabas. Stoned.
Rome.  Paul assembles the rulers          Timothy. Beaten to death. Titus
and explains the doctrines of the         — died a natural death. John Mark
Gospel. He preaches two years at         — died at Ephesus.   Clement —
Rome.   Description of the city.          death unknown.                    622
Colossie. Paul writes his letter to
Philemon — also an epistle to the                 CHAPTER  XIII.
Ephesians - also to the Colossians.   The seven churches of Asia. Ephesus.
James writes his epistle. Martyrdom       Smyrna.   Pergamos.   Thyatira.
of James. His character.         604      Sardis. Philadelphia. Laodicea.   638
CHAPTER XI.                              CHAPTER XIV.
After two years Paul is set at liberty.   Account of the final destruction of JeruHe writes his epistle to the Hebrews.     salem by the Romans, A. D. 70, as
He, with Timothy, travels into Spain.     foretold by our Saviour. Josephus
Visits Sicily and Greece. Peter also      an eye-witness. Prophecies in regard
set at liberty. He visits Afiica, Sicily,  to it. Their agreement with facts.
Italy, and Britain, preaching the         Prodigies that preceded the destrucChristian faith. He returns to Rome.      tion of the city. Revolt underEleaNero orders the persecution of the        zer. Massacre of Jews at Caesarea.
Jews. Burning of Rome by Nero.            Siege of Jerusalem by Cestius. His
Paul returns to Rome. Paul and            repulse.  Vespasian assumes comPeter instruct the Jews in the syna-      mand of the Roman army. Great
gogues. They are thrown into prison.      slaughter of the Jews.  Siege of
Here Peter writes his second epistle,     Jotapata. Its reduction.  Capture
and Paul his second letter to Timothy.    of Josephus, the Jewish general. He
They are condemned to death. Peter        foretells the elevation of Vespasian
is crucified. Paul beheaded. Sketch       to the Empire. Death of Nero. Civil
of their characters.             614      war at Rome. Vespasian proclaimed
CHAPTER XII.                     Emperor by the army.   He sets
Josephus at liberty. He commits the
St. Andrew.  He was crucified.  He            war against the Jews to his son
taught the people while hanging upon      Titus. Titus lays siege to Jerusalem.
the cross.  St. James the Great.          Josephus in vain entreats the Jews to
Beheaded. St. John the Evangelist.        surrender.   Famine in the city.
Thrown into a caldron of boiling oil.     Plunder and burning of the temple.
Miraculously saved.  Banished to          Conquest of the city, and its comPatmos, where he wrote the Revela-        plete destruction.                647




AIN ILLUSTRATED
HISTORY OF THE HOLY BIBLE.
HISTORIC AND LITERARY INTRODUCTION.
THE BIBLE of the Christians is, with- tory genealogically, through a series of strikout exception, the most remarkable ing vicissitudes- and changes of situation.
work now in existence.  In the libraries of But when we examine the narrative minutethe learned, there are frequently seen books ly, it is found, that there is another meanof an extraordinary antiquity, and curious ing than that of mere historical elucidation.
and interesting from the nature of their con- It is perceived that the whole train of events
tents; but none approach the Bible, taken recorded, the whole of those lofty, impasin its complete sense, in point of age, while sioned strains of poetry which distinguish
certainly no production whatever has any the volume, are precursory and prophetic of
pretension to rival it in the dignity of com- a great change, which, at a future period,
position, or the important nature of the sub- was to be wrought on the moral properties
jects treated of in its pages.  The word and fate of mankind, by the coining to the
Bible is of Greek origin, and, in signifying earth of a Messiah.
simply The Book, is expressive of its su-   The authorship of the Old Testament has
periority over all other literary productions. been universally ascribed, by both Jews and
The origin and nature of this every way sin- Christians, to God himself,'though not by
gular work, how it was preserved during the direct composition, but by spiritually inmost remote ages, and how it became known flueneing the minds of certain sages to acto the modern world in its present shape, complish the work, or, in ordinary phraseform a highly interesting chapter of literary ology, by inspiring or endowing them with
history.                                  a perfect knowledge of the transactions to
The Bible comprehends the entire founda- be recorded and predicted, in a way suitable
tion of the religious belief of the Jews and to the great end in view.  The Bible is
Christians, and is divided into two distinct hence usually termed the Sacred Scriptures.
portions, entitled the Old and New Testa- The periods when the act of writing all or
ments, the former being that which is es- most part of the Scriptures took place, as
teemed by the Jewish nation, but both being well as most of the names of those who were
essential in forming the faith of the Chris- instrumental in forming the work, have been
tian.  The Old Testament is the largest de- ascertained with surprising accuracy, both
partment of the work, and appears a collec- from written evidence in the narratives themtion of detached histories, moral essays, and selves, and from the well-preserved traditions
pious poetical effusions, all placed together of the Jews. At whatever time the differin the order of time, or, as they may serve, ent books were written, they were not colfor the purpose of mutual illustration.  On lected and put into a connected form  till
taking a glance at the contents, the principal long  after their immediate  authors were
subject of narration seems the history of the deceased; and their present arrangement, as
Jews, commencing with an account of the we shall afterward fully explain, is of comcreation of the world, and tracing their his- paratively modern date.
21




22                         INTRODUCTION TO THE
According to the order in which the books to the service of the Divinity.  This book
of the Old Testament now stand, those of comprises the history of 145 years, from the
an historical nature are appropriately placed death of Joseph till the building of the taberat the beginning.  The first five books, hav- nacle.  The Hebrews call it Velle Shemoth,
ing a chain of connection throughout, are that is, in English, "These are the names,"
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and which:are the words with which it begins.
Deuteronomy.  These are styled the Penta-   The third book of Moses is called Levititeuch, such being the Greek compound for cus, because it contains the laws which God
five books.  They are likewise entitled the commanded should be observed by those of
Books of Moses, from the belief that that the tribe of Levi who ministered at the altar.
enlightened Jewish leader composed them.   It treats at large of all the functions of the
The Jews, or Hebrews, take the name of Levites; of the ceremonial of religion; of
the sacred books from  the first word with the different sorts of sacrifices; of the diswhich each begins; but the Greeks, whom. tinction of clean and unclean beasts; of the
our translators generally follow, take the different festivals; and of the year of jubilee,
names from  the  subject-matter of them. or continued holyday.  It likewise presents
Thus, the first book is called by the He- us with an account of what happened to the
brews, Bereshith, which signifies "In the Jews during the space of one month and a
hbeginning," these being the first words: but half; that is, from the time the tabernacle,
the Greeks call it Genesis, which signifies was erected, which was the first day of the
".production," because the creation of the first month of the second year after the
world is the first thing of which it gives an Israelites came out of Egypt, till the second
account.  It likewise contains an account of month of the same year, when God comthe increase of mankindc; of their corruption manded the people to be numbered.  The
of manners, and its cause; of their punish- Hebrews called this book Vayicre, that is,
ment by the deluge (an event which, by "And he called," these being the  first
scientific investigation and historical research, words; they call it also The Law  of the
is placed beyond a doubt); of the origin of Priests.
the Jewish people from  Abraham; of the   In the fourth book, which we call Nummanner in which God was pleased to have bers, Moses numbers the Israelites, and that,
them  governed; and, particularly, of the too, in the beginning of the book, which,nature of the special superintendence vouch- shows whence it had its name.  The Hesafed to the Jewish nation by the Creator. brews call it Vayedavber, that is, " And he
This comprehensive narrative reaches from  spake."  This book contains the history of
the creation of the world till the death of all that passed from the second month of the
Joseph, or a period of 2,369 years.  In second year after the Israelites came out of
another part of the Scriptures, reference is Egypt, till the beginning of the eleventh'made to the Book of Jasher, and it is be- month of the fortieth year; that is, it conlieved that Genesis is there  meant; for tains the history of thirty-nine years, or
Jasher signifies " the Just," and, according thereabouts.  In it we have also the history
*to St. Jerome, a learned Christian writer, of the prophet Balaam, whom the king of
the name of the Book of the Just, or the the Midianites brought to curse the people
Authentic Book, was applied to it from its of God, and who, on the contrary, heaped
econtaining the history of Abraham, Isaac, blessings upon the Israelites, and foretold
and Jacob.                                 the coming of the Messiah.  It particularly
Exodus, the title of the second book of mentions, also, the two-and-forty encanllpMoses, signifies in the Greek, "The going mrents of the Israelites in the wilderness.
out," and was applied from  the account   The fifth book is called Deuteronomy, a
which it gives of the Israelites going out of Greek term  which signifies; "The second
Egypt.  Init are related the cruel Egyptian law," or, rather, " The repetition of the
slavery under which the  Jews groaned; law," because it does not contain a law dif-their delivery by flight and passage through ferent from that which was given on Mount
ithe Red sea.; the history of the establishment Sinai; but it repeats the same law, for the.of their very peculiar law, and many remark- sake of the children of those who had re-able transactions:; Iconcluding with the build- ceived it there, and were since dead in the
ing of the tabernacle, or place appropriated I wilderness.  The Hebrews call it Elle-had



HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             23
debarimn, that is, "These are the words." by him.  The common opinion as to the
Deuteronomy begins with a short account of length of time it contains is, that Joshua
what passed in the wilderness, and then discharged his office only for seventeen years,
Moses repeats what he had before command- and that, therefore, this book contains no
ed in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, and more than the history of that number of
admonishes the people to be faithful in keep- years.
ing the commandments of God.  After this,   After the death of Joshua, the Israelites
he relates what had happened from  the were governed by magistrates, who ruled
beginning of the eleventh month, to the under the general designation of Judges;
seventh day of the twelfth month of the same and the book which contains the history of
year, which was the fortieth after their leav- these rulers is called, The Book of Judges.
ing Egypt.  The discourse which is at the be- This history begins with the death of Joshua,
ginning of this book was made to the people and reaches to that of Samson.  We here see
by Moses, on the first day of the eleventh the people of God often enslaved in punishmonth.  According to Josephus, he died on ment of their crimes, and often wonderfully
the first day of the twelfth; and the Israel- delivered from slavery.  Toward the end of
ites, as the Scriptures say, mourned for him  it, we have some instances of this people's
in the plains of Moab thirty days, and, con- inclination to idolatry, and of the corruption
sequently, during the whole of the twelfth of their manners, even before they had been
month.                                   brought into slavery.  Such are the histoThe Jews called the Pentateuch "The ries of Micah, and of the Benjamites who
Law," without doubt because the law of abused the Levite's wife. This book contains
God which Moses received on Mount Sinai the history of three hundred and seventy
is the principal part of it; and it is as little years.
to be doubted whether that great man was   During the time of the government of the
the writer of the Pentateuch.  This is ex- Judges, there was a great famine in the land
pressly declared both in Exodus and Deuter- of Israel, which forced Elimelech, a native of
onomy.  But as an account of the death of Bethlehem, to retire into the land of, Moab,
Moses is given in the last eight verses of with his wife Naomi, and two  children.
this book, it is therefore thought that these Elimelech died there, as also his two sons,
verses were added either by Joshua or Ezra. who had married two Moabitish women, one
The opinion of Josephus concerning them is of whom was named Ruth.  Naomi, after
very singular; he pretends that Moses, find- the death of her husband and her children,
ing his death approaching, and being willing returned to Bethlehem, accompanied by Rtuth,
to prevent an error into which the veneration her daughter-in-law, who was there married
the people had for him might cause the Jews to Boaz, Elimelech's near relation, and the
to fall, wrote this account himself, without heir to his estate.  The book which contains
which the Jews would probably have sup- this history, is called, The Book of Ruth.
posed that God had takeln him away, like. The beginning of it shows that it happened
Enoch.                                   in the time of the Judges, but under which
After the death of Moses, Joshua, by of them is not certainly known; some place
the order of the Divine Being, took upon him- it in the time of Shamgar, or of Deborah.
self the conducting of the Hebrew people, As to the writer of this book, some think
and succeeded Moses, to whom he had been that the books of Judges and Ruth.were
a faithful servant, and by whom he had been both written by Samuel; others attribute
instructed in what he ought to do.  It is them to Hezekiah, and others to Ezra.  The
uncertain whether the book which contains Jews place the book of Ruth among the
the history of this successor of Moses be five books which they usually read on all the
called Joshua, from the subject of it, or from  festivals in the year.  These five books are,
his having been the writer of it.  But it is the Song of Songs, Ruth, the Lamentations
certain that it contains an account of what of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and the book of
passed from the death of Moses to that of Esther.  In the Hebrew  bibles they are
Joshua.  Nevertheless, there are several printed or written apart by themselves, and
things in it which did not come to pass till are bound up together.
after the death of this great man, and which,   The four books following Ruth are called
consequently, could not have been written by the Greeks, and also in some Latin




24                        INTRODUCTION TO THE
bibles, The History of the Reigns.  Others varied collection of several particular his.
call them all, The Books of Kings, because tories.
they give an account of the establishment of   The name of Paralipomena, which  in
the monarchy, and of the succession of the Greek signifies the " history of things omitkings, who reigned over the whole kingdom  ted," is given to the two books which follow
at first, and over the kingdoms of Judah those of the Kings.  These form, in fact,
and Israel after its division.  At the begin- a supplement, containing what had been
ning of these books is given the history.of omitted in the Pentateuch, and the books
the prophet Samuel, which gives light to of Joshua, Judges, and Kings, or rather
that of The Kings.  The Jews call the first they contain a fuller description of some
two of these books, The Books of Samuel: things which had been therein only briefly
perhaps because -they contain the history of related.  Some give them  the name of
the two kings, who were both anointed by Chronicles, because they are very exact in
Samuel; and because what is said of Saul mentioning the time when every transaction
in the first, and of David in the second, happened.  We divide them into two books,
proves the truth of Samuel's prophecies. as do also the Jews, who call'them Dibere
They give the name of The Books of Kings Hayanim, that is, an "historical journal,"
only to the other two, which, in the Latin the matters of which they treat having been
and French bibles, are called the Third and taken from the journals of the kings.  In
Fourth Books of Kings.                   the original language, however, the word
The First Book of Kings, or the First of days often signifies the year; and, in this
Samuel, contains the history of the high-priest sense, we may understand the term to signiEli, of Samuel, and of Saul.. As -the first fy properly "annals."  The generally-reyear of Eli's high-priesthood falls on the ceived opinion is, that Ezra was the writer
year of the world 2848, and the death of of these.  In the first book, he begins with
Saul in 2949, the history of this book must a succinct historical abridgment, from  the
comprehend the space of one hundred and creation of Adam to the return of the Jews
one years.                               from their captivity; and then he resumes
The Second contains the reign of David, the history of David, and carries it on to the
which is the history of about forty years. It consecration of Solomon, that is, down to
is commonly believed that Samuel, Nathan, the year before Christ 1015.  The history
and Gad, were the writers of these two contained in the second book reaches down
books, and, indeed, they are called, in the to the year before Christ 536, when, upon
end of the first book of Chronicles, David's the expiration of the seventy years of caphistorians.                              tivity, Cyrus gave the Jews leave to return
The Thira, or, according to the Hebrews, to their own country.
the First Book of Kings, begins with a rela-   Ezra wrote the history of the return of
tion of the manner in which Solomon came the Jews from the captivity of Babylon into
to the throne, and contains the whole of his Judaea.  It is the history of about eighty-two
reign.  After that, an account follows of the years, from the year of the world 3468, when
division of the kingdom, and the history of Cyrus became master of the eastern empire,
four kings of Judah and eight kings of by the death of his father, Cambyses, in
Israel.  All these reigns, including that Persia, and his father-in-law, Cyaxares, in
of Solomon, which occupies the first forty Media, to the year 3550, which was the
years; comprise the space of one hundred and twentieth year of the reign of Artaxerxes,
twenty-six years.                        surnamed Longimanus.  This book bears the
The Fourth of these books contains the name of Ezra, who was the writer of it.
history of sixteen kings of Judah, and twelve. The next book is a continuation of that of
kings of Israel. It likewise gives an ac- Ezra, and therefore it is by some called the
count of the prophets who lived during this Second Book of Ezra. It was Nehemiah,
time.  It is quite uncertain who were the however, whose name it also bears, who
writers of the last two mentioned books. wrote it, as is said, by the advice of Ezra.
They are by some attributed to Jeremiah or It contains the account of the re-establishment
Ezra, but no very convincing proofs have of Jerusalem, and the temple, and the worbeen adduced in support of this opinion.  It ship of God.  It is the history of about
6s evident, indeed, that these books form a thirty-one years; that is to say, from the




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               25
twentieth year of the reign of Artaxerxes occasion; and this, no doubt, was from some
Longimanus, to the reign of Darius Nothus, ancient tradition: but, in the original Hehis son, which began in the year of the world brew, these Psalms have no such title prefixed
3581.                                     to them, neither have they any other to conAfter this general history of the Jews, fol- tradict it."  It is not probable, however,
low two histories of particular persons, viz., that all those whose names they bear were
Esther and Job.  The first contains the ac- the true authors of themn; it is more likely
count of a miraculous deliverance of the that these are only the names of those to
Jews, which was accomplished by means of whom they were first given to sing.
the heroine named Esther.  The Scripture    After the Psalms are the Proverbs, which
says it happened under the reign of Ahasue- are a collection of moral sentences, of which
rus, king of Persia; but as there have been Solomon was the writer.  This name is given
several Persian kings of that name, it is them by the Greeks, but the Hebrews call
not exactly known in which reign it is to them Myste, that is, parables, or comparibe dated.  Dr. Lightfoot thinks it was that sons; and the word may also signify senArtaxerxes who hindered the building of the tences, or maxims.  It is a collection of
temple, and who, in the book of Ezra, is divine precepts, proper for every age, and
called also Ahasuerus, after his great grand- every condition of life.
father, the king of the Medes.               The book which follows is also a moral
The history of Job, which is next in order, one, and was likewise composed by Solomon.
is not only a narration of his actions, but con- The Greeks call it Ecclesiastes, which antains also the entire discourses which this swers to the name of Koheleth, which it bears
pious man had with his wife and his friends, in the Hebrew.  Both these words signify,
and is, indeed, one of the most eloquent books in our language, a preacher, or one who
in the Holy Scriptures.  It is generally con- speaks in an assembly.  In this book is
jectured that Moses was the writer or com- given an adamirable picture of the vanity of
piler of this book; but this is very uncer- the world.
tain.                                        Among the moral books is also reckoned
Next to the historical books of Scripture the Song of Songs; that is to say, according
follow those of a moral nature.  The first of to the Hebrew manner of speaking, a most
these is the Book of Psalms, which is like- excellent song.  This book has nothing of
wise in some measure historical; for they morality in it, and therefore, it is thought
recite the miracles which God had wrought, the only reason of its being placed here is
and contain, as it were, an abridgment of all because it was a third work of Solomon; for
that had been done for the Israelites, and there is not one moral or religious maxim in
that had happened to them.  The Hebrews it, and the name of God is not so much as
call them "the Book of Praises," by which mentioned in it, except once in the original
they mean, " of the Praises of God."  The Hebrew, where it is used adjectively.  It is
word psalm is Greek, and properly signifies an Epithalamiuzm, or nuptial song, wherein,
the sound of a stringed instrument of music. by the expressions of love between a brideThe Hebrews sung the Psalms with different groom and his bride, are set forth and illusinstruments.  We make but one book of trated the mutual affections that pass between
them all, but the Hebrews divide them into God and a distinguished remnant of manfive parts, which all end with the words Amen, I kind. It is a sort of dramatic poem or pastoAmen.  Though the Psalms bear the name ral: the bride and bridegroom, for the more
of David, yet they were not all composed by, lively representation of humility and innohim; some of them  are more'ancient, and cence, are'brought in as a shepherd and
others are of a later date than his time; shepherdess.  We learn from St. Jerome,
some of them being ascribed to Moses,'Sam- that the Jews were not permitted to read
uel, and Ezra.  Speaking of the dedication this song, or the chapters at the beginning
of the second temple, Prideaux' says, " In of the book of Genesis, till they were thirty
this dedication, the 146th, 147th, and the years old.
148th psalms seem to have been sung; for   In regard to the prophets, it may be obin the Septuagint versions they are styled served, that all the Old Testament is conthe Psalms of Haggai and Zechariah, as sidered to be in substance one continued
if they had been composed by them for this prophecy of the coming of Jesus Christ; so




26                         INTRODUCTION TO THE
that all the books of which it consists are a short time afterward, but his book is placed
understood to be in some sense prophetical.. first, because it is the largest of them  all,
But this name is more especially given to and is more explicit relative to the advent
those books which were written by persons of Christ than any of the others.  The lanwho had a clearer knowledge of futurity, who guage of this eminent writer is exceedingly
forewarned both kings and people of what sublime and affecting; so much so, that it
would happen to them, and who at the same has never been equalled by any profane poet
time pointed out what the Messiah was to either in ancient or modern times.  It is
do, whom  they who are acknowledged to impossible to read some of the chapters withhave been prophets had always in view: and out being struck by the force of the prophetic
this is what ought most especially to be taken allusionsto the character and sufferings of
notice of in their writings.               the Messiah; and in consequence of these
The prophecies bear the name of those to prevailing characteristics, the author is ordiwhom they belong.  Some learned men are narily styled the evangelical prophet, and by
of opinion- that the prophets made abridg- some of the ancients, a fifth evangelist.  Tlhe
ments of the discourses whidh they had writ- Jews say that the spirit of prophecy conten, and fixed them  up at the gates of the tinued forty years during the second temple;
temple, that all the people might read them; and Malachi they call the seal of prophecy,
and that after this the ministers of the temple because in him the succession or series of
might take them  away, and place  them  prophets broke off, and came to a period.
among the archives, which is the reason why The book of Malachi, therefore, appropriwe have not the prophecies in the order in ately closes the'second record of the Old
which they were written.  But the interpret- Testament.
ers of Scripture have long since labored to    The second and lesser division of the Bible
restore that order, according to the course of relates entirely to the Christian religion, or
their history.                            the fulfilment of that which was predicted
The works of the prophets are divided into in the preceding and more ancient departtwo parts, the first of which contains the ment of the work.  This division of the
greater, and the second, the.lesser prophets. sacred Scriptures-is generally styled the New
This distinction, of course, does not apply at Testament; and that portion of it which
all to the persons of the prophets, but only to relates to the history of the life of Christ is
the bulk of their works.  The greater proph- called the Gospel, and by some the Evangel,
ets are Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Jere- both these words having the same meaning,:
miah.  The Lamentations of Jeremiah make and implying good news, or glad tidings,
a separate book by themselves, containing from  the circumstance that the narratives
that prophet's descriptions of the destruction I contain an account of things which are to
of the city of Jerusalem, and of the captiv- benefit mankind.
ity of the people.  The lesser prophets are    The New Testament, like the Old, is a
Hosea,  Joel,  Amos,  Obadiah,  Jonah, compilation of books written by different inMicah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Hag- spired individuals, and all put together in a
gai, Zechariah, and Malachi.  They were for- manner so as to exhibit a regular account of
merly  contained in  one  single  volume, the birth, actions, and death of Christ —the
which the Hebrews call Thereaser, which doctrines he promulgated- and the prophemeans twelve, or the book of the twelve.    cies regarding the future state of the church
The dates of many of the prophecies are which he founded.  The historical books are
uncertain, but the earliest of them was in the the four gospels and the Acts of the Aposdays of Uzziah, king of Judah, and Jero- ties, all these being of the character of narboam the Second, his contemporary, king of ratives of events; the doctrinal are  the
Israel, about 200 years before the  cap- Epistles of St. Paul, and some othars; the
tivity, and not long after Joash had slain prophetic book is the last, and this is called
Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, in the court the Revelation or Apocalypse of St. John,
of the temple.  Hosea was the first of the having been written by that apostle while he
writing prophets, and Joel, Amos, and Oba- was in the island of Patrmos.
diah, published their prophecies about the    The writers of the books of the New Tes —
same time.                                tament are generally well known, each havIsaiah began his remarkable prophecies ing the name of the author affixed to it, with




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    27
the exception of the Acts of the Apostles, the departure of his Master from  the earth.
which, it is presumed, was compiled by St. Many of the ancients say that he wrote it
Luke.  It was long disputed whether St. in the tIebrew  or Syriac language; but
Paul was the writer of the Epistle to the Dr. Whitby is clearly of opinion that this
Hebrews; Tertullian, an  ancient  Chris- tradition is entirely void of foundation, and
tian writer, and some others, attribute it to that it was doubtless written in Greek, as,
St. Barnabas; others to St. Luke; and the other parts of the New Testament were.
others to St. Clement; while some think, Yet it is. probable that there might be an
with greater probability, that St. Paul dic- edition  of it in  Hebrew, published  by
tated it, and St. Luke acted as the writer; St. Matthew himself, at the same time that
and that the reason why the name of the he wrote it in Greek; the former for the
true author was not affixed to it, was because Jews, the latter for the Gentiles, when he
he was disliked by the Jews.  The four left Judsea to preach among the heathen.*
evangelists, or writers of the leading narra-   In  regard to Mark, the writer of the
tives, are St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, second Gospel, it may be observed, that
and St. John; these having been compan- although Mark, or Marcus, was a Rornan
ions to Christ during his ministrations, and, name, and a very common one, yet we
therefore, personally acquainted with his life have no reason to think but that he was by
and character.  Each of the four books is birth a Jew; but as Saul, when he went
principally a repetition  of the history of among the Gentiles, took the IRoman name
Christ, yet they all possess a difference of Paul, so did this evangelist take that of
of style, and  each  mentions  some  cir- Mark, his Jewish  name, perhaps, being
cumstances omitted by the others, so that Mardacai, as Grotius  observes.  Jerome
the whole is essential in making up a cornm- and Tertullian say that he was a disciple of
plete life of the Messiah.  These distinctions the Apostle Peter, and his interpreter or
in the tone of the narratives and other pecu- amanuensis.  We have every reason to beliarities, are always considered as  strong lieve that both he and Luke were of the
circumstantial evidence in proof of their au- number of the seventy disciples who comthenticity, and of there having been no col- panied all alone with the apostles, and who
lusion on the part of the writers.  But, Ihad a commission like to theirs: so that it is
indeed, the events they record are detailed no diminution at all to the validity or value
in so exceedinglysimple and unaffected a man- of this Gospel that Mark was not one of the
ner, that it is impossible to suppose that they twelve, as Matthew  and John were.  Jewere written with a view to impose on the rome says, that after the writing of this Goscredulity of mankind.  The veracity and pel he went into Egypt, and was the first
actual belief of the evangelists themselves that preached the gospel at Alexandria,
are placed beyond a doubt.                  where he founded a church, to which he
The first book is written by Matthew, was a great example of holy living.
who was by birth a Jew, and exercised the    The Gospel of St. Mark is much shorter
profession of a publican -  that is, a collect- than that of Matthew, not giving so full an
or of the public tax or assessment imposed account of Christ's sermons as that did, but
upon the Jewish people by their conquerors, insisting chiefly on his miracles; and in rethe Romans.  Matthew, who was also called gard to these, also, it is very much a repetiby the name of Levi, was one of the twelve tion of what we have in Matthew, many reapostles of Christ, and he is said to have markable circumstances being added to the
written his narrative about eight years after stories there related, but not many new mat* Dr. Lange, in his Introduction to the New  Nazarenes, one of the earliest Christian sects,
Testament, favors the idea that the Gospel of possessed a Hebrew version of Matthew's Gospel,
Matthew was originally written in Hebrew, and seems to have been the ground of the argument
translated at a very early period into our present that he composed it originally in Hebrew.
Greek version, which has ever since been received   Dr. Tischendorf, who has no superior in the
as canonical in the Church. In confirmation of department of textual criticism, advocates the
this conclusion, we have the testimony of Papias, Greek original of Matthew, and that the Hebrew
one of the Christian fathers who lived in the version was made from it at a very early date.
first half of the second century. His statements He refers to Jerome, a Hebrew scholar, as supas to a Hebrew original of Matthew's Gospel were porting his view, and advances other strong, if
adopted by some of the early fathers of the not conclusive, reasons for the ground he takes.
Christian Church. The historic fact that the -A. B.




28                         INTRODUCTION TO THE
ters.  There is a tradition that it was first death, all the rest suffering  martyrdom;
written in Latin, because it was written at and some of them  say that he wrote this
Rome; but this is generally thought to be I Gospel in Ephesus, at the request of the
without foundation, and that it was written ministers of the several churches of Asia,
in Greek, as was St. Paul's Epistle to the in order to combat certain  heresies.  It
Romans, the Greek being the more universal seems most probable that he composed it belanguage.                                 fore his banishment into the isle of Patmos,
Luke, the name of the third evangelist, is for there he wrote his Revelation, the close
considered by some to be a contraction of of which seems designed for the closing up
Lucilius, and it is said by St. Jerome to of the canon of scripture; in which case
have been borne at Antioch.  Some think this Gospel could not have been written
that he was the only one of all the penmen after.  It is clear that he wrote the last of
of the Scriptures that was not of the Israel- the four Evangelists, and, comparing his
ites; that he was a Jewish proselyte, and was Gospel with theirs, we may observe that he
converted to Christianity by the ministry of relates what they had omitted, and thus
St. Paul at Antioch, and after his coming into gleans up what they had passed by.
Macedonia he was his constant companion.   These four Gospels were early and conHe had employed himself in the study and stantly received by the primitive church, and
practice of physic, and hence Paul calls him  read in Christian assemblies, as appears by
" Luke, the beloved physician."  It is more the writings of Justin Martyr and Irenveus,
than probable, however, as is testified both who lived little more than one hundred years
by Origen and Epiphanius, that he was one after the origin of Christianity; they deof the seventy disciples, and a follower of dared that neither more nor fewer than four
Christ when he was upon earth; and if so, were received by the church.  A Harmony
he was most likely to be a native Israelite. of these four Evangelists was compiled by
Luke most probably wrote his Gospel at Tatian about that time, which he  called
Rome, a little before he wrote his history of "The Gospel out of the four."  In the
the " Acts of the Apostles," which is a con- third  and  fourth  centuries  there  were
tinuation of the former, when he was there gospels forged by divers sects, and pubwith Paul, while he was a prisoner, and lished, one under the name of St. Peter,
"preaching in his own hired house," with another of St. Thomas, another of St.
which the history of the Acts concludes. Philip, &c.  But they were never owned
In this case, it must have been written by the church, nor was any credit given to
about twenty-seven years after Christ's de- them, as the learned Dr. Whitby shows.
parture, and about the fourth year of the And he gives this good reason why we
reign of Nero.  Jerome says that St. Luke should adhere to these written  records:
died when he was eighty-four years of age, " because," says he, " whatever the  preand that he was never married.  Dr. Cave tences of tradition may be, it is not sufficient
observes that " his way and manner of writ- to preserve things with any certainty, as
ing are accurate and exact, his style polite appears by experience.  For whereas Christ
and elegant, sublime and lofty, yet perspicu- said and did many memorable things which
ous; and that he expresses himself in a vein were not written, tradition has not preserved
of purer Greek than is to be found in the any one of them  to us, but all is lost exother writers of this holy history."  Thus cept what was written; and that, therefore,
he relates several things more copiously than is what we must abide by."
the other evangelists, and thus he especially    After the Gospel, or history of Jesus
treats those things which relate to the priestly Christ, follows the history of what passed
office of Christ.                         after his ascension, and was transacted by
The fourth evangelist, John, was one of the apostles.  The book, therefore, which
the sons of Zebedee, a fisherman of Galilee, contains this history is called " The Acts of
the brother of James, one of the twelve the Apostles."  It is a history of the rising
apostles, and distinguished by the honora- church for about the space of thirty years.
ble appellation, " that disciple whom  Jesus It was written, as has been already observed,
loved."  The ancients tell us that John by St. Luke the Evangelist, when he was
lived the longest of all the apostles, and was with St. Paul at Rome, during his imprisonthe only one of them that died a -natural ment there.  In the end of the book he




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                       29
mentions particularly his being with  Paul othy.  13. The second of Peter.  14. The
in'his dangerous voyage to Rome, when he epistle of Jude.  15. The three epistles of
was carried thither a prisoner; and it is evi- John.  As it respects the date of these
dent that he was with him  when, from  his apostolic epistles, it is very generally agreed
prison there, Paul wrote his epistles to the that they were written  between  the years
Colossians and Philemon; for in both  of A. D. 54 and 68, excepting those of John
these he is named by him.                      written probably between the years 96 and
Next to  this come the Epistles of St. 100.t
Paul, which are fourteen in number: one    It has sometimes occurred to the minds of
to the Romans, two to the Corinthians, one many well-disposed persons, that it would
to the Galatians, one to the Ephesians, one to have been better for Christianity had there
the Philippians, one to the Colossians, two never been any other iecord of its origin and
to the Thessalonians, two to Timothy, one doctrines than  the writings  of Matthew,
to Titus, one to Philemon, and one to the Mark, Luke, and  John.  But,  however
Hebrews.  They contain that part of eccle- plain and satisfactory the histories of these
siastical history which  immediately  follows evangelists may be, and however little they
after what is related  in  the  Acts.  The admit of controversy, it has to be rememprincipal matter contained  in  them  is the bered that it required the strong arguments
establishment or confirmation of the doctrine and illustrations brought forward in the episwhich Jesus Christ taught his  disciples. ties, by Paul and others, to combat the sop1According as the  difficulties  which  raised  istry of the Greeks, and the self-sufficient
disputes among the Christians, or the here- philosophies of other races of man.  Paul,
sies which  sprung up in the church from  the chief of the epistle writers, who became
the first age of it, required, St. Paul in a Christian by conversion after Christ had
these epistles clears up and proves all mat- departed from the earth, is- the great chanmters of faith, and gives excellent rules for pion of the faith, and exposes, in strong and
morality.  His epistles may be considered as dauntless language, the hidden  depravities
a commentary on, or an interpretation of, the of the human heart; so that where the affour books of the Gospel.*                     fecting discourses and sufferings of the MesThe chronological succession of the Epis- siah fail to convert and convince, the reatles is as follows: 1. To the Thessalonians. soning of this great writer is calculated to
2. To the Galatians.  3. To the Corinthi- silence and  subdue those who stubbornly
ans.  4. To the Romans.  5. The epistle of resist the benignant influence of the Christian
James.  6. To the Ephesians.  7. To the faith.
Philippians.  8. To the Hebrews.  9. The    The first division of the Scriptures, as alfirst epistle of Peter.  10. The first to Tim- ready mentioned, is into the Old and New
othy. 11. To Titus.  12. The second to Tim- Testaments.  The New belongs to the Chris* In respect to the leading design of the apos- Principles are involved, which are our surest
tolical epistles, Dr. Bloomfield remarks: "That guides on all points relating to church liberty,
though the essential doctrines and precepts of especially as to abstaining from things innocent
Christianity are to be found in the Gospels, yet a in themselves, if likely to give offence to scrupufuller and clearer statement of them was neces- lous brethren. -A. B.
sary, considering the altered state of things to
that which existed during our Saviour's life-time;    t The apostolic epistles are didactic or catholic.
and especially after the uprise of serious corrup- The didactic epistles are those addressed to partions and dangerous errors, originating partly in  ticular churches; the catholic or general are admisconception, but which required to be checked  dressed to the whole church, or to a larger section
by a more explicit, and yet equally authoritative  of it. The writings of Paul, for the most part,
revelation. Now this was done by St. Paul and  belong to the former class. They are analyzed or
the other writers of the Epistles.  Consequently, classified by Lange, as follows: I. Eschatological
though they were written  for the immediate epistles, which treat of the last things.  2. Ecclepurpose of refuting heresies, arising from a mix- siastic epistles, which treat of the discipline of the
ture of Christianity with Judaism or Gentilism, church. 3. Soteriological epistles, which treat of
of repressing corruptions, reforming abuses, and redemption and righteousness by faith. 4. Chriscomposing schisms and differences, yet, in point tological epistles, which treat of the person of
of fact, they became, and were avowedly, cnm- Christ. 5. Pastoral epistles. The Epistle to the
mentaries on the doctrines of Christ, as delivered Hebrews, that of James, and the three of John,
in the Gospels; and though originally intended and those of Peter and  Jude, are classed as
for particular Christian societies, yet are adapted catholic epistles. - Vid. Dr. Lange's Introduction
to the instruction  of Christians in all ages." to the New Testament, p. 27.         A. B.




30                         INTRODUCTION TO THE
tians, but the Old was received from the Songs, (6) Daniel, (7) Chronicles, (8)
Jews; and it is from them, therefore, that Ezra, with Nehemiah, and (9) Esther. The
we must learn what the number of the books Jews do not put Daniel in the rank of a
of it originally was, and every thing else re- I prophet, although they acknowledge him to
lating to this most ancient and interesting have been a man inspired by God, and whose
production.                               writings are full of the clearest prophecies
The celebrated Jewish writers, Josephus concerning the time of the Messiah's coming,
and Philo, reckon two and twenty canonical and what should happen to their nation.
books in the Old Testament, which is the Jesus Christ, therefore, gives him the name
number of the letters in the Hebrew alpha- of a Prophet, and the Jewish doctors are
bet; and to make out this, they join the much puzzled to find out a proper reason for
book of Ruth to that of Judges, and the their not doing the same.  "It is," says
Lamentations of Jeremiah to the book of his Maimonides, " because  every  thing  that
Prophecies.  But other Jewish doctors di- Daniel wrote was not revealed to him when
vide the book of Ruth from that of Judges, he was awake and had the use of his reason,
and, making likewise a separate book of the but in the night, and in obscure dreams."
Lamentations of Jeremiah, they reckon four But this is a very unsatisfactory account of
and twenty books in all.  In order to ac- the matter; and others are of opinion that
commodate this number to that of the letters the name of a Prophet was commonly given
of the alphabet, they repeat the letter yod to those only who were of a certain college,
three times, as they say, in honor to the and whose business it was to write the angreat name of God Jehovah, of which yod is nals; and that, therefore, their works were
the first letter; and in Chaldee, three yods ranked among the prophetical books, though
together were used to express this adorable they did not contain a single prediction of
name; but as the modern Jews thought this any thing to come, as the books of Joshua and
savored too much of what Christians call the Judges; while, on the contrary, the works
Trinity, they use only two yods for this pur- of those who were not of these colleges of
pose.  St. Jerome is of opinion that St. the prophets were not ranked among the proJohn had this division of the Hebrew scrip- phetical books, although they contained true
tures in view, when in his Revelation he. prophecies.
speaks of the four and twenty elders who    The Latins agree with the Jews as to the
paid adoration to the Lamb of God.        number of the Psalms, which is a hundred
The Jews divide the whole of these books and fifty; but both they and the Greeks diinto three classes, namely, the Law, the vide them differently from the Hebrews.  In
Prophets, and the Hagiographa or Holy the Greek Bible and the Vulgate, or comnWritings, which last division includes more mon Latin version, the ninth and tenth, acparticularly the poetical parts; and some are cording to the Hebrew, make but one psalm;
of opinion that Jesus Christ alludes to this and therefore, in order to make up the numdivision of the Scriptures, when he says that her of a hundred and fifty, they divide the
" all things must be fulfilled that were writ- hundred and forty-seventh into two.
ten in the law of Moses, and in the prophets,   This is the general division of the sacred
and in the psalms, concerning" him.  For books among the Jews.  But they divide the
the book of Psalms, they understand all the Pentateuch, in particular, into certain parabooks of the third class.  The Law compre- graphs or sections, which they call Parashihends the Pentateuch; that is, Genesis, Ex- uth, and which they subdivide into the Great
odus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. and Little.  A  Great section contains as
The prophetical books are eight, viz.: (1) much as is to be read in the synagogue in a
Joshua, (2) Judges, with Ruth, (3) Sam- week.  There are in all fifty-four of these,
uel, (4) Kings, (5) Isaiah, (6) Jeremiah, conforming to the number of lessons in a
(7) Ezekiel, and  (8) the twelve Lesser year; for the Jews are obliged to read all the
Prophets.  The first four books of this di- Pentateuch over once every year, finishing it
vision are  called  the  Former Prophets, on the feast of tabernacles, and beginning it
and the  last four the  Latter Prophets. again on the next sabbath day.  In the time
The Hagiographa, or Holy Writings, are of the persecution by Antiochus Epiphanes,
nine, viz.: (1) Job, (2) the Psalms, (3) they also selected fifty-four sections to be
Proverbs, (4) Ecclesiastes, (5) The Song of read out of the Prophets, which have ever




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  31
since constituted the second lessons in the was Hugo de Sancto Caro, who, being from
Jewish synagogue-service. The Little see- a Dominican monk advanced to the dignity
tions, which are subdivisions of the Greater, of a cardinal, and the first of that order that
are made according to the subjects they treat was so, is commonly called Hugo Cardinalis.
of; and these Great and Little sections are    This Cardinal Hugo, who flourished about
again of two sorts, one of which is called Pe- the year 1240, and died in 1262, had latuchoth, that is, open sections; and the other bored much in the study of the Holy ScripSethumoth, that is, close  sections.  The tures, and made a comment upon the whole
former commences in the  Hebrew  Bibles of them.  The carrying on of this work gave
always at the beginning of lines, and are him the occasion of inventing the first conmarked with three P's if it be a great section, cordance that was made of the Scriptures -
and with only one if it be a little section; that is, of the vulgar Latin Bible; for, conbecause P is the first letter of the word Pe- ceiving that such an index of all the words
tuchoth.  Every open section takes its name and phrases in the Bible would be of great
from its first word; and thus the first section use for the attaining of a better understanding
in the whole Bible is called Bereshith, which of it, he projected a scheme for the making
is the first word of the Book of Genesis in of such an index, and forthwith set a great
Hebrew.  The close sections begin the mid- number of the monks of his order on the
die of a line, and are marked with the letter collecting of the words under their proper
Samech, which is the first letter of the word classes in every letter of the alphabet, in
Sethumoth; if it be a great section it has order to this design; and, by the help of so
three Samechs; if a little section, only one. many hands, he soon brought it to what he
Every great section is also divided again into intended.  This work was afterward much
seven parts, which are read in the synagogue improved by those who followed him, espeby so many different persons.  If any priest cially by Arlottus Thuseus, and Conradus
be present, he begins, and a Levite reads after Halberstadius, the former a Franciscan and
him; and in the choice of the rest, regard is the other a Dominican firiar, who both lived
had to their dignity and condition.  The di- about the end of the same century.  But the
visions of the prophetical books already men- whole  intention  of the  work  being  for
tioned are read jointly with those of Moses, the easier finding of any word'or passage in
in the same manner.  These latter divisions the Scriptures, to mak0 it answer this purthey call Haphteroth, a term which signifies, pose the cardinal found it necessary, in the
in Hebrew, dismissions; because after this first place, to divide the book into sections,
reading is over they dismiss the people.   and the sections into other divisions, that by
The Jews call the division of the Holy these he might the better make the referScriptures into  chapters, Perakimz, which ences, and the more exactly point out in the
signifies fragments; and the division into index where any word or passage might be
verses they call Pesukim, a word of nearly found in the text; and these sections are
the same signification as the former.  These the chapters into which the Bible has ever
last are marked out in the Hebrew Bibles since been divided;  For, on the publishing
by two great points at the end of them, called of this concordance, the usefulness of it behence Soph-Pasuk, that is, the end of the ing immediately discerned, all were desirous
verse.  But the division of the Scriptures to have it; and, for the sake of the use of
into chapters and verses, as we now  have it, they all divided their bibles as Hugo had
them, is of a much later date.  The Psalms, done; for the references in the concordance
indeed, were always divided as at present; being made by these chapters and the subdifor St. Paul, in his sermon at Antioch in visions of them, unless their bibles were so
Pisidia, quotes the second Psalm.  But as divided too, the concordance would be of no
to the rest of the Holy Scriptures, the divis- use to them.  And thus this division of the
ion of them into such chapters as at present, several books of the Bible into chapters had
is what the ancients knew nothing of.  Some its original, which has ever since been made
attribute it to Stephen Langton, who was use of in all places and among all people,
archbishop of Canterbury in the reigns of wherever the Bible itself is used in these
King John and his son Henry the Third. western parts of the world; for before this
But the true author of this invention, as is there was no division of the books in the
shown by Dean Prideaux at great length, vulgar Latin bibles at all.




32                        INTRODUCTION TO THE
But the subdivisions of the chapters were yet did not do so in the division of the chapnot then by verses as now.  Hugo'sway of ters by the letters A, B, C, &c., in the
subdividing them was by the letters A, B, margin, but introduced a better usage by
C, D, E, F, G, placed in the margin at equal employing the division that was made by
distances from one another, according as the verse.  This division, as already mentioned,
chapters were longer or shorter.  In  long was very ancient; but it was till now without
chapters all these seven letters were used, in any numbers put to the verses.  The numothers fewer, as the length of the chapters bering, therefore, of the verses in the chaprequired; for the subdivision of the chapters ters, and the quoting of the passages in every
by verses, which is now in all our Bibles, chapter by the verses, were Rabbi Nathan's
was not introduced into them till some ages invention; in every thing else he followed the
after; and then it was from the Jews that pattern which Cardinal Hugo had set him.
the use of it, as we now have it, took its But it is to be observed, that he did not
original on the following occasion.       number the verses any otherwise than by
About the year 1430, there lived here affixing the numerical Hebrew letters in the
among the western Jews a famous rabbi, margin at every fifth verse; and this has been
called by some Rabbi Mordecai Nathan, by the usage of the Jews in all their Hebrew
others Rabbi Isaac Nathan, and by many by bibles ever since, except that latterly they
both these names, as if he were first called have also introduced the common figures for
by one of them, and then, by a change of it, numbering the intermediate verses between
by the other.  This rabbi being much con- every fifth.  Vatalibius soon after published
versant with the Christians, and having fre- a Latin Bible according to this pattern, with
quent disputes with their learned men about the chapters divided into verses, and the
religion, he thereby came to the knowledge verses so numbered; and this example has
of the great use which they made of the been followed in all other editions that have
Latin concordance composed by Cardinal been since put forth.  So that, as the Jews
Hugo, and the benefit which they had from  borrowed the division of the books of the
it, in the ready finding of any place in the Holy Scriptures into  chapters from  the
Scriptures which they had occasion to con- Christians, in like manner the Christians
sult; which he was so much taken with, that borrowed that of the chapters into verses
he immediately set about making such a from the Jews.  But to this day the book of
concordance to the Hebrew Bible for the use the law, which is read by the Jews in their
of the Jews.  He began this work in the synagogues every sabbath day, has none of
year 1438, and finished it in 1445, being these distinctions, that is, is not divided into
seven years in composing it; and the first verses as the Bible is.
publishing of it happening about the time   The division of the books of Scripture into
when printing was invented, it has since un- great and little sections, does, without doubt,
dergone several editions from  the  press. contribute much to the clearing up of their
The Buxtorfs, father and son, bestowed much contents; and for this reason, as well as bepains on this work, and an edition of it was cause they found it practised in the synapublished by them at Basil in 1632.*     gogues, the  Christians  also  divided  the
In the composing of this book, Rabbi books of the New Testament into what the
Nathan finding it necessary to follow the Greeks call pericopes, that is sections, that
same division of the Scriptures into chapters they might be read in their order.  Each of
which Hugo had made in them, it had the these sections contained, under the same
like effect as to the Hebrew bibles that title, all the matters that had any relation to
Hugo's had as to the Latin, causing the one another, and were solemnly read in the
same divisions to be made in all the Hebrew  churches by the public readers, after the
bibles which were afterward either written deacons had admonished the faithful to be
out or printed for common use; and hence attentive to it, crying with a loud voice, "Atthe division into chapters first came into the tendance, Let us attend."  The name of
Hebrew  bibles.  But Nathan, though he titles was given to these sections, because
followed Hugo in the division into chapters, each of them had its own title.  Robert Stephens, the famous printer, who died at Ge* Taylor's Hebrew concordance has been pub- neva in 1559, gets the credit of being the
lished since, and extensively used.      first who made the division of the chapters of




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                   33
the New Testament into verses, and for the in the synagogues, and the square ones, or
same reason as Rabbi Nathan had done be- those which are to be found in private colfore him as to the Old Testament; that is, lections.  The rules laid clown by the Jews
for the sake of a concordance which he was with respect to their manuscripts have unthen composing for the Greek Testament, doubtedly tended much to preserve the inand which was afterward printed by Henry tegrity of the text.  They are directed to be
Stephens, his son, who gives this account of written upon parchment, made from the skill
the matter in his preface to the concordance.
Since that time, this division of the whole
Bible by chapters and verses, and the quotingl of all passages in them  by the numbers
of both, has grown into use everywhere
among us in these western parts; so that not
only all Latin bibles, but all Greek ones also,
as well as every other that has been printed
in any of the modern languages, have followed this division.  They who most approve                        Scribe.
Of this division of the Bible into chapters
and verses, as at present used, agree that a of a clean animal, and to be tied together
much more convenient one might be made; with strings of similar substance, or sewn
since it often happens that things  which with goat's-hair, which has been spun and
oughtA to be separated are joined together, prepared by a Jewess.  It must be likewise
and many things which ought to be joined a Jew  that writes the law, and they are
together are divided.                       extremely diligent and exact in it, because
The respect which the Jews have for the the least fault profanes the book.  Every
sacred books, and which even degenerates skin of parchment is to contain a certain
into superstition, is one of the principal of number of columns, which are to be of a
their religious practices.  Nothing  can be precise length and breadth, and to contain a
added to the care they talke in writing them. certain number of words.  They are to be
The books of the ancients were of a different written with the purest ink, and no word is to
form from ours; they did not consist of sev- be written by heart or with the points; it
eral leaves, but of one or more skins or must be first orally pronounced by the copyparchments sewn together, and fastened at ist.  The name of God is directed to be
the ends to rollers of wood, upon which they written with the utmost attention and devowere rolled up; so that a book when thus tion, and the transcriber is to wash his pen
shut up might easily be sealed in several before he inscribes it on the parchment.  If
places.  And such was the book mentioned there should chance to be a word with either
in the Revelations, which St. John  says a deficient or a redundant letter, or should
"was sealed with seven seals," and which any of the prosaic part of the Old Testament
no one but " the Lion of the tribe  of be written as verse, or vice versa, the manuJudah could open and explain."              script is vitiated.  No Hebrew  manuscript
with any illumination is, on any account, admitted into a synagogue, although private
V -X1 -individuals are permitted to have them  ornamented for their own use; but in the illustrations, the resemblance of any animal denounced by the Jews as unclean cannot be
admitted.  Among the modern  Jews,: the
book of Esther, in particular, is frequently
decorated with rude figures of various kinds;
but with respect to this book, it must be observed that, owing to its wanting the; sacred
ncient rn erasame of God, it is not held in such repute
Ancient Writing-Materials.
for holiness as the other books are.  The
The Hebrew manuscripts of the Bible are manuscripts for private use may be either
of two kinds -  the rolled ones, or those used upon parchment, vellum, or paper,. and of
3




34                        INTRODUCTION TO THE
various sizes. "There is," says Prideaux, the lesson is ended the book is rolled up,
"in the church of St. Dominic, in Bononia, and wrapped in a piece of silk.
a copy of the Hebrew Scriptures, kept with   The Jews still retain so great a veneraa great deal of care, which they pretend to tion for the Hebrew tongue, that they do not
be the original copy written by Ezra himself; think it lawful to use any other bibles in the
and therefore it is there valued at so high a synagogues but such as are written in that
rate, that great sums of money have been language.  This was what enraged them so
borrowed by the Bononians upon the pawn much against the Hellenistic or Grecizing
of it, and again repaid for its redemption. Jews, who read the Septuagint Greek verIt is written in a very fair character upon a sion in their synagogues; and so much
sort of leather, and made up in a roll accord- were they grieved that this version was ever
ing to the ancient manner; but it having the made, that they instituted a fast, in which
vowel-points annexed, and the writing being they annually lament this as a misfortune.
fresh and fair, without any decay, both these But because the Hebrew was, after the capparticulars prove the novelty of that copy. tivity, no longer the vulgar tongue, there
But such forgeries are no uncommon things was an interpreter in the synagogues, who
among the papistical sect."              explained to the people in the Challdee, or
To open and shut up the roll or book of common tongue, what was read to them in
the law, to hold it, and to raise and show it the Hebrew.  The use they made of the
to the people, are three offices, which are Scriptures, however, gave the people  at
sold, and bring in a great deal of money. least an imperfect knowledge of the Hebrew
The skins on which the law is written are language.  And thus we see the eunuch
fastened to two rollers, whose ends jut out who is mentioned in the Acts, could read
at the sides, beyond the skins, and are Isaiah, and understand  enough of it to
usually adorned with silver; and it is by form the question which he put to Philip,
them that they hold the book when they lift concerning the passage in  the prophecy
it up, and exhibit it to the congregation; relating to Jesus Christ.
because they are forbidden to touch the book   After having spoken of the books conitself with their hands.  All who are in the tained in the Bible, and of the divisions of
synagogue kiss it, and they who are not those books which have been used by the
near enough to reach it with their mouths, Jews and the Christians, both in ancient
touch the silken cover of it, and then kiss and modern times, it may now be necessary
their hands, and put the two fingers with to examine a little into the language in
which they touched it upon their eyes, which which they were written.  The Old Testathey think preserves the sight.  They keep ment was originally written in the Hebrew
it in a cupboard, which supplies the place tongue; and this language is generally conof the ark of the covenant, and they there- sidered as having the best claims to be
fore call this cupboard Aaron, which is the considered the most ancient at present exiHebrew  name for the ark; and this is isting in the world, and, perhaps, as the
always placed in the east end of the syna- primeval tongue of the human race.  By
gogue.  Hie who presides chooses any one the Hebrew - language, therefore~ is meant
whom he pleases to read and explain the that which was spoken by Abraham, Isaac,
scripture, which was a mark of distinction; Jacob, and the twelve patriarchs, which was
as we see in the thirteenth chapter of the afterward preserved among their posterity,
Acts, where we find the rulers of the syna- and in which Moses wrote, it being improbable
gogue desiring the apostles, when they were that he would employ any other language
in the synagogue, to make a discourse to the than that which was in use among the Jews.
people.  Ordinarily speaking, a priest' be-   This language is supposed by some to
gan, a Levite read on, and at last one of derive its name from  Heber, great-grandson
the people, whom the president chose, con- to Shem, whose posterity were denominated
cluded.  He who reads stands upright, and Hebrews; but it is much more likely that
is not suffered so much as to lean against it received its name from  its being the
a wall.  Before he begins, he says with a mother-tongue of the descendants of Abraloud voice, "Bless ye God;" and the con- ham, who were called Hebrews, not because
gregation answer, " Blessed be thou, 0 my they were descended from Heber, but beGod, blessed be thou, forever; " and when cause Abraham, having received a command




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               35
from  God to leave the country where he went away full, and Jehovah hath caused
lived, which was beyond the Euphrates, me to return empty; wherefore then do ye
passed that river, and came into the land of call me Naomi, since Jehovah hath brought
Canaan, where the inhabitants of the coun- affiction on me, and the Almighty hath
try gave him the name of the Hebrew, that caused evil to befall me?"
is, one that has passed over; in the same   Thus we see that in Hebrew, as well as
manner as the French call all those that live in most of the oriental languages, all proper
beyond the mountains, Ultramontanes.      names are significant words; and this is
The reasons that demonstrate the anti- found to be the case also among many of
quity of the Hebrew tongue are many.  In the nations of Africa.  This circumstance
the first place, the names which the Scrip- has a great effect in increasing the energy
ture explains are therein drawn from  He- of the diction in these tongues; for it not
brew roots.  It was thus that the first man unfrequently happens, as in the case of.was called Adam, because he had  been Naomi, that the speaker or writer, in adformed out of the ground, which in Hebrew  dressing a person by his name, makes use
is called Adamah.  The first woman was of it at the same time as a word of ordinary
called Eve, because she was the origin of signification, to express something in the inlife to all, evach in Hebrew  signifying to ward disposition or the outward circumstances
live.  The name of Cain, which  comes of the possessor.  Instances of this occur in
from  Canah, signifying to acquire, or get, almost every page of the Hebrew scriptures;
alludes to what Eve said when he was born: I and, as may readily be supposed, it is irm" I have got a man from the Lord."  The possible in such  cases, for any common
explanation of these names is not to be translation to do justice to the energy of
found in any language but the Hebrew; and the original.  We have a very remarkable
as this relation between names and things example of this in the twenty-fifth chapter
does not occur in any other language, it is of 1 Samuel, at the twenty-fifth verse, in
in it alone that we can see the reasons why which Abigail, speaking of her husband
the first human beings were so called.    Nabal, says to David: "Let not my lord
The names of an immense number of set his mind at all now toward the man of
people, also, who are descended from  the Belial (that is, worthless), this same person,
Hebrews, show the antiquity both of the Nabal (which means a scoundrel); for like
nation and the language.  The Assurians, his name so is he; Nabal is his name, and
for instance, derive their name from Ashur, Nebelah (that is, vileness) is with him."
the Elamites from Elam, the Arammans from    In speaking of the meaning of proper
Aram, the Lydians, from  Lud, the Medes names, however, the most extraordinary exfrom Madai, and the Ionians from Javan, who ample, perhaps, that can be produced from
are all traced in the Hebrew bible to Shem, any book, either ancient or modern, is the
Ham, and Japhet.  These names have no following, which is to be found in the fifth
signification in any language but the He- chapter of Genesis: the names of the ten
brew, which shows that they are derived antediluvian patriarchs, from Adam to Noah
thence, as are also the ancient names of the inclusive, are there given; and when these
pagan deities; to which we must add the ten names are literally translated, and placed
remark which several learned men  have in the order in which they occur, they form
made, namely, that there is no language in altogether the following  very remarkable
which some remains of the Hebrew are not sentence in English: man, appointed, Inisto be found.                              erable, lamenting, the God of glory, shall
A very apposite example, in allusion to the descend, to instruct, his death sends to the
meaning of proper names in Hebrew, is to be afflicted, consolation!
found in the Book of Ruth, toward the end of    We need not be surprised, therefore, at
the first chapter, where it is said, " And the what is mentioned in the Spectator (No.
whole town was in commotion about them; 221), of a certain rabbinical divine having
and the women said, Is this Naomi?  And taken the first three of these names as the
she said, Call me not Naomi (which means I subject of his discourse, forming thus the
Delighliful); call me Marah (which means text of a regular sermon.  " We had a rabBitter); for the Almighty (Emer) hath binical divine in England," says Addison,
caused bitterness exceedingly to me.  I "who was chaplain to the earl of Essex in




36                         INTRODUCTION TO THE
Queen Elizabeth's time, that had an admira- Hebrew  grammar.  Its flection nearly ap.
ble head for secrets of this nature.  Upon preaches that of the modern languages, parhis taking the doctor of divinity's degree, he ticularly the English.  The relations and
preached before the university of Cambridge dependencies of nouns are not distinguished
upon the first verse of the first chapter of by terminations, or cases, but by particles
the First Book of Chronicles,'in which,' or  prepositions  prefixed.  The  persons,
says he,'you have the three following words: moods, or tenses, of verbs are not marked'Adam, Sheth, Enosh.'                      by the changes of their last syllables, but
"He divided this short text into many by means of letters of a particular order,
parts, and by discovering several mysteries which sometimes appear in the middle, somein each word, made a most learned and elab- times in the beginning, and sometimes in the
orate discourse.  The name of this profound end of the original word."  In  fact the
preacher was Dr. Alabaster, of whom  the structure of the Hebrew language is pecureader may find a more particular account in liarly favorable for the expression of energy..
Dr. Fuller's Book of English Worthies."    and sublimity.  The words, as is well known,
It is evident, that although this matter are remarkable for shortness, the greater part
appeared  ridiculous enough in Addison's consisting of not more than two, three, or
eyes, so as to furnish him with a theme for a four letters; few words have more than ten
very amusing paper, yet, on considering letters, and those that consist of that number
attentively the meaning of the original words are not many.  The sentences are also for
here used as proper names, a great deal of the most part short, and are quite free from
very sound doctrine might be elicited by a that complexity which is apt to embarrass
subtile divine, even from such an apparently the reader when  perusing even the best
insignificant text.                        authors of Greece and Rome.  The idiom
In the same way the names of animals in of any language consists in the order of the
Hebrew are found to be words expressive of words; but it is well known that, in this
their qualities, which gives support to the respect, the Greek and Latin tongues are
idea that this was the language which Adam  extremely capricious, the words being arused when he gave them their names; as we ranged in them not in the order of the underfind recorded in the second chapter of Gen- standing, but of the ear, according to the
esis, at the 19th verse: "And Jehovah God sound rather than the sense.  The Greek
formed out of the ground every beast of the and Roman writers place the emphatic words
field, and he formed also every fowl of the in whatever order the sentence can be made
heavens; and he brought theme unto Adam  to run most musically, though the sense be
to see what he would call them, and what- suspended till the speaker or reader come to
ever Adam called it - the living creature -  the end; and hence the need of so many
it is its name."                          flections and syntax-rules for a learner to
Some of the names of animals in Hebrew  arrange them to find out the meaning.  Yet
are still found to be clearly descriptive of even for this purpose more declensions than
their qualities, and therefore in regard to one were not necessary; nor more tenses
what animal is intended there can in such than three, a past, a present, and a future.
cases be no dispute.  But with respect to    From this mass of perplexity the Hebrew
some others the matter is not so plain, as, language is entirely free.  Its original words,
from the root not being now found in the called roots, consist of a proper number of
language, the ideal meaning of the name can- letters, commonly three, the fewest that
not be so readily ascertained: and hence the make a perfect number; and they express
eleventh chapter of Leviticus, in which the an action finished or expressed by a single
names of certain clean and unclean animals agent.  It has a proper number of voices,
are enumerated, presents difficulties to a that is, active, passive, and medial - and
translator of no ordinary description.     only the tenses that are in  nature.  Its
There is, perhaps, no language in the primitive words are more sentimental and
world so easily re(duced to its original ele- scientific than sonorous; and they express
ments as the Hebrew.  As Wilson has original ideas, being definitions of things
well expressed it, " We descend from' words descriptive of their natures.
to their element; and the accurate knowl-   The Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, and such
edge of letters is the principal part of as are immediately derived from them, or




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    37
constructed on their model, are the only    Such is the simple nature of the formation
languages  that are formed  on a regular of this primitive language, and which seems,
artificial plan; and all other tongues of at the same time, to entitle it more to the
which we know any thing, except perhaps claim of being a philosophical tongue than,
the Persian and the Sanscrit, must be con- perhaps, any other in the world.  It is residered in comparison as mere gibberish, markable that the structure of this very anbeing quite rude in their original formation; cient language approaches closely to that of
nor is it possible to reduce them  to another the English, and other modern tongues, as the
state, without wholly metamorphosing them. relations and dependencies of nouns, accordThat which was never the language of a ing to what has been already remarked, are
cultivated, learned people, and  in which not distinguished by terminations, or cases,
there are no literary works of taste, cannot as in Greek and Latin, but by particles or
be a polished language, although it may prepositions (or little words) prefixed, and
have been the language of a civilized nation, which are, at the same time, conjoined with
or of a court, if they were only an illiterate the noun, as if they were a part of it.
people.  In  a  word, all languages  that   The advantages which the Hebrew language
have a concourse of consonants, or silent possesses, above all others, in the simplicity
letters, are  rude in  their writing or pro- of its formation — its remarkable originality,
nunciation, whatever  their structure may in that it borrows from  no language, while
be.  The Greek and Latin are free from the almost all others borrow from  it —as also
latter fault, and the Hebrew  from  both. the ideality which is found to pervade its
" As Solomon possessed the most wisdom  roots or primitive words — have all been
and  knowledge,"  says Mr.  Ray, "and considered as entitling it to higher claims in
treated all subjects of natural philosophy, the consideration of philosophers, than any
&e., and his court being the most splendid other language in the world, either ancient
and elegant, as people came to it from  all or modern.  These notions have been carried
nations, and greatly admired it, the Hebrew  to such a length, indeed, by some learned
must be a copious, elegant language; and men, that they gave rise to an entirely new
its structure is invariable, being the same in school of philosophy, generally known by
Moses and Malachi, at a thousand  years' the designation of the Hutchinsonian; the
distance."  In speaking of the genius of a disciples of which are remarkable as being
language, indeed, which is its force, vigor, opposed in many things to the Newtonian
or energy, the Hebrew, may, without doubt, system, and as being possessed with the belief
be said to excel all.                       that in the Hebrew language, and in it alone,
It is evident therefore that if, as Longinus are to be found the germs of all true philosoobserves, " saying the greatest things in the phy.
fewest words" be essential to simplicity andNTEGRITY OF THE TEXT.
energy in discourse, the Hebrew is the best
language in the world for the purpose.  In    THE sacred books which were written, as
it we have no superfluous parts of a sentence we have seen, in Hebrew, the language of
in words, or even in letters.  A  Hebrew  the patriarchs, have been preserved down to
writer conveys his meaning without circum- our days without any corruption; and the
locution; for, although he were inclined, he same judgment may also be formed of those
would be unable to accomplish it, because other books of Scripture which have been since
the language is quite unsuitable in its nature written in Greek.  But before proving the
for being employed in any such way; and purity and integrity of these original texts,
therefore if an author's subject be good, it may be necessary to remove a prejudice
even although he should possess but little which may arise from the variety of different
genius, he will find no great difficulty to readings that are found in the manuscript
clothe his ideas in sublime and energetic and printed copies of the Bible.
language, if he write in Hebrew.*              The different manner in which some pas* The Bible was composed, says Prof. Lange, deepest, purest, and most direct language of
in the two leading languages of antiquity, which spiritual experiences; while the Greek is the most
reflect the greatest contrast in the intellectual cultivated, refined, and philosophical expression
world. The Hebrew  tongue may be charac- of intellectual life. —A. B.
terized as the most unstudied and child-like, as the




38                         INTRODUCTION TO THE
sages are expressed in different manuscripts,   WVhen we have collected all the differences
together with the omission or insertion of a that are found in manuscripts of the original
word, or of a clause, constitute what are text, and have selected from them what are
called various readings.  This was occa- really various readings, we are able to desioned by the oversights or mistakes of tran- termine, from the number and authority of
scribers, who deviated from the copy before the manuscripts, with tolerable correctness,
them, these persons not being, as some have what is the genuine reading.  Beside the
supposed, supernaturally guarded against the authority of the manuscript, we must also be
possibility of error; and a mistake in one guided in determining the true reading by
copy would, of course, be propagated through the scope of the passage, by the interpretaall that were taken from it, each of which tions and quotations of ancient writers, by
copies might likewise have peculiar faults of the old versions, and not unfrequently by
its own, so that various readings would thus Scripture itself; for similar or parallel pasbe increased in proportion to the number of sages will often be found useful for this purtranscripts that were made.  Besides actual pose.  When all these things are considered,
oversights, transcribers might have  occa- it will seldom happen that the true reading
sioned various readings by  substituting, of a passage will be doubtful; yet should it
through ignorance, one word, or even letter, continue so, either reading may contain a
in place of another; they might have mis- truth, though certainly both cannot be autaken the line on which the copy before thentic, and in a theological point of view,
them was written, for part of a letter, or they either of them  may be followed without inmight have mistaken the lower stroke of a volving a doctrinal error; and in such a case,
letter for the line, and thus have altered the the common reading should not be relinreading; at the same time they were unwill- quished.
ing to correct such mistakes as they detected,   To a person who has not considered the
lest their pages should appear blotted or de- subject closely, it may appear sufficient to
faced; and thus they sacrificed the correct- overthrow the authority of the text, that no
ness of their copy to its fair appearance. less than thirty thousand various readings of
Copyers seem, not unfrequently, to have the scriptures of the Old and New Testaadded letters to the last word in their lines, ments have been  discovered.  But when
in order to preserve them even, and margi- these are examined closely, and all that are
nal notes have been sometimes introduced not properly various readings are rejected,
into the text.  These different circumstances, the number will be considerably diminished;
as well as others with which we may not be from these again let all be deducted which
acquainted, did no doubt contribute very make no alteration in the several passages to
much to produce and multiply mistakes and which they refer, and the reduction will be
variations in the manuscripts of the Hebrew  much greater; and out of the remainder
scriptures.  This language is more suscepti- there are none found that can invalidate the
ble of corruption, and any alteration would authority of those doctrines that have been
be more detrimental in it than in others. In esteemed fundamental, or that can shake a
English, if a letter be omitted, or altered, single portion  of that internal evidence
the mistake can be easily corrected, because whereby the divine origin of the Scriptures
the word thus corrupted may have no mean- is supported; so that the friends of revelaing; but in Hebrew, almost every combi- tion had no grounds for the alarm  they felt
nation of the letters forms a new word, so at the time when the subject of various
that an alteration of even one letter of any readings began to be discussed.  These ohdescription is likely to produce a new word servations apply strongly to the New Testaand a  new  meaning.  Thus  putting all ment, which, as it has been transcribed more
alterations made knowingly -  for the pur- frequently, and probably by less skilful tranpose of corrupting the text, out of the ques- scribers than the Old, has, in proportion,
tion — we must allow that from  these cir- many more various readings.  Respecting
cumstances connected with the transcribing, these, however, it has been said, that " all
some errata may have found their way into it, the omissions of the ancient manuscripts put
and that the sacred Scriptures have in this together, would not countenance the omission
case suffered the fate of other productions of of any essential doctrine of the gospel, relaantiquity.                                tive to faith or morals; and all the additions




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE,                                       39
mcntenanced by the whole mass of manu- ulation, that "the books of the law  which
seripts already collated, do not introduce a! have been written by a heretic, a traitor, one
single point essential either to faith or morals, who is a stranger to the Jewish religion, an
beyond what may be found in the Complu- idolatrous minister -by which they mean a
tensian or Elzevir editions.*                 monk-  a slave, a woman, one under age, a
The manner in -which the original text of  Cuthmean, or Christian, or an apostate Israelthe Scriptures, particularly the Hebrew, has ite, are unlawful."
been preserved firee from all material corrup-    "This," says St. Augustine, " is a most
tion, and handed down pure through such a visible effect of the providence of God over
long succession of ages, may now form  the his church.  It pleased him  that the Jews
subject of our especial consideration.        should  be our librarians; that, when the
It has been supposed by many that the Pagans reject the oracles of the ancient
Christian fathers accused the Jews of cor- prophets concerning Jesus Christ, which we
rupting the text; but from an examination of quote against them as being invented by us,
such passages as seem  to imply this, it ap- we might refer them. to the enemies of our
pears that they spoke not of corrupting the religion, who will show them  in their books
text, but of adopting unfaithful translations. the same prophecies which we quote against
Justin Martyr, one of the most celebrated of them."
the Christian fathers, defends the Jews very    The class of Jewish doctors called Massowell as to this point, and proves that they rites were grammarians, who engaged with
have not corrupted the Scriptures: and it is peculiar ardor in the revisal of the Hebrew
past doubt they have not; for, as St. Jerome scriptures.  The Massoritic notes and critiobserves, before the birth of Jesus Christ cisms relate to the verses, words, letters,
they had certainly made no malicious altera- vowel-points, and accents.  All the verses of
tions in them.  If they had done so, our each book and of each section are numbered,
Saviour and his apostles, who cast so many and the amount placed at the end of each in
reproaches upon the scribes and Pharisees, numerical letters, or in some  symbolical
would not have passed over in silence  so word formed out of them; the middle verse
great a crime.  To suppose such a thing, of each book is also marked, and even the
indeed, were to know little of the attachment very letters are numbered; and all this is
of the Jews for the Scriptures.  Josephus done to preserve the text from any alteration,
and Philo assure us that they would have by either fraud or negligence.  For instance,
undergone all sorts of torments rather than  Bereshith, or Genesis, is marked as containhave taken a letter from  the Scripture, or ing 1,534 verses, and the middle one is at
altered a word in it.  A  copy  which had -  " And by thy sword thou shalt live"
only one fault in it was by them thought pol- (xxvii. 40).  The lines are 4,395; its colluted, and was not suffered to be kept above umns are 43, and its chapters 50.  The
thirty days; and -one that had four faults number of its words is 27,713, and its letters
was ordered to be hid in the earth.  In the are 78,100.  The Massoritic notes, or MasBabylonian Talmud it is laid down as a reg- sorah, as the work is called, contain also ob* Prof. Norton, in his work on the "Genuine- Tichendorf. The last-named  author, by  his
ness of the Gospels," remarks, " Of the various scholarship, researches, and enthusiastic devotion
readings, nineteen out of twenty, at least, are to to the work, has brought out a critical edition of
be dismissed at once fiom consideration, because the New Testament, which is considered as surfound in so few authorities.                  passing all that have been previously issued. His
" Of those which remain, a very great majority patient. protracted, extensive, and elaborate examare entirely unimportant.  They consist in differ- ination of ancient manuscripts, and more espeent modes of spelling; in different tenses of the ciallv his discovery of an ancient manuscript in
same verb, or cases of the same noun,not affecting the Convent of Mount Sinai in 1859, which proves
the essential Ineaning; in the use of the singular to be the oldest, with a single exception, known to
fbr the plural, or the plural for the singular; in biblical antiquarians, supplied him with materithe insertion or omission of particles not affecting als for the great work he has produced. This
the sense, or of the article in cases equally un- world-renowned manuscript, called the Sixaitic,
important. Such various readings, and others so providentially discovered, which was written as
equally unimportant, compose far the greater early as the fourth century, is a priceless gift to
part of all."                                 the age, reflecting as it does a full and clear light
The literary reader is referred to the critical as to what is the word written by God, and aiding
editions of the New Testament by Beza, Mill, in its defence, and establishing its  authentic
Wetstein, Bengel, Griesbach, Scholz, Alford, and form. - A. B.




40                          INTRODUCTION TO THE
servations on the words and letters of the any other human compilation; but, at the
verses; for instance, how many verses end same time, it must be allowed that it has
with the letter samech; how many there are preserved the Hebrew text from the time it
in which the same word is repeated twice or was formed, and conveyed it to us as perfect
thrice; and other remarks of a similar na- as any ancient work could be given.
ture.                                         The various readings given in the HeIt seems now generally agreed upon that brew  Bibles, and which  are  technically
the Massorites of Tiberias, during the fourth denominated by the Jews the Keri and
century of the Christian era, were the invent- Cetib, are not to be ascribed to Moses or
ors of the system  of the vowel-points and the prophets, for it cannot be supposed that
accents in the Hebrew Bible; and although inspired writers were ignorant of what was
they multiply them  very unnecessarily, it the true reading of the scripture text.  One
must be allowed that this is the most useful principal occasion of the notes of the Keri
of their works.  From  the points we learn and Cetib is, that there are several words
how the text was read in their time, as we which the Jews, either from  superstitious
know they were guided in affixing them  by reverence  or from  contempt, are  never
the mode of reading which then prevailed, allowed to pronounce.  When they meet
and which they supposed to have been tra- with them  in the text, instead of pronounditionally conveyed down from  the sacred eing them, they pronounce others that are
writers.                                    marked by certain vowels or consonants in
The Massoritic notes were at first written  the margin.  The chief of these is the great
in separate rolls, but they are now usually name of God JEnovAH, instead of which
placed in the margin, or at the top and bot- they always read Adonai, Lord, or Elozim,
tom of the page in printed copies.  Many God.  This is the word called Tetragramopinions are entertained about the authors maton, or the ineffable name of God, consistof them; some think they were begun by ing of the four letters, Yod, He, Wan, He.
Moses; others regard them as the work of The people were not suffered to pronounce
Ezra and the members of the great syna- it; the high-priest alone had that privilege,
gogue, among whom were the later prophets; and that only in the temple once a year,
while other,: refer them  entirely to the rab- when he blessed the people on the great day
bins of Tibe ias, who are usually styled the of atonement; and hence it is, that, as this
Massorites, and  suppose  that they  com- holy name has not been pronounced since
menced this system, which was augmented the destruction of the temple, its true pro
and continued at different times by various nunciation is now  lost.  Galatinus, in the
authors, so that it was not the work of one sixteenth century, was the first who thought
man, nor of one age.  It is not improbable fit to say, that it ought to be pronounced
that these notes were begun about the time Jehovah; " which did not happen," says
of the Maccabees, when the Pharisees, who PBre l'Amy, "without a very' particular
were called the masters of tradition, first be- providence of God, who was pleased, that
gan to make their observations on the letter when the Jews lost the temple in which the
of the law though they were regardless of its true God was worshipped, they should at
spirit.  They might have commenced by the same time lose the true pronunciation
numbering first the verses, next the words of his august name.  It happened, I say,
and letters; and then, when the vowel-points because, being no longer willing to be their
were added, others continued the system  by God (for the destruction of the temple was
making  observations on  them.  On  the an authentic testimony of the divorce which
whole, then, it appears that what is called he gave them), he would not leave them
the Massorah is entitled to no greater rev- the power of so much as pronouncing his
erence or attention than may be claimed by name." ~
JEHOVAH. - The true pronunciation of this reverence, and has almost degenerated into a seiname, by whlich God was known to the Hebrews, perstition, was founded upon an erroneous renderhas been entirely lost, the Jews themselves scru- ing of Lev. xxiv. 16, from which it was inferred
pulously avoiding every mention of it, and substi- that the mere utterance of the name constituted
tuting in its stead one or other of the words with a capital offence. According to Jewish tradition,
whose proper vowel-points it may happen to be it was pronounced but once a year by the highwritten,  This custom, which had its origin in priest on the day of Atonement when he en



HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                     41
Josephus, himself a priest, says it was Babylon, who were two famous 3Massorites,
unlawful for him  to speak  of the  name that lived about the year 1030, and were
whereby God was made known to Moses; the last of them.  Both  of these rabbis
and if it be true that the pronunciation labored to produce a correct copy of the
of it was connected with the temple service, Scriptures, and the followers of each corit is not surprising that all trace of it should rected theirs by that of their master.  The
be lost when the temple was destroyed, and variations between them relate to the points,
when the Jews grew  every day more super- and in but one instance is there any differstitiously afraid of pronouncing  it.  Leus- ence in the writing of a word; so that they
den, the great orientalist, is said  to have do not affect the integrity of the text.
offered a Jew at Amsterdam  a considerable    What has been said of the integrity of the
sum of money if he would pronounce it only text of the Old Testament, may be applied
once, but in vain.                            also to the New, in so far as it may be
Besides the various readings called  the charged with corruptions, in consequence of
Keri and Cetib, which the Jews admit to the negligence of transcribers, as also in consebe the oldest, there are two other kinds of quence of the attempt of heretics to make
various readings which deserve our notice, it conform  to their erroneous sentiments.
because they  are given  in some  printed  Though it must be admitted that the New
bibles.  The first are those of the eastern  Testament text, by being more frequently
and western Jews; the second, those be- transcribed than that of the Old, became liatween the manuscripts of Ben Asher and ble to a greater proportion of various readBen Naphtali.  By  the eastern  Jews we ings, originating from  the mistakes of the
are to understand those of Babylon; by transcribers, yet this very circumstance was
the western, those of Palestine.  At Baby- likewise a sure protection against wilful perIon and in Palestine, after the destruction of version  or corruption; for in  proportion
the city and temple, there were  famous as copies were multiplied, the difficulty of
schools for many  ages, and between  the effecting a general corruption was increased.
learned men of these places much rivalship  No such system  as that of the lMassorites
existed; so that each party, by following was ever adopted to preserve the purity of
their own copies, gave rise to a collection of the New Testament text; but we have it in
various readings, or corrections of the text, our power to use various means for ascerwhose antiquity is acknowledged, though it taining what is the true reading of the text,
does not appear exactly at what time it was without having recourse to such a plan as
made.                                         that of the Massorah; and  concordances,
The other collection is called  after the which are now brought to an uncommon deheads  of two  celebrated  schools -  Ben gree of perfection, are of great use in preAsher, at Tiberias, and Ben Naphtali, at serving it from  corruption; in  fact, the
tered the Holy of Holies. When Moses received the sake of convenience to adopt the form  " Jehis commission to be the deliverer of Israel, the hovah," on account of its familiarity to English
Almighty, who appeared in the burning hash, com- readers.
municated to him the name which he should give    A more important question relates to the meanas the credentials of his mission: " And God said ing of the name JEHOVAH, and what it expresses
munto IMoses, 1 AMa THAT ~I AM (oiSP~e~       U1R Pf; ROf the being and nature of God, more than, or in
"*    I- ":." - distinction from, the other names applied to the
ehyeh asher elhyeh); and he said, Thus shalt thou Deity in the 0. T. While Elohim, God, exhibits
say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent him as displayed in his power as the Creator and
me unto you."  That this passage is intended Governor of the physical universe, the name Jeto indicate the etylnology of Jehovah, as under- hocth designates his nature as he stands in relastood by the Helrews, no one has ventured to tion to man, as the only almighty, true, personal,
doubt: it is in fact the key to the who'e mystery. holy Being, a Spirit, and " the Father of spirits "
But, though it certainly supplies the etvmolo)y, (Num. xvi. 22; comp. John iv. 24), who revealed
the interpretation must be determined from other himself to his people, made a covenant with
considerations. Accordinog to this view then, m;   them, and became their lawgiver, and to whom
must be the 3rd sing. masc. fut. of the substan- all honor and worship are due. If the etymology
tive verb  l,, the older form of which was,:. above given be accepted, it would denote, in acOf the many punctuations which have been pro- cordance  with the general analogy of proper
posed, the most correct appear to hbe, MI   or l  names of a similar form, "He that is," "the
~-:- Beinog" whose chief attribute is eternal existence.
and we accept the former, i. e. Yatohveh, as the - Bible Dictionary.               A. B.
more probable, continuing at the same time for




42                        INTRODUCTION TO THE
single one of Buxtorf has done more toward Irequest, Esarhaddon sent some of those
fixing the genuine reading, and pointing out priests who had been carried into captivity,
the true meaning of Scripture, than the to instruct them, and teach them the worship
entire body of the Massoritic notes.  We of the true God.  They did not embrace
have the consent of the church, in all ages it with purity, however, but mixed  the
and countries, to prove our copies of the remains of paganism  with their religion
New Testament scriptures authentic, and for which reason, in the writings of the
the authenticity of the Hebrew text is con- Jewish rabbis, they are denominated, in scorn,
firmed by Christ and his apostles; and, in " The proselytes of the lions; " because it
concluding this part of the subject, it may was through fear of them that they mixed
be remarked, that the general integrity of the worship of the Creator with that of
the Iebrew  text receives additional con- their idols.  Nevertheless, when 5Manasses,
firmation from the ancient versions, as will the son of Jaddus, the high-priest of the
more fully appear hereafter.             Jews, had built the temple  on  Mount
Gerizim, the Samaritans then retained their
ANCIENT VERSIONS.               old superstitions no  longer, but always
contended that their temple was more holy
ORIGINALLY there was but one version of than that of Jerusalem; inferring from the
the Scriptures; but a schism of a remark- ark's having been a long time at Shiloh,
able nature which broke out between the near Ephraim, that the worship of God had
Jews and the Samaritans, was the cause of rather begun in their country than in Jeriproducing another version; and of this, and salem. According to Josephus, they claimed
those which followed, we are now about to kindred with the Jews in their prosperity,
speak.  The Second Book of Kings fur- but renounced all connection with them when
nishes us with the history of this schism, they were under persecution.  From John's
which, it will be recollected, was caused by gospel we learn, that when the Messiah was
the setting up of certain golden calves to be on the earth, the Samaritans, who received
worshipped at Dan, in Bethel, by Jeroboam. no part of the Old Testament except the
Omri hence built Samaria, and made it the Pentateuch, had lost all tradition of the
capital of his kingdom, and thus was the revolt and subsequent captivity of the ten
separation between Judah and Israel ren- tribes; they considered themselves descended
dered complete.  Samaria was, at first, only from the stock of Israel, claimed Jacob for
the name of a city, but afterward it became their father, and contended that the " holy
that of a province.  It contained the tribe mountain" was in the portion assigned to
of Ephraim, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, them by Joshua.
which was on this side Jordan; so that it   There was no particular enmity between
was to the north of Judcla, and between the two nations until the time of Ezra.  Inthe Great Sea, Galilee, and Jordan; and censed by the opposition they gave to the
there was, therefore, no going from  Galilee building of the temple, from the time their
to Jerusalem  without passing through this assistance was refused, he is said to have
province.  The capital of the district, sub- solemnly excommunicated them; and hence
sequent to the captivity, was Sichem, after- arose that enmity, which was carried to such
ward  called Neapolis, or Naplous, which a height that "the Jews had no dealings
was situated between the mountains Gerizim  with the Samaritans;" and, from  Ezra's
and Ebal.                               time, Samaria became a refuge for the malIn the reign of Hezekiah, king pf Judah, content Jews.  Ptolemy Lagos carried num.Samaria was taken by Shalmanezer, and bers, both of the Samaritans anl of the Jews,
the ten tribes were carried into captivity. into Egypt, where a fierce contest took place
Some years after, Esarhaddon sent the Cu- between them respecting the sanctity of their
theans to supply the place of the Jews, and temples, each party insisting that theirs stood
to inhabit Samaria; and these people, who on the holy mount. The point was discussed
knew not the true God, but continued their publicly in presence of the king, and the
idolatrous practices, and burnt their children Samaritan advocates, failing in their proof,
in the fire to Moloch, were punished for  were put to death. In the year 109 before
their idolatry with lions, which made great Christ, John Hyrcanus destroyed the city
havoc among them.  For this reason, at their and temple of the Samaritans, and, though




.HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              43
afterward, viz., in the year 25 before Christ, them and the Jews more complete.  Since
King Herod built them  a city and temple, that time, the Jews have used the character
they still continued to worship on Mount we call the Hebrew, and the Samaritans
Gerizim.  In the twelfth century, Benjamin have retained the others.
of Tudela found some remains of these people   The value of the Samaritan Pentateuch is
in that country, where they are still to be very great; for, where its text accords with
found.  During the revolt of the Jews, the the Hebrew text, it confirms it most decicSamaritans continued in their subjection to edly; because, as the Jews and Samaritans
the Romans; and since that period they have were such inveterate enemies, there never
always remained subject to  the different could have been any designed corruption
powers who have been in possession of that effected by them both.  It frequently conand the neighboring countries.            firms, and sometimes corrects, the reading
It is supposed that the present Hebrew  of the Hebrew in important places; and it
character was first adopted froi the Chal- overturns all that system of rabbinical trifling,
daeans by Ezra, at the time when, after the by which mysterious knowledge is said to
return of the Jews from  Babylon, he col- be communicated through the shape and
lected the Scriptures, and formed the entire positions of certain letters, or certain words,
canon.  As the people were familiarized with which they pretend Moses learned firom God,
the Chaldee, be used that character in tran- because such things cannot be applied to its
scribing the Old Testament.  What is now  characters.
called the Samaritan, was the character   As the Samaritans do not understand the
used by Moses and the prophets; and Ezra Hebrew text, although in the character of'
relinquished it to the Samaritans, it is said, their language, they have found it necessary
in order to render the separation between to translate it for common use.  For, as the
1. Brit. Mus. - Pap. 98.
7N             6NJP( 4             M)C Vf, 1 L
* 1p AAeA a                    c  rV eAONTn
2. Brit. Mlus.- Cod. Alex. —(St. John i. 1-5.)
A X" A       A     qdkoroCe<A oIo r'oce
OvNro  H  e FN PK.  GTO l}o    J To 
r)c'   Toy-r ere Nr cToov~ee N
Orero.e "AV                                      H H w
108 H H a cu H SH pOWNPC-rLU~ht-w"
alc c T  CI ( oTG &i A@
N,  o<A                  e 1C                            A IcTAYTOYB
SPECIMENS OF GREEK MSS. FROMI THE FIRST TO THE SIXTH CENTURY.




1. Brit. Mus. - Harl. 5,598.- (St. John i. 1, 2.)
2. Brit. Mus.- Add. 20,003. -Acts xiii, 18-20.
T-~.~ dc ~Fd                          *             Lvn At
3. Brit. Mus.-Harl. 5,540.- (St. John i. 18-20.)
ow      uSPECIMENS OF GRE e M            GUSCIPTS. 
odaw               Ur-S nt6m-  Koll
4. Brit. Mus. - Harl. 5,540. -(St. John i. 1-3.)
6ke'gasi~~3P~ O CtooZ
9At~ Oz0 d v  ff 7 ~~ ~~ 4P~, Iyvko
4. Bi                f      _ U  t
SPECIMENS OF GREEK MANUSCIRTPTS.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               45
Jews, after the Babylonish captivity, degen- Scriptures had not been made by them; nor
erated in their language from the Hebrew to could they accuse the Jews of having altered
the Babylonish dialect, so the Samaritans these books, because, as they were, the Jews
did the same, most probably, by bringing were condemned in them.  Besides, the tidme
this dialect out of Assyria with them, when at which it was made, gave this translation
they first came to plant in Sanmaria.  There- of the Bible a prodigious deal of weight;
fore, as the Jews, for the sake of the vulgar because, from its having appeared before the
among them who understood only the common birth of Jesus Christ, neither Pagans nor
language, were forced to make Chaldee ver- Jews could say that the ancient prophecies
sions of the Scriptures, which they called therein contained had been adapted to the
Targums, so the Samaritans, for the same circumstances of his life.
reason, were obliged to do the same thing,   Whoever were the authors of this the first
and to make a version of their Pentateuch  translation of the Scriptures into Greek, cominto the vulgar Samaritan, which is, most monly known by the name of the SEVENTY,
probably, the most ancient translation of the or the SEPTUAGINT, and of which the Jewish
Bible in existence.  This Samaritan version historians, Philo and Josephus, have spoken
is not made, like the Chaldee version among much, no one doubts that it was made long
the Jews, by way of paraphrase, but by an before the time of Jesus Christ; and it is of
exact rendering of the text word for word, great authority.  Several passages of the Old
for the most part without any variation.  Be- Testament, which are quoted in the New,
ing perfectly literal, the same Latin transla- are taken thence; and, being thus noticed by
tion answers both to it and the Samaritan the writers of the New Testament, fromn their
Pentateuch; and all the three are published mode of using it, we may infer that it was in
in the Paris and London polyglots.         general  circulation  among  the  apostolic
There were two causes which chiefly con- churches.  All the other ancient versions,
duced to render the Greek language, at one likewise, which were publicly read in the
time, of almost universal use in the world. different churches of the world, the Arabic,
The first cause was the conquests of Alexan- the Ethiopic, the Armenian, the Gothic, the
der the Great, who was, by nation, a Grecian, Illyrican, and the ancient Latin, which was
king of Macedon, and afterward ruler of the in use before St. Jerome's time, were made
greater part of the then known world.  His from it; and, in short, every one of them,
vast empire, although divided, yet subsisted except the Syriac, were made from  that of
for a great length of time, as his officers the SEVENTY, and to this day the Greek
divided it among themselves, and reigned in church, and the churches of the east, have
different countries, so that the Greeks still no other.  It is this version that the fathers
continued to have dominion in the world, and doctors of the church have explained
particularly the Seleucidme in Syiia, and the and commented upon.  It was from  this
Ptolemies in Egypt, by which means the version that they drew  their decisions in
Greek language became known and in use, matters of faith, and their precepts  of
both in Judsea and Egypt.  The other cause morality.  It was by this that they confuted
of the extent of this language, was the high heresies, and both general and particular
reputation the Greeks had acquired for learn- councils explained themselves by it.  Thus,
ing and wisdom, which made many people whoever the authors of it were, its authority
desirous of knowing their language, who were is great; and that upon this account only, if
not subject to their dominion.             no other, that it was made at a time when
This, then, was the language which was the Hebrew was a living language, and, conmade use of to give the Gentiles the first sequently, more easy to be understood than
knowledge of the Messiah.  The Greek ver- it is now, when it is almost impossible to
sion of the Old Testament prepared the way come at the true understanding of it, otherfor the gospel.  The Gentiles read in these wise than by the assistance of the ancient
books the prophecies which the apostles show- versions.  For these reasons, we shall turn
ed had been accomplished in Jesus Christ; our attention, somewhat particularly, to the
and they found, also, that the obstinate in- history of this celebrated version.
credulity of the Jews had been foretold in    Alexander the Great, on his building of
them.  They could not suspect the fidelity the city of Alexandria, in Egypt, brought
of the apostles, because this version of the a great many Jews thither to help to plant




46                         INTRODUCTION TO THE
the new city; and Ptolemy Soter, after his to Jerusalem, to Eleazer, the high-priest,
death, having fixed the seat of his govern- with magnificent presents for the temple.
ment there, and set his heart much upon the Their instructions were, to desire him to give
enlarging and adorning of it, brought thither the king a copy of the sacred books, and to
many more of this nation for the same pur- send him some persons of distinction and
pose; where, having granted to them  the learning, who might translate  them  into
same privileges with the Macedonians and Greek.  Aristeas, who was a chief officer
other Greeks, they soon grew to be a great in the king's guards, and a chief man in
part of the inhabitants of that city.  Their the kingdom of Egypt, was of this embassy;
continual intercourse with the other citizens, and Eleazer, who received him with honor,
among whom they were there mingled, having was, according to Josephus, the son of Onias
obliged them  to learn and constantly use the First, the brother of Simon the Just, who
the Greek language, the same happened to is mentioned in the apocryphal book called
them  here, as had happened to them be- Ecclesiasticus, and grandson to Jaddus, who
fore at Babylon; that is, by accustoming went to meet Alexander the Great, and made
themselves to a foreign language, they forgot him confer favorable terms upon the Jews.
their own.  Hence, from  their no longer   The high-priest consulted with the great
understanding the Hebrew language, in which council of the nation, called the sanhedrim,
the Scriptures had been hitherto first read, in regard to Ptolemy's request, and afternor the Chaldee, in which they were after ward chose six men out of each tribe —
that interpreted in every synagogue, they seventy-two in all — gave them  a copy of
got them translated into Greek for their own the law, written in letters of gold, upon
use, that this version might serve for the skins curiously fastened together, and sent
same purpose in Alexandria and Egypt, as them into Egypt.  The king received them
the Chaldee paraphrases afterwards did in favorably, and showed a great deal of respect
Jerusalem  and Judaea.                    for the divine books; he then assigned them
After the time of Ezra, the Scriptures a residence in the isle of Pharos, about seven
were read to the Jews in Hebrew, and in- furlongs distant from Alexandria, where they
terpreted into the Chaldee language; but at completed the version in seventy-two days.
Alexandria, after the writing of this version, Demetrius caused it to be read publicly in
it was interpreted to them in Greek, which the presence of the priests, great men, and
was afterward done also in all other Grecian all the Jews, who were then very numerous
cities where the Jews became dispersed.   at Alexandria, and it was universally apThere are several opinions which modern plauclded; they cried out, with one voice, that
writers have entertained respecting the origin the translation was just and faithful; and, in
of the septuagint version, but the commonly- order to render it not only authentic, but
received opinion is that entertained by Bishop also  unalterable, they made  imprecations
Walton, the author of the London polyglot, against those who should attempt to make
and is the same which is given in an histori- any alteration in it.  When it was read to
cal account of the transaction, as related by the king, he admired the wisdom of the
a Hellenistic Jew, who flourished in the lawgiver, and commanded the books to be
time of Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt. deposited in his library, allowing copies to be
The account of the affair, as contained in a taken for the use of the Jews; he then sent
book written by the person above mentioned, back the seventy-two elders, after having
whose name was Aristeas, is as follows:   made them  some rich presents.  The most
King Ptolemy Philadelphus, having, by magnificent of these presents was the freeing
the advice of Demetrius Phalerius, caused of one hundred and twenty thousand Jewish
a magnificent library to be erected at Alex- captives, whose ransom  he paid, and gave
andria, and given him  the direction of it, them  liberty to return into Judsea.  This
thiss philosopher spoke to him of the sacred version soon became common among all the
books of the Jews, as of a work which would Jews who spoke the Greek language, and
do honor to his library.  The prince, there- was read publicly in their synagogues.  It is
fore, resolved to have a copy of the Jewish not accurately ascertained in what year all
law translated into Greek, his own language, this took place; Walton thinks the opinion
and that which was then universally under- which fixes it in the 7th of Ptolemy, and the
stood.  For this purpose he sent ambassadors 278th before Christ, the most probable.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               47
THEE SEPTIUAGINT AD VULGATE.   the rest for the private use of the same
people; and so that whole version was cornIT has generally been admitted that the pleted which we now call the septuagint;
SEPTUAGINT, which, as has been explained, and after it was thus made, it became of
is so called from  the number seventy, or, common use among all the churches of the
more properly, seventy-two interpreters, who Hellenistical Jews, wherever  they  were
were said to be employed in the formation of dispersed among the Grecian cities.
it, was the first Greek version of the Old    When the Hebrew language had ceased
Testament.  No mention has been made of to be the vulgar tongue, the version of the
any that preceded it, and  it cannot be seventy was read in the synagogues, even in
deemed probable that Ptolemy would have Judea  itself.  It is true, this was not
talken so much pains to procure a version of universally done; there was a sort of divisthe Jewish law, had any other previously ion among the Jews about it; some were
existed; and it is equally improbable he for having  the  Scripture  read  only  in
should have been unacquainted with it, had Hebrew, and were therefore called Hebrews,
it existed at a time when, with the assist- or febraizers; while others read it in Greek,
ance of Demetrius, he was procuring Greek and were called Hellenists, that is, Grecians,
books from every part of the world.  It is or Grecizers, as has been already observed.
plainly affirmed by Philo, that before his time As the number of the latter was greater than
the law was not known in any language but that of the Hebrew-Jews, and the apostles
the original.  The acquaintance with Jewish preached most frequently to them, it is not
customs and Jewish history, which many to be wondered at, as St. Jerome observes,
heathen writers, before the reign of Ptolemy, that the  passages of the Old Testament
have manifested, has led many persons to which are quoted in the New, are sometirnes
conclude that they must have derived their borrowed thence.  It is thus seen that this
knowledge from a Greek version of at least version preceded  the  publication  of the
parts of the Old Testament.  Yet we may gospel; and it has been authorized by the
account for the knowledge of Jewish customs, use which the apostles made of it, as well as
&c., which these writers display, without the whole church.  It seems very evident
supposing that they obtained it from  any however, fiomn various passages, as Parkhurst
Greek version; for we have direct evidence has remarked, that the writers of the New
that Aristotle, at least, had intercourse with Testament, in their citations of the Old, did
the Jews, for the purpose of gaining infor- not intend either literally to translate the
mation respecting their law; and as the Hebrew, or to stamp their authority on the
philosophers were certainly acquainted with SEVENTY translation, but only to refer us to
the doctrine of the Gymnosophists and the the original Scriptures.
Druids, who had not any written law, so we   The septuagint version was continued in
may suppose they obtained their knowledge public use among the Jews for more than
of the Jewish religion from  personal inter- three hundred  years; but as it grew into
course with individuals of that nation.    use among the Christians, it went out of
At first, it is probable, the law only was credit with the Jews.  In the twelfth year
translated, for there was no need of the other of the emperor Adrian, A. D. 128, Aquila,
books in the public worship; no other part of a native of Sinope, a city of Pontus, pubthe Scriptures but the law having been in early lished a new  Greek version of the Old
times read in the synagogues.  But after- Testament.  This man, who had been  a
ward, when the readingof the prophets also Christian, and afterward became a Jew, is
came into use in the synagogues of Judsea, supposed to have undertaken this work in
in the time of the persecution under Antiochus opposition to the Christians, not only that the
Epiphanes, the Jews of Alexandria, who SEVENTY might be superseded, but that a new
in those times conformed themselves to the version might be given' of those passages on
usages of Jud a and Jerusalem in all mat- which they relied most in their controversies
ters of religion, were induced hereby to do with  the  Jews.  The Hellenistic  Jews
the same; this caused a translation of the received this version, and afterward used it
prophets also to be there made into the Greek everywhere instead of the septuagint; and,
language, in like manner as the law had been therefore, this Greek translation is often
before.  After this, other persons translated made mention of in the Talmud, or Com



48                          INTRODUCTION TO THE
pendium   of Jewish  Doctrines,  but the is a translation of the Old Testament from
septuagint never.  The emperor Justinian  the Hebrew, and the New, which is a trans.
published a decree, which is still extant lation of the New Testament from the Greek.
among his institutions, whereby he ordained This last is, beyond contradiction, the most
that the Jews might read the Scriptures in ancient that ever was formed in the Christiana
their synagogues, either in the Greek version church.  It is that which the Christians in
of the SEVENTY, or in that of Aquila, or in the east, called Maronites, make use of in
any other language, according to the country their worship: and they, as well as the
in which they should dwell.  But the Jewish other Syrian Christians, boast very much of
doctors having determined against this, their its antiquity; for they allege that one portion
decrees prevailed against that of the emperor, of it was made by the command of Solomon,
and, within a little while after, both the for the use of Hiram, king of Tyre, and the
septuagint and the version of Aquila was other part by the command of Abhgarus, king
rejected by them; and ever since, the solemn of Edessa.  It is certain this version was of
reading of the Scriptures among them, in considerable antiquity, and was in all likelitheir public assemblies, has been  in  the hood made within the  first century after
Hebrew  and  Chaldee  languages.  " The Christ, and had for its author some Christian
Chaldee," says Prideaux, "is used in some of the Jewish nation that was thoroughly
of their synagogues even to this day, and skilled in both the Hebrew and Syriac lanaparticularly at Frankfort, in Germany."     guages; and as it is among the oldest transNot long after the time of Aquila, there lations that we have of any part of the Scripwere two other Greek versions of the Old tures, so it is the best, without any exception,
Testament scriptures made; the first by that has been made of them by the ancients
Theodotion, who lived in the time of Coin- into any language whatsoever.  This hlst
modus, the Roman emperor, and the other character belongs to it in respect of the New
by Symmachus, who flourished a little after Testament, as well as of the Old; and therehim, in the reigns of Severus and Caracalla. fore, of all the ancient versions which are
The former is supposed to have belonged to now consulted by Christians for the better
Ephesus, and fell into the heretical errors of understanding of the Holy Scriptures, as
Ebion and Marcion, to which  sect Sym- well of the New Testament as of the Old,
macbus also belonged, being by birth  a none can better serve this end than this old
Samaritan, and by profession first a Jew, Syriac version, when carefully consulted and
then a Christian, and, lastly, an Ebionite well understood.  To this purpose the very
heretic.  They both of them  undertook the nature of the language gives much assistance;
making their versions with the same design for, it having been the mother-tongue of
as Aquila did, though not entirely for the those who wrote the New Testament, and a
same end; for they all three entered on this dialect of that in which the Old was first
work for the perverting of the Old Testament given, many things of both are more happily
scriptures.  Aquila, however, did it for the expressed in it through this whole version
serving of the interest of the Jewish religion, than can well be done in any other lanthe other two for promoting the interest of guafe.
the heretical sect to which they belonged;   The languages of princes generally become,
and all of them  wrested the original Scrip- in time, the common language of their subtures in their versions of them, as much as jects.  The conquests of Alexander made
they could, to make them  speak for the the Greek tongue universal; and by the
different ends which they proposed.  From  same means the Latin tongue extended itself,
the circumstances, therefore, under which with the Roman empire, all over the world;
th]ese versions were made, it may be inferred so that, at length, there was scarce a nation
that their authority cannot be very great, where, by the help of this language, you
though fiom  the fragments of them  which might not make yourself understood.
have been collected, we may derive consid-   It is not known who was the author of the
erable assistance in understanding particular first Latin version of the Scriptures; but St.
portions of the Old Testament.              Augustine, a celebrated bishop of the Latin
In speaking of the ancient versions of the church, about A. D. 400, tells us that there
Bible, it must be observed, that there are soon appeared a great number of them.
two in the Syriac language: the Old, which." We know them who translated the Scriptures




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                                 49
into Greek," says he, " and the number of    Nevertheless, the Vulgate which we have
them  is not gleat; but the number of the at present, and which the celebrated council
Latin translators is infinite.  When the faith of Trent declared to be authentic, is not the
came to be established, the first man who pure version of St. Jerome; it has in it a
found a Greek copy, notwithstanding the great deal of the ancient Italian; but it canlittle knowledge he had of the two languages, not now be discovered by whom, or at what
boldly undertook a translation of it."  From  time, this mixture was made.  Some think
another passage of his writings, it has been that St. Jerome has no part at all in the
generally concluded that there was- one par- present Vulgate; and it is certain that the
ticular version, called  "the  Italian," in Psalms in it are not his.  Nevertheless,
higher estimation than the rest, and which the Latin version comes nearer to the Hewas the authorized version of the Roman brew, and is more perspicuous, than the
churches.  However this may be, it is cer- Septuagint.  Since the time of the council
tain the Latin church was in want of a ver- of Trent, namely, in 1589 and 1592, corsion of the Scriptures formed directly from  rected editions of the Vulgate have been
the Hebrew, as all the Latin translations in published under the authority of the popes
existence at that time had been taken from the Sixtus the Fifth and Clement the Eighth.
SEVENTY. St. Jerome, who was contemporary
with St. Augustine, was in every respect       MODERN FOREIGN VERSIONS.
best suited, of any of the learned men of that
time, to the task of making a new translation,   WE have seen, by the preceding remarks
which he accordingly undertook.  He began on this subject, that, at some period prior to
by correcting some books of the Old Testa- the promulgation of Christianity, there exment in the Latin bible, particularly the ver- isted a valuable translation of the Scriptures
sion of the Psalms, and marked those pas- into Greek, entitled the SEPTUAGINT, or the
sages wherein any difference existed between SEVENTY, fi'om the number of individuals enthe Latin version, the Greek of the SEVENTY, gaged in its arrangement.  It has also been
and the Hebrew original.  He had early shown, that at an early period in the history
applied himself to the study of the Hebrew  of the Christian church, a Latin translation
language, and at different periods had the of the Scriptures was found called the VULassistance of five Jewish teachers; he had GATE.  These Greek and Latin versions of
access also to the works of Origen, who pub- the Bible did not supersede the use of origilished what is called the Hexapla, that is, nal Hebrew Scriptures, such being ever prethe Bible in six different languages.  From  served by the Jews with the most extraordithese he must have derived considerable as- nary care, and generally made use of by
sistance in the work he undertook: that of them in their synagogues, while the Septuatranslating into Latin all the books of the Old gint and Vulgate, from being in more modTestament, to which he added a corrected ern languages, were in more extensive use
edition of the common version of the new.  among churchmen and the people.  The exThis work of St. Jerome is still used in istence of these earlyversions is therefore an
the Roman Catholic church, and is known incontestable evidence that the Scriptures, as
by the name of the Vulgate; for which some now found in the original tongues, have not
have gone so far as to claim  the authority been  impaired, interpolated, or  abused,
and infallibility of an inspired production. dluring the lapse of at least two thousand
At first, however, his version was not gener- years.
ally received;  for  although  many were   Almost all the modern nations of Europe,
pleased with it because it was more conso- and part of Asia, have had versions of the
nant to the original, and a more literal trans- Scriptures, in whole or in part, taken from
lation than that of the SEVENTY, yet others, other versions, or from the originals.  Araand among the rest Augustine, considered it bic having become the vulgar language of
a rash attempt, and calculated to diminish the almost all the east, there are several versions
authority of the Greek version.  It was ap- of the Bible in  Arabic, which, besides
proved of by the Jews as conformable to the Syriac version (which is understood by
their text, and was received into the church the learned alone), are not only used by the
gradually and by tacit consent, rather than Maronites and other Christians in Asia, but
by the sanction of public authority.       also by the Jews and Samaritans.  About
4




50                         INTRODUCTION TO THE
theyear 900, Rabbi Saadias Gaon, an Ara- them  educated in the Mohammedan faith.
bian Jew, translated the Old Testament, or, His name was changed to Hali Bey, and
at least, the Pentateuch, into Arabic.  An- when he grew up, he was constituted the
other Jew of Mauritania translated the Pen- chief dragoman or translator to Mohammed
tateuch, and Erpenius printed his work. the Fourth.  The learning of Hali Bey was
Risius, a monk of Damascus, translated the considerable.  He  understood   seventeen
New Testament.  The greater part of these languages, and he is said to have spoken in
versions were from the Septuagint.*        French, German, and English, like a native.
The Persians have some manuscript ver- He was particularly fond of the English lansions of the Bible.  Rabbi Jacob Favos, a guage, and, at the request of the Hon. R.
Jew, translated the Pentateuch into Persian, Boyle, translated the Church of England
and the Jews printed it at Constantinople in Catechism into Turkish.  He also composed
1546.  This, with the gospels translated by different works himself, several of which
one Simon, a Christian, are inserted in the have been published.  His chief work, howLondon polyglot; but these gospels are far ever, is his translation of the whole Bible
from  being  correctly done.  There  have into the Turkish language, which was underbeen several other Persian versions of the taken at the instigation and under the direcPsalms and the New Testament executed in tion of the famous Levin Warner, Dutch
modern times, particularly the New  Testa- ambassador at the court of the sultan at that
ment by henry Martyn, the celebrated period; and the translation appears to have
English missionary, translated by him in the been completed about the year 1666, the
city of Shiraz in Persia, and printed at same year in which Seaman's translation of
Petersburgh in 1815.                       the New Testament into Turkish was pubThe Turks have likewise some translations lished at Oxford.
in manuscript of the Bible in their language.   The Armenians have a translation of
In 1666, a Turkish New  Testament was the Old Testament, done from  the Septuaprinted at London, for the purpose of being gint, by Moses Grammaticus, and two others,
dispersed in the east.  It is mentioned, that, about 1,400 years ago.  In 1666, under the
in 1721, the Grand Seignior ordered an im- direction of an Armenian bishop, it was
pression of bibles to be produced at Con- printed  at Amsterdam, corrected or corstantinople, that they might be confronted rupted fiom  the Vulgate.  Theodorus Pawith the Koran, or Bible, of the Mohamme- treus procured an impression of an Armedans.  In the Report of the British and nian New Testament at Antwerp in 1668,
Foreign Bible Society for 1815, it is men- and of the whole Bible in 1690.  In 1815,
tioned, that a Turkish translation in manu- the Armenian Bible, in  quarto, for the
script of the whole Bible had been discovered accommodation of the Armenian inhabitants
in the repositories of the University of Ley- of Russia, who subscribed liberally for the
den, where it had remained for a century undertaking, was printed at St. Petersburg.
and a half.  The author of this translation The Armenians are scattered all over Asia.t
was by birth a Pole, of the name of Albertus    The Georgians have the Bible in their
Boboosky, and born in the beginning of the ancient language; but that being now alseventeenth century.  While a youth, he most obsolete, and themselves, in general,
was stolen by the Tartars, and, being sold to brutishly ignorant, few of them  can either
the Turks in Constantinople, he was by read or understand it.  There has never
* A new translation of the Bible into Arabic Goodell commenced the translation of the Old
from the original Scriptures, commenced by Dr. Testament from the Hebrew while at Malta; and
Ely Smith, and completed by Dr. Van Dyck, has continued the work, aided by a converted Greek,
been published by the American B;ble Society. after his removal to Constantinople in 1831.
Sixteen years of labor have been devoted to this The first edition was printed at Smyrna, in 1841,
great work. The superior excellence of this ver- at the expense of the American Bible Society.
sion is vouched for by the highest biblical and A carefully revised edition of the Scriptures in
Arabic authorities in Europe and Syria.- A. B. modern Armenian has very recently been printed
t By the joint labors of Messrs. Riggs, at the Bible House in New York, which, on acSchauffer, and Goodell, missionaries of the count of the beauty of its typography and bindAmerican Board of Missions, the Scriptures of ing, is in special demand by the Armenian people.
both the Old and New Testaments have been The venerable Dr. Goodell continued the revision
translated into the Armeno-Turkish language for of his translations till 1863. -Missionary Herald,
the Armenian people in the Turkish Empire. Dr. vol. 63, p. 377.              A. B.




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                              51
been, till lately, but one edition of the translation of the Old Testament, for the
Georgian Bible; it was printed at Moscow sake of his Jewish brethren, and Jekuthiel
in 1743 in a large folio volume.         another; but both, especially the latter,
The modern Greeks have recently received distorted  several  texts  relative  to  the
the New Testament in their proper tongue, Messiah, &c.
which is considerably different from  that   The first Polish version of the Scriptures
in which the sacred work was originally is ascribed to Hadewich, the wife of Jagelwritten.  The edition is in the Hellenistic lon, Duke of Lithuania, who  embraced
and Romaic dialects, and was printed in Eng- Christianity A. D. 1390.  In 1596, the
land under the direction of a society.  It Protestants published another, formed on
has been approved of by the patriarch of Luther's translation.  There  were  three
the Greek church.                        other versions, one  by James  Wick, a
The Russians have the Bible in their Jesuit, and the other two by Socinians, -pubSclavonic tongue, done from the Greek by lished in the end of the 16th century.
Cyril, their apostle.  It was -published in   About 1506, the Bohemian  Taborites
1581, but being too obscure, Ernest Gluk, published a Bible in their language, done
a Swedish captive, above one hundred years from the Vulgate.  In the end of the 16th
ago, began to form another.  He died be- century, eight Bohemian  divines, after a
fore he finished it.  Peter the Great ordered careful study of the original languages at
a number of his most learned clergy to com- Wurtemberg and Basil, published a version
plete the work; and it is supposed that the from the original text.
bibles distributed  by imperial  authority   In 1534, Olaus and Laurence published
about 1722 were of this translation.  In a Swedish Bible, done from Luther's Gerr
the course of two hundred and sixty years, man translation.  About 1617, Gustavus
from the time when printing was first intro- Adolphus ordered some learned men  to
duced into Russia, no more than twenty-two revise it; and it has been since almost unieditions of the Sclavonian Bible had ap- versally followed in that kingdom.  The
peared, prior to the year 1815, consisting translation into the language of Finland is
of about fifty thousand copies only.     thought to have been done from it. In
The most ancient German translation is 1550, Peter Palladius, and three others,
that of Ulphilas, bishop of the Goths, about published a Danish version, done from the
A. D. 360; but he left out the Books of German of Luther; and there are one or
Kings, lest they should have excited his two others, as also a version in the Icelandic
savage countrymen to war.  Toward the tongue.
end of the 16th century, Junius professed    The Flemish or Dutch Bibles, composed
to publish an edition of it, from a manu- by Roman Catholics, are very numerous;
script found in the abbey of Verden, written but the names of the translators are scarcely
in letters of silver.  An anonymous ver- known, except that of Nicolas Vink, in
sion was printed at Nuremberg in 1477. 1548. The Calvinists of the Low CounBetween 1521 and 1532, Luthercomposed tries long used a version done from Luhis translation, but Michaelis, La Croze, and ther's; but the synod of Dort appointed
Bayer, think this was not from the Gothic some learned men to form a new one from
version of Ulphilas, but one about 200 the originals.  It was published in 1637,
years later; he published it in seven parts, and is considered very exact.
as it was ready.  Some persons of quality,   Since the Reformation, a vast number of
masters of the German language, revised it. Latin versions of the Bible have been made
Two catholic versions, the one of Eckius on by members of the Romish church. Pagnin
the Old, and Emzer on the New Testament, the Dominican was the first after St. Jeand another of Ulembergius, were published rome who translated the Old  Testament
to depress the credit of Luther's; but the into Latin from the Hebrew.  His version
Protestants of Germany and Switzerland was printed at Lyons in 1528.  It is very
still use it, a little corrected.  About 1604, literal, and generally exact. Arias MontaPiscator turned the Latin translation  of nus retouched it, and made it yet more
Junius and Tremellius into a kind of Ger- literal.  After Pagnin came a crowd of
man, but too  much  Latinized.  About interpreters, since the Hebrew language has
1680, Athias published a Hebrew-German been more studied. Leo of Judah, who,




52                        INTRODUCTION TO THE
though not a Jew, understood Hebrew ex-   There are many French versions of the
tremely well, began one, which has since Bible done by Protestants.  Faber's transbeen printed at Zurich; but death having lation of the New Testament was printed
prevented him  from  finishing  his work, for those of Piedmont, in 1534.  Next
Theodorus Bibliander completed it.  This year Peter Olivetan's Bible was published
is the version which Robert Stephens printed at Geneva, and, having been reprinted with
with the Vulgate and Vatablus's Notes, the corrections of Calvin and others, it is
without naming the authors of it.  Of Pro- now  a work of considerable  exactness.
testants, Emmanuel Tremillius, who of a After some struggling with the French ProJew became a Christian, and Francis Ju- testant clergy, Diodati published  his in
nius, have also given a Latin translation, as 1644; but, like his Italian and Latin veralso Castalio and Beza.  These are con- sions, the translation is too free and parasidered tolerably exact, and have been fre- phrastic.  Le Clere published his New Testaquently reprinted.  Sebastian Munster also ment at Amsterdam  in 1703, with notes
published a literal but judicious translation. mostly borrowed from  Grotius and HamIn 1471, an Italian Bible, done from the mond.  The states-general prohibited it, as
Vulgate by Nicolas Malerme, a Benedictine inclining to the Sabellian and Socinian heremonk, was published at Venice.  Anthony sies.  La Cene published another, which
Bruccioli published another in 1530; but the shared much the same fate, on account of its
council of Trent prohibited it.  The Protes- fancies and errors.
tants have two Italian versions —the one,   The Bible, or at least portions of it, prinwhich is rather a paraphrase than a transla- cipally by the labors of the missionaries at
tion, by the celebrated Diodati, published in Serampore, are now printed in nearly forty
1607, and with corrections in 1641 - the Indian languages, and are also to be found
other by Maximus Theophilus, and dedicated in Tartar, in Calmuc, and in Chinese.  Upon
to the Duke of Tuscany, about 1551.  By the whole,.out of the 3,064 languages which
an order of King James of Aragon to burn are said to exist in the world, the Bible is now
them, we find there were a number of bibles to be found in more than two hundred lanin Spanish about the year 1270, probably guages, and may be read and understood by
the work of the Waldenses.  About 1500, more than three-fourths of the population of
a Spanish version was published, but the the world.
translator's name is unknown. In 1543,
Driander published his version of the New         ENGLISH VERSIONS.
Testament, and dedicated it to the Emperor
Charles the Fifth.  In 1553, the Jews pub-   IT is probable that the inhabitants of
lished their Spanish version of the Old Britain, who were first converted to ChrisTestament, after having long used it in pri- tianity by St. Augustine, about the beginning
vate.  Cassiodore, a learned Calvinist, pub- of the seventh century, had some of the
lished his Bible in 1569, which Cyprian de scripture in their own  language.  About
Valera corrected and republished in 1602.  A. D. 709, Adelm  translated the Psalms
Peter de Vaux, chief of the Waldenses, into English Saxon, and other parts of scrippublished the first translation of the Bible in ture were translated by Eadfrid, a Saxon,
French about A. D   1160.  Two others about the same time.  Bede, the first ecclesiwere published about the years 1290 and astical English historian, who was born at Jar1380; and in 1550, by order of the Em- row, on the banks of the Tyne, in 673, comperor Charles the Fifth, the doctors of Lou- monly denominated the Venerable Bede,
vain published another.  There are various made a translation of the Gospels, if not the
other French versions, particularly of the whole Bible, into his native tongue.  The
New Testament; that of Mons, done from  whole Bible was translated into the Anglothe Vulgate, and published in 1695, with Saxon by order of King Alfred; and he himthe king of Spain and archbishop of Cam- self, about A. D. 890, undertook a version of
bray's license, is in a most clear and agree- the Psalms, but died before it was completed.
able style.  In 1702, F. Simon published The next complete translation of the whole
his New Testament, with some literal and Bible, including the apocryphal books, was
critical notes, which the bishops of Paris made by John Wickliffe into English from the
and Meaux quickly condemned.             Latin, and appeared between 1360 and 1380.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              53
This translation was written, but not printed; originals, some individuals exclaimed that
and great objections were made to it by the " there was now a new language discovered
clergy; so that, in consequence of a decree called GREEK of which people should beware,
of Arundel, archbishop of Canterbury, many since it was that which produced all heresies;
persons were committed to the flames for that in this language was come forth a book
reading Wickliffe's translation of the Old called the New Testament, which was now
and New Testament.  The only portion of in everybody's hands, and was full of briers
Wickliffe's version of the Scriptures which and thorns.  And there had also another
has ever appeared in print, is the New Tes- language now started up, which they called
tament, published in 1731, by the Rev. John Hebrew, and that they who learnt it were
Lewis, minister of Margate, in Kent.  This termed Hebrews! "
was reprinted several years ago, with a life   When the Reformation in England first
of this earliest of English reformers, by the took place, efforts were made to promote the
Rev. H. Baber, A.M., assistant librarian reading of the Scriptures among the common
at the British museumn.  For the gratification people.  Among other devices for the purof our young readers, we shall transcribe the pose, the following curious one was adopted.
Lord's prayer in Wickliffe's language, as a Bonner, bishop of London, caused six bibles
curious specimen of the orthography of the to be chained to certain convenient places in
times in which this great reformer lived:-  St; Paul's church, for all that were so well
" Our Fadir that art in hevenys; halewid inclined to resort thither, together With a
be thi name.  Thi kyngdom come to, be thi certain admonition to the readers, fastened
will done in erthe as in hevene.  Give to us upon the pillars to which the bibles were
this day our breede ouir other substaunce. chained, to this tenor: "That whosoever
And forgiue to us our dettis as we forgiven came there to read should prepare himself
to  our dettouris.  And lede us not into to be edified, and made the better thereby;
temptacioun, but delyvere us from  yvel. that he should bring with him  discretion,
Amen."                                     honest intent, charity, reverence, and quiet
In the reign of Henry VIII., William  behavior; that there  should  no  number
Tyndale made one of the  best English meet together there as to make a multitude;
translations of the  New  Testament.  It that no such exposition be made thereupon
appeared in 1526, being the first that ever but what is declared in the book itself; that
was printed in the English language.  It was it be not read with noise in time of divine
published at Hamburgh or Antwerp, and service, or that any disputation or contention
was dispersed at London and Oxford.  Ton- be used about it; that in case they continued
stal, bishop of London, and Sir Thomas their former misbehavior, and  refuse  to
More, bought up almost the whole impression, comply with these directions, the king would
and burnt it at St. Paul's Cross.  The be forced, against his will, to remove the
venders were condemned by the star-charnber occasion, and take the bibles out of the
to ride with their faces to the horses' tails, church."
with papers on their heads, and with the    Soon after the death of Tyndale, John
copies they had dispersed tied about them, Rogers, afterward martyr, finished the corto the standard at Cheapside, where they rection of Tyndale's translation of the Old
were compelled to throw them in.the fire. Testament, and printed it at Hamburgh,
The price, however, enabled  Tyndale to under the name of Thomas Mathews.  Archproceed, and, undismayed, he  began  to bishop Cranmer and Miles Coverdale further
translate the Old Testament; for which he corrected  it.  Cranmer got it printed by
was at length seized in Flanders, and, having public  authority in  England, and  King
been strangled by the common hangman, his Henry ordered a copy of it to be set up in
body was consumed to ashes.               every church, to be read by every one that
Previous to the Reformation, in the time pleased; but, by advice of the Romish
of Henry VIII., people were so little ac- bishops, he soon after revoked this order, and
quainted with the Scriptures, and so ignorant prohibited the  Bible.  When  Coverdale,
even in regard to the languages in which Knox, Samson, Goodman, Gilby, Cole, and
they were originally written, that the strangest WVhittingham, were exiles during the perseassertions were made.  Upon the appearance cution in the reign of Mary, they framed
of the Scriptures in the Hebrew and Greek another translation, with short notes, and got




54                        INTRODUCTION TO THE
it printed at Geneva. It was much valued been excelled by any of their countrymen
by the Puritans, and in about thirty years in oriental learning. With men of similar
had as many editions.  The bishops being studies the kingdom then abounded.  Nor
displeased with it, made a new one of their could it well be otherwise, attention having
own, which was read in the churches, while been paid to the cultivation of such learning
the Geneva translation was generally read in in  public schools (particularly Merchantfamilies.  About 1583 Laurence Thompson Tailors school), founded  soon after the
published an English version of the New  accession of Elizabeth, and the pursuit being
Testament, from the Latin translation, and greatly encouraged at both universities."
annotations of the learned Genevan divine   At the conference which was held at
Theodore Beza.  In the end of the sixteenth Hampton Court, soon after the accession of
and beginning of the seventeenth century, James, for the settling of an ecclesiastical
the English catholics at Rheims published a uniformity between  the two countries of
version of the whole Bible, crowded with England and Scotland, the Puritans sugbarbarous terms, and accompanied with notes gested  unanswerable  objections  to  the
calculated to support the doctrines of their Bishops' Bible; and the king  similarly
church.                                  objected to the Genevan translation.  He
Of those who translated the Geneva bible, therefore appointed fifty-four learned persons
as it is called, in the reign of Mary, besides to translate the Scriptures anew into English,
Coveidale, we have their own and contem- or, at least, compose a better translation, out
porary testimony, that they well understood of many.  Seven of the fifty-four either died
the grace and propriety both of the Hebrew  or declined the assigned task.  Forty-seven,
and Greek tongue.  Among the good He- who remained, were ranged into six divisions,
brew scholars of this period, also, must be every individual of each division translating
reckoned Bishop Alley, afterward one of the the portion assigned to the division, all of
translators of the Bishops' Bible, who was which translations were collected together;
the author of a Hebrew grammar, and a and when each company had determined on
person  universally  learned, especially  in the construction of their part, it was proposed
divinity and languages; as well as his fellow- to the other divisions for general approbation.
laborer, Bishop Benthan, who, about the When they met together, one read the new
beginning of the reign of Edward  VI., version, while all the rest held in their hands
is said to have addicted his mind entirely to either copies of the original, or some valuable
the study of theology and the learning of the version: when they observed any objectionHebrew language.  To these may be added able passage, the reader paused till they
Bishop Davies, another of the translators of considered and agreed on it.  They met at
the Bishops' Bible, who, in the time of Mary, Oxford, Cambridge, and Westminster, befled from this country, and, after his return ginning the work in 1607, and after the
in the following reign, served Wales, as expiration of three years it was finished, and
well as England, with his assistance in trans- published in 1611.  The Bible, which is now
lations of the Bible from the original into in use, must be pronounced an excellent
the languages of both countries.         work, remarkable for the general fidelity of
The knowledge of Hebrew seems some- its construction, as well as for the simplicity
times to have formed in those days a part of its language.  Dr. Adam Clarke remarks,
even of female education for ladies of supe- that " those who have compared most of the
rior rank; and, accordingly, Paschali, in his European translations with the original, have
translation of the Psalms from the Hebrew  not scrupled to say, that the English transinto Italian verse, dedicated it to Queen lation of the Bible, made under the direction
Elizabeth, as one who was well acquainted of King James the First, is the most accuwith the eastern tongues.                rate and faithful of the whole.  Nor is this
"Having entered upon the reign of Eliz- its only praise: the translators have seized
abeth, we soon behold," says Todd, in his the very spirit and soul of the original, and
Memoirs of Bryan Walton, "with grateful have expressed this almost everywhere with
admiration, the goodly company of those who pathos and energy."  It is still of public
made the present version of our Bible in the authority in the British dominions; and,
reign of her successor.  Of these, several, next to the Dutch, is perhaps the best transif they have been equalled, have not yet lation of the Bible extant.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               55
It has been asserted by Mr. Bellamy, and not employed, as he thought he should have
some others, that the authors of our au- been, in the translation of the Bible.  At
thorized translation confined themselves to the time when our present version was made,
the Septuagint and the Vulgate, and did not he communicated many interpretations to the
translate from the Hebrew.  This assertion, translators, which, as he afterwards complains,
however, can be at once overthrown, by they "thrust into the margent;" and whoever
bringing forward the authority of the fifty- compares the text of our version with the marfour, or rather, as seven of them died before ginal readings, will be led to regret that our
the translation was finished, of the forty-seven translators did not associate him with them;
learned men, as may be seen by their no less though, it must be confessed, he would not
modest than dignified preface, or address to have proved a very agreeable fellow-laborer.
the reader, inserted in the edition of the   It must be observed, that in rendering the
Bible published in the year 1630, which has original text into English, there are certain.
this satisfactory passage among many others: words necessarily supplied by the translators,
"If you ask what they had before them, in order to make out the meaning.  These
truly it was the Hebrew text of the Old supplementary words are printed in our Bible
Testament - the Greek of the New."        in italic letters, to show that they are not
Among these translators, two of the most in the original.  The greatest of these supnoted for Hebrew erudition were Dr. Adrian plements occurs in the 23d verse of the
Saravia, and Dr. Richard  Clarke.  Dr. second chapter of the First Epistle of John,
Saravia, well known as a Hebrew  critic, where the translators have supplied no fewer
" was educated," says Mr. Todd in his life than ten words, in order to make out what
of Bryan Walton, "in all kinds of literature they thought to be the proper meaning.
in his younger days, especially in several   "From the mutability of language," says
languages.  He was the master of the cele- Evans, " the variation of customs, and the
brated oriental scholar, Nicholas Fuller, who progress of knowledge, several passages in
gratefully mentions him in the preface to his the Bible require to be newly translated, or
Miscellanea Theologica; and he was one of materially corrected.  Hence, in the present
those who had successfully answered  an age, when biblical literature has been assiduobjection of the Puritans, which they re- ously cultivated, different parts of the sacred
vived in the conference at Hampton Court, volume have been translated by able hands.
in regard to a verse in the old English ver- The substituting a new  translation of the
sion of the Psalms.  Next to him in rank is Bible in the room of the one now in common
Dr. Richard Clarke, who thoroughly un- use, has been much debated.  Dr. Knox, in
derstood three languages, Latin, Greek, and his ingenious essays, together with others,
Hebrew.  Christ College, in Cambridge, of argues against it; while Dr. Newcome, the
which he was a fellow,'had a testimony of late Lord Primate of Ireland, the late Dr.
his learning in his Hebrew lectures; so had Geddes, of the Catholic persuasion, and the
the university, in his disputations and ser- late  Rev. Gilbert Wakefieldt;  contended
mons; so had the church, when his majesty strenuously for it.  Bishop Lowth and Pro(James the First) called many to the work fessor Marsh have pointedly shown the necesof the last translation of the English bible; sity of bringing the text of the Scriptures, by
in which number he was, like one of the the aid of ancient manuscripts and versions,
chief of David's worthies, not among the as near as may be to perfection."
thirty, but among the first three.'  To him    Ainsworth, Doddridge, Macknight, Lowth,
and to Dr. Saravia, it appears that the por- Blaney, and others, have published new transtion assigned was from the Pentateuch to the lations of parts of the sacred books in
book of Chronicles."                      English; and there is no doubt that many
One of the best Hebrew scholars of that improvements might be made upon the present
time was the celebrated English divine and authorized version, particularly in the Old
theological writer, HIugh Broughton, who Testament.  Dr. Alexander Geddes, above
corresponded with a learned rabbi at Con  mentioned, at his decease, had proceeded as
stantinople, and used great exertions for the far as the Psalms in the Translation of the
conversion of the Jews there to Christianity. Old Testament; but many of his variations
Mr. Broughton was in continual and most from the common version are extremely injudibitter controversy with the bishops, and was cious.: Archbishop Newcome and Mr. Wake



56                          INTRODUCTION TO THE
field published entire translations of the New appear in public, but were kept hidden, and
Testament; and an improved version of the were therefore called apocryphal, that is,
New Testament, founded on Newcome, has concealed, or such as could not be used in
been published by the Unitarians, accom- public.
panied with notes and an excellent introduc-   The Apocrypha consists of fourteen books,
tion.                                       viz., First and Second Esdras, Tobit, JuAnd, upon the whole, it may be observed, dith, the rest of the chapters of the Book of
that, although it is generally acknowledged Esther, the Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasthat the improvements in critical learning, ticus, Baruch, the Song of the Three Holy
and the discoveries in the pursuits of know- Children, the History of Susanna, the Story
ledge, together with  hundreds  of manu- of Bel and the Dragon, the Prayer of Mascripts that have since emerged into light, nasses, and the First and Second Book of
call for a revision of the present authorized the  Maccabees.  Every  attentive  reader
version; yet such an attempt should not be must perceive that these books want the
rashly ventured upon, and it should not take majesty of inspired scripture; and that there
place until the necessity of it becomes much are in them a variety of things wicked, false,
more apparent to common apprehension than and disagreeing with the oracles of God.
it is at present.                           None of them were ever found in the proper
Hebrew tongue; and they were never received into the canon of scripture by  the
THE APOCRYPHA.                   Jews, to whom the oracles of God were originally committed. They were partly read
HAVING given an account of the origin in private by the ancient Christians as useand literary characteristics of the accredited ful, but they did not admit them  into the
and usually accepted books composing the canon of scripture.  None of them are found
Old and New Testaments, we now proceed in the catalogue of the canonical books by
to offer a few details relative to those books Melita, bishop of Sardis, in the second censtyled the Apocrypha, a branch of the subject tury; nor does Origen in  the  third, or
possessed of considerable interest, and which Epiphanius in the fourth, in the least acwe shall treat in the same measure of im- knowledge their authenticity.  One or two
partiality.@                                of the writers of them  also ask pardon if
The term  apocrypha is Greek, signifying they have said any thing amiss; which clearhidden or concealed, and is used to desig- ly shows that they were not inspired, or at
nate a number of books, often placed between least did not consider themselves to be so;
the Old and New Testaments, or otherwise and therefore these books can by no means
bound up with them.  Some writers divide be considered as having a title to form  part
the sacred books into three classes, viz., the of the word of God.  A very simple analycanonical, the ecclesiastical, and the apocry- sis of the books themselves will be sufficient
phal.  In the first they place those whose to demonstrate this to every attentive mind.
authority has never been questioned in the    I. It is not known at what time the First
catholic or universal church; in the second, Book of Esdras was written, neither is it
those which were not received at first, but known who was the author of it; but Priwhich were nevertheless read in the public deaux considers it certain that he wrote beassemblies as books that were useful, though fore the time of Josephus.  It was originally
they never placed them upon the same foot- to be found only in  Greek; and in the
ing of authority as the former; and in the Alexandrian manuscript it is placed before
third they placed the books which were of the canonical Book of Ezra, and is there
no authority, which could not be made to called the First Book of Ezra, because the
* The relationship between the canonical and popular piety, forming a distinct period between
the apocryphal books was correctly defined by the age of the prophets and that of the New Testathe ancient Jewish synagogue, and after it, by the ment. 3. To exhibit the character of Alexandrian
ancient Greek and the modern Protestant churches, Judaism, though only a part of them is derived
in opposition to the Roman Catholic theory. The from that source. 4. As a background to the canApocrypha serve, 1. As a kind of historical sup- on itself. 5. For private instruction and edifiplement, being a narrative of the kingdom  of cation. -Dr. Lange's General Introduction to the
God during the period intervening between the Scriptures, p. 14.                A. B.
Old and New Testaments. 2. As a record of




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               57
events related in it occurred prior to the self is scarcely more explicit.  On these acreturn from the Babylonish captivity.  In counts, and from the numerous traces of the
some editions of the Septuagint it is called language of the New Testament, and espethe First Book of the Priest (meaning Ez- cially of the Revelation of St. John, which
ra), the authentic book of Ezra being called are discoverable in this book, several critics
the second book.  In the editions of the have concluded that it was written about the
Latin Vulgate previous to the Council of close of the first century, by some converted
Trent, this and the following book are styled Jew, who assumed the name of Esdras or
the Third and Fourth Books of Esdras, Ezra.
those of Ezra and Nehemiah being entitled    III. The Book of Tobit, from  the simthe first and second books.  This book is plicity of the narrative, and the lessons' of
chiefly historical, giving an account of the piety and meekness which it contains, has
return of the Jews from the Babylonish cap- been always one of the most popular of the
tivity, the building of the temple, and the apocryphal writings.  It was first written in
re-establishment of divine worship.  It is, Chaldee by some  Babylonian  Jew: but
in fact, nothing but a bad extract of the last there is no authentic information as to his
two chapters of Chronicles, and the Book of name, or the time when he flourished.  It
Ezra; and in a great many instances it even professes to relate the history of Tobit and
contradicts these.  The author falsely makes his family, who were carried into captivity
Zorobabel a young man in the days of Dari- to Nineveh  by  Shalmanezer, being  first
us Hystaspes, and Joakim  to be his son; begun by Tobit, then continued by his son
whereas he was the son of Joshua, the high- Tobias, and, lastly, finished by some other
priest.  He calls Darius king of Assyria, of the family, and afterward digested by the
long after that empire was utterly dissolved; Chaldee author into that form  in which we
and makes some things to be done under now have it.  The time of this history ends
Darius which were done under Cyrus.        with the destruction of Nineveh, about six
II. The author of the Second Book of hundred and twelve years before  Christ;
Esdras is likewise unknown.  It is supposed but most commentators and critics agree in
to have been originally written in Greek, thinking that the book itself was not written
though the original of it has never been till about one hundred and fifty or two hunfound but in Latin; and there is an Arabic dred years before Christ.  It has been genversion, differing very materially from  it, erally looked upon, both by Jews and Chrisand having many interpolations.  Although tians, as a genuine and true history; but it
the writer personates Ezra, it is manifest contains so many rabbinical fictions, and alfrom the style and contents of his book, that lusions to the Babylonian demonology, that
he lived long after that celebrated Jewish it is much more rational to  suppose  the
reformer.  He pretends to visions and reve- whole book an entire fable.  It is not problations; but they are so fanciful, indigested, able that, in the time of Sennacherib and
ridiculous, and absurd, that it is clear the Esarhaddon, the father should live, as is
Holy Spirit could have no concern in the here said, one hundred and fifty-eight years,
dictating of them.  He believed that the day and the son one hundred and twenty-seven.
of judgment was at hand, and that the It is certain no angel of God could falsely
souls of good and wicked men would all be call himself " Azarias the son of Ananias,"
then delivered out of hell.  A  great many as this writer affirms.  The story of Sarah's
rabbinical fables occur in this book, particu- seven husbands being successively killed on
larly the account of the six days' creation, their marriage-night by an evil spirit, and
and the story of Behemoth (or Enoch, as it of that spirit's being driven away by the
is here called) and Leviathan -  two mon- smell and smoke of the roasted heart and
strous creatures that are designed as a feast liver of a fish, and bound in the uttermost
for the elect after the day of resurrection, parts of Egypt, or of the angel Raphael's
&c.  He says that the ten tribes are gone presenting to God the prayers of the saints,
away into a country which he calls Arsareth, with other mattters evidently fabulous, are
and that Ezra restored the whole body of the quite sufficient to justify the rejecting of this
Scriptures, which had  been  entirely  lost. book entirely from  the sacred canon, upon
He also speaks of Jesus Christ and his apos- the score of internal evidence alone.
ties in so clear a manner, that the gospel it-   IV. The Book of Judith professes to re



58IIN  iolj uu  Jlu4 i'i' ItHE
late the defeat of the Assyrians by the Jews, other nation, never enjoyed a peace of such
through the instrumentality of their country- long continuance.  It is quite improbable
woman of this name, who craftily cut off the that a small town, as Bethulia is here rephead of Holofernes, the Assyrian general. resented to be, should stand out against so
This book was originally written in Chaldee powerful an army, or that the death of the
by. some Jew  of Babylon, and was thence general should have made all the troops
translated by St. Jerome into the Latin betake themselves to a shameful flight.  It
tongue.  Dr. Prideaux refers this history is certainly wrong, as is done in the case of
to the time of Manasseh king of Judah; Judith, to commend a woman as a devout
Jahn assigns it to the age of the Maccabees, fearer of the Lord, who was guilty of notoand thinks it was written to animate the Jews rious lying, of acting the part of a bawd, of
against the Syrians; but so many geograph- profane swearing, of murder, and of speakical, historical, and chronological difficulties ing in praise of that committed by the patriattend this book, that Luther, Grotius, and arch Simeon, whom she claims as her another eminent critics, have considered it cestor.
rather as a drama or parable than a real   V. " The rest of the chapters of the Book
history.  It has been received into the canon of Esther, which are found neither in the
of scripture by some as being all true; but, Hebrew nor in the Chaldee," were originally
on the other hand, it is the opinion of written in Greek, whence they were transGrotius that it is entirely a parabolical fiction, lated into Latin, and formed part of the
written in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, Italic or old Latin version in use before the
when he came into Judsea to raise a perse- time of Jerome.  Being there annexed to
cution against the Jewish church, and that the canonical Book of Esther, they passed
the design of it was to confirm the Jews, without censure, but were rejected by Jerome
under that persecution, in their hope that in his version, because he confined himself
God would send a deliverer.  According to to the Hebrew  Scriptures, and these chaphim, by Judith is meant Judclea, which, at ters never were extant in the Hebrew lanthe time of this persecution, was like a des- guage.  They are evidently the production
olate widow: that her sword means the of a Hellenistic Jew, but are considered
prayers of the saints: that by Bethulia, the both by Jerome and Grotius as a work of
name of the town which was attacked, is pure fiction, which was annexed  to  the
meant the temple, or the house of the Lord, canonical book by way of embellishment.
which is called in Hebrew  Bethel.  Nabu- From the coincidence between some of these
chodonosor denotes the devil, and the king- apocryphal chapters and Josephus, it has
dom of Assyria the devil's kingdom, pride. been supposed that they are a compilation
Holofernes. whose name signifies a minister from the Jewish historian; and this conjeeof the serpent, means Antiochus Epiphanes, tlure is further confirmed by the mention of
who was the devil's instrument in that per- Ptolemy and Cleopatra, who lived but a
secution, &c., &c.  It is plain that in this short time before Josephus.  These additions
way, by means of a little ingenuity, any thing to the Book of Esther are often cited by the
may be made of any thing; and such con- fathers of the church; and the Council of
jectures as these, as an able commentator Trent has assigned them a place among the
remarks, however ingenious, are better cal- canonical books. ~
culated to exhibit the powers of fancy and    The author of these apocryphal chapters
the abuse of learning, than to investigate says many things that are in direct contratruth, or throw light on what is uncertain and diction to the inspired historian; as when he
obscure.  The noted deliverance mentioned affirms that the attempt made by the eunuchs
in this book is there said to have happened to take away the life of Ahasuerus was in
after the  Jews had returned from  their the second year of his reign; that Mordecai
captivity, and had rebuilt the temple, and was at the very time rewarded for his disyet it is said to have been in the eighteenth covery; that Haman had been  advanced
year of Nebuchadnezzar, which is absurd; before this event, and was provoked  with
and it is said that they had no trouble for Mordecai for his discovery of the eunuchs;
eighty years or more after this deliverance,
which is equally absurd, as the Jews during   * Vide Home's Introduction to the Scripture,
any period of their history, or indeed any vol. iv. p. 229.




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                                 59
that Haman was a Macedonian, and intended  attributes it to another Philo, more ancient
to transfer the government of Persia to the than the person just mentioned, and who is
Macedonians. He very stupidly, also, rep- cited by Josephus; but this hypothesis is
resents Ahasuerus looking upon Esther, " as untenable, because the author of the Book
a fierce lion," and yet " with a countenance. of Wisdom was confessedly either a Jew or
full of grace! " and as calling the Jews " the a heretical Christian, whereas the Philo menchildren of the most high and most mighty tioned by Drusius was a heathen.
living God; " and as ordering the heathen    It is quite evident that this author had
to keep the feast of Purim.               read Plato and the Greek poets; and he emVI. The book of " The Wisdom of Solo- ploys a great many expressions taken from
mon" was never written by that monarch as them, such as Ambrosia, the river of forgetits author falsely pretends; for it was never fulness; the kingdom of Pluto, &c.; as also
extant in Hebrew, nor received into the Jew- several words borrowed from  the Grecian
ish canon of scripture, nor is the style like games, which were not in use till long after
that of Solomon.  It consists of two parts: the time of Solomon, whose name he asthe first, which is written in the name of Solo- sumes.  A great many of his phrases seem
mon, contains a description or encomium of to be taken out of the Prophets, and even
wisdom, by which comprehensive term the from the New Testament.  There are numerancient Jews understood prudence and fore- ous passages in the book evidently borrowed
sight, knowledge and understanding, and es- fiom the Prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah;
pecially the duties of religion and morality.  particularly in the thirteenth chapter, where
This division includes the first ten chap- there are no less than nine verses plainly
ters.  The second part, comprising the rest copied  from  the  forty-fourth  chapter of
of the book, treats on a variety of topics Isaiah.
widely differing from the subject of the first,   This author brings forward many things
viz., reflections on the history and conduct of that are contrary both to the word of inspithe Israelites during their journeyings in the ration and to common sense.  He condemns
wilderness, and their subsequent proneness the marriage-bed as sinful, and also excludes
to idolatry.  Hence the author takes occasion bastards from  the hopes of salvation: he
to inveigh against idolatry, the origin of talks as if souls were lodged in bodies acwhich he investigates, and concludes with cording to their former merits; makes the
reflections on the history of the people of murder of Abel the cause of the flood; repGod.  His allegorical interpretations of the resents the Egyptians as being plagued enPentateuch, and the precept which he gives tirely by their own idols, that is to say, by
to worship God before the rising of the sun, the beasts which they worshipped, though
have induced some critics to think that the it is certain they never worshipped frogs,
author was of the Jewish sect called Essenes. locusts, or lice.  He also calls the divine
Although the fathers of the church, and Logos, or second person of the Trinity, a
particularly Jerome, uniformly considered vapor or steam, with many other things that
this book as apocryphal, yet they recon- are evidently absurd.
mended the perusal of it, in consideration of    The seventh book of the Apocrypha, is
the excellence of its style.  The third Coun- entitled " The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of
cil of Carthage, held in the year 397, pro- Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus," which, like the prenounced it to be a canonical book, under the ceding, has sometimes been considered as the
name of "the Fourth Book of Solomon," production of King Solomon; whence the
and the famous Council of Trent confirmed council of Carthage deemed it canonical,
this decision. Jerome informs us that several under the title of the Fifth Book of Solomon,
writers of the first three centuries ascribed and their decision was adopted by the counthe authorship of it to Philo the Jew, a na- cil of Trent.  It is, however, manifest, that it
tive of Alexandria who flourished in the first was not, and could not be written by Solomon,
century; and this opinion is generally adopt- because in it allusion is made to the captivity;
ed by the moderns, on account of the Pla- although it is not improbable that the author
tonic notions that are discoverable in it, as collected some scattered sentiments ascribed
well as from its general style, which evidently to Solomon, which he arranged with the other
shows that it was the production of a Helle- materials he had selected for his work.
nistic Jew of Alexandria.  Drusius, indeed, Sonntag is of opinion that this book is a




60                         INTRODUCTION TO THE
collection  of fragments, or miscellaneous times it was put into the hands of catechuo
hints for a large work, planned out and mens, or young Christians under examinabegun, but not completed.  From the book tion, on account of the edifying nature of its
itself it appears that it was written by a instruction.
person of the name of Jesus the Son of    VIII.  The Book of "Baruch " is not
Sirach, who had travelled in pursuit of extant in Hebrew, and only in Greek and
knowledge.  By reading the Scriptures, and Syriac; but in what language it was origiother good books, he attained a considerable nally written it is now impossible to ascertain.
share of wisdom; and by collecting the grave Grotius is of opinion that it is an entire
and short sentences of such as went before fiction, and that it was composed by some
him, and adding sundry of his own, be Hellenistical Jew, under the name of Baendeavored to produce a work of instruction ruch.  The principal subject of the book is
that might be useful to his countrymen.    an epistle, pretended to be sent by Jehoiakim
This book  was  originally  written  in and the captive Jews in Babylon, to their
Hebrew, or rather the Syro-Chaldaic dialect brethren in Judah and Jerusalem; and the
then in use in Judaea about the year 232 last chapter contains an epistle which falsely
before Christ, when the author was probably bears the name  of Jeremiah.  This has
about seventy years of age.  Jesus, his never been considered as a canonical book,
grandson, who is also called The Son of either by the Jews or the Christians; and,
Sirach, translated it into Greek during the indeed, it is little else than an arrant roreign of Ptolemy Evergetes, king of Egypt, mance.  It absurdly pretends to have been
about 140 years before Christ, for the use written by Baruch at Babylon, when it is
of the Hellenistical Jews, among whom he probable he never went thither: that it was
had settled in Alexandria.  The Hebrew  read to Jechoniah at the river Sud, which
original is now lost; but it was extant in the is nowhere else mentioned; nor could Jechotime of Jerome, for he tells us that he had niah hear it there, when he was confined in
seen it under the title of The Parables; prison.  It mentions a collection to buy
but he says that the common name of it in sacrifices, gathered by the captives in BabyGreek was The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of lon, and sent to Joakim  the priest, along
Sirach.  The Latin version of this book has with the sacred vessels which Zedekiah had
more in it than the Greek, several particulars made; but how could the captives newly
being inserted which are not in the other. enslaved in Babylon be able to make colThese seem to have been interpolated by the leetions?  How could they send it to a highfirst author of that version; but now the priest that did not then exist?  How could
Hebrew  being lost, the Greek, which has the sacred vessels which Zedekiah made be
been made from it by the grandson of the returned fromn Babylon, when it does not
author, must stand for the original, and from  appear that he made any?  Or how could
that the English translation has been made. they be returned before they were carried
From the supposed resemblance of this book away, along  with  himself?  The  author
to that of Ecclesiastes, it has received from  borrows a variety of expressions from Daniel,
the Latin translator the title of Ecclesias- and must therefore have lived after Baruch
ticus, by which name it is most generally was dead.  The epistle ascribed to Jeremiah
known and referred to.                     is neither written in his style, nor at all in
Ecclesiasticus is considered by far the best the style of the Scriptures; and it ridicof all the apocryphal books.  The ancients ulously turns the seventy years of the capcalled it Panareton, that is, The Treasury of tivity into seven generations.*
Virtue, as supposing it to contain maxims   IX. " The Song of the Three Children in
leading to every virtue.  It has met with the Furnace " is placed in the Greek version
general esteem, also, in most of the western of Daniel, and also in the Vulgate Latin
churches, and was introduced into the public version, between the twenty-third and twentyservice of the Church of England by the fourth verses of the third  chapter.  It is
compilers of its Liturgy.  It was frequently partly a poor imitation of the 148th Psalm,
cited by the fathers of the church under the and partly deprecatory, not at all suited to
titles of " The Wisdom of Jesus," " Wisdom," " The Treasures of all the Virtues,"     Brown's Dictionary  of the Bible, art.
or "Logos, the Discourse;" and in those " Apocrypha."




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              61
such a deliverance.  It does not appear to    XI. " The History of the Destruction of
have ever been extant in Hebrew; and al- Bel and the Dragon" is a still more romanthough it has met with a good deal of appro- tic story.  It is not extant in either the Hebation for the piety of its sentiments, it was brew or the Chaldee language, and it was
never admitted to be canonical, until it always rejected by the Jewish church.  Jewas recognized by the council of Trent. rome gives it no better title than that of The
The account of the flame streaming above Fable of Bel and the Dragon; nor has it
the furnace "forty-and-nine cubits," and of obtained more credit with posterity, except
the angel's "smiting the flame out of the with the fathers of the council of Trent, who
oven, and making a moist whistling wind in determined it to be a part of the canonical
it," seems entirely fabulous and romantic; scriptures.  It forms the fourteenth chapter
nor is it very consistent with the account of of Daniel in the Latin Vulgate; in the
the fire's loosening their hands.  The fif- Greek it was called the Prophecy of Habakteenth verse contains a direct falsehood; for  kuk, the son of Jesus, of the tribe of Levi;
it asserts that there was no prophet at that but this is evidently false, for that prophet
time, when it is well known that Daniel and lived before the time of Nebuchadnezzar, and
Ezekiel bothexercisecld the prophetic ministry the events pretended to have taken place in
then in Babylon.  This apocryphal fragment this fable are assigned to the time of Cyrus.
is, therefore, most probably the production of There are two Greek texts of this fragment,
some Hellenistic Jew. The hymn resembling that of the Septuagint, and that found in
the hundred and forty-eighth Psalm, which Theodotian's Greek version of Daniel.
commences at the 29th verse, was so approved    The design of this fiction is to render idolof by the compilers of the Liturgy of the atry ridiculous, and to exalt the true God;
Church of England, that they appointed it to but the author has destroyed the illusion of
be used instead of the Te Deum during Lent. his fiction, by transporting to Babylon the
X. "The History of Susanna" has al- worship of animals, which was never pracways been treated with some respect, but has tised in that country.  It is also quite imnever been considered as canonical, though  probable that Cyrus, a Persian, would worthe council of Trent admitted it into the ship a Babylonian idol; nay, an idol that
number of the sacred books.  It is evi- was broken to pieces at the taking of thecity!
dently, like the rest, the work of some Hel- It is absurd to imagine that a man of his
lenistic Jew, and in the Vulgate version it sense could believe an image of brass and
forms the thirteenth chapter of the Book clay did really eat and drink!  How pitiful,
of Daniel.  In the Septuagint version it is for Daniel to discover the coming of the
placed at the beginning of that book.  La- priests to devour the provisions, by making
my, and some other modern critics after Juli. the king's servants strew ashes on the floor,
us Afilicanus and Origen, consider it to be when the priests might so easily perceive
both spurious and fabulous.  That it was them, or the servants so readily inform conoriginally written in Greek, is manifest in cerning them! It is absurd to suppose that
the punishment pronounced on the elders, the newly-conquered Babylonians should, by
from the play which is made upon the Greek menaces, oblige Cyrus to deliver up his
names of the mastic and holm trees, under beloved Daniel to them, to be cast into the
which they said they found Susanna and the den of lions; or that Habakkuk should be
young man together.  It is evidently absurd then alive to bring him food; or that Cyrus
to affirm, that in the beginning of the captiv- should be seven days before he went to the
ity, Joachim, the husband of Susanna, was den, to see what was become of his favorite
become exceedingly rich; that there were minion.
Jewish judges with the power of life and death    XII. "The Prayer of Manasses," king
in Chaldea; that Daniel, who was bred in the of Judah, when he was holden captive in
court, had leisure, or being so young, was Babylon, never appeared in the Hebrew
admitted to be a judge; that Susanna went language, and seems to be the product of some
into her garden to wash at noonday, and did Pharisaical spirit. It was never recognized as
it without searching if anybody was there; canonical, and is rejected as spurious even
or that the elders attempted to force her, by the Church of Rome.  It can not be
when they could not but every moment ex- traced to a higher source than the Vulgate
pect the return of her maids.              Latin version; and, therefore, it has no claim




V1W2                      INTRODUCTION  TO  THE
to be considered as the original prayer which, ty-four years. The author of this book is
in the Book of Chronicles, Manasseh is not certainly known: some conjecture that
mentioned to have made, and which it pre- it was written by John Hyrcanus, the son
tends to be.  The author speaks of just of Simon, who was prince and high-priest of
persons, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Jews for nearly thirty years, and who
as being without sin, and not called to re- commenced his government at the  time
pent.                                     when this history ends: by others it is asXIII. The Books of the " Maccabees" cribed to one of the Maccabees, and many
are thus denominated, because they relate are of opinion that it was compiled by the
the patriotic and gallant exploits of Judas men of the great synagogue.  It is, howMaccabeus and his brethren.  The Macca- ever, most probable that it was composed in
bees arose in defence of their brethren the the time of John Hyrcanus, when the wars
Jews, during the dreadful persecutions to of the Maccabees are terminated, either by
which they were subjected, on account of Hyrcanus himself, or by some persons emtheir religion, under Antiochus Epiphanes, ployed by him.  There is both a Greek
king of Syria, about 100  years  before and a Latin translation of it, from the SyroChrist.  The most likely derivation of the Chaldaic; and our English version is made
title Maccabees, is that which takes it from  from the Greek.
the motto put by Judas in his standard, be-   There are many things in this book which
ing this Hebrew sentence, taken out of Ex- show that it was not written by inspiration.
odus xvi. 11, Xi/' Camo-ka Baelim Jehovah, The writer often observes, that there was no
that is, " Who is like unto thee among the prophlet in his times; and, indeed, he has
gods, O  Jehovah?" which being written blundered into several mistakes; as, that
like the S. P. Q. R., Senatus Populusque Alexander the Great parted his kingdom
1Romanus, on the Roman standards, by an among his honorable servants while he was
abbreviation formed by the initial letters of yet alive; that Antiochus the Great was
these words put together, made the artifi- taken alive by the Romans; that they gave
cial word Maccabi; and hence all who India and Media, parts of his kingdom, to
fought under that standard  were called Eumenes, king  of Pergamus; that the
Maccabees or Maccabeans.                  Roman senate consisted of 320  persons;
The First Book of Maccabees is a very that Alexander Balas was the son of Antiovaluable historical monument, written with chus Epiphanes; and several others which
great accuracy and fidelity, on which even are palpably absurd.
more reliance may be placed than on the writ-   XIV. The "Second  Book  of Maccaings of Josephus, who has borrowed some of bees " is a history of fifteen years, from the
his materials from it, and has frequently mis- execution of the commission of Heliodorus,
taken its meaning.  It is, indeed, an ex- who was sent by Seleucus to bring away
cellent history, and comes the nearest to the the treasures of the temple, to the victory
style and manner of the sacred historical obtained by Judas Maccabeus over Nicawritings of any  extant.  It was written nor, that is, from  the year of the world
originally in the Chaldee language of the 3828 to 3843.  It commences with  two
Jerusalem dialect, which was the language epistles sent from the Jews of Jerusalem  to
spoken in Judsea, from  the return of the those of Alexandria and throughout Egypt,
Jews thither from the Babylonish captivity; exhorting them to observe the feast of the
and it was extant in this Syro-Chaldaic lan- dedication of the new altar, erected by Juguage in the time of Jerome, for he tells us das Maccabeus on his purifying the temple.
that he had seen it.  The title which it then The second of these epistles is not only writbore was, The Sceptre of the Prince of the ten in the name of Judas Maccabeus, who
Sons of God: a title which is certainly suit- was slain thirty-six years before, but also
able to the character of Judas, who was a contains such fabulous and absurd stuff, as
valiant commander of the persecuted Israel- could never have been written by the great
ites.  It contains the history of the Jews council of the Jews assembled at Jerusalem
under the government of the priest Matthias for the whole nation, as this pretends to be.
and his sons, from  the beginning of the The epistles, which are confessedly spurireign of Antiochus Epiphanes to the death ous, are followed by the author's preface to
of Simon Maccabeus, a period of about thir- his history, which is an abridgment of a




mISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              63
larger work, compiled by one Jason, a Hel- title of the Third and Fourth Books, of the
lenistic Jew of Cyrene, who wrote in Greek Maccabees.  The Third Book contains the
the history of Judas Maccabeus and  his history of a persecution intended against
brethren, and an account of the wars against the Jews in Egypt by Ptolemy Philopator,
Antiochus Epiphanes, and his son Eupator, but which  was  miraculously  prevented.
in five books.  The entire work of Jason From its style, this book appears to have
has long since perished; and Dr. Prideaux is been written by some Alexandrian Jew; it
of opinion that the author of this second abounds with absurd fables. With regard
book of Maccabees was a Hellenistic Jew of to its subject, it ought in strictness to be
Alexandria, because he makes a distinction called the First Book of Maccabees, as the
between the temple in Egypt and that at Jeru- event it professes to relate occurred before
salem, calling the latter "the Great Temple." the achievements of that heroic family; but
The compilation of this unknown author as it is of less authority and repute than the
is by no means equal in accuracy to the First other two, it is reckoned after them.  It is
Book of the Maccabees, which it contradicts found in most ancient manuscripts of the
in several instances; it is not arranged in Greek Septuagint, particularly in the Alexchronological order, and sometimes also it is andrian and Vatican manuscripts; but it
at variance with the inspired writings.  The was never inserted in the Latin Vulgate,
author concludes it, begging excuse if he had nor in our English Bibles.
said any thing unbecoming the story; and,   Of the Fourth Book of the Maccabees
indeed, he had reason to do so, consider- very little is known.  It is destitute of eving what a number of false and wicked cry internal mark of credibility, and is supthings he retails: as, that Judas Maccabeus posed to be the same as the book " concernwas alive in the 188th year of the Se- ing the government or empire of reason,"
leucidae, when he died in the 152d; that ascribed to Josephus by Philostratus, EuseAntiochus Epiphanes was killed  at the bius, and Jerome.  It is extant in some
temple of Nanea, in Persia, whereas he Greek manuscripts, in which it is placed
died  on the frontiers of Babylon, of a after the three books of Maccabees.  Dr.
terrible disease; that Nehemiah built the Lardner thinks it is the work of some unsecond temple  and  altar, whereas they known Christian writer.  The history conwere built sixty years before he came from  tained in it extends to about 160 years:
Persia; that Jeremiah hid the tabernacle, beginning at Seleucus's attempt to pillage
ark, and altar of incense, in a cave; that the temple, and ending just before the birth
Persepolis was in being one hundred years of Jesus Christ.
after Alexander had burnt it to ashes; that   Upon the whole, in regard to these apocJudas did well in offering prayers and sac- ryphal books, it is to be observed, they
rifices to make reconciliation for the dead; appear to have been entirely the work of
and that Rasis did well in murdering him- Hellenistic Jews, and quite destitute of any
self to escape the fury of the Syrians.   proper claim to the authority of inspiration.
The name of Maccabees was first given The Jews, after their return from the Babyto Judas, the son of Matthias, the priest of lonish captivity to the time of our Saviour,
Modin, and his brethren, for the reason were much given to religious romances; and
which has been already mentioned; and, of this sort the greater part, if not all, of
therefore, the two books just spoken of, these books are to be accounted.  They
which give us an account of their actions, are were never extant in Hebrew, neither are
called the First and the Second Book of the they quoted in the New Testament, or by
Maccabees.  But because they were suf- the Jewish writers, Philo and Josephus;
ferers in the cause of their religion, others on the contrary, they contain many things
who were like sufferers in the same cause and which are fabulous, false, and contradictory
by their sufferings bore witness to the truth, to the canonical scriptures.  They are neverwere in after times called also Maccabees theless possessed of some value as ancient
by the Jews.  For this reason, other two writings, which throw considerable light upon
books, giving an account of other persecutions the phraseology of Scripture, and upon the
endured by the Jews, are found under the history and manners of the east.








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AN ILLUSTRATED
HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.
HISTORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.
CHAPTER I.
THE CREATION. -  FALL OF MAN,
THE first transaction recorded in history that are made.   So reasons the apostle,
is THE CREATION OE THE WORLD.  "In  Heb. xi. 3.
the beginning God created the heaven and    In the book of Genesis, the "beginning"
the earth."  Gen. i. 1. This work is worthy  of every thing is ascribed to the creative
the amazing power of that Supreme Being  power of GOD; and we are informed that
by whom  it was executed.  The idea of over the formless and chaotic earth, darkness
creation is truly sublime.  It is, indeed, so reigned, and " that the Spirit of GOD moved "
vast that ancient as well as some modern or brooded "upon the face of the waters,"
philosophers have denied the possibility of bringing order out of confusion, light out
creation, and hence have invested matter of darkness, and this beauteous earth into a
with the attribute of eternity, making it fit condition for the residence of man, and
coeval with GoD.                              the  subsistence of animal and vegetable
From the.infallible testimony of GoD, we life..   The Almighty architect said, " LET'
infer that the material elements, of which THERE BE LIGIIT, AND THERE WAS  LIGHT."
organic forms and worlds are composed, were With respect to this expression, Longinus,,
the product of the same creative power, so that great judge of the beautiful and subclearly seen and understood by the things lime, says, " It is the most noble and lofty
The Mosaic record of the creation, as con-   The reader who may be interested in this subtained in the first chapter of Genesis, has been the  ject is referred to a supplemeantal article annexed'
subject of elaborate and earnest investigation by  to the first chapter of the work, prepared exChristian interpreters and scholars in all ages. pressly for it by Prof. C. HI. Hitchcock of New
The developments of modern science were at one York, formerly of Amherst College, by request
time viewed with jealous apprehension by friends'of the editor. This article contains a clear and
of the Bible, lest they might be found to conflict scientific exposition of the Mosaic cosmology.
with the inspired volume. But the more thor- Showing the coincidence of the facts of geology, as
ough, patient, and protracted the investigations of now admitted, with the record in Genesis. The
science, the more it is found to be in harmony conclusion to which the writer comes, and in
with Revelation.                              which several of the most distinguished geologists
The i-elation of geology to the cosmogony of the concur, confirms the divine inspiration and verity
Bible has been discussed by able and learned of that record; showing that it is as true to science
Christian scholars and philosophers of our day; as it is to religion; that it is both true and
and the light elicited by them in the progress of divine. As Prof. Dana says, " It is a declaration
their researches confirms the credibility, and re- of authorship, both of creation and the Bible, on,
veals the divine philosophy, of the sublime and the first page of the sacred volume." - A. B..
wonderful account of the work of creation.
5                                              65,




66                               AN ILLUSTRATED
example of sublimity that imagination can waters, completed the second day of the
conceive; it commands things into existence, creation.   Light being  formed, and  the
speaks with the voice of supernatural author- waters separated fiom  each other, the Ality, and is the language of GOD." " And GoD mighty, on the third day, commanded that
saw the light that it was good, and he divided the waters beneath the firmament should be
the light from the darkness, calling the light gathered  together, and dry  land  appear.
day, and the darkness night; and the even- The waters, accordingly, fled into deep valing and the morning were the first day." leys, and recesses of the earth, the lofty
Surprising display of OMNIPOTENCE to illu- mountains raised their towering heads, and
minate a whole system  in so short a time, the lesser hills displayed their pleasing sumand appoint the proper portions of light and mits.  As the great Creator designed the
darkness to every part of the universe!     earth for the future habitation of man and
Who, with an intelligent mind and  a beast, it was no sooner separated from  the
sensitive heart, can look upon the glorious waters, than he gave it a prolific virtue,
scenes and objects around him, without emo- and endowed it with the power of vegetation.
tion; and, if piety be an inmate of his The surface was immediately covered with
bosom, without adoring reverence and filial grass for cattle, which was succeeded by
love to Him who made them all?  And yet herbs, plants, and fruit-trees, proper for the
it is most true that the beauties and sublim- nourishment of man.  All those were inities of the natural world are exhibited in  stantly in a state of perfection, that they
vain to the generality of mankind.  Engaged  might be ready for the use of those inhabitin other pursuits, or degraded by evil pas- ants for whom they were designed. t
sions, or besotted by self-indulgence, the    The Almighty Creator, having prepared
most magnificent, and the most soothing  such  necessaries as he thought proper on
scenes which mark the power or the good- earth, for the use of its intended inhabitants,
ness of GoD, are equally unnoticed  and  on the fourth day formed those two great
despised by many who ought to feel most luminaries of heaven called the Sun and
interested in them.                           Moon, the former of which he appointed to
"Wandering oft, with brute unconscious gaze   rule the day, and the latter the night.  He
Man marks not" HI:,,- "marks not the mighty  likewise  formed  the  planets, fixed  their
hand,                                   gravitation and vicissitudes, and appointed
That, ever busy, wheels the silent spheres, -  their regular courses, that they might divide
And as, on earth, this grateful change revolves,     n
With transport touches all the springs of life."     time   dstnguish the seasons.  By means
of these luminaries the atmosphere was rariThe waters being still dispersed over the  fied, and by their influence on the planets,
face of chaos, the Almighty was pleased  was promoted the office of vegetation.
to separate them from each other, and restrain   The creation of the first four days consisttheir current within proper bounds.  He di- ing of things inanimate; on the fifth  GoD
vided those above the firmament from  those  pronounced his omnipotent fiat, for the probeneath, and parted the waters of the earth  duction of living  creatures, saying, " Let
from  the watery atmospheres.  The firma- the waters bring forth abundantly the moving
ment * formed on this occasion was called  creature that hath life, and fowls t that they
heaven, and, with the separation  of the may fly above the earth in the open firma* The Hebrew word which we translatefirrna-   jt From this expression, some are of opinion
ment, signifies a curtain, or any thing stretched out that fowls derive their origin firom the water as
and extended. The term is not only applied to well as the fishes; while others, with equal reason,
the sky, but to the atmosphere, and in this place suppose them to have been made out of' the earth,
seems particularly to refer to that extent of airy agreeably to the following passage in Gen. ii. 19
matter which encompasses the earth, and sepa- "Out of the ground God formed every beast of the
rates the clouds from the waters on the earth.    field, and every fowl of the air."  But these two
texts are easily reconciled, when we consider that
t Though the first fruits of the earth were all neither denies what the other asserts.  It is to be
produced without any seeds, by the bare command observed, that some fowls live mostly in the water,
of God, yet, to perpetuate the same, each kind others partly on land and partly on water, while a
contained its own seed, which being sown in the third sort live altogether on land. This diversitS
earth, or falling, when ripe, from the plants them- countenances the opinion of many of the ancients,
selves, should continue in succession to the end that they were made partly out of the water, or.of the world.                                of both mixed together.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                      67
ment of heaven."  He was pleased to form        As soon as Adam  began to experience
these creatures of different shapes and sizes; the consciousness of his existence and intelsome very large,* to show the wonders of lectual endowments, he would very naturally
his creating  power, and others exceeding direct attention to the animals around him,
small, to display the goodness of his indul- desirous of knowing  whether his relation
gent providence.  After he had created them, to them  was one  of security and peace.
he gave them his blessing, by bidding them, To relieve his  mind  of any disquieting
be fruitful and multiply; enduing them, apprehensions, he was assured by the Creator
at the same time, with a power to propagate, that they  all were to be subject to his
in a prolific manner, their respective species. authority.  As a pledge of such authority,
And thus were completed the works of the  they were moved to appear before him, that
fifth day.                                    he might give them  such names as would
In the beginning of the sixth day GOD  distinguish their species and indicate their
created  the terrestrial animals, which  the natures.
sacred  historian  has  divided  into  three    On perceiving  that all these  animals
classes, namely,                              appeared in pairs, Adam would, as may be
1. Beasts, or wild creatures, such  as supposed, desire and expect to find a comlions, tigers, bears, wolves, &e.             panion kindred to himself, and fitted to be
2.  Cattle, or domestic animals, for the a partner and helpmeet.  To meet this want
use of men, such as bulls and cows, sheep, God took one of his ribs, and created  a
horses, asses, &c.                            woman, whom  the man named, and gladly
3.  Creeping things, such  as serpents, recognized  as one with himself.  "This,"
worms, and various kinds of insects.          said he, " is now bone of my bone and flesh
The  omnipotent Creator having  made of my flesh," language which referred to the
these abundant preparations, crowned his nearness of the conjugal relation, as a partwork with the formation of the grand object, nership of love.  It thus was intimated that
MAN, for whose  use  they were designed. the marriage bond was to be regarded as
He said, Let us make man in our own indissoluble.
image, after our likeness.t   And, to show    This was certainly  the last act of the
that the creature he was now about to form  whole creation, which, by the almighty power
should be the master-piece of the creation, of GOD, was made perfect in the space of
and (under his auspices) have supremacy  six days; at the close of which the great
over the whole, he further says, and let him  Creator took  a survey of the whole, and
~have dominion over the fish of the sea, and  pronounced it good, or properly adapted to
over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, the uses for which it was intended.  The
and over all the  earth, and over every  next day (which was the seventh from the
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. beginning of the creation) GOD set apart as
In the formation of man's body, GOD made  a time of solemn rest from  his labors.  Me
choice of the dust of the earth, after which, blessed and sanctified it; and to impress
having infused into him  an immortal spirit, mankind with a just sense of his infinite
or, as the text says, breathed into his nostrils  wisdom, power, and goodness, ordered  it
the breath of life, he became a living soul.-  ever after to be kept sacred. ([
* The words in the text are, And God created make him not only to bear our image in the lower
great zvhales. But this expression must not be world, but also qualify him for the enjoynment
confined to the whale alone; it undoubtedly im- of those blessings that are to be found at our right
plies fish of an enormous size, of which there are hand, to the full extent of eternity.
various species, that differ both in their form and    $ ADAt. - The name which is given in Scripture
magnitulde.                                   to the first man. The term apparently has refert What a noble and majestic expression was ence to the ground fiom which he was formed,
this, and how consistent with the nature of which is called in Hebrew Adamah. The idea of
that Almighty Being by whom it was spoken! redness of color seems to be inherent in either
In the formation of other creatures, God says, word. The creation of man was the work of the
Let the earth or the waters bring them forth; but sixth day. His formation was the ultimate object
here (as if man was to be made only a little lower of the Creator. It was with reference to him
than the angels) he says, Let us make him in our that all things were designed. He was to be the
imaqe - that is, let us make him like ourself; let "roof and crown" of the whole fabric of the
us endue him with all those noble faculties that world.- Bib. Dictionary.          A. B.
will raise him  above the animal creation, and I  11 Thus was the seventh day appointed by God,




68                                 AN ILLUSTRATED
When Adam first beheld the fair partner ing, that, as he had given them  dominion
of his life, who was presented to him by her over every part of the creation, they, by
Almighty  Creator, he was struck with  a being themselves fruitful in the procreation
secret sympathy, and, finding her of his own of children, might live to  see the earth
likeness and complexion, he exclaimed with replenished with a numerous progeny.
rapture, This is now bone of my bone, and    To facilitate the intended happiness of our
flesh of my fesh.  He easily foresaw that first parents, the  Almighty  Creator had
the love and union which were now to take provided for their residence a most delightful
place between them were to be lasting.  The spot called Eden,* which was watered by an
Divine Hand which conducted the woman extensive river divided  into  four streams.
to Adam did it in the light of a matrimonial It was furnished with all kinds of vegetables,
father; and having joined them  together, he among which were two remarkable trees, one
pronounced this benediction, Be fruitful and called the Tree of Ltfe,t and the other the
multiply, and replenish the earth; intimat- Tree of Knowledge, 1 by the latter of which
from the very beginning of the world, to be ob- forest, and which may be said to divide itself into
served as a day of rest by mankind, in memory four ways, whether the division be made above or
of the great benefits received in the formation of below the forest."  With this view, some writers
the universe. It has been a question, among the are content to take the present Shat-ul-Arab (the
learned, whether any sabbath was observed before single stream which is formed by the confluence
the promulgation of the law by Moses; but the of the Tigris and Euphrates, and which afterward
most judicious commentators agree that Adam  divides to enter the gulf) as the river that went
and Eve constantly observed the seventh day, and  through the garden; but as Major Rennell has
dedicated it in a peculiar manner to the service  shown that the two great rivers kept distinct
of the Almighty; and that the first Sabbath, courses to the sea until the time of Alexander,
which Philo (one of the most ancient writers) although at no great distance of time afterward
calls the birth-day of the world was celebrated in  they became united, other writers are contented
Paradise itself, which pious custom, being trans- to believe that such a junction and subsequent
mitted from our first parents to their posterity, divergence did, either in the time of Moses or
became in time so general, that the same Philo  before the deluge, exist in or near the place indicalls it the universal festival of mankind.    cated. The deluge must have made great changes
* There is probably no subject on which such  in the beds of these and many' other rivers, and
a diversity of opinions has been entertained as inferior agencies have alone been sufficient greatly
concerning the site of the Paradise in which the to alter the ancient channels of the Tigris and
progenitors of mankind were placed. From this Euphrates.  This is not only rendered obvious by
mass of conflicting opinions we shall select the  an inspection of the face of the country, but the
two which have been supported by the most memory of such events is preserved by local
eminent authorities, and which seem to have the  traditions, and they are even specified in the
strongest probabilities in their favor.        writings of the Arabian geographers and histoThe first position places Eden in Armenia, rians. Thus, then, of the two most probable
near the sources of the four great rivers Euphrates, conjectures, one fixes the terrestrial Paradise in
Tig ris (Hiddekel), Phasis (Pison), and the Araxes Armenia, between the sources of the Euphrates,
(Gihon). The similarity of sound between Phasis  Tigris, Phasis, and Araxes'  and the other idenand Pison is considered to strengthen this opinion, tifies the land of Eden with the country between
as does also the similarity of meaning between the Bagdad and Bussorah; and, in that land, some fix
IHebrew name Gihon and the Greek Araxes, both  the garden near the latter city, while others, more
words denoting swiftness.                     prudently, only contend that it stood in some part
One consideration that induced a preference for of this territory where an ancient junction and
this site is, that the advocates of this opinion  subsequent separation  of the Euphrates and
considered "heads," as applied to the  rivers Tigris took place.
which went forth from  the garden, to mean    t This tree is supposed to have been so called
" sources," which would therefore render it natural from its having in it a virtue not only to repair
to look for the terrestrial paradise in a moun- the animal spirits, as other nourishment does, but
tainous or hilly country, which only could supply likewise to preserve and maintain them  in the
the water necessary to form four heads of rivers.  same equal temper and state wherein they were
But others, those who would fix the site toward created; that is to say, without affecting the party
the other extremityv of the two known rivers, who used it with pain, disease, and decay.
reckon it sufficient, and indeed more accordant   $ There are various opinions concerning the
with the text, to consider the " four heads " not as nature and properties of the Tree of Knowledqe,
sources, but as channels —that is, that the Eu- which was forbidden to our first parents. Some
phrates and Tigris united before they entered the think it had a banefill quality, directly opposite to
garden, and after leaving it divided aoain, and that of the Tree of Lif;e, while others imagine it
entered the Persian Gulf by two mouths; thus is thus called by the sacred historian, because,
forming four channels, two above and two below  directly after Adam and Eve had eaten of it, they
the garden, each called by a different name. became sensible of the good they had lost, andt
"The river or channel," says Dr. Wells, "must the evil they had incurred, by their disobedi.
be looked upon as a highway crossing oyver a ence.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                     C9
good and  cvil were to be distinguished. and she at length sacrificed her duty  to
Into this earthly paradise did the Almighty  gratify her curiosity.  She stretched forth
conduct Adam and Eve, giving them  orders her presumptuous hand, took of the baneful
to take care of the garden, and superintend  fruit, and ate her own destruction.
the plants.  He granted them permission to,,                  She plucked, she ate;
eat of the fruit of every tree, except that of    Earth felt the wound, and Nature fiom her seat,
the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.   Sighing through all her works, gave sign of woe
This he  strictly  charged  them  not even    That all was lost."
to touch, on the penalty of incurring  his    Pleased with the taste of the fruit, and
displeasure, and thereby entailing upon them- fancying herself already in possession  of
selves and their descendants, mortality, dis- that additional happiness the serpent had
eases, and death.  With this small restraint promised her, she flew  to Adam, and enGOD left them in the garden of Eden, where ticed him to participate in her crime.
every thing was pleasing to the sight, and    Remorse, the  natural consequence  of
accommodated to their mutual enjoyment.    guilt, now opened their eyes to each other's
Thus fixed in the most beautiful situa- nakedness.  No longer shielded by  innotion, possessed of innocence, devoid of guilt,  cence  from  shame, they  were  mutually
and free from  care, the happiness of our shocked at the reciprocal indecency of their
first parents appeared complete:              appearance; and they sewed fig-leaves to"Perfection crowned with wondrous filame,    gether and made themselves aprons.  That
And peace and plenty smiled around;    is, they tied or twisted together the broad
They felt no grief, they knew no shame,   leaves of the fig-tree, so as to form  a girdle
But tasted heaven on earthly ground."    for the loins, being prompted by the imBut, alas! their bliss was transient, their pulse of shame to the expedient of an artifiinnocence fleeting, and their exemption from  cial covering for their persons. t
care very short.                                 While they were in a state of innocence,
All animals at this time were social in  they no sooner heard the voice of GOD aptheir tempers, except the  serpent,  who  proach them, than they with humble joy
was equally subtle and envious.  This ma- welcomed his gracious visits; but now their
lignant creature, viewing the felicity of the  Maker was become a terror to them, and
first pair with those painful sensations which  they a terror to each other.  Their conare natural to depravity  of heart, deter- sciences painted their transgression in the
mined to allure them  from  their innocence, blackest colors, all hope was banished, and
and stimulate them to the crime of disobedi- nothing remained but horror and despair.
ence.  In consequence of this infernal de-    When, therefore, after their transgression,
sign, he began by persuading Eve to taste  they heard the voice of the LoRD in the garthe prohibited Tree of Knowledge, telling  den, they flew to the most retired part of it,
her, that, by so doing, both herself and her in order to conceal themselves firom   his
husband would immediately be sensible of  sight.  But the Almighty soon called them
the difference between Good and Evil, ac- from their dark retreat; and, after a short
quire much additional happiness, and even  examination, they both acknowledged their
not be inferior, in point of wisdom, to GOD  guilt.  The man attempted to excuse himhiImself.*                                    self by laying the blame on the woman, and
Unhappily the artifices  of the  serpent pleaded her persuasions as the cause of his
prevailed.  Eve gazed on the tempting fruit criminality.  The woman endeavored to retill her appetite was inflamed; its beautiful move the crime from herself to the serpent;
hue made her fancy it a most delicious food; but the Almighty thought proper to make
* It is generally thought that this was the  his record, the conclusion is very evident that
work of Satan, who, to effect his purposes, as- the literal interpretation of the narrative is the
sumed the figure of a serpent.               true one, and that the presence and the agency
t The narrative of the temptation has been  of a real serpent must be considered as a matter
regarded by some interpreters as allegorical, of fact. Of course it will be conceded that
because the power of speech and the faculty of  the utterance of words was supernatural. There
reason are ascribed  to. the serpent. But the is clear evidence, however, of the agency of a
whole narrative, of which this is a part, is clearly  higher power concealed under the serpent's form
historic; and as the sacred writer Would not be - a malignant spirit of evil - that used the serlikely to mix the allegorical and the historical in  pent in executing his malevolent design. -A. B.




70                             AN ILLUSTRATED
all three the objects of his distributive jus- nacle (Ex. xxv. 9); the second where the
tice.  As the serpent had been the original things perceived are symbols of the reality,
cause of this evil, GOD first passes sentence as the wheels and living creatures illustraton him, which was, that (instead of going ing the glory of God (Ez. i.), the vision of
erect as he did before the fact) he should dry bones (Ez. xxxvii.), and especially the
ever after creep on his belly, and thereupon time-symbols, the seventy weeks (Dan. ix.
become incapable of eating any food, except 24), the forty-two months (Rev. xi. 2), or
what was mingled with dust.  The woman the twelve hundred and sixty days (id. 3),
was given to understand that she had en- the twelve hundred and ninety days (Dan.
tailed upon herself sorrow from conception, xii. 11), &c.
pain in childbirth, and subjection to  her   The knowledge of the period anterior to
husband.  The punishment of Adam  con- man would probably be revealed in terms
sisted in a life of perpetual toil and care,* similar to those foretelling the future; and
in order to keep in due subjection those we may be warranted in believing that the
passions and appetites, to gratify which he six days of the first chapter are time-symbols
had transgressed the divine command.       of the past with the same twofold significaThe awful decree being thus solemnly tion as those of the future; i. e., they may be
pronounced, as well on the author of the spoken of as common days or as the repreoffence, as the offenders themselves, the Al- sentatives of long periods.  It was not propmighty, to enhance their sense of the crime, er before the fulfilment of the prophecy to
and the tokens of his resentment, expelled speak of the time between Daniel and the
the guilty pair from the blissful regions of destruction of Jerusalem  as other than sevparadise, after which he placed at the east enty weeks; but now, as the precise length
end of the garden a guard of angels, in or- of the period is known, we may say instead
der not only to prevent their re-entrance, six hundred years: so until the time came
but to secure the forbidden fruit from  the when modern science has shown the proper
unhallowed hands of polluted mankind.      character of these ancient periods it was not
Thus, by this original pollution, fell our best to speak of them  except as days.
first parents, who, from the happiest condi- Some of the early Christian fathers, as Orition that can be conceived, plunged then- gen and Augustine, and many modern writselves into a state of wretchedness, and there- ers  of the last and  previous centuries,
by entailed misery on their descendants.   doubted whether these days were to be taken
in a literal sense.   At the present day,
the best expounders believe in their symbolic character. Some have thought them to
SUPPLEMENT TO CHAPTER FIRST.   mean directly long periods, and not at all
common days; making it necessary to attach
THE events described in the first chapter definite significations to the " mornings and
of Genesis were not seen by man, and must evenings," which is difficult.  The symbolitherefore have been revealed to him by the cal sense retains all the advantages of both
Spirit of God.  As the narrative has the the figurative and literal significations.  The
form of a pictorial history, it has been ima- figurative sense is occult and abstruse: the
gined that the descriptions were those of a symbolic does not nullify the obvious meanprophet beholding a series of visions; and that ing.
tlbe scenery of each picture illustrates all the    The creative account was probably deevents of a day.  Two kinds of pictorial signed to teach several elemental religious
descriptions of future events are employed truths, illustrating the power and glory of
in Scripture, -the first where the precise God and the relations of man to his Maker.
acts or objects are represented, as the vision The origin of all things is ascribed to God. It
of the secret chamber of imagery  (Ez. is reiterated that God commanded, God ecreatviii. 7-12), the twenty-five men  between ed, God saw, and God approved.  The creathe porch and the altar worshipping  the tion of the world had been delegated to no insun (id. 16), and the pattern of the taber- ferior.  So, too, the creative work was per* The words in the text are, in the sweat of thy gressed, nature would have spontaneously be.
face shalt thou eat bread; which implies that labor stowed.
alone should produce what, if he had not trans



HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                         71
formed in a manner worthy of the Supreme ures corresponding  to the successive days,
Being.  It was accomplished with infinite the latest being at the top; while the horiease.  "Let there be light," says the Crea- zontal lines include events supposed to be
tor, and instantly the universe was illumi- contemporaneous.  The second column gives
nated.  It was an invisible energy that per- the order of creation according to Genesis;
meated the world of atoms, and developed  the third enumerates the four great ages of
fishes, fowls, and quadrupeds adapted to move organic life according to geology; and the
in their several spheres.  While other nations fourth explains the third, giving the names
believed in imaginary  deities, the  Jews, of the more prominent formations as generthough surrounded by idolaters, were thus ally understood.  It will be observed that
effectually taught to believe in one great there is a general correspondence between the
power above all else.  Man's humble ori- events specified in the two columns except for
gin from  the dust of the ground was fitted  the fourth day.  In a few cases, there has been
to teach lessons of dependence  when  re- a scanty development of the life ascribed to
fleeting upon his relations to Deity; while  one age in that which preceded, as of a few
his high endowments showed his superiority  mammals in the age of reptiles; but the deover the brute animals.  It was also  de- sign is to show what animals predominated
signed to remind men that a portion of their in the several periods, so as to give charactime must be consecrated to the service of ter to the several groups.  We propose now
God.  Six days had been  spent in fitting  to describe briefly the condition of the earth
up this beautiful world for human  habita- during these past six stages of its growth or
tion, and the seventh had been one of rest, development.
therefore, in imitation of the example of the
Creator, men are commanded to remember                    Order          Ages        Namesaof
the Sabbath day to keep it holy.  Lastly,               of Scripture.  of Geology.    Formations.
we think the creative chapter was designed                MAN.        Age of MAN.    Alluvium.
by Him who sees the end from  the begin-                                 Age of
ning to confirm the truth of the sacred nar-           Land Animals.    Mammals, or    Tertiary.
rative in a remote sceptical age.  The ele-                            CENOZOIC.
ments of truths, imperceptible to the inhabi-  -
tants during the early and middle ages, are               Birds.         Age of     Cretaceous.
contained  in  this  record, -  unfathomable    5         Aquatic      Reptiles, or  Jurassic.
mines of wealth reserved for the skill and               Animals.      MesozoIC.     Triassic.
acumen of interpreters of the  nineteenth
century of the Christian era.  Though not                           Ages of Amphibians  Permian.
century of the Christian era. ThoSun, Moon,   or Plants, Fishes, Carboniferous.
given to teach scientific principles, the fact   4        nd Str.    and Trilobites, or   Devonian.
that the incidental statements of the oldest                           PALEOZOIC.    Silurian.
written  doculnent  designed  to  illustrate
the power, wisdom, and benevolence of God,                Plants.    Simple ProtozoansCambrian.
are properly understood only till the present    3   Dry Land and    Dawn of Lie.  Labradorian.
century, while whole systems of false crea-s.                           EozoI.      Laurentian.
tive philosophy and pretended revelation in
the intermediate  millenniums  have  been               ClouRain falls.               Mostly
overwhelmed, proclaims  unmistakably  the    2    ater              Fomation of Solid   befre
truth  and  inspiration  of  the  Scriptures.           Atmosphere.    Atmosphere.    the
The first chapters of Genesis lie at the foun-                                       formation
dation of religion.  If we call them  myths,           Day and Night.  Day and Night.  of
we impair the obligation of the Sabbath, the              Light.     gneous Fluidity    ratified
~~~w~~~                                   ~~ ~~~ ~~~e ipi  h   biai   o  h   abt1  g. Nebular Stale.    Stratified
doctrine of human depravity, and the sane-              Creation of      Light.       Rocks.
tity of the marriage relation.                            Matter.    Creation of Matter.
In order to show at a glance the similarity between the order of nature and of bibli-    First Day.   We cannot speak  of the
cal statement in reference to the creation of  proper order of development of the earth,
the earth and its inhabitants, we present in  at the beginning of things, with great confiparallel columns the leading  features  of  dence.  So long as our information is derived
both accounts.  The first column shows fig- from the strata and their contents, the infer



{2                             AN ILLUSTRATED
ences are  satisfactory.  Previous  to  the impressed upon it during this igneous period.
formation of the oldest portions of the crust The earth is not a perfect sphere; the north
now visible, the world must have passed and south diameter being twenty-six miles
through phases very unlike those afterwards shorter than that from east to west through
manifested.  After a careful study of all the the equator; it is therefore an oblate spheroid.
theories proposed, independently of revela- According to La Place, the present oblateness
tion, we conclude that the constituent atoms is precisely that belonging to a fluid globe of
of the earth must have been created by some the size and weight of the earth moving at
power or force not inherent in matter, and its present rate.  Hence it is inferred, that,
that these particles came into being as simple while melted, the earth revolved upon its
elements, all at the same time; forming a axis and orbit precisely as at present; and
shapeless mass.  But a mixture of newly- that the peculiar shape then induced has
born elements would not long remain quies- become immovably fixed by the cooling of
cent.  They are endowed with chemical and the surface to form a crust.  The practical
physical affinities  promoting  motion and conclusion from these facts is the establishcombination. Many of the  elements will ment, thus early, of days of twenty-four
combine, perhaps rapidly and explosively, hours, with intervals of darkness, as soon as
giving rise to light and heat.  At the same the earth ceased to emit its own light and to
time the universal law of gravitation would intercept the rays of the sun.
affect the mass: it would begin to revolve    The scriptural statements may refer to
upon an axis, and perhaps around other some of these early conditions.  The beginbodies in space.  If, as many suppose, this ning was the creation out of nothing (bara)
original mass comprised the sun and all the of the heavens and the earth, or the whole
planets, with their satellites, of our solar material universe apprehended by the senses.
system, portions of it began to separate from  There was nothing but bare matter; for the.the central portion, and to revolve around the earth was very empty.  But the Spirit of
primeval nucleus in  orbits  successively  God was hovering over this " bottomless
smaller, as it was the outer planets which were commixture of elements," — dark and desofirst dissevered.  The intense heat produced late.  He spake, and light came, evidently
by this primitive combustion would not allow  something different from that of the sun,
the particles to remain solid, but would but explicable by the chemicallight produced
expand the whole into a vaporous condition. by the union of the primitive elements.
Hence this early period was one of vaporous The brooding action of the Spirit implies a
diffusion both before and after the earth had long period.  The light was divided from
become separated from the compound nucleus. the darkness, producing the distinction of
The world was a nebula, or comet.          day and night.  No mention is made of
The effect of intense heat upon compound} igneous fluidity; but the establishment of day
bodies is to resolve them into their original and night involves a rate of axial revoelements; while they may remain unaltered  lution of the earth similar to that impressed
when only melted.  Hence we may say, on the primitive surface.  The distinction of
conversely, that, when the heat of the nebu- day and night was induced in the latter part
lous period had somewhat subsided by its of the period, following naturally after the
radiation into space, the gases would become creation of matter and of light.
sufficiently cooled to unite into compounds,    Second Day. -  The earth is now covered
and take on the form of a liquid.  When all over by a crust formed by the refrigeration of
the elements capable of this fiery conden- the surface of the ball of fire.  Light is no
sation had become united, the world was like longer emitted into space; but the heat is
a mass of melted iron, or freshly erupted lava, continually radiating, causing the solid part
giving out light and heat as a sun.  This to augment in bulk.  The constituents of this
was the stage  of igneous  fluidity.  The crust must have been the same elements now
elements now composing the air and water visible, though perhaps combined in differmust have restdd like an atmosphere upon ent proportions, and without organic ddbris.
this raging surface of fire, as gases and The rock was not granitic, but more like the
steam; and as yet the distinction of clouds slag of a furnace, containing many soluble
and water was impossible.                  compounds; while the atmosphere was heavThe  peculiar shape  of the earth was ily charged with steam, —the whole of the




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                                73
water of the ocean, carbonic acid, and other oldest of which we have any knowledge,
acids easily volatilized.  Until purified, the (twenty thousand feet thick), and are called
atmosphere would hardly be recognized as Laurentian by geologists.  Great disturbsuch by an unscientific eye; the barometer ances agitated the crust at the close of this
indicating a pressure seven times greater than period; and upon the edges of the upturned
that now experienced.  The steam, however, Laurentian strata another series of sedimentwould condense into drops, and fall to the ary beds, over ten thousand feet thick, were
earth in the form of rain, dissolving in its deposited, called "Labradorian."  Still andownward passage many of the gaseous acids, other series, called'"' Cambrian," or " Hroand bringing them into contact with bases nian," twelve thousand feet thick, are found
dissolved out of the slaggy surface.  The lying upon the edges of these older beds.
carbonic  acid would  unite partially with These three series contain certain remains
certain bases, as to form  limestone, while of life,- plants and protozoans, or those
much  of it would  remain  behind  until simply organized animals most nearly allied
absorbed in the vegetation of future life- to the vegetable kingdom.  Few organized
periods.  Hence we perceive the origin of an vegetable structures have been discovered in
atmosphere, the formation of a solid crust, these eozoic rocks; but there are enormous
and circumstances favorable for the conden- beds of iron ore and of plumbago in the Lausation of rain.  With rain commenced the rentian, -  the first of which is formed only
work of denudation.  Wherever water fell, in the presence of vegetation; and the second
currents and streams would form, more or is supposed to be the remains of once living
less powerful, according to the nature of the plants.  The protozoans formed a  species
inequalities of the surface, and begin to wear of coral reef several hundred feet thick; but
away the earth, and push it into hollows. they lived beneath the surface of the ocean,
The water would  also  dissolve  whatever where they were not obvious to ordinary
soluble bases might be met with; and pools inspection.
would collect, in which the acids from the air   The features of the third biblical day may
might combine with these terrestrial bases, be  recognized  in  the geological history.
and form the salt now in the ocean, and other The waters were gathered into one place to
compounds.  We cannot say how long these make oceans, and the land was massed into
processes of denudation and deposition may continents; but this was a work requiring
have been continued previous to the intro- long periods of time for its accomplishment.
duction of life.  No remains of this prim-    Next, life is introduced.  God commands
itive crust, or of the first formed stratified the earth to bring forth the tender grass,
rocks, are anywhere exposed at the surface, such as cattle feed upon (probably including
so far as known.  It is not probable that the seedless or cryptogamnous plants); the
they equal in extent the Laurentian deposits. herb  yielding seed, such as the different'The sacred writer has described in the species of cereals; and the fruit-tree bearing
second scene the formation of a firmament fruit.  These include the most useful plants,
or atmosphere in which clouds floated about, and in no other part of the chapter is any
separated from  the waters lying upon the reference made to plants.  Hence we would
surface of the earth.  These agree with the interpret the meaning of the passage to be
statements of science.  We cannot agree that God established upon the earth the
with those who interpret the " waters " of vegetable  kingdom, and  that before  the
the second day by the gases of the nebulous commencement of animal life.  Thus experiod.                                    plained, there is an essential agreement in
Third Day.- We can now learn more of both records concerning the events transthe  history  from  geology.  The  gradual piring upon the third day.  We have reason
refrigeration of the crust of the earth caused to believe that the plants of the Laurentian
it to shrink, so that great ridges and furrows as well as of the Silurian ages were marine;
were formed.  There were changes of level and no land-plants have been discovered
in the crust; and the water collected in the earlier than the Devonian.
depressions, leaving the ridges, so that dry    Fourth Day. - Following the geological
land and seas began to exist.  Since that record, we are brought to the great Paleozoic
time, there always have been continents. age of life, including the formations known as
The rocks deposited at this time are the Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, and Per



74                             AN ILLUSTRATED
mian, whose groups of life have a general may be that of importance as well as of
resemblance to one another.  The Silurian time.
life was entirely marine, and may be styled the    FiAfth Day.- Next follows the Mesozoic
age of trilobites or of mollusks, from the pre- age, embracing the Triassic, Jurassic, and
dominance of these two classes of animals. Cretaceous periods, in which reptiles, often
Enormous fishes abounded in the Devonian; of large size, predominated.  Many of the
land-plants accumulated sufficiently to form  humbler ancient types of life had entirely
a few coal-beds; and a few insects began disappeared, and most exhibited peculiaritheir existence.  The Carboniferous age was ties by which they can be  distinguished
pre-eminently one  of  prolific  vegetation. from  their congeners of every  age.  The
Most of the coal-beds wrought in the world Trias afforded frogs as large as oxen, traces
were formed at this time from  trees and of turtles, flocks of birds, reptilian birds,
reeds of gigantic size and tropical luxuriance, and a few small marsupials.  The Jura af-chiefly tree-ferns, tree club-mosses, and forded crowds of immense saurians or repfern-conifers.  Amphibious reptiles and enor- tiles, swimming, flying, and crawling, beinmous fishes flourished in the waters of this sides small mammals.  In the Cretaceous
period, besides all the smaller marine shells, there were trees similar to those now growworms, and crinoids.                       ing in warm temperate regions, modern fishThese four periods were probably  syn- es, true crocodiles, and whales.  The age,
chronous with the appointment, not creation, therefore, was one of reptiles.
of the heavenly bodies to the office of giving    The fifth day of the sacred writer was
light, and regulating the seasons. It is prob-  marked  by the introduction  of creeping
able that these worlds existed as early as  things, fowls, and great dragons.  Jarchi
the earth, but were not visible from  our says creeping things include " every living
planet till this time.  During the Paleozoic  thing which is not high above the ground,"
age, the atmosphere was heavily charged  such as flies, ants, worms, beetles, lizards,
with carbonic-acid gas, so that animals of weasels, mice, snails, and other like creadelicate organization could not have lived. tures, and all fishes.  The termr  "fowl" inThe air was purified by its absorption into  cludes bats, grasshoppers, and flying insects
vegetation, which has been preserved in the  generally, besides birds.  Great dragons
form of coal.  Such an atmosphere would  may include serpents, crocodiles, and seaincrease the temperature enough to have  monsters.  There would be no difficulty in
produced  a universal  tropical  climate.  referring all the Paleozoic and Mesozoic aniThis heat, combined with the density of the  mals to these descriptions; but the great dragair, and an immense surface of water ex- ons were particularly characteristic of the
posed to evaporation, would probably have  latter.
occasioned the formation of a great number    Sixth Day.-The deposits remaining are
of clouds, especially during the earlier Paleo- mostly superficial, belonging to the tertiary
zoic period.  It may be that the presence  and alluvium of geologists, or the Cenozoic
of these clouds explains the apparent ab- period.
sence of the sun until the purification of the    The distinguishing feature of this age was
air permitted the sun to shine  through. the presence of warm-blooded quadrupeds,
Some have imagined the presence of nebu- or mammals in great abundance; while the
lous matter about the sun to explain all great reptiles had culminated, and mostly
these phenomena.  The impression is given  disappeared.  There were whales, elephants,
that this day was as long as any of the oth- mastodons; and in the Rocky mountain reers, hence it may represent this Paleozoic  gion were many forms now characteristic of
age of geologists.  As nothing is mentioned  the Eastern continent, as the hyena, rhibesides the heavenly bodies, we may suppose noceros, horse, and camel, as well as an exthe attention of the prophet to have been so tinct type related to the tapir.  There are
much occupied by extra-terrestrial objects, evidences of different climates; and many
that he overlooked the progress of events regions had peculiar local characters, the
upon the earth, none of which were remark- same as now, but enormously developed, - in
ably different from what had been previous- Australia the land of marsupials, and Braly observed.  It is not certain that these zil the home of the edentata, or sloth famidays were all of equal length, and the order ly.  As a class, the mammals were better




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               75
developed in the Tertiary period than at in the earth, that six thousand years afford
present.                                  too little time for the deposition of the overAt the beginning of the alluvium, the lying strata.  Inasmuch as many species have
high northern and southern latitudes were become extinct within the memory of man,
covered with ice, constituting the Drift or the others may have disappeared also since
Glacial period, when all the Tertiary animals the supposed time of Adam, and therefore
and plants not exterminated  must have the first point is inconclusive.  The second
been driven into other zones.  Many new  depends upon the truth of a theory not unispecies were introduced subsequently, eith- versally accepted by  geologists, that the
er just before or in company with man. rate with which changes are now  going on
Human remains are confined to these post- in the earth's crust must be taken as the
glacial deposits; and all geologists agree measure of the length of previous periods.
that man is the latest born of all the ani- The following is an example of its inaccumals.                                     racy when applied to the calculation of solar
Volumes have been  written  describing years.  In the Valley of the Nile, bricks
the interesting association of the bones and evidently fashioned during the Roman occuimplements of man with those of certain ani- pation of Egypt have been dug up from the
mals, partly extinct (five or ten per cent), depth of sixty feet.  At the present an.
but more generally still living.  Stone imple-  nual rate of increase of Nile mud, these
ments fashioned by the hand of man have fragments must lie beneath sediment requirbeen found with the bones of gigantic ele- ing seventeen thousand years for its accu.
phants, rhinoceroses, hippopotami, wild oxen, mulation. But, according to accepted Roman
deer, horses, boars, wild cats, lynxes, leop- chronology, they cannot be over two thousand
ards, tigers, hyenas, bears, beavers, wolves, years old; and therefore the geological caland other species now extinct, and that in culation is erroneous.
regions not now occupied by their modern   It must be admitted, however, that the
representatives.  Some of the living species belief in a greater antiquity of man is rapcontemporary with the extinct forms are the idly gaining ground among those best qualimodern deer, reindeer, auroch, wild cat, fied to judge of the arguments in its favor.
boar, wolf, fox, weasel, beaver, rats, mice, Such a view would not conflict with scripand a host of others.  Many species have tural statements; for the old Testament is
become extinct within the time of human not committed to any fixed chronology, the
history, particularly the gigantic birds of three oldest versions varying greatly from
New Zealand and Madagascar.                one another, and modern interpreters still
The biblical account of the sixth day har- more.  By following the Septuagint version,
monizes with the geological record.  The and allowing some latitude  for supposed
earth, obedient to  command, is covered omissions, fifteen hundred or more years will
with living souls, cattle, and the remes, or be added to Ussher's scheme, perhaps enough
small land animals with a creeping motion, to meet all geological facts.
and wild beasts. They represent the mammals, the highest type of the animal king-          TIE NOACHIAN DELUGE.
dom; and thus correspond to the Tertiary
groups of geology. Last of all, as the closing    The Noachian Deluge was probably not
act of the creation, God fashioned man from  co-extensive with the earth's surface.  It
the dust of the ground, and breathed into would have been unnecessary if the descendhis nostrils the breath of life.  In addition ants of Adam occupied a limited portion of
to the animal, he has received a mental and the continent of Asia, as has generally been
moral nature, rendering him superior to all supposed.  It would have been contrary to
his predecessors and associates.           analogy to suppose all the continents to
Some recent writers maintain that man have been submerged simultaneously, so that
has lived upon the earth several thousand there would have been a universal ocean.
years longer than the hitherto admitted chro- The ark  built by Noah  was not large
nology permits.  Two lines of argument are enough to contain pairs of all the land anisuggested; first, man's remains have been mals besides their food.  This vessel was not
found associated with the relies of extinct more capacious than " The Great Eastern; "
animals; second, they occur so deep down and it would have been required, were the




76                             AN ILLUSTRATED
flood universal, to furnish accommodations for the Indus beneath the sea-level in 1819;
sixteen hundred species of mammals, five and that of the Valley of the Mississippi
thousand of birds, a few hundred reptiles, for a distance of three hundred miles, in
one hundred and fifty thousand species of 1821.  Both these convulsions were conarticulates, and several hundred mollusks. nected with earthquakes.
Not even the capacious British Museum    Let us suppose that the antediluvians
contains all these species, much less a vessel peopled the remarkable region between the
of smaller dimensions. But the ark may have Euxine and Persian Gulf, - an area of over
been large enough to contain all the animals two millions of square miles.  We may
requiring preservation in the province of suppose the barriers had been gradually
Mesopotamia.  There are, moreover, certain sinking for ages, so that they were nearly
landmarks which have come down  to  us overcome, when all at once there, were
from  the Tertiary period, proving the ab- eruptions of lava from craters, accompanied
sence of a universal flood.  Such are the by earthquakes, or paroxysmal changes of
loose scorine and ashes constituting the vol- level.  If these oscillations should  occur
canie cones in Southern France and Sicily. nearly simultaneously on the Euxine, Gulfs
A  rush of waters would have swept them  of Finland and Persia, the " fountains of the
away as it has done similar cones in the great deep " would have been undermined,
Mediterranean.  And  the  language  of and the water would have flowed in torrents
Scripture does not necessarily imply that the over the low countries; drowning all the
flood was co-extensive with the earth, while men and animals.  The air would have been
it does represent the removal of all the race filled with drenching rain in consequence of
of Adam.  Nearly all modern commentators its disturbance by streams of lava.  Like
accept this view.                          earlier geological catastrophes, this deluge
It was at one time believed that the would be of brief continuance.  Forty days
remains of extinct animals in the  rocks and forty nights would afford time enough to
were destroyed by the flood, and also that destroy every living thing in which was the
the Drift period of the early alluvium was the breath of life, both man and beast.  Most
same; but additional information has proved of the water must have come from the ocean,
both these theories erroneous.  We are left, while the rain would have appeared the
then, to the theory that the Noachian deluge most terrible.  It is not necessary to suppose
was probably limited to a portion of Western that every day's rain was new material, for
Asia.  The physical character of this terri- the process of evaporation was constantly
tory shows that it could have been easily going on; and the same water may have
overflowed by the sea, if small changes of fallen several times during the forty days.
level were induced.  In Western Asia, ex-   It is difficult to say how deeply the earth
tending even into Russia, is a territory as was covered.  According to our theory, at
large as Europe, whose rivers empty into least two sides of the new sea were bounded
internal salt seas, not communicating with by high land.  As the Ararat upon which the
the ocean.  Some of this area is beneath the ark rested was probably in Armenia, and
ocean's level, -as the Caspian Sea, eighty- not the modern mountain of that name, we
four feet lower than the Black; a portion of do not need to hold that the land sunk so
the adjacent steppe of Astrachan, thirty feet as to cover that peak seventeen thousand
beneath the Baltic; and the Dead Sea, over seven hundred feet.  If Noah described the
thirteen hundred feet below the Mediterra- scene according to appearances, he would
nean.  A  large portion of Western Asia, represent the flood as universal; for he would
ten degrees of latitude in breadth, includ- have been out of the sight of all land over
ing much of Asia Minor, ancient Armenia, the plains of Shinar or the steppes of AstraGeorgia, and part of Persia, shows evidence chan, even if the water was but a few hunof volcanic eruptions in the later Tertiary, dred feet deep.
and slightly within historic times.  Erup-   After the culmination of the disaster, this
tions are commonly accompanied by torrents theory supposes a change of level back
of rain.  There are instances on record of again.  This would cause the ark to ground,
sudden changes of level accompanied by and the waters to run off into the ocean.
disastrous inundations, as the depression of Probably, the change continued till the parts
two thousand square miles of the delta of now below the ocean-level were temporarily




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                        77
elevated above it, so that none of the waters the earth, even in America, holds a tradition
were left to increase the size of the inland  of the early destruction of the inhabitants of
seas.  In this connection, it is interesting to the world  by a deluge. If every  human
know that the Sea of Aral has, within the being was destroyed except those in the ark,
time of written history, been  exceedingly  the flood was universal so far as the race
reduced in its dimensions, as it was in early  was concerned; and it is not strange that its
times a highway of the nations.                memory has been branded into the mental
Almost every nation upon the face of  structure of mankind.
CHAPTER II.
FAMILY  OF ADAM. -  UNIVERSAL  DEPRAVITY. -  TIE  FLOOD.
IN the space of two years after the expul- GOD  by  way  of  oblation.  This  being
sion of our first parents from  Paradise, the agreed on by these two brothers, Cain offered
human race was increased  by Eve's being  the produce  of his husbandry, and  such
delivered of two sons, the first of whom  she fruits as nature bestowed by the assistance
called Cain,@  and the latter Abel.t   As of art.  Abel's oblation consisted of the milk
these two  brothers were of different dispo- of his herds, and the firstlings of his flocks.
sitions, so, when they grew  up to years of  The Almighty was pleased to prefer the latter,
maturity, they  followed  different employ- being  the simple productions of nature, to
ments.  Abel, the younger, was just in his the former, which, no doubt, he considered
dealings, and amiable in his temper.  Firmly  as the interested offerings of laborious avabelieving that GOD saw all his actions, and  rice. $  This preference raised the resentment
knew  their motives, he carefully avoided  of Cain, whose soul was so impressed with
offending his beneficent Maker, and, in the  hatred  toward  his brother, that he even
simplicity of a shepherd's life, took a pleas- showed it in his countenance.
ure in practising all the social virtues.  On    The Almighty, knowing the secrets of
the contrary, Cain was perversely wicked, Cain's heart, condescended, in his great
and avariciously craving.  His attention was goodness, to expostulate with  him  to  the
principally directed to husbandry; but with  following effect: " That his respect to true
all the benefits arising from  cultivation, he  goodness was impartial, wherever he found
was perpetually dissatisfied at what the earth  it; and that, therefore, it was purely his own
produced, and, from  his natural vile dispo- fault that his offering was not equally aesition, was guilty of the first murder ever cepted: that piety was the proper disposition
committed.                                     for a sacrificer, and that if herein he would
It was customary, even in the infancy of  emulate his brother. the  same tokens of
tile world, to make  acknowledgments  to  divine approbation  should attend his obla* As soon as Eve was delivered of her first child,    $ The reason why the offerin- of Abel was
she cried out, in a transport of joy, I have gotten a preferred to that of Cain, is given in the Epistle
man from the Lord: being persuaded that this son  to the Heb. 11: 4: "By faith Abel offered unto
was the promised seed mentioned by the Almighty  God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain."  It
in the sentence he passed on the serpent: I will was faith that made his offering more acceptable.
put enmitq between thee and the woman, and between As Apb. Magee has remarked, "His faith was
thy seed and her seed: it shall bruise thy head, and especially superior, as being not directed to God
thou shalt bruise his heel. In consequence of this alone, but also to the great Redeemer, promised
persuasion, Eve called her first son Cain, which immediately after the fall, whose expiatory death
signifiespossessio, or acquisition.            was typified  by animal sacrifice; by offering
t The word Abel, in the Hebrew language, sig- which Abel evinced his faith in the great sacrifice of
nifies breath, vapor, transitoriness, probably so the Redeemer prefigured by it. Stch faith was what
called from the shortness of his life. Our Lord  Cain wanted. His offering was a mere recognispoke of Abel as the first martyr (Matt. xxiii. tion of God as a Creator and Benefactor, such as
35).- A. B.                                    any unrighteous man might offer." —A. B.




78                              AN ILLUSTRATED
tions: that it was madness in him to harbor gation of his life, during the remainder of
any revengeful thoughts against his brother, which he should be loaded with infamy, and
because, if he proceeded to put them  into under all the horrors of a guilty conscience.
execution, a dreadful punishment would im-   In consequence of the divine sentence,
mediately follow."                         Cain left his parents and relations, and went
This kind admonition from the Almighty into a strange country.  He was banished
had so little effect upon Cain, that, instead from that sacred spot where the Almighty
of being sensible of his fault, and endeavor- had given frequent manifestations of his gloing to amend, he grew more and more in- rious presence; and though by the divine
censed against his brother, and at length decree no person was permitted to hurt him,
formed the resolution of gratifying his re- yet the consciousness of his own guilt made!
venge by depriving him of his existence.    him fearful of every thing he saw or heard.
But it was not long before Cain was called After wandering about a considerable time
to an account for this horrid deed.  The all- through different countries, he at length
seeing God, from whom no secrets can be settled with his family in the land of Nod.
hid, appeared before him, and demanded the Here he lived for a course of years, in
reason of his brother's absence.  Sensible which time his descendants being greatly
of the enormity of his crime, Cain attempted  increased. In order to keep them  together,
to reply; but guilt, for a time, tied his he built a city, and called it after the name
tongue.  At length, in faltering accents, he of his son Enoch, which, in the Hebrew
tried to evade what he did not dare positively  tongue, signifies a dedication.
to answer.  He pretended to be surprised at   From  the loins of Cain, in regular sucnot having seen his brother for some time; cession, came Lamech, the son of Methuand likewise observed, that he was neither the  selab, who introduced polygamy by marrying
guardian of Abel, nor empowered to watch  two wives, the one named Adah, and the
his motions.                               other Zillah.  Among the children by the
On this the Almighty charged Cain, in former of these wives he had two sons,
direct terms, with the murder of his brother; namely, Jabal and Jubal, the first of whom
and, after expressing to him the atrociousness made great improvements in the manageof the crime, and how  much it cried to ment of cattle, and the other invented the
heaven forvengeance, proceeded to pass sen- psaltery, and first gave melodly to music.
tence on him.  " Now," says he, " art thou  By Zillah he had Tubal-Cain, who was celcursed from the earth, which hath opened'ebrated for his great strenoth, excelled in
her mouth to receive thy brother's blood martial exercises, and first discovered the art
from  thy hand.  When  thou  tillest the of forging and polishing metals.  Lamech
ground it shall not henceforth yield unto had a daughter called Naamah (which dethee her strength; a fugitive and a vaga- notes fair and beautiful), who is supposed
bond shalt thou be in the earth."
The wretched criminal, struck with  the
severitv of this denunciation, convinced of
the atrocious nature of his offence, and deploring the misery of his situation, exclaimed, " My punishment is greater than I can 
bear."  He was apprehensive of meeting
with worse evils than his sentence really
imported; and that he should not only feel           Weaving. Egyptian Loom.
the miseries of banishment, but likewise be
subjected to the loss of his life by the hands to have been the first person that found out
of his fellow-creatures.  But, to ease his the art of spinning and weaving.
mind in this last respect, the Almighty was   Having said thus much of Cain and his
pleased to declare to him, that whoever posterity, we must now return to our primshould slay him, vengeance should be taken itive parents, Adam  and Eve.  The death
on  them  sevenfold.  He likewise set a of the righteous Abel and the banishment
particular mark on him, whereby he might of Cain afflicted them to the heart; and they
escape his supposed danger; for it was the continued some time in the deepest lamentadivine intent to punish him by the prolon- tion.  At length the Almighty was pleased




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    79
to alleviate their affliction by a promise that   Mahalaleel, when sixty-five, had a son
they should have another son, who should be named Jared; after which he lived eight
a comfort and consolation to them  in their hundred years;  in all eight hundred and
old age.  Accordingly, in the proper course sixty-five.
of time, Eve was delivered of another boy,   Jared, when one hundred and sixty-two,
whom they called Seth, which signifies sub- had a son named Enoch;   after which he
lived eight hundred years; in all nine hundred and sixty-two.
Enoch, when sixty-five, had a son named
Methuselah;  after which he lived three
hundred years; in all three hundred and
sixty-five.
Methuselah, when one hundred and eightyseven, had a son named Lamech; after
which he lived seven hundred and eightytwo years; in all nine hundred and sixtynine.
Ancient IRoman Loom.              Lamech, when one hundred and eightytwo, had a son named Noah; after which
stitute, or appointed,  because God was he lived five hundred and ninety-five years;
pleased to send him  instead  of "Abel, in all seven hundred and seventy-seven.
whom Cain slew."  At this time Adam was    And Noah, when five hundred years old,
one hundred  and thirty years old, after had three sons, Sheni, Ham, and Japheth;
which he lived eight hundred  years, and  firom whom  the world was replenished after
begat other children, both sons and daugh- the general deluge.
ters.                                          This is the genealogy which Moses gives
The male posterity of Adam, in the line  us of the posterity of Adam, in the line of
of Seth, was as follows: -                  Seth; and if we consider the prodigious
When  Seth was one hundred and five length of men's lives in this age, the strength
years old, he had a son named Enos, in  of their constitutions from  a temperate life,
whose days the sacred historian informs us  and the advanced years in which they begat
that men began to institute stated  forms children, the number of inhabitants previous
and ceremonies in the worship of Almighty  to the flood must have been very immense.
God.  After the birth of Enos, Seth lived    The descendants of Seth, and those of
eight hundred and seven years, so that the  Cain, lived separate for a considerable time,
whole of his life was nine hundred  and  the former despising the latter on account of
twelve years.                               their natural cruelty.  The Sethites, who
Enos, at the age of ninety, had a son, adhered to the service of God, and diliwhom  he named Cainan; after which he  gently attended to their religious duties,
lived eight hundred and fifteen years; in  were styled the " Sons of God; " in distincthe whole nine hundred and five.            tion to which the descendants of Cain, who
Cainan, when seventy, had a son named  led profligate and impious lives, were termed
Mahalaleel; after which he lived eight bun- the " sons and daughters of men."
dred and forty years; in all nine hundred    After the death of Adam, the Sethites reand ten.                                    tired from the plain where they had hitherto
* Of all the posterity of Adam, the most re- be explained of a prophetic life spent in immediate
markable is Enoch. In the Epistle of Jude (v. 24) converse with the spiritual world. In the epistle
he is described as "the seventh from Adam;" and to the Hebrews the spring and issue of Enoch's
the number is probably noticed as conveying the life are clearly marked. The biblical notices of
idea of divine completion and rest, while Enoch Enoch were a fruitful source of speculation in
was himself a type of perfected humanity. The later times. Some  theologians disputed with
other numbers connected with his history appear subtilty as to the place to which he was removed.
too symmetrical to be without meaning. After Both the Latin and Greek fathers commonly
the birth of Methuselah it is said (Gen. v. 22-4) coupled Enoch and Elijah as historic witnesses
that Enoch " walked with God 300 years...and of the possibility of a resurrection of the body and
he was not; for God took him." The phrase of a true human existence in glory. —S9mith's
" walked with God " is elsewhere only used of Bib. Dictionary.                 A. B.
Noah (Gen. vi. 9; cf. Gen. xvii. 1, &c.), and is to




80                               AN ILLUSTRATED
resided, to the mountains opposite paradise; of his resentment, which was, that if, in the
and, for some time, continued to live in the space of one hundred and twenty years, they
fear of God, and to preserve the strictest should forsake their evil ways, repent, and
rules of piety and virtue.  In the course of reform, his mercy should be at liberty to
time, the descendants of Cain, who were now  interpose and reverse their doom.  This he
become very numerous, spread themselves communicated to his servant Noah, who, for
over all that part of the country which had his great justice and piety, had found favor
been left by the Sethites, even to the con- in his sight; and for which his family (confines of the mountains where Seth had fixed sisting only of eight persons) were to be
his abode; and here they continued that exempted from the general destruction.
abandoned course of life they had followed    Notwithstanding the merciful and benefibefore their removal.                        cent promises of the Almighty, yet such was
By this close connection, the Sethites had the corrupt state of mankind at this time,
frequent opportunities of seeing the daughters and so lost were they to every sense of virof Cain, who being exceeding beautiful, they tue, that they still prosecuted their vicious
were so captivated with their charms, that courses, and subjected themselves to the consethey  entered  into  nuptial alliances with quences of the divine displeasure.  Finding,
them; and from  this intercourse were born therefore, that all lenity  and forbearance
men of a very gigantic size, who were no tended to no purpose, except to make them
less remarkable for their daring wickedness, more bold  and licentious, God at length
than for their bold and adventurous under- made known to his servant Noah his awful
takings.  Thus did  the  example  of the determination of involving  them, and the
wicked family of Cain prevail, and, by de- earth they inhabited, in one general destruegrees, destroy all the remains of religious tion, by a flood of water.  He likewise
duties in the posterity of Seth.  The right- assured him that as he had, in a particular
eous Noah used his utmost efforts to convince manner, testified his fidelity to his Maker,
them of the enormity of their conduct; but he would take care to preserve him  and his
all his admonitions were in vain: the bent of family, together with such other creatures as
their thoughts had taken another turn, and were necessary for the restoration of their
their whole study and contrivance was, how  species from the general calamity.  To effect
to gratify their inordinate passions.        this, he gave him orders to make an ark, or
This universal depravity of mankind so large vessel of gopher-wood,t and, that it
offended the Almighty, that, as the sacred might be secured from  the violence of the
historian informs us, he " repented that he waves, to pitch it both within and without.
had made man on the earth," * and, as a The form and dimensions of this building are
proper punishment for their offences, thought thus described  by  the  sacred  historian:
of destroying  not only the whole of the  " And this is the form which thou shalt make
human race (Noah and his family excepted), it of: the length of the ark shall be three
but also the brute creation, which he had hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits,
formed for the use of ungrateful man.  But and the height of it thirty cubits.  A winbefore  the Almighty  fixed the resolution  dow shalt thou make to the ark, and in a
of executing his design, he thought proper cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the
to give one chance to the principal objects door of the ark shalt thou set in the side
* This expression must not be taken in the injuries which areincident to other kinds of wood.
literal sense of the words, for God is not the son of' The divine appointment hald doubtless a reason
carz that he sh/oulcl repent; but it is a figurative founded in the nature of things, and no better
expression, and adapted to our apprehensions. reason can be found than the matchless excellence
The meaning, therefore, is, that as all men were of the wood recommended. The compact and
corrupt, and turning a deaf ear to his preacher durable nature of the cypress rendered it pccnNoah, the Almighty was determined to destroy liarly eligible for sacred purposes: hence we find
man whom he had created.                     it was employed in the construction of coffins
among the Athenians, and mummy-cases among
t When we consider that n:) and icvwraptaaoe  the Egyptians. The clpressts senrperuirens, a
have the same radical consonants, we are at once straight and elegant tree of the coe-bearing
led to select a species of cypress as the "gopher- family, seems therefore to have the best title to
wood," or rather the gopher-tree in question. the credit of having furnished the material for
The wood of the cypress possesses an unrivalled the most important vessel that was ever confame for its durability, and its resistance to those structed.




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HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                       81
thereof; with lower, second, and third sto- age; and on the seventeenth  day of the
ries shalt thou make it." *                    second month (which was seven days after
Having received these instructions from  his entrance) the whole face of nature began
God, Noah, in obedience to the divine com- to wear a gloomy aspect, and to appear as
mand, immediately set about the  arduous if the earth was to be finally dissolved, and
work, which he finished, according to God's all things return  to their primitive chaos.
direction, seven days before the rain began  The windows or cataracts of heaven were
to fall, having been encouraged so to do by  opened, and the earth was overspread with a
an assurance from  his Maker, that though  dreadfull inundation.  In vain  did  sinful
he meant to destroy the world in general, mortals seek for protection, or endeavor to
yet he would establish his covenant with  shelter themselves from the common destruchim.                                          tion; for mountains and valleys were soon
The ark  being finished, the  Almighty  alike, and every refuge was banished their
commanded Noah to take  into  it "every  sight.  For forty days and nights did the
living thing of all flesh, both  cattle  and  rain continue to fall, without the least interbeasts of the field," birds and fowls of the  mission; when at length the ark began to
air, and reptiles of all kinds; of the unclean  float, and, in process of time, was elevated
only one pair each, but of the clean, seven  above the highest mountains.  A   dismal
pair.  That he  should  likewise  make  a scene now presented ifself! the earth, with
proper provision of food for the different ani- all its beautiful variety of nature and art,
mals; and, having placed  them  in  their was no more! nothing appeared to the sight
respective apartments, should then enter the but a watery desert, abound.ing with wrecks
ark himself, taking with him  his wife, to- of the once lovely creation.t
gether with his sons and their wives.            The Almighty having thus avenged himAll things being adjusted agreeably to the  self of a sinful world, and reflecting upon
divine direction, Noah entered the ark, with  Noah, and the poor remains of his creatures
his family, in the six hundredth year of his in the ark, caused a drying north wind to
* There is much difference of opinion about such ships, the largest in present use, and might
the form of the ark. The common figures are carry 22,000 men, with provisions for six months,
given under the impression that it was intended  besides the weight of 1,800 cannon and all military
to be adapted to progressive motion: whereas no stores. It was then by much the largest ship ever
other object was sought than to construct a vessel built."
which should float for a given time up.On the    t The word specially used to designate the
water. For this purpose it was not necessary to flood of Noah (hammabbul) occurs in only one
place the ark in a sort of boat, as in the common other passage of Scripture, Ps. xxix. 10.  In Is.
figures; and we may be content with the simple liv. 9, the Flood is spoken of as " the waters of
idea which the text gives, which is that of an enor- Noah." In the N. T. our Lord gives the sanction
mous oblong box, or wooden house, divided into of his own authority to the historical truth of
thrbe stories, and apparently with a sloping roof. the narrative, Matt. xxiv. 37 (cf. Luke xvii. 26).
The most moderate statement of its dimensions St. Peter speaks of the "long-suffering of God,"
makes the ark by far the largest of vessels ever which "waited in the days of Noah." And again,
made to float upon the water. As the measure- in his Second Epistle (ii. 5), he cites it as an
ments are given, the only doubt is as to which of instance of the righteous judgment of God who
the cubit measures used by the Hebrews is here spared not the old world, &c. The traditions of
intended. It seems that the standard  of the many nations have preserved the memory of a
original cubit was the length of a man's arm  great and destructive flood from which but a small
from the elbow to the end of the middle finger, or part of mankind escaped.  The traditions which
about eighteen inches. This was the  conwos I come nearest to the biblical account are those of
cubit; but there was also a sacrrd cubit, which the nations of Western Asia.  Foremost amongst
some call a hand's breadth (three inches) larger these is the Chalddnan.  It is preserved in a fragthan the common one; while others make the ment of Berosus. Other notices of a flood may
sacred cubit twice the length of the common. be found in the Phoenician  mythology, in the
The probability is, that there were two cubit Sibylline oracl3s, and in the Phrygian legend of a
measures beside the common; one being  of king who foretold the flood, and prayved for the
twenty-one inches, and the other of three feet. doomed people.
Some writers add the geometrical cubit of nine    The pictorial illustration of this all-ingulfing
feet. Shackford says we must take the common catastrophe is taken from G. Dore's edition of the
or shortest cubit as that for the ark; and Dr. Bible. The foaming waves rolling in irresistible
Hales, taking this advice, obtained the following volumes against a mountain side, frightened aniresult: "It must have been of the burden of mals seking a refuge on its summit, and drowning
42,413 tons. A first-rate man-of-war is between men struggling to reach it exhibit the terrific
2,200 and 2,300 tons; and, consequently, the scene of desolation, as described by the sacred
ark was of' the capacity or stowage of eighteen historian.                           A. B.
6




82                               AN ILLUSTRATED
arise, the flood-gates of heaven to be stopped, turning, he concluded that the waters were
and the falling of the waters to cease; by  entirely withdrawn.  In consequence of this
which means the deluge began to abate, and he made  the  necessary  preparations  for
the waters gradually subsiding, in process of leaving the ark; but, mindful of God's
time the earth again appeared.               directions, ventured not forth till fifty-five
The first discovery Noah made of the ces- days after, in order that the earth might be
sation of the flood was, from, the ark resting properly dry for his reception.  Having, at
on the mountains of Ararat.*  This was the expiration of that period, received God's
about the. beginning of May, and  about positive command to leave the ark, he acthe middle of the following month the tops cordingly came out of it on the twentyof the mountains appeared.  But Noah (who, seventh day of the second month, bringing
no doubt, was glad to see the appearance of with him  every creature that had been reany thing substantial after so long a confine- tained for replenishing  the  earth.  Thus
meat), wisely considering, that though the ended Noah's long and melancholy confinemountains were visible, the valleys might be ment, which, from the tinle of his entering
yet overflowed, waited forty  days longer the ark to that of his leaving it, amounted
before he attempted any further discovery.  exactly to one solar year.
At the expiration of that time, opening the    The first thing Noah did, after quitting the
window of the ark, he let go a raven, sup- ark, was to erect an altar, on which he offered
posing that the scent of dead bodies would sacrifices to God, for his great goodness in
allure him  to fly a considerable distance. preserving  him and hlis family  from the genEncouraged by the absence of the raven for eral destruction.  The Almighty, knowing
seven days, he let fly a dove, which, finding the purity of Noah's intentions, was so well
no resting-place, returned to its old habita- pleased with his conduct, that he gave himn
tion.  Seven days after he sent out the his divine assurance that he would never
same bird,  which then  returned with  an more "curse the ground for man's sake,"
olive-branch in its mouth, a happy certainty  nor should the earth ever be again destroyed
that the waters were removed from the place by a general deluge.  In  confirmation  of
where the olive-tree stood.  Still, however, this, he appointed a bowt to appear in the
determined not to be too hasty, he remained heavens as a token, and which was now to
in the ark seven days more, when sendling be the ratification of the truth of his promise.
out the (love a third time, and she not re- Having, by this divine promise, eased the
* It is generally admitted that the mountain on   mountains," of the text. The heads form diswhich the ark rested lies in Armenia; althou'h rtinct cones, separated by a wide chasm or glen,
there are some who contend that it must be sought  which renders the distance )between the two peaks
in Cashgar, on the extension eastward of the 12,000 yards. One of them is much smaller than
great Caucasian chain. The investigations of the other, and forms a more regular and pointed
recent Biblical critics have, however, tended to cone; it is also much lower, and its summit is
strengthen the original conviction in favor of the clear of snow in summer. The Armenians, who
Armenian mountain. The particular mountain  have many religious establishments in its vicinity,
to which people of different nations and religions regard the mountain with intense veneration,
concur in awarding this distinction is situated in and are firmly persuaded that the ark is still preN. lat. 390 301, and E. long. 440 30', in the vast served on its summit.
chain of Taurus, and nearly in the center between the southern extremities of the Black and    t "1I do set mny bow in the cloud." - The rather
the Caspian seas. Its summit is elevated 17,260 equivocal sense of the word "set" in Eng'lish
feet above the level of the sea, and is always has occasioned a very mistaken impression, which
covered with snow, as indeed is the whole moun- has led to some cavils, which the use of the more
t-ain, for three or four months in the year. It is a proper word "appoint" would have prevented.
very grand object, being not merely a high sum- As it stands, it has been understood to say that
mit in a chain of elevated mountains, but stand- the rainbow  was at this time first produced:
ing as it were apart and alone; the minor monn- whereas, as its appearance is occasioned by the
tains, which seem to branch out from it and de- immutable laws of refraction and reflection, as
dine away in the distance, being so perfectly in- applied to the rays of the sun striking on drops
significant in comparison, that the sublime effect of falling rain, we know that the phenomenon
of this most magnificent mountain is not at all must have been occasionally exhibited from the
impaired, or its proportions hidden by them. This beginning of the world, as at present constituted.
great mountain is separated into two heads, dis- Accordingly, the text says no more than that
tinguished as the Great and Little Ararat, which the rainbow was then appointed to he a token of
perhaps  accounts for the plural expression, the covenant between God and man.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               83
mind of Noah, who was fearful of a second over the creation as he had done Adam,
deluge, the Almighty, after blessing him and permitted them  to kill any creatures they
his sons, granted them many singular priv- thought proper for food, only with this reileges, such as' far exceeded those he had striction, that they should not eat "the blood
bestowed on our primitive parents.  Before thereof."  This restraint was certainly laid by
the flood, mankind had no other food than God to prevent the shedding of human blood,
vegetables; but now  the Almighty, after against which he denounces the following
giving Noah and his sons the same dominion sentence: "Whoso sheddeth man's blood,
II1\  _ _ __" I1,
Wine-Press. (From Ancient Egyptian -Painting, Thebes.)
by man shall his blood be shed."  With these    Previous to the flood, Noah had directed
grants and promises, God gave the same his attention to husbandry, and the earth
encouragement to Noah and his family that having now resumed its former appearance,
he did to our first progenitors, by telling he betook himself to the same employment.
them to "be fruitful and multiply, and re- Among other improvements, he planted a
plenish the earth."                        vineyard, and, prompted by natural curiosity
Though the deluge had destroyed all the to taste the fruit of his own labor, invented
inhabitants of the earth (except what were a machine for extracting the juice from the
retained in the ark for forming the new  grape.  Pleased with the taste of the liquor,
world), yet the vegetable part of the creation  and being unacquainted with the strength of
still existed, and, in a short time, by the it, he unwisely gave a loose to indulgence,
genial warmth of the sun, again appeared in and, by drinking too freely, became quite
all its glory.                             intoxicated.  In consequence of this, he
Wine-Press. (From Ancient Egyptian Painting, Thebes.)
laid himself down to sleep in his tent, where, The old world was destroyed for the wickedeither from  the rustling of the wind, or the ness of its inhabitants, and therefore it might
discomposure of his body, he was uncovered have been expected that the new  world
on that part which natural modesty teaches would have been filled with people of a
us to conceal.                             better disposition: but, as in the ark there
This circumstance produced the first in- were unclean as well as clean beasts, so in
stance of human degeneracy after the flood. the family of Noah there were two good sons




84                                AN ILLUSTRATED
and one naturally wicked, the two former faction into which the wine had thrown him,
being  Shein and  Japheth, and the latter and was informed of the unworthy manner
Ham.                                          in which his son Ham  had treated him, he
The unseemly situation of Noah, from  his cursed his race, in the person  of Canaan,
intoxication, was first discovered  by  this his grandson:  "Cursed,"  said  he, "'be
wicked  son, who, instead of covering  his Canaan: a servant of servants shall he be
father's nakedness and concealing his shame, to his brethren."   On the contrary, reflectexposed his weakness, and made him  the ing  how  respectfully  his other two sons
subject of his scorn and derision.  But his behaved, he rewarded their pious care with
brothers were far from being pleased with his giving each  his  blessing;  all which,  in
conduct: possessed of filial piety, and moved process of time, was fulfilled in their posat the  indecent posture  of  their  aged terity.
parent, they no sooner saw him than they ran    These are all the particulars given us by
and fetched  a garment, and immediately the sacred historian relative to Noah, except
covered  that nakedness which their pious that he lived three hundred and fifty years
modesty would not permit them to behold.   after the deluge, and paid the debt of nature
When Noah recovered from  the stupe- at the age of nine hundred and fifty.
CHAPTER III.
SETTLEMENT  AND  GENEALOGY  OF NOAH' S  DESCENDANTS.
IT is not in the least to be doubted but plain of Shinar, on the banks of the river
that Noah and his family, for some years Euphrates.  Attracted by the beauty of the
after the flood, continued to reside in the place, the convenience of its situation, and
neighborhood of the mountains of Armenia, the natural fertility of the soil, they resolved
where the ark  had rested.  But his de- not to proceed any further but to make this
scendants, in the course of time, having a their fixed place of residence.
numerous progeny, the greater part of them       Having formed this resolution, in order to
quitted  their primitive spot, and directing render themselves conspicuous to future gentheir course eastward, came at length to the erations, they determined to erect a city,*
* BABYLON. —This  city  arose  from  the a row of houses, with a street between, of 200
building of Babel, and became the famous capi- feet wide; and the city was divided into equal
tal of Chaldmea. This most celebrated metropolis parts by the river Euphrates, over which was a
of the East, enlarged by Belus, and further ex- bridge, and at each end of it a palace, communitended by Queen Semiramis, about the year 1200 eating with each other under the river by a subB. C., reached its summit of magnificence under terraneous passage. Near to the old palace stood
Nebuchadnezzar, about the year 570 B. C., or the tower of Babel: this prodigious pile, being
when further embellished by his daughter-in-law  completed, consisted of eight towers, each 75 feet
Nitocris. Its magnitude was 480 furlongs, or 60 high, rising one upon another, with an outside
miles in compass, being an exact square of 15 winding staircase, to its summit, which, with its
miles on each side. Its walls were built of brick chapel on the top, reached an elevation of 660
laid in bitumen, 87 feet thick, and 350 feet high, feet. In this chapel was a golden image 40 feet
on which were 250 towers, or, according to some, high, valued at $17,500,000, and the whole of
316. The materials for building the wall were the sacred utensils were reckoned worth $200,000dug from a vast ditch or moat, which was lined 000! Besides these wonders, were the hanging
with brickwork, and, being filled with water friom  gardens, on a series of elevated terraces, the upthe river Euphrates, surrounded the city as a de- permost equalling the height of the city walls,
fence. The city had 100 gates of solid brass, one and having a reservoir, supplied by a machine
at each end of its 50 streets, 150 feet wide: these with water from the river. This great work was
crossed the city; so that the whole was divided designed by Nebuchadnezzar to represent a hilly
into 676 squares, four and a half furlongs on country, for the gratification of his wife. Amytis,
each side, around which were houses, the inner a native of Media. Babylon flourished for nearly
parts being reserved for gardens, pleasure-grounds, 200 years in this scale of grandeur; during
and fields. Facing the wall, on every side, was which idolatry, pride, cruelty, and every abomina



HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                   85
and in it a building of such stupendous  alacrity.   One  inconvenience,  however,
height as should be the wonder of the world. arose, of which they were not apprised.
Their principal motives in doing this were, namely, there being no stone in the country
to keep themselves together in one body, that wherewith to build it.  But this defect was
by their united strength and counsels, as the  soon supplied  by the nature of the soil,
world increased, they might bring others  which being clayey, they soon converted into
under their subjection, and thereby become  bricks, and cemented them  together with a
masters of the universe.                    pitchy substance, called bitumen, the courlThe idea of the intended tower gave them  try producing that article in great abunthe most singular satisfaction, and the nov- dance.
elty of the design induced them  to enter    As the artificers were numerous, the work
upon  its  construction with  the  greatest  was carried on with great expedition, and in
~~~~~~~~~:-__ _ _ _   -.~_:.
~~~~~~~~~ —— ~_rBABYLON (INUNDATED).
a short time the walls were raised to a great satisfied with their proceedings, thought
height. But the Almighty, being dis- proper to interpose, and totally put an end
tion, prevailed among all ranks of the people; pile of brick, 37 feet high by 28 in breadth, diwhen GOD, by his prophets, denounced its utter minishing in thickness to the top, which is broken
ruin, and which was accordingly accomplished, and irregular, and rent by a large fissure extendcommencing with Cyrus taking the city, after a ing through a third of its height. It is perforated
siege of two years, in the year 538 B. C., to by small holes, disposed in rhomboids. The
emancipate the Jews, as foretold by the prophets. fire-burnt bricks of which it is built have inscripBy successive overtbrows, this once "glory of the tions on them: and so excellent is the cement,
Childees' excellency," this "lady of kingdoms,"  which appears to be lime-mortar, that it is nearly
has become a "desolation," "without an inhabit- impossible to extract one whole.  The other
ant," and its temple a vast heap of rubbish! Daniel parts of the summit of this hill are occupied by
ii. Vi., Isaiah xiii. xlv., Jeremiah l. li. "Birs Nem- immense fragments of bricks work, of no determiroud," as the ancient tower of Babel is called, nate figure, tumbled together, and converted into
Mr. Rich says, "is a mound of an oblong form, solid vitrified masses, as if they had undergone
the total circumference of which is 762 yards. the action of the fiercest fire, or had been blown
At the eastern side it is cloven by a deep furrow, up with gunpowder, the layers of brick being perand is not more than 50 or 60 feet high; but on fectly discernible." These ruins proclaim the
the western side it rises in a conical figure to the divinity of the Holy Scriptures!
elevation of 198 feet, and on its summit is a solid




86                                 AN ILLUSTRATED
to their ambitious project; so that this first fore, to render their undertaking ineffectual,
attempt of their vanity became only a monu-  and to lessen the towering hopes of these
ment of their folly and weakness.               aspiring mortals, the Almighty formed the
resolution of confounding their language.
In consequence of this, a universal jargon
suddenly took place, and the different dialects
caused such a distraction of thought, that,'~T t "'  ~incapable of understanding or making known
000000                              T     M &E 1m
5~\\\\\s -,.,             -,,,,E....... r
South-west Palace, Nimroud.                     NTorth-west Palace, Nimroud.
Though the descendants of Noah were at  to  each other their respective ideas, they
this time exceedingly numerous, yet they  were thrown into the utmost disorder.  By
all spoke one language.*  In order, there-  this awful stroke of divinejustice they were
tNTERMIXED WITI hi
CU Llr i VATION it\
Plan of Babylon. (Sir R. Ker Porter.)
A, ]3ahil, or Mujelibeh. B, Kasr. c, Amran-ben-Ali. D, Enclosure, and building within it, perhaps once connected
with ruins on the left banlk, also marked D. E, Parallel lines of rampart. F, Lines of rampart meeting at a right
angle. a, Embankment along the riverside.
not only deprived of prosecuting their in- verse and agreeable intercourse. We are not,
tended plan, but of the greatest pleasure a however, to suppose that each individual had
social being can enjoy, namely, mutual con- a peculiar dialect or language to himself, but
* LANGUAGE, or human speech, Genesis xi. creatures, Gen. ii. 19, 20. Learned men call the
1: this most certainly was originally given to our most ancient language  the " Shemitish," as
first parents by the inspiration of God, who, spoken by the descendants of Shem, the son of'
therefore, exercised Adam in giving names to the Noah.  This, however, was soon divided into




*S~LfmnNOIL Jo NOISflAOQ ~I[ll
(~~~~ H;p~~~~~~~\ ~17~~~~~_~~~e E~~~i~~~ lltfar~~~~~~~~ars~~~~~s~~wcrrm~~~~~~-~~I1
III
-' ~            -= —-= —------            KY —--
~~ —-               ~                           I}                                                                                 -                                                    __~-iiii
~~  \\                                          "\*~~~~~i~~-'If                                                                                           ___I~
__  ______  ~ ~ ~llhI//iI                                                          ii~~ 111111/ Ill~r
___________                                                 I/lh//Ill/                              ~                IllI~I/III!II///~' I ///4
______        _____________ -                                                                              1111- I-iiiI-!Il
____________________________________________________________ ~   1)11  I)iIf)   i  Ill
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____                                                                                         -  ~-II-l-D1 U   " a
_______ ______ ______ ______ _______ ______ ______ ______ ____   I
_ _  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _II~                        i  u ~
_ _ _ _ _     _  _  _     _   _     _  _  _      _  _     _  _  _      _  _                               III - - -   ~~
~~~~~~~~~~~,,,,, —,\ —~








HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                       87
only the several tribes or families, which are  residence in  Asia, some in  Africa, and
supposed to have been about seventy in num- others in Europe.  But by what means they
ber.  These, detaching themselves according  obtained possession of the several countries
to their respective dialects, left the  spot, they inhabited, the sacred historian has not
which, before the consequences of their pre- informed us.   It is, however, natural to
sumption, they had considered as the most de- suppose, that their respective situations did
lightftil on earth, and took up their tem- not take place from chance, but mature deporary  residences in  such places as they  liberation; and that a proper assignmnent
either pitched on by choice, or were directed  was made of such and such places, accordto by chance.                                  ing to the divisions and subdivisions of the
Thus did the Almighty not only defeat different families.
the designs of those ambitious people, but   In  order to  form  a proper idea of the
likewise accomplished his own, by having manner in which the world was populated
the world more generally inhabited than it after the flood, and confusion of tongues, we
otherwise would have been.  The spot on shall give the genealogy of Noah's three
which they had begun to erect their tower sons, and describe the respective parts of
was, from  the judgment that attended  so the earth possessed by their descendants;
rash an undertaking, called Babel.~            in doing which, we shall, agreeably to the
The confusion of tongues, and dispersion  manner of  lIoses, begin  with  those  of
of the family of Noah, happened one hun- Japheth, who, though  usually  mentioned
dred and one years after the flood, as is evi- last, was the eldest son of Noah.
dent from  the birth of Peleg, the son of    It is to be observed that the grand-chilEber, who was the great-grandson of Shem, dren of Noah made it an invariable rule to
and born in the one hundred and first year give their own names to the countries of
after that memorable period.  He received  which  they  became possessed, and  where
his name from  this sinoular circumstance, they settled, in order to  perpetuate  their
the word Peleg, in the Hebrew  language, memories to future posterity.
signifying partition or dispersion.              The sons of Japheth were seven in numThe descendants of Noah beino.now dis- ber, who spread themselves over Asia, from
persed, in process of time, from  their great the mountains Taurus and Auranus to the
increase, they scattered themselves to dis- river Tanais, and then entering Europe, penetaut parts of the earth, and, according to trated  as far as Spain, distinguishing the
their respective families, settled in different countries, as they proceeded, by their own
parts of the world.  Some took up their proper appellations, viz.:  t Gomrer gave title
three dialects: manv other languages are now  sion, to repeople the earth.  This impious atfound. to exist, Daniel iii. 4; of which the origin  tempt occasioned their miraculous confusion of
is declared in the Bible to have been effected by speech, on which account the building ceased,
the Divine interposition at Babel, Genesis xi. 7. and the purpose of God was accomplished in the
The Shemitish dialects were: 1. Arammaen, replenishing of the world by the scattered people.
spoken in Syria, Mesopotamia, and Chaldca, sub- How far the work had proceeded we are not individed into the Syriac and Chaldee dlialects. 2. formed; but it is believed that, besides three years
Hebrew or Canaanitish dialect, spoken in Phmni- in preparing materials, twenty-two had been excia and its colonies, 3. Arabic, spolen with varia- pended in the undertaking, and that the tower
tions in Arabia and Ethiopia. Hebrew hears had been carried up several stories, laying the
marks of being the most ancient of the oriental lan- foundation for the city of Babylon.
guages; and in it the Old Testament, which contains the most ancient records in existence, was    t Several of these nations still retain  the
written, except Daniel, ii. 4, vii. 28, Ezra iv. 8, names given them by their founder; others have
vi. 18, vii. 12-26.  The New  Testament was lost their original appellations; and some are
written in the Greek language.                 distinguished by terms corrupted from the primi* BABEL (co.f/tsion or mi.rtture), a tower com- tive denominations.  The  Greeks principally
menced, as is generally supposed, during the life occasioned these innovations; for, when power
of Noah, under the  direction  of Nimrod, a gave them importance, they arrogated to themgrandcson of Ham, and about A. M. 1770, or 113 selves the glory of antiquity; corrupted the
years after the deluge, though some place this names of other nations to give them  a more
work two or three hundred years later, Genesis modern appearance; and pretended that, from
x. 10, xi. 1-9.  Nimrod is believed to have the emigrations of their predecessors, the surformed a system of idolatry for his adherents, rounding realms were peopled, for which reason
designing, by this means, to establish a national they took the liberty to prescribe laws for their
union under his government, thereby frustrating  observance, as they had invented appellations for.
the Divine designs, which required their disper- their distinction.




88                              AN ILLUSTRATED
to the Gomorites, now called Galatians, or is part of the Lesser Phrygia). The
Gauls, by the Greeks.  Magog founded second son, named Riphah, possessed himthe Magogites, since styled Scythians, or self of the Riphaan mountains; and  ToTartars.  From  Media originated the Me- garmah, the third son, took Galatia and part
deans or Medes.  Javan was the founder of Cappadocia.
of the Ionians and Greeks in general.   Tu-   Javan  had four sons, namely, Elishah,
hal, of the Iberians, or Spaniards: and who seated himself in Peloponnesus; TarMashech, of the Mesehinians or Cappado- shish, in part of Spain; Kittim, in Italy;
cians: and Tiras, of the Thirdeans or Thra- and Dodanim,  in France.
cians.                                        By these, and the colonies which, in proGomer had three sons, the eldest of whom, cess of time proceeded from them, not only
Ashkanaz, took possession of Ascania (which a considerable part of Asia, but all Europe,
___________ ~ ~ — ~ ~~I-Z —L-~~=>_r __~_'_ 
NINfBYEHI.
with the adjacent islands, were well stocked sessed themselves of. those parts of Asia
with inhabitants descended from Japheth, which extend fromn the Euphrates to the
who though thus dispersed, spoke the same Indian ocean. Elam, the eldest, took poslanguage, and, for a time at least, preserved session of a country in Persia, at first called
a correspondence with the respective tribes  after himself, but, in the time of Daniel, it
or families to which they originally be- obtained the name of Susiana. Ashur
longed.                                     founded the Assyrian empire, in which he
The descendants of SHEM, the second built several cities, particularly one called
son of Noah (from whom originated the Nineveh;* Arphaxad founded Chaldusa;
Hebrew nation), were five sons, who pos- Lud, Lydia; and Aram that part of Syria
NINEVEI. - Nineveh was the capital of the  first peopled by a colony from Babylon. It was
ancient kingdom and empire of Assyria. It is built on the east bank of the Tigris, nearly oppofirst mentioned in the 0. T. in connexion with  site Mosul, in N. Lat. 36~ 20t; E. Lou. 43~ 10.
the primitive dispersion of the human race.   This once splendid and populous city, the first
Ashur, or according to the opinion of some, notice of which is found in Genesis, B. C. 2218
Nimrod, migrating fiom  the land of Shinar,  years, is not mentioned again until the time of
founded this city, which is supposed to have been  the book of Jonah, the eighth century B. C.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                          89
which extends itself to  the Mediterranean  ecus; Hul  took  possession  of  Armenia;
seas.                                            Mash, of the mountain Masius; Gether, of
Aram  had  four sons, namely, Uz, who  a part of Mesopotamia.
seated himself in the country called Damns-    Arphaxad  was  the  father  of  Salah,
The prophet Nahum, B. C. 645, directs his proph- traveller who explored the ruins which marked
ecies against Nineveh.  Sennacherib was slain  the site of ancient Nineveh was Mr. Rich, politithere, when worshipping in the temple of Nis- cal resident of the British government in Bagdad,
roch, his god. Zephaniah, B. C. 630, speaks of in 1820. No attempt at a thorough and systethe city in connection with Assyria (2: 13); matic  exploration  was made till M. Botta,
and this is the last mention of Nineveh as an ex- French consul at Mosul, was commissioned by
isting city.  Its destruction took place, as ap- hisgovernment to explore those ruins more fully,
which he did in 1843. His discoveries were followed, between the years 1845 and 1850, by Mr.
Layard, who found the ruins of several edifices,
consisting of a number of halls, chambers, and
"   mi    i i galleries, panelled with sculptured and inscribed
alabaster slabs, and opening into each other by
-— ~ ~     doorways, formed by pairs of colossal, humanheaded, winged bulls or lions. By the aid of
0o                    O                      O lo en Ad the inscriptions, which  have been deciphered,,og O      13              -                  there have been recognized the names of Sar0 i                                          a n cldanapalus, Shalmanezer, Essarhaddon, and SenAssyrian Queen.          Assynian King.    nacherib, builders of these magnificent palaces,
Nineveh Marbles     n Ki.        now exhumed after having been buried for centuries.
pears from the concurrence of Biblical and classi-    The palaces, sculptures, inscriptions, paintings,
cal history, about 600 years B. C. It was then  and other relics discovered, are, in a most striking
laid waste, its monuments destroyed, and its in- manner, illustrative  and  confirmatory of the
habitants dispersed. It never recovered from  its prophecies contained in the books of Nahum and
ruins.                                           Zephaniah. Nahumi threatens the utter destruction
Previous to modern researches and excavations, of the city: " With an overrunning flood he will
the ruins, which occupied the supposed site of snake an utter end of the place thereof."  " He
Nineveh, consisted apparently in irregular mounds will make an utter end; affliction shall not rise
up the second time."  (1: 8, 9.)  "'Thy people
I                                     is scattered upon the mountains, and no one,\B                                gathereth them.  There is no healing of thy
-------------- ------------ bruise."  (3: 18, 19.) "The overrunning flood,"
and the allusion to the overflow of the river, conI B             %;,            tained in 2: 6, "The gates of the rivers shall be
I                                  opened," are believed by some commentators to,kWZ <  i    army captured the city, the walls having been
]  I-4.', /      partly undermined by an extraordinary overflow
of the Tigris.  The city was to be in part destroyed by fire.  "The fire shall devour thy
ratf }',".                          bars," "then shall the fire devour thee."  (3:
13, 15.)  It has been found that some of the
B/~ /},     /      <     /palaces had been destroyed by fire.  The population was to be surprised when unprepared -
"while they are drunk as drunkards, they shall
be devoured as stubble fully dry."  (1: 10.)
I)iodorus states that the last and fatal assault
was made when they were overcome with wine.
Nineveh, after its fall, was to be "empty, and
void, and waste" (2: 10); "it shall come to
pass, that all they that look upon thee, shall flee
from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste."  (3:
Presumed site of ancient Nineveh, showing position of 7.) This language describes the present state
pars expBB, The River Tiris.      bof the site of the city.  Many allusions in the
A, Modern towa of Mosul. an, The River Tigris. c, Kebi 0. T. to the dress arms,
Yunus. D, Kouyunjik. E, Khorsabad.        O.T. to the dress, arms modes of warfare, and
customs of the people of Nineveh, as well as of
of earth and rubbish, with traces of dilapidated  the Jews, are explained by the Nineveh monuwalls  and  sun-dried  bricks.  Some of these ments.  Thus (2: 3) " the shield of his mighty
mounds were of enormous dimensions, varying  men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet."
from 50 to 150 feet in height.  The discoveries The shields and the dresses of the warriors are
made by recent explorers are of very great his- generally painted redl in the Scriptures.  The
toric value, more especially as they stand related  glowing description of the assault upon the city
to the Bible history and prophecy.  The first (3: 1, 2, 3) is illustrated in almost every particu



90                                 AN ILLUSTRATED
whose son Eber gave name to the Hebrew  was so called because, at the time of his
nation.  Joetan, the first-born of Eber, had  birth, the  dispersion  of the people  took
thirteen children,  all of whomn settled them- place.
selves in that part of the world which is sit-    The descendants of HAM  (the youngest
uated between Syria andl the river Cophene  son of Noah) were four sons, namely, Cush,
in Judea.  The youngest son of Eber was who  took  up  his residence  in that  part
Peleg, who, as we have before observed, of Armenia  lying  towards  Egypt; MizA_!
Portal of the YIalace discovered at Khorsabad. (From tBtta.)
raim, * in both Upper and Lower Egypt; two sons of the former (namely, Sheba and
Phutt, in part of Lybia; and  Canaan, in  Dedan), settled themselves on  the  same
that part of the country which was after- coast, farther to the east; and Nimrod, the
ward called by his name.                       last son of Cush, was founder of the BabyCush, the eldest son of Ham, had several lonish empire.
children, namely, Seba, who settled on the    Besides the three sons of Mizraim (who, afsouthwest of Arabia; Havilab fixed himself  ter the death of their father, divided his terin that part of the country situated on the  ritory into three parts), he had three others,
river Pison, where it leaves the Euphrates, namely, Ludiin  and Lehabim, who peopled
and runs into the Arabian  Gulf; Saptah  L.ybia, and Caslubimn, who seated himself
took up his residence on the same shore, a  at Castisots, near the entrance of  Egypt
little to the north of his brother Havilah:  from  Palestine.  Caslubim  had two  sons,
iRaamnah and Sabtecha, together with  the  namely, Philistim and Caphthorim, the forlar. The mounds, the battering-ram, the various  ancient Nineveh, and important additional rekinds of armor, helmets, shields, spears, and  suIts may be anticipated from  future researcheis.
swords used in battle during a siege, and chariots  As appears fiom an article in Dr. Smith's Dicand horses, are all seen in various bas-reliefs.  tionary of the Bible, from  which many of the
The interior decoration of Assyrian palaces is  above facts are derived, " a list of nineteen or
described  by Ezekiel, himself a captive  in  twenty kings can already he compiled, and the
Assyria, and an eye-witness of their magnificence  annals of the greater number of them  will
(23:.14, 15); a description strikingly illustrated  probablyl be restored to the history of one of the
by the sculptured likenesses of Assyrian kings  most powerful empires of' the ancient world, and
and warriors.                                   which appears to have exercised perhaps greater
The Assyrian inscriptions, discovered on the  influence than any other upon the subsequent
exhumed  monuments and  palace walls  of  condition and development of civilized  man.
Nineveh, usually contain brief chronicles of the  The only race now ftound near the ruins of Nineking who built or restored the edifice in which  veh or in Assyria, which may have any claim  to
they are founld, records of his wars and expedi- be  considered  descendants fiom  the ancient
tions and conquests. The most important in- inhabitants of the country are the so-called Chalscription hitherto discovered in connection with  dean or Nestorian tribes, inhabiting the moanBiblical history, is that upon a pair of colossal tains of Koordistan, the plains round the lake
human-headed bulls, now in the British Museum, Ooroomiyah, in Persia, and a few villages in the
containing the records of Sennacherib, and de- neighborhood of Mosul." -A. B.
scribing his wars with Hezekiah. Many Biblical   * After the death of Mizraim  (who was king
names have been found in the Assyrian inscrip- of Egypt), the country he possessed was, by
tions. Among these names are found those of three of his sons, divided into as many  kingthree Jewish kings, viz., Jehu, Menahem, and  doms, viz.: Ananimn was king of Tanis, or Lower
Hezekiah.                                      Egypt, called afterward  Delta; Naptu/imuii, of
Important results in relation to Biblical his- Naph, or Memphis, in Upper Egrypt, and Patory have been already realized from  the dis- thrusim founded the kingdom  of Pathros, or
coveries made among the long-buried ruins of Thebes, in Thebais.




HISTORY   OF  THIE  BIBLE.                               91
mer of whom established the country of the with any certainty; only this we know, that
Philistines, between the borders of Canaan they must have taken  up their residence
and the Mediterranean sea; and the latter, somnewhere between Sidon and Gerar, and
after his father's death, took possession of Admah and Zoboian; those places being the
his territories.                             boundaries of the land they possessed.
The sons of Canaan  were, Sidon, the    Thus we find that, in the first dispersion
founder of the Sidonians, who lived in Pho-  of the people over the world, the descendants
nicia; Heth, the founder of the Hittites, of Japheth not only possessed all Europe,
who lived near Hebron;  Emor, the founder but also a considerable portion of Asia.
of the Amorites, who lived in the mountains The posterity of Shem had in their possesof Judrea; and Arva, the founder of the sion part of the Greater and Lesser Asia,
Arvadites, * who resided near Sidon. But and probably all the countries to the east,
whether the other sons of Canaan settled in as far as China. The descendants of Hamn
this country or not, cannot be ascertained possessed all Afiica, with a great part of Asia.
-..____   -                              _
-       -      -'- _       - -
~~~  /  ~    ~     ~     ~     ~     = —                    __= —-_______
-                    ~             ~    ~~_~- 
ISLAND OF ARADIMS.
But before we quit the genealogy of mention some further particulars relative to
Noah's descendants, it will be necessary to the posterity of his second son Shem, from
*The Arvadites are said by Josephus to have wall, has passed away; but Arvad is still the seat
occupied and given their name to the small island of a town, and, being a mart of transit, its inof Aradus, called Arvad and Arpad in the habitants are still engaged in commerce. Thoug'h
Scriptures (2 Kings xix. 13; Ezekiel xxvii. 8); the island was the favorite seat of the people, as
and the inhabitants of which are by Ezekiel men- their wealth and peace were there safe fiom the
tioned along with the Sidonians, as taking an ac- wars and troubles of the continent, and their
tive part in the maritime commerce of Tyre. Shipping needed not to hazard the dangers of the
This island, which is about one league from the coast, they were by no means without possessions
shore, and not above a mile in circumference, on the main land; for their dominion along the
ultimately became the port and chief town of shore extended firom  Tortosa [also  Tartous,
this enterprisingf and prosperous section of the anciently Antaradus] which lay opposite their
Phmenician people; and there was a time when island, northward to Jebilee. They were, thereeven Romans regarded with admiration its lofty fore, the most northerly of the Phoenician people.
houses, built with more stories than those of See Joseph. Antiq. 1, 6, 2; Straho, Geog. v. 15;
Rome, and its cisterns hewn in the rock. All Pococke, ii. 27; Volney, ii. 14; Buckingham's
this, except the cisterns and some fiagments of Arab Tribes, 523.




92                              AN ILLUSTRATED
whom the Hebrews took their rise, and who  named Terah; after which he lived one hunwill be found the principal objects of the suc- dred and nineteen years; in all one hundred
ceeding history.                            and forty-eight.
About two years after the flood, at which    Terah was the father of the first great patritime Shem was one hundred years old, he arch after Noah, namely, Abraham.  He
had a son named Arphaxad; after which had likewise two other sons, the one called
time he lived five hundred years; so that Nahor, and the other Haran.  The last of
the whole of his life was exactly six hundred these, who was the eldest of the three, died
years.                                      before his father, at Ur,* in Chaldlea, the
Arphaxad, when thirty-five, had a son place of his nativity.  He left behind him  a
named Salah; after which he lived four hun- son named Lot, and two daughters, the elder
dred and three years; in all four hundred  of whom, called Milchah, was espoused to
and thirty-eight.                           her uncle Nahor, and the younger, named
Salah, when thirty, had a son named Eber Sarai, was married to her uncle Abram.
(from  whom  his descendants were called    A  universal depravity of human nature
Hebrews), after which he lived four hundred  now displayed itself in all parts of the world,
and three years; in all four hundred and but more particularly in the city of Ur,
thirty-three.                               where the practice of idolatry was carried to
Eber, when thirty-four, had a son named  its utmost height.  In consequence of this,
Peleg, in whose time the earth came to be Terah resolved to leave his abode, that he
divided; after which he lived four hundred might no longer be an eye-witness of the
and thirty years, in all four hundred and iniquity of the people.  tHaving formned this
sixty-four.                                 resolution, he quitted Ur, and taking with
Peleg, when thirty, had a son named Reu, him  his son Abram  and his wife, together
after which he lived two hundred and nine with his grandson Lot, set out with an intent
years; in all two hundred and thirty-nine.   of visiting the land of Canaan.  In  his
Reu, when thirty-two, had a son named journey he stopped at a place called Iaran
Serug; after which he lived two hundred  (or Charran), a city of Mesopotamia, where,
and seven years; in all two hundred and being seized with a violent illness, he was
thirty-nine.                                compelled to make it the place of his resiSerug, when thirty, had a son named dence.  The violence of the disorder preNahor; after which he lived two hundred vailing over the power of medicine, nature
years; in all two hundred and thirty.       at length gave way, and Terah died at Haran,
Nahor, when  twenty-nine,  had  a son in the two hundred and fifth year of his age.
CHAPTER IV.
CALL  OF ABRAHAM. -  MIGRATION. -  BIRTH  OF ISHMAEL.
AT the close of the preceding chapter, we the land of Canaan. It is here to be
observed that Terah, the father of Abram, observed, that his conduct in this respect
left his native place, in order to go into certainly arose from  divine direction, the
* UP OF THE CHALDEES. - The birthplace of names mentioned in this part of the history have
Abraham has been generally regarded as a town; been sought. Of these, one is the town called by
but such orientalists as have of' late years had occa- the Syrians Urhoi, and by the Arabians Orfah, or
sion to express an opinion on the subject, have Urfah, which the Moslems firmly believe to be the
been rather disposed to regard it as the name of. a Ur of the text; and the Jews and Christians of
district. As such, there is little reason to question the country acquiesce in this conclusion. This
that it is that which the sacred text indicates, as town is situated at the foot of the mountains of
it comprehends both the towns in which the Osroene, at the head of the great plain which was




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                     93
Almighty having thought proper to select Lot, his wife Sarai, and the rest of his famr
this family out of the rest of mankind, by ily, together with all his effects, he set out
making Abram " Father of the faithful," or on his journey, which he prosecuted with all
worshippers of the true God.                 convenient expedition, till he came (by the
It is evident that God had revealed him- divine guidance) into the land of Canaan. t
self to Abram, previous to his removal fiom  Desirous of making some survey of the
Ur, as appears from the account of the in- country, he stopped in the plain $ of Moreh,
spired penman:  "The Lord had said unto  not far from the city of Sichem, II then inAbram,"  &c., Gen. xii. 1.  He had com- habited  by  the   Canaanites.  Here  he
manded him to leave the country in which  erected an altar, in order to pay his devohe resided, and to travel into another he tions to God, who was so well pleased with
should point out to  him.  He  likewise his conduct, that he gave him  fresh assurpromised to make him  father of a mighty  ances of his favor and protection, and that,
people, and in him to bless all the families in process of time, the whole land in which
on the earth.                                he then dwelt should be possessed by his
Abram, fully persuaded, in his own mind, descendants.
of the truth of the divine promise (though    After staying some time in the plains of
he knew not the difficulties that might at- Morehj Abram removed with his family into
tend his removal, nor even the country in  the more mountainous part of the country,
which he was to settle), immediately  after situated between Bethel and Hai.  Here he
the decease of his father, prepared himself to  likewise erected an altar, that he might not
go to the land which God should  appoint, be deficient in the discharge of that duty
arid, by a strict attention to the divine com-  which he was conscious of owing to his great
mands, prove at once his faith and obedi- and omnipotent benefactor.
ence.                                           From Bethel he proceeded farther to the
Accordingly, taking with him his nephew  south; but was interrupted in his progress
formerly so called, and is still a place of some theatre of the most extraordinary transactions
consideration. Cartwright says, " The air of this which have ever taken place under the Divine govcity is very healthful, and the country fruitful  ernment'upon earth. This is the country where
It is built nearly four-square, the west side stand- the chief patriarchs walked with God - where the
ing on the side of a rocky mountain, and the east theocracy of Israel was established — where the
part trendeth into a spacious valley, replenished  prophets received most of their divine inspirations
with vineyards, orchards, and gardens. The walls - where the temple of Jehovah was erected
are very strong, furnished with great store of under his special direction - where the incarnate
artillery, and contain in circuit three English  Son of God accomplished the work of human
miles; and for the gallantness of its sight it was redemption -and where the apostles were miracuonce reckoned the metropolitical seat of Mesopo- lously endowed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit,
tamia."                                      to fulfil their commission as ambassadors for
X In what manner God revealed himself to  Christ to invite sinners of all nations into the
Abram, the sacred historian has not told us. It kingdom of Messiah for the blessings of pardon,
was probably by a voice from the Shechinah, or purity, and immortality, in the eternal glory of
symbol of the Divine presence; for St. Stephen  God. Canaan, in the times of Davidand Solomon,
expressly says: "The God of Glory appeared  contained a population of about 5,000,000'; but
unto him before he dwelt in Charran."  Acts now it has only about 1,500,000 inhabitants. Since
vii. 2.                                      the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, it
t This country fell to the lot of Caanan, the has been the scene of strange revolutions, especison of Ham, to which he gave his own name. ally during the crusades, profanely called holy
Canaan was about 200 miles long, and nearly 80 wars; it now forms two wretched provinces, ACRE
broad, lying along the eastern border of the and DAMAscus, under the miserable government
Mediterranean Sea. David and Solomon gov- of pachas, subject or tributary to the sultan of
erned several provinces beyond the limits of Turkey.  The population consists of Turks,
Canaan, which enlarged their kingdom, 1 Kings, Syrians, Bedouin Arabs, Copts, Druses of Lebiv. 21-24. Canaan was bounded on the north bv  anon, Roman, Armenian, and Greek Christians,
the mountains of Lebanon in Syria, on the east by and Jews.
Arabia Deserta, on the south byv the wilderness of: The Septuagint and most other versions
Arabia Petrea and Idumea, and on the west by call it the Oak of aloree, from a large oak that
the land of the Philistines and the Mediterranean  grew on it; bhut our translation renders it plain.
Sea. Besides the name of its first possessor,   II This city, after the ruin of Samaria by
Canaan has been variously denominated as the Salmanesar, was the capital of the Samaritans;
Land of the Hebrews, Genesis xl. 15; Palestine, and Josephus says it was still so in the time of
Exodus xv. 14; the Land of Promise, Hebrews xi. Alexander the Great. It was situated ten miles
9; the Land of Israel, Judah, Judea, the Holy from Shiloh, forty from Jerusalem, and fifty-two
Land, Zechariah ii. 12. Canaan has been the from Jericho.




94                               df'AN ILLUSTRATED
-by a dreadful famine, which raged  with destitute  of all protection but from  the
great violence throughout the whole coun- hands of the Almighty.  While her hustry.  In consequence of this, he formed the band, who should be the only guardian of
resolution of going to Egypt, that being the her person, dare not own her as his wife, lest
only place where relief could be obtained  the rage of lust and  strength  of power
under such calamities. ~                     should deprive him of his existence.
Being apprised of the natural libertinism    To relieve them from  this distressed  sitof the Egyptians, Abram  was exceeding nation, the Almighty was pleased to interanxious concerning his wife Sarai, fearing pose in their behalf: and, in order to deter
lest her extraordinary beauty might provoke  Pharaoh $ and his nobles from  any dishontheir lascivious attention.  Though she was orable  attempts  on  Sarai, he  suddenly
at this time in the sixty-sixth year of her afflicted  them  with various  diseases  and
age, t yet she still retained those personal bodily infirmities.  Not being able to accharms which, in that country, might en- count for this singular circumstance, they at
dlanger the life of him who should pass for length suspected that it was occasioned by
her  husband.  After  some  deliberation,. the confinement of Sarai, who, instead of
Abram concluded that the safest way would  being the sister of Abram, must certainly be
be for her to conceal her marriage; upon  his wife.  In consequence of these sus.:piwhich, communicating his fears to  Sarai, cions, the king sent for Abram, and exposand she approving of his plan, it was mutu-  tulated with him on his misconduct, in hay.
ally agreed between them, that wherever  ing spread a false report, which might have
they took up their residence, instead of his been attended with a breach on his wife's
wife, she should pass for his sister.         chastity.  After saying this he ordered him
The apprehensions that Abram had formed  immediately to quit his kingdom, permitting
were soon verified, after  his  arrival  in  him to take not only his own effects, but the
Egypt.  The distinguished  charms of his  presents that had been made him  in consewife attracted the notice of several principal  quence of his supposed sister.
Egyptians, and she soon became the subject    The famine in Canaan, which  had occaof popular conversation.  The king, being  sicned Abram  to go into Egypt, was hap-'
informed of her beauty, was excited to grat-  pily ceased; so that his leaving the place
ify his curiosity by the sight of so amiable a  was not only in conformity to the king's
stranger.  Accordingly, Sarai was, by his  commnand, but agreeable to his own inclinaorder, conducted to court, and placed in the  tions.  Abram  directed his course the same
apartments  allotted  for  his  concubines.  way he had come, and on his arrival at
Here she remained  several days, during  Bethel, where he had erected an altar, he ofwhich Abram (her supposed brother) was  feted en it a sacrifice of thanks to God for
treated with great civility, find on her ac- his happy escape from  Egypt, and safe recount (though the king had not yet seen  turn into the land of Canaan.
her) complimented  with  many  valuable    Abram and his nephew  Lot had hitherto
presents.                                     lived  with  great unanimity  on the same
A  feeling mind may, in some degree,  spot; but their families and possessions be
conceive the distress each party must natur-  ing now  greatly  increased, inconveniences
ally be susceptible of on this trying occa- took place.  They found themselves particsion.  Sarai was a beautiful woman, in the  ularly distressed for want of provision for
power of a loose and vicious monarch, and  their cattle, which, probably, arose partly
I- Tt appears from  this circumstance, that    t It may appear somewhat strange that Sarai
EgDypt had been formed into a kingdom  soon should have such personal charms at so advanced
after mankind were dispersed by the confusion an age, but it must be remembered that as in
of langruaes. Its first name was  Mizraim, those days they were longer lived than at preswhich signifies straightness, it being closed on ent, so their charms were proportionably durathe north by the Mediterranean sea, on the west ble.
and south hy mountains, and on the east by the
Red sea, or Indian Gulf. Nicolaus Damascus, a    ~ What this kino's name was, or indeed any
heathen author, says, that Abram went out of of the Egyptian monarchs, cannot be ascerChaldea into Canaan, now called Judxa, but, in tained. The name Placaloh was a title of digconsequence of a great famine rating there, he nity common to all, in the same manner as that
removed to Egypt, in which were abundance of of Caesar assumed by the Roman Emperors.
all kinds of provisions.




HISTORY OF TIEE BIBLE.                                      5
from  the late famine, and partly from  the and condescension, that, though superior in
great number of Canaanites, who possessed  every respect to his nephew, he gave him
the most fertile parts of the  land.  This his choice of settlement in that part of the
wantof pasture-ground occasioned frequent country he should best approve. "If,"
disputes between the herdsmen  of Abram  says he, " thou wilt talke the left hand, then
and those of Lot; so that the former, fear-  I will go to the right;  or, if thou depart
ing lest the  contention  which  prevailed  to the right hand, then I will go to the
among the servants night end in a rupture  left."
between themselves, resolved, in a friendly    This generous and firiendly  proposition
manner, to propose a separation fromn Lot. was readily agreed to by Lot, who, after
In doing this, such was his great prudence  taking a view  of the country,  chose the
THE JORDAN LEAVING THE LAKE.
plains near Sodom  and Gomorrah, which, were not only pleasant, but exceedingly ferbeing watered by the streams of Jordan, * tile.
*- This river, being the principal stream of Pal- sion to it is not so much to the river itself as to
estine, has acquired a distinction much greater the plain or plains which it traversed (Gen. xiii.
than its geographical importance could have 10). We must anticipate events slightly to be
given. It is sometimes called "the river," by  able to speak of the fords or passages of the Jorway of eminence, being in fact almost the only  dan.  There were fords over against Jericho, to
stream of the country which continues to flow in  which point the men of Jericho pnrsued the spies
summer. The river rises about an hour and a  (Josh. ii. 7; comp. Jndg. iii. 28). Hioher up,
quarter's journey (say three or three miles and a perhaps over against Sucecoth, some way above
quarter) north-east from Banias, the ancient Ces- where the little river Jabbok (Zerka) enters the
arsea Philippi, in a plain near a hill called Tel-el- Jordan, were the fords or passanes of Bethharah
kadi. It winds through scenery remarkable rath- (prohably the Bethahara of the Gospel), where
er for sameness and tameness than for bold out- Gideon lay in wait for the Midianites (Judg. vii.
line. Its course is not much above 200 miles 24), and where the men of Gilead slew  the
f:om first to last- from the roots of Anti-Lebanon Ep)hraimites (xii. 6). These fords undoubtedly
to the head of the Dead Sea. Such is the river witnessed the first recorded passage of the Jordan
of the "great plain" of Palestine - the "De- in the 0. T. (Gen. xxxii. 10). And Jordan was
scender" -if not "the river of God" in the next crossed, over against Jericho, hy Joshma the
book of Psalms, at least that of His chosen peo- son of:Nun, at the head of the descendamnts of the
pie throughout their history. The earliest allu- twelve sons of him who signalized the first pas,




96                              AN ILLUSTRATED
These matters being adjusted, Abram and other kings, his allies, immediately advanced
Lot parted, the former continuing at Bethel, to meet the enemy.  The revolted kings,
and the latter retiring to the spot he had seeing him at a distance, took the field, with
chosen for his future residence.            a firm  resolution of trying the fate of a
Some time  after Lot's  departure, the pitched battle.  The place allotted for deAlmighty, ever mindful of his faithful ser- termining the dispute was the valley of
vant Abram, again appeared to him  in a Siddim, which was full of pits of bitumen,
vision, and not only renewed the promise or soil of a clayey nature.  For some time
he had before made, of enlarging his pos- the victory appeared doubtful; but at length
terity, but, bidding  him  cast his  eyes the five tributary kings were put to rout:
round the kingdom, confirmed the gift of all one part of their army was entirely cut to
the land which he beheld, to him  and his pieces, and the other fled to the neighboring
descendants.                                mountains, leaving their cities a prey to the
These divine assurances were acceptably conquerors.  Lot, who happened at this time
received by Abram, who, desirous of seeing to reside in Sodom, was involved in the
the different parts of the country promised to calamity of the city, being not only plunhis posterity, removed from Bethel, and took dered of all his possessions, but carried away
up his residence in the plain of Mlamre, at a among the rest of the captives.  One of the
small distance from Hebron.  Here (as was soldiers belonging to the vanquished, haphis usual custom, wherever he pitched his pening  to make his  escape, immediately
tent) he erected an altar, in order to dis- hastened to Abram, to whom he related the
charge his religious duties, by offering saecri- particulars of the battle, and the hapless fate
fies to the Lord.                          of his  nephew.  The  faithful patriarch,
In a short time after Abram had settled anxious for Lot, determined to pursue the viehimself at Mamre, by the natural affability tors, and, if possible, not only rescue him, but
of his temper, and the respect shown him on the whole of the captives.  He accordingly
that account, he acquired the intimacy and armed all his own servants, the number of
friendship of some of the most considerable whom amounted to three hundred and eightCanaanites, particularly three, named Mamre, een, and, accompanied by his three friends and
Aner, and Esehol; the former of whom was associates, Mamre, Eschol, and Aner, set out
of such importance as to give name to the in pursuit of the victors, whom, after a march
country in which he lived.                  of about seventy leagues, he overtook near
This alliance was not only agreeable to Dan.  Availing himself of the covert of the
Abram, but, in the course of time, proved night, he put his forces into proper disposiinfinitely serviceable, as will appear from  tion, and immediately charged the enemy on
the following circumstances.  Chedorlaomer, all quarters.  So sudden and vigorous an
king of Elam, had for some years held five attack on an  army fatigued with a late
petty princes(of which number the king of engagement, and revelling in the spoils of
Sodom was one) in a tributary subjection to conquest, had the desired effect, for Abram,
him.  Weary with this subjection, they at in a short time, obtained a complete victory.
length determined to shake off the yoke they  Chedorlaomer, the king of Elam, was among
had so long borne; to effect which they con- many others, slain, and his whole army being
federated together, and, joining their re- routed, Abram's victorious party pursued
spective forces, prepared themselves to march them as far as Hobab, a small place situated
against their oppressor.                    near Damascus.  The enemy, from the great
The king of Elam, being informed of consternation  into  which  they  had been
their intentions, resolved, if possible, to frus- thrown, by the suddenness of the attack, fled
trate their designs.  Hle accordingly raised a so precipitately, that they left behind them
powerful army, and, in conjunction with three not only the captives, but likewise the booty
sage. (Josh. iv. 12 and 1.3). From their vicinity to Jordan was fordable, though there may have been
Jerusalem the lower fords were much used; David, more, particularly during the summer, which are
it is probable, passed over them in one instance to not mentioned. And it must have been at one
fight the Syrians (2 Sam. x. 17); and subse- of these, if not at both, that baptism  was afterquently, when a furitive himself, in his way to wards administered by St. John, and by the disMahanaim (xvii. 22) on the east bank. Thus ciples of our Lord. - Bib. Dictionary.    A. B.
there were two customary places, at which the




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                     97
of which they had possessed themselves.  The capacity of a warrior, and might reasonably
whole of these fell into the hands of Abram, expect that the kings whom  he had routed
and among them his nephew Lot, who, being would recruit their scattered forces, and prethus happily recovered, returned, with all his pare for a second attack, he was fearful of
substance, to his former habitation.         the consequences.  But the Almighty, in
Abram  having, by this conquest, signal- order to fortify his mind against all disized both his valor and fidelity, was highly  agreeable apprehensions, even from the most
caressed by those whose cause he had so  potent princes of the earth, appeared to him
gallantly espoused.  The first person who in a vision, and informed him  that he had
came to congratulate him  on the occasion undertaken his defence, and would ever rewas the king of Sodom, who, in thankful ward his faithfulness.  "Fear not," says
acknowledgment of the  benefits  received  he, "Abram, I am  thy shie;d, and thy'exfrom his important services, offered him  all ceeding great reward."
the booty which he had retaken belonging to    Hitherto the pious patriarch had listened
him, desiring only the restoration of those to God's promises without the least shadow
prisoners  who  were  his  subjects.  But of distrust; but on this fresh assurance he
Abram's righteous soul disdained to take ad- ventured, for the first time, to expostulate
vantage of the unfortunate; and therefore, with his great protector, not knowing how
after reserving to his associates that part of these things could possibly be accomplished,
the plunder to which their services entitled  while himself continued without an heir to
them, he restored to the king both his sub- his body, and that, to all appearance, he
jects and. property, evincing, through the must be obliged to leave his substance to
whole of his conduct, the most distinguished  Eliezer his steward.
fidelity, intrepid courage, and inflexible jus-    The troubles of Abram on this head were
tice.                                        soon removed by the beneficence  of the
The next person who congratulated Abram  Almighty, who told him that not his servant,
on his success was Melchisedec,~  king  of but a son of his own, begotten of his body,
Salem, who, on his; return from  the battle, should be his heir, and that from him should
accommodated both him and his men with a descend a race as " innumerable as the stars
refreshment of bread and wine which he had in heaven."
provided on the occasion.  Being a priest as    Abram was so encouraged by this joyful
well as king, he first blessed Abram  for intelligence, that he ventured to beg of God
being the instrument of so public a deliver- that he would be pleased to give him  some
ance, and then the Almighty, for having  sensible token whereby he might be assured
given him  such uncommon  success;  in  of so distinguished a blessing.  The Alreturn for which, the victorious patriarch  mighty thought proper to comply with his
presented him  with the tenth part of the request, and that they might enter into a
spoils he had taken from the enemy.          formal covenant on the occasion, ordered
As Abram had now acted in the public him to take a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each
XWho this extraordinary person was, has which recall to Christians the Lord's Supper, this
been a subject of great dispute; but the most ra- Canaanite crosses for a moment the path of
tional opinion is, that he was one of the princes Abram, and is unhesitatingly recognized as a perof Canaan, who on account of his great piety and  son of higher spiritual rank than the friend of
goodness, was called Melchisedec, king of Salem  God. Disappearing as suddenly as he came in,
and priest of the Most High God, who met Abram  he is lost to the sacred writings for a thousand
in the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's val- years. The way in which he is mentioned in
ley, brought out bread and wine, blessed Abram, Genesis would rather lead to the immediate inferand received tithes from him (Gen. xiv. 18-20). ence that Melchisedec was of one blood with the
The other places in which Melchisedec is men- children of Ham, among whom he lived, chief
tioned are Ps. cx. 4, where Messiah is described as (like the King of Sodom) of a settled Canaanitish
a priest forever, " after the order of Melchise- tribe. And as Balaam was a prophet, so Melchisdec," and Heb. v., vi., vii., where these two pas- edec was a priest among the corrupted heathen,
sages of the 0. T. are quoted, and the typical re- not self-appointed, but constituted by a special
lation of Melchisedec to our Lord is stated at gift from  God, and recognized as such by him.
great length. There is something surprising and The " order of Melchisedec," in Ps. cx. 4, is exmysterious in the first appearance of Melchisedec, plained by Gesenius and Rosenmuller to mean
and in the subsequent reference to him. Bearing " manner " = likeness in official dignity = a king
a title which Jews in after ages would recognize and priest. - Bib. Dictionary.    A.B..
as designating their own sovereign, bearing gifts
7




98                             AN ILLUSTRATED
of three years old, together with a pigeon  a deep sleep, during which it was revealed
and a turtle-dove, and offer them  up as  to him that he was not to expect an immea sacrifice.                               diate accomplishment of the divine promise;
The pious patriarch readily obeyed the  for though himself was to die in peace, and
divine command, and, having  killed the  at a good old age, yet his posterity were,
beasts, cut them in halves, laying each op- after that, to sojourn and be afflicted in a
posite to the other; but the fowls he left strange country, for the space of four hunwhole.  After doing this, he walked between  dred years; after which the Almighty would
the dissected bodies, making his solemn vows  not only punish their oppressors, but would
to God of perpetual obedience to his will;  likewise safely establish them in the land he
and then sat himself down to prevent birds  had promised.
of prey from injuring the sacrifice.          After this revelation Abram  soon awoke,
About the time of sunset Abram fell into  and while he was reflecting on what he had
WOMIEN OF EGYPT (LOWER CLASS).
heard, the Almighty, in confirmation of the and began to reflect that, although a son had
assurances he had given him, and as a ratifi-  been promised to Abram, it had not been
cation of his part of the covenant, caused the  said, and did not necessarily follow, that this
symbol of his divine presence to appear be-  son should be the fruit of her own womb.
fore him.  It consisted of a smoking furnace  Explaining these views to the patriarch, she
and a burning lamp, which passed between  prevailed upon him to resort to a custom of
the divided pieces of the victims, and totally  the time, of which there are still some traces
consumed them.                             in the East, under which the man takes a
Sarai, the wife of Abram, desired a son  secondary wife, whose children become his
no less fervently than her husband.  But undoubted heirs, equally with any other
she had been considered barren before she  children he may have; and if the woman is
left Mesopotamia; she was now seventy-five  the slave or attendant of the chief wife, or is
years of age; and she had waited ten years  provided by the chief wife, the children are,
since their hearts were first gladdened by the  in a legal point of view, considered hers:
promise of an'heir.  She therefore thought and, in the same point of view, the condithe casewas hopeless as regarded herself; tion of the actual mother remains unchanged,




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              99
though in practice it necessarily sustains encouraging her to obedience by the assursome modification from the operation of the ance that the child she then bore in her
feelings arising from the connections which womb would prove a son, whom she was
are formed, especially when her children are directed to name Ishmael (God attendeth),
grown up.  The female whom  Sarai pro- because  the  Lord  had attended  to her
posed to Abram  as her substitute was her affliction.  She was also assured thaf this son
own handmaid, a woman of Egypt, named should be the parent of a numerous race;
Hagar, who may be supposed to have been and that while in his character, as typifying
one of the female slaves whom the king of that also of his descendants, he should be
Egypt gave to the patriarch.*             wild and fierce as the desert ass -his hand
In due time it was known that Hagar had against every man, and every man's hand
conceived, and the prospect of becoming the against him -he should never be expelled
mother of Abram's long-promised heir had or rooted out from the domain which God
a mischievous effect upon her mind, leading would give to him.t  Thus instructed and
her to treat her mistress with disrespect. encouraged, Hagar returned to her master's
Sarai, through whose preference and man- camp in the valley of Mamre; and in due
agement all this had been brought about, was season brought forth a son, to whom, in
stung to the quick by this treatment, and com- obedience to the angel's direction, Abram
plained of-it to Abram with some sharpness, gave the name of Ishmael.
insinuating that, without some encouragement   At this time Abram was eighty-six years
from him, Hagar durst not be so impertinent of age; and lest, in the excess of his joy, he
to her.  The patriarch himself, respecting the should mistake this child for the heir of the
rights of his wife, and displeased at Hagar's promises which had been made him, about
presumption (which those who know  any thirteen  years after, the Almighty again
thing of Oriental women of her class, will appeared to him in a vision, and renewed his
believe to have been very coarsely and offen- former covenant; to ratify which he was
sively manifested), reminded Sarai that the pleased to institute the rite of circumcision,
Egyptian was still her bond-servant, and that by commanding that every male child, of
her authority was sufficient to prevent or eight days old, whether born in the house or
punish the treatment of which she  com- bought with money, should be circumcised,
plained.  Being thus assured that he would on the penalty of being cut off from the
not interfere, Sarai proceeded to a more benefits of the covenant.  As a further
unsparing exercise of the powers with which mark of his divine respect, he changed our
she was invested, than the raised spirits of patriarch's name from Abram to Abraham,
the Egyptian bondmaid could brook; and and his wife's from Sarai to Sarah; $ and to
she therefore  fled, directing  her course complete his happiness, again promised that
towards her own country.  It is a terrible he should yet have a son by her.
and perilous thing for a woman, alone and    Though this promise gave great satisfacon foot, to pass the desert which lies between tion to Abraham, yet his mind was agitated
the land of Canaan and Egypt; and we on account of Ishmael, his first-born, for
know not how one might do it and live. whom  he had a most paternal affection.
Nor did Hiagar accomplish this enterprise; He was suspicious that, on the birth of a
for she was as yet but upon the borders of child by the free woman, he might be dethe desert, and was tarrying for refreshment prived of that descended from  the bondand rest by a well of water, when an angel woman; and therefore, falling prostrate on
of God appeared to her, and persuaded her the ground, he began to intercede with God
to return and submit herself to her mistress; in behalf of Ishmael: " Oh," says he, " that
* It is not unlikely that Hagar had been ham implies the father of a great multitude, as he
given to Sarai as her personal attendant while she certainly was, according to the Divine promise,
was in Pharaoh's harem, and that she was allowed " a father of many nations have I made thee,"
to retain her as such when she departed.   Gen. xvii. 5.
t This is the best interpretation we can give to   The word Sarai signifies, my princess, or chief
the expression, " and in the face of all his breth- of my family only; but Sarah implies, Princess
ren shall he dwell."                      or chiqf of?multitudes, according to the words in
t The difference in the sound of these words is the text, "She shall be a mother of nations,
very trifling, but in the sense, it is considerable. kings of people shall be of her," Gen. xvii. 16.
The word Abram signifies high father; but Abra



100                               AN ILLUSTRATED
Ishmael might live before thee! "  But the same time told him, that the covenant made
Almighty thought proper to remove  his should only be established in the son befears, by assuring him that the great bless- gotten of Sarah.
ings in the covenant were not designed for    This was the whole substance of the visIshmael, but for a son to be born of Sarah:, ion; and as soon as it was ended, Abraham
which should happen within the course of delayed not (according to the divine comthe year, and that his name should be called mand) to circumcise himself, his son IshIsaac.  That he might not, however, seem  mael, and all the males in his family.  And
wholly to neglect his request for Ishmael, this ordinance the Hebrews have ever since
he promised to " make him a great nation,"  very religiously observed.*
and the father of twelve princes; but at the
CHAPTER V.
DESTRUCTION  OF SODOM.   BIRTH  OF ISAAC. —-HIS 5MARRIAGE.
THE great wealth of the inhabitants of tiousness.  The fatal consequences of this
Sodom t and Gomorrah had introduced lux- were, irreverence to God, inhospitality to
ury, which, as usual, soon produced licen- strangers, and the indulgence of the most
X CIRCUMCISION. — Thecutting-off the small oasis, in which Sodom and other named cities
skin of the prepuce, as the rite was enjoined upon seem to have been situated. This district was on
Abraham with the male part of his family, to be the western banks of Jordan. From the account
the sign of the covenant of GOD with the patri- of the destruction of these cities contained in
arch, when he renewed to him the promise of the Gen. xix., it appears that they were located in
Messiah (Gen. xvii. 10-26). Physicians have re- the neighborhood of the Jordan. Now as the
garded circumcision as medically beneficial; and Jordan ceases where it enters the Dead Sea, and
it was practised by the Arabians, Israelites, and can have no existence south of that point, it
Saracens, the descendants of Abraham; but espe- would seem  that the district designated "the
cially by the Israelites, to whom it was ordained Plain of Jordan," in which Sodom was situated,
as the initiatory ordinance of the Hebrew church. must have been north of the Dead Sea. Such
This, however, with all the Levitical ceremonies, conclusion is favored by the scripture narrative.
was abolished by the perfect mediation  of    Most writers, however, entertain different views
CHRIST (Acts xv. 1-24; Col. iii. 11). The Israel- on this question. An opinion long current was
ites are called the circumcision, and the Gentiles that Sodom and the adjacent cities were subthe uncircumcision. Rom. iv. 9.              merged in the lake. This view is untenable, and
CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART. - This is the is abandoned. A popular theory, advocated by
thing signified by the original ceremony, the cut- ancient and modern writers on sacred geograting-off of every evil affection by the renewal of the phy, is, that these cities stood at the south end of
soul in holiness to secure devotedness of heart in  the Dead Sea. Such was the view held by methe true service of GOD as promised by Moses, dieval historians; and it is adopted by many
Phil. iii. 3; Col. ii. 11; Dent. x. 16.      modern topographers. Dr. Robinson favors this
t SODOM is commonly mentioned in connec- view, grounding his argument, first on the situation with Gomorrah. The geographical position  tion of Zoar, which was near to Sodom, and which
of Sodom has long been a disputed question. In is supposed to be identical with a place of the same
Gen. xiii. 10-13, the locality of this ancient name situated at the southern end of the Dead Sea.
city seems to be very positively indicated. As A second consideration in favor of this view is the
Abraham and Lot were standing together between existence of similar names found in that vicinity.
Bethel and Ai, a division of territory having be- A third reason is the existence of a salt mountain
come necessary, the former proposed to the lat- at the south of this sea, with its tendency to split 
ter to make choice of the territory he would like into masses, which rudely resemble the human
to appropriate for his occupancy. The sacred form. This theory is advocated by Lynch, by
record informs us, that Lot chose all the " Plain of the missionary Dr. W. M. Thomson, and others.
Jordan," which was well watered everywhere, as Some quite recent scholars and explorers, how"the garden of the Lord."  From the position ever, favor the idea that these cities, being in the
occupied by Abraham when he made his concili- Plain of Jordan, must have been on the northern
atory proposal to Lot, they could take a survey end of the Dead Sea. Thus it seems that at
of a widle extent of territory, included in which to present no satisfactory conclusion is established as
the eastward was the "Plain of Jordan" a fertile to the situation of Sodom. -A. B.




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                              101
abominable vices.  These enormities highly an assurance that he would command not
offended the Almighty, who, in order to pun- only his children but his household also,
ish the people, denounced his vengeance to persevere in the true fear and worship of
both against them and their country.  But, their divine Creator.
previous to the execution of the fatal sen-   This intelligence was communicated to
tence, he thought proper to intimate his in- Abraham by one of the angels (the immetentions to his faithful servant Abraham.    diate representative of God), the other two
At this time the pious patriarch resided at having gone before with great haste, to reach,
Mamre; and as he was sitting one day at as soon as possible, the place of their desthe door of his tent, he saw at a distance tination.  So melancholy a piece of news
three persons, whom he took for travellers. greatly afflicted Abraham, who, from  an
Being naturally of a hospitable disposition, assurance of the divine favor, ventured to
when they came up to him, he arose from  intercede in behalf of those wicked people.
his seat, and, in a. polite manner, asked Not doubting but the supreme and equitable
them to partake of such refreshment as his Judge of the earth would listen to mercy,
habitation afforded.  His civility being ac- he begged of him not to punish the innocent
cepted, an entertainment was immediately with the guilty.  He made five petitionary
prepared for the unknown guests, which be- propositions, lessening the supposed number
ing set before them, they, to all appearance, of pious inhabitants in Sodom from fifty to
seemed to eat.  While they were at table ten, earnestly beseeching of God that, could
one of them inquired after Sarah, and being even so small a number be found, he would,
told she was in the tent, he then addressed on their account, withdraw  his avenging
himself to Abraham, and assured him that rod, and avert the impending danger.  This
he had still in remembrance the case of his request being granted, the angel departed,
wife Sarah, who, before the end of the year, and Abraham  returned home, happy in the
should certainly be delivered of a son. thought of having received such peculiar
From  this circumstance Abraham was con- manifestations of the divine love.
vinced that these three visitors were mes-   In the mean time, the two other guests,
sengers from heaven, and that one of them  who went before (and were, indeed, the
was the peculiar representative of the Al- ministering angels whom God had appointed
mighty.-                                 to execute his judgment on the Sodomites),
Sarah had listened attentively to the dis- pursued  their journey towards the city,
course that had passed between her husband whither they arrived in the evening.  Lot
and his guests; but, considering the ad- happened at this time to be sitting at the
vanced age both of herself and him, she re- gate of the city; as soon, therefore, as he
garded not their prediction, and even laughed saw the angels, he arose, and, after proper
within herself at the improbability of such salutations, invited them  to his house, in
an event.  This disrespectful behavior being order to refresh themselves.  For some time
observed by the stranger, he, in an angry the divine messengers declined the offer; but
tone, asked her the reason of it.  Struck at length, from the strength of Lot's imporwith terror, she attempted to deny it: upon tunities, they were prevailed on to accept
which he dismissed her with this gentle re- the invitation.
proof: that it was exceedingly wrong in   It being soon rumored about the city that
her to mistrust what he had said, since Lot had strangers with him, great numbers of
"nothing was impossible with God."       the vile inhabitants assembled together, and,
This finished the conversation, immedi- surrounding the house, commanded him, in
ately after which the three guests prepared a peremptory manner, to deliver them up.
themselves to depart, and Abraham, under- Lot thought at first to appease them by mild
standing they were going towards Sodom, and soft words; and, therefore, stepping out
courteously offered to attend  them  some of the house, and shutting the door after
part of the way.  As they journeyed to- him, he begged of them  not to offer any
gether, God was pleased to manifest his pe- insult to his guests, who had committed themculiar regard to Abraham, in foretelling the selves to his care and protection.  This not
dreadful judgment he intended to inflict on having the desired effect, in order to appease
Sodom  and the neighboring cities, which their rage, and, if possible, to preserve the
instance of his kindness was founded upon laws of hospitality inviolate, he offered to




102,                           AN  ILLUSTRATED
give up his two virgin daughters to their angel took  Lot, his wife, and  his two
discretion.  But so abandoned were these daughters by the hands, and conducted them
wretches to wickedness, and so deaf to every out of the city.  The divine messenger told
remonstrance, that they even refused this him to make all the expedition possible, and,
offer, and threatened Lot with very severe to avoid the common ruin, pursue his course
treatment, if he did not immediately comply to the neighboring mountains.
with their request.                          Lot, observing the mountains to which he
Finding  Lot was resolute, and totally was directed were at a considerable distance,
disregarded their threats, they determined to began to despair of reaching them in a proper
effect that by force which they could not time, and therefore entreated the angel that
obtain by any other means.  Accordingly, he might be permitted to escape to a small
pressing forward, they attempted to break city, not far from Sodom, then called Bela,
open the door; but the divine messengers but afterward  Zoar.  This request was
prevented their design.  By an exertion of granted, and that city, on their account,
supernatural power, they forced their way escaped the general destruction.  Before the
out of the house, took in their host, and angel left them, he urged them to make all
then, shutting the door, struck the rioters possible  haste, as the divine commission
with a temporary blindness; so that, not could not be put in execution till they were
being able to find the house, they were safely arrived at the place of their destination.
obliged to desist from their diabolical inten- He likewise enjoined them  not, upon any
tions.                                     account whatever, to look behind them, but
All things being now quiet, the two angels to keep their eyes fixed on the place allotted
acquainted Lot with the purport of their for their refuge.
embassy.  They told him  they were come    Having said this the angel departed, and
to execute the divine vengeance on that Lot, with his family, pursued their journey
execrable place and its neighborhood; and toward Zoar.  After travelling some way,
"therefore, if he had any friends for whose Lot's wife, either from forgetfulness of the
safety he was concerned, to acquaint them of prohibition, or out of respect to the place
their danger, that thereby they might escape of her habitation, indiscreetly looked back.
the general destruction.                   This misconduct was attended with the most
In the city were two young men, who had fatal consequences: she was immediately
been betrothed to Lot's daughters, to whom  turned into a pillar of salt,* and became a
he immediately repaired, and informed them  standing monument of the vengeance of the
of the approaching event, at the same time Almighty on disobedient and obstinate offenadvising them, for their safety, to leave the ders.
place and go with him;.but, instead of   Lot and his daughters, strictly observing
listening to his advice, they totally despised the divine injunction, hastened toward Zoar,
it, and profanely ridiculed the idea of the whither they had no sooner arrived, than the
threatened destruction.                    vengeance of the Almighty began to appear
In the morning, soon after daylight, one in all its horrors.  The angry heavens poured
of the angels, observing Lot not to prepare down showers of liquid fire on Sodom and
for his departure with that expedition he Gomorrah, and the other wicked cities of the
knew to be necessary, rather chastised him  plain; and in a short time the whole was
for his conduct.  The cause of this delay reduced to a state of irreparable destruction.
certainly arose from hopes that the dreadful   When Lot beheld the dreadful calamity
sentence against those wretched people might that had befallen the cities of Sodom  and
be reversed; but his hopes were in vain, for, Gomorrah, he began to think himself not
instead of ten righteous persons, that Abra- safe in Zoar; he therefore withdrew to the
ham bad capitulated for, no more than four, mountains to which he was first directed, and,
and  all those  of Lot's family (himself for want of a proper habitation, lived for
included), were appointed to escape  the some time with his daughters in a cave.  In
dreadful judgment.  Knowing, therefore, his caverned retreat a new and unexpected
the necessity of immediate departure, the evil befell Lot.  His daughters, like all east* She was overwhelmed and smothered in the ing around her, left her incrusted body with some
spray of the igneous and saline matters which resemblance to a mass of rock salt.
filled the air; and which, gathering and harden



HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                            103
~n  women, and especially all women of that condition, and without his clear knowlBedouin parentage, looked upon the posses- edge of what was done, to procure issue by
sion of children as the best and brightest him. A son to each daughter was the result
hope of their existence; but they saw none of this transaction.  The eldest daughter
on earth whom they might expect to marry. gave to her son the name of Moab (" from
They knew not that any of their father's a father"), and the younger called hers
family and connections existed, to become Ben-Ammi (" son of my people"), which
their husbands;  and the example of their latter name, intimating the mother's  satissisters, who had perished in Sodom  with faction in the fact that the child was a son
their husbands, made them afraid, it' willing, of her own race, corroborates the view we
to entertain the notion of a marriage with have taken of the motives by which the
Canaanitish husbands.  They therefore most women were influenced, and which seems
wickedly managed, on two successive nights, to us far preferable to the notion that they
to intoxicate their father with wine, and in supposed that all the inhabitants of the
___     _'4
THE DEAD SEA.
earth, except their father and themselves, of the Divine vengeance, and  the  great;
were destroyed in the overthrow  of Sodom. power he had over his creatures, he reWe do not see how it is possible that they moved thence to the southward, and took
could have entertained any such impression, up his residence in Gerar, one of the prinBe this as it may, the sons which were born cipal cities in Palestine.
to them were the progenitors of the Moabites   On his first entering this place, he had
and Amnmonites, -nations well known in recourse to the same policy he had before
a later age for their enmity to. the house practised when in Egypt, and an agreement
of Israel. Thus much of Lot, of whom the was made between him and his wife that
sacred history takes no further notice. We they should pass for brother and sister.
now proceed to consider the peculiar dispen- Abimelech, the king of Gerar, supposing
sation of Providence with respect to his this to be their real affinity, and being capfaithful servant Abraham.                tivated with the person of Sarah, who, though
At the time of the destruction of Sodom far advanced in years, possessed some disand Gomorrah, the pious patriarch resided tinguished charms, ordered her to be brought
at Mamre; but as soon as he beheld that to his palace, with an intent of making her
fatal catastrophe, struck with a proper sense his concubine. But the Almighty warned




104                               AN ILLUSTRATED
him in a dream  from  committing  the ini- for Abimelech's civility, prayed to God to
quitous act, by assuring him, that if he took remove these imperfections, which he being
to his bed a woman, whose husband was a pleased to grant, the king's disability left:
prophet, his conduct should  be punished  him, and the queen, with the rest of the
with immediate death.                          women belonging to him  were restored to
In consequence of this, Abimelech  sent their natural fertility.
for Abraham, whom he severely reprimanded    Soon after this the Divine promise (made
for having endeavored to impose on  him, by the Almighty to Abraham) was fulfilled.
by  calling her his sister whom he knew to  The  time appointed was now  elapsed, and
be his wife.  In  excuse  for  the  fiction  Sarah brought forth a son, whom  Abraham,
Abraham  alleged  he  did  it for his own  agreeably to  the sacred injunction, called
safety, being apprehensive that, had it been  Isaac;  and on the eighth day he was cirknown she was his wife, he might, in order cumcised.
to possess her, have robbed him  of his ex-    Sarah having long considered Ishmael as
istence.  He farther said, that the report the presumptive heir of her family, had reared
he had given of her being his sister was not, and continued to treat him  with the most
in fact, a falsity, for though  she was not affectionate tenderness.  But on the birth of
born of the same woman, yet she was begot Isaac she became apprehensive with respect
by the same man.                               to his inheritance, imagining, that in case of
This apology pacified the king, who not Abraham's death, Ishmael's superiority of
only restored Abraham his wife, but also gave years would give him  every advantage over
him  many valuable presents, with full per- her own son.  Stimulated by such fears, she
mission to settle himself in any part of his resolved to get rid of Ishmael, and it was
dominions.                                     not long before an opportunity offered for
The Almighty had not only threatened the accomplishing her design.
king with death should he violate the chastity    Though Sarah was far advanced in life
of Sarah, but also afflicted him  and all the  (being now upward of ninety years old) yet,
women belonging  to  him  with  a kind of by the Divine power, nature was completely
impotence.  Abraham, therefore, in return  perfect. t  She  was  bountifully  supplied
* The word Isaac implies laughter, and alludes  fold till about the time of the departure of the
to the smile of disbelief which appeared in Sarah's  Israelites from Egypt. Terah himself died at the
countenance when the angel informed her that age of 205, which must have seemed but a reashe should become pregnant.                    sonable old age, as it is considerably within the
t PRIMITIVE LONGEVITY. - We need not re- age attained by any of his ancestors, except his
mind the reader that the age of man before the  own father Nahor, who died prematurely at 148
deluge made a near approach to a thousand years,  years ot age.
but, aftel that event, rapidly declined to the pres-    But the operation of the abridging influence is
ent standard (which it had certainly reached be- best shown by figures, thus: Noah lived 950
fore the time of David), at which it has remained, years; Shem, 600; Arphaxad, 438; Salah, 433;
unaffected but by local influences. Many reasons Eber, 464; Peleg, 230; Ren, 239; Serug, 230;
have been given for the antediluvian longevity, Nahor, 148; Terah, 205.  Here we see that
and for the subsequent abridgment of human  Noah, nearly two thirds of whose life had passed
life; but they all fail in some point or other, ex- before the deluge, lived as long as an antedilucepting that which, proceeding on the observation  vian; whereas his son Shem, most of whose life
that air is the agent by which, under all circum- passed after the deluge, has one third of the
stances, the duration of life is most affected, average duration of antediluvian life struck off
infers that the superior purity of the air before from his. His son Arphaxad was born two years
the deluge - or, more properly, its superior fit- after the flood, and therefore may be taken to
ness for the conservation of the living principle represent the first generation of entire postdiluin man - was the operating cause of the long vians, whose terms of life is made one third
duration of antediluvian life; and that the grad- shorter than that of the semi-antediluvians, and
ual but quick contraction of man's life, which  (in two generations) is reduced to one half that
afterward took place, was probably owing to some of the pure antediluvians.  A rest at this point
signal deterioration, caused by the deluge, in the of reduction was allowed for three generations,
wholesome properties of the primitive air. How  after which the existing term  of life was again
the deluge may have produced such a change halved, reducing it to a quarter of the antediluis another question, into which we need  not vian term. After three more generations, another
enter.                                         reducing process commenced, not, as before, by
At the time this history opens, the duration  abrupt halving of the previous term of life, but
of life was about threefold that to which it ulti- by a gradual reduction, which in about 500 years
mutely fell; and, notwithstanding the gradual reduced the previous term  of 230-'40 years to
abridgment which took place, it remained two- about one half, or 120 -years; and in about 500




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  105
with food for her infant son, whom  she wilderness of Beersheba, herprovisionsgrew
suckled herself, and at the usual time weaned, short, and her bottle of water was quite exhim.  On  this joyful occasion Abraham  hausted. It unfortunately happened that Ishmade a great feast, in the height of which mael was at this time in a high fever, and HaSarah observed that Ishmael treated her son gar not being able to get water to quench his
with derision and contempt.  Enraged at this thirst, there was little hope of his existing
circumstance, as soon as the guests were much longer.  Thus distressed, she knew not
gone, she communicated the particulars to what to do, but at length, to shelter her son in
her husband, and importuned him  to turn some degree from  the violent heat of the
both  Ishmael and his mother from  their weather, she placed him  under a tree, and
habitation, intimating, that the son of a bond- retired at some distance, that she might not
woman had no title to that heirship which be a spectator of the dying pangs of her
solely belonged to her son Isaac.           beloved Ishmael.
The good old patriarch now found himself   A melancholy scene now took place: the
in  a very intricate situation.  He loved feeble tongue of the child begged relief from
Ishmael, and was loath to part with him.  Not its tender parent, whose woes were doubled
knowing, therefore, in what manner to pro- by her inability to give it the least assistceed on so trying an occasion; he applied ance; his pressing demands could only be
himself to God, who was pleased to confirm  answered by a flow of tears, and the only
what Sarah had requested.  At the same prospect before them was despair and death.
time the Almighty promised Abraham  that But the ears of boundless mercy are ever
he would make Ishmael (because he was his open to the cries of -distress, and the Lord
son) a populous nation, though his portion of Omnipotence is ever ready to relieve the
and inheritance was not to be in that land indigent.
which was all along designed for the descend-    While Ilagar was lamenting her direful
ants of Isaac.                              situation, a Divine agent appeared before
Thus was it determined, by the Divine her, and, for her present relief, directed her
appointment, that Hagar should once more to a well of water which she had not before
become a wanderer; nor could the fondness perceived.  Having filled the  bottle, she
of Abraham for his son Ishmael prevent her gave some of the water to Ishmael, who was
fate: it was the Lord's command, nor durst greatly refreshed with it, and, in a few days,
the patriarch refuse to obey.               so far recovered from his illness as to be able,
Early in the morning, therefore, Abraham, with his mother, to pursue their journey.
calling Hagar to him, told her she must I-Iagar's intentions were, at first, to have
leave his house, and that her son must be the gone into Egypt, but she now altered her
partner of her banishment.  Hagar was of mind, and fixed her abode in the wilderness
course greatly surprised at this sudden com- of Paran, where Ishmael (whose health and
mand, but finding her master absolute, she strength were now greatly increased) in a
was obliged to submit.  That she might not short time became so expert an archer, that
be distressed for want of proper refreshment, he was able to obtain a sufficiency of prohe supplied her with a quantity of provis- visions both for himself and mother.
ions, together with a large bottle of water,   When Ishmael grew up to the years of
having done which he gave her a final dis- maturity, his mother, who was an Egypmission.                                    tian, married him  to a woman of her own
After travelling some days in the dreary country.  By this woman he had twelve
years more, we find that this term also had been the same proportions as at present; so that the
nearly halved and brought down to the present prime and old age commenced later and ended
standard; for at that time it is that David said: later than under a more abridged term of life.
" The days of our years are threescore years and Thus, we should not suppose, that when the term
ten: and if by reason of strength they be four- of life was 140 years, a man of seventy was conscore years, yet is their strength labor and sor- stitutionally older than one of thirty-five is now.
row," Psalm xc. 10.                         This seems so obvious as to require little arguBut we principally wish to remind the reader ment; and we are not disposed to discuss the
of the probability - or rather the moral certainty question even were argument needed. But we
- that the seasons of life, its childhood, youth, may just observe that there is not wanting much
maturity, and age, were distributed over the positive proof in favor of this view.
whole period of life, however long, in much




106                             AN ILLUSTRATED
sons,* whose descendants dispersed them- vent this, by the advice of his general
selves in that part of the country situated  Phicol, he formed a solemn league of friendbetween Havilah and Shur, that is, in sev- ship with Abraham, and thereby removed
eral parts of Arabia Petraea, the western  those fears which, for some time, had given
part whereof, toward Egypt, is, in scripture, him great uneasiness.  A dispute had arisen
called Shur, and the eastern part, toward the between the servants of Abimelech  and
Persian Gulf, Havilah.                       those of Abraham, relative to a well, which
In the mean time, Abraham  continued  the latter had dug; but after a  proper
to reside in the land of Palestine; and as his explanation, the matter was adjusted to the
riches and power every day increased, Abim- satisfaction of all parties, the well being
elech grew jealous of him, being fearful that declared the property of Abraham.t
he might, some time or other, endeavor to    The place where Abimelech and Abraham
supplant him in the government.  To pre- entered  into  this  solemn  covenant was,
CRO LECH AT PLAS IKEWYDD.
thenceforth, called Beersheba.* Here Abra- the will of Providence for him so to do,
ham intending to end his days, should it be planted a grove HI for a place of worship, and
X The names of these sons were as follow:    11 WORSHsr IN GROVES (See Engraving).Nebajoth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, The use of groves as places of primitive worship
Dumah, Massa, Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, is natural and easily understood, though it could
and Kedemah: "twelve princes according to only have arisen in an early state of society, or
their nations." Gen. xxv. 13, &c.            be preserved where society remained in a primit It may perhaps, at first view, appear strange tive condition. It was the thought of a people
that a dispute of any consequence should have who had not made any advances in architecture
arisen on account of a well of water; but it must — who dwelt in tents or in huts — and who,
be remembered, that, in those hot and dry coun- while they did not feel that these dwellings were
tries, a well of water was an inestimable treasure, unsuitable or inadequate for themselves, could not
and the digging it a work of prodigious labor, but be sensible that they were so unimpressive,
which arose from the rockiness of the soil, and that it seemed revolting to associate with them,
the great depth it was necessary to dig before in any more formal service of worship, the idea
they could find a spring. of that God who fills all nature, and of whose
$ The word Beer, in the Hebrew language, grandeur they had no unworthy notions. They
signifies a well, and Sheba an oath, so that the therefore preferred to seek intercourse with him,
Jews called it the Well of the Oath; because of and to render him their service amid the vastness
the oath that Abraham and Abimelech had made of his own creation, and under the shadow of
at that place.                               those ancient woods, which insensibly inspire us
&,;'~d~~"~\~-~~11113~!~~~
at that place.                               those ancient woods, which insensibly inspire us




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                     107
in- it erected an altar, that he might not be parted with him at the divine command, and
anywise deficient in the discharge of his had transferred his affections solely on Isaac;
religious duties.                             and this son, this only son, who had been
The Almighty, in his wise Providence, given him by Divine promise, and in whom
had, in divers instances, and on many occa- all his future expectations of happiness censions, put Abraham's faith and obedience to tred, must fall a victim  by the unalterable
the test; but now he resolved to try him  in  decree of Heaven.  Hard task to flesh and
the tenderest point, in which every tie of blood!  Severe  trial to  human  nature!
parental affection bound him, and to give up  But if the flesh shuddered, the spirit was
which required a degree of resignation un- absolute: God  commands-  the  patriarch
common to the best of men.  He is required, obeys.
by his God, to sacrifice his son-  to imbrue    Early, therefore, the next morning, Abrahis  hands in  the  blood of his  darling ham arose, and, without giving any notice to
offspring.                                    his family, prepared himself for the appointed
Ishmael was now no more to him; he had business.  He sat out, accompanied only by
with awe, and fill us with reverential feelings, served, down to a late date, many of the ideas
which turn and vent themselves upon whatever and practices which equally belong to the patrihas been customarily before the mind as the  archlal ages, and which are doubtless to be reproper object of its reverence. Happy when that garded as relies of the religion which was comobject is God!- as it was to the patriarchs. mon to all men in the first ages, and which they
There is no doubt that men had this use for carried with them to the several places of their
groves, almost universally, before any  temples dispersion. In process of time these primitive
existed; but it is not so clear to us that, as some institutions were in almost every country wofully
suppose, groves were used for religious purposes, corrupted, or, indeed lost, in various modificabefore even altars were known. But Noah con- tions of ceremony, idolatry, and unbelief. The
structed an altar as soon as he left the ark; and  Hebrew patriarchs doubtless exhibit in purity the
this use of groves must, therefore, have been an- religion of anterior ages, and what had been the
tediluvian, if it existed before altars: and this is sole religion of mankind; and thus he who studcertainly more than we know. It is certain, ies the history of religious notions and practices
however, that, under the operation of the ideas is supplied with a test which enables him to aswe are tracing, altars were placed in the groves; certain the traces of this primitive religion, which
and the next step was probably to build a hut may have been preserved in different and distant
near at hand to contain the implements of sacri- nations. Now, we know not of any people ewho
flee; and when men had begun to build in their preserved, mixed with many and awful corrupgroves, the idea of a chapel or oratory for use tions, so many traces of this ancient religion as
in inclement weather, and when  the  trees existed in the I)ruidical institutions and religion
were, in winter, bare of' foliage, would natur-lly  of the Celts. It is true they had idols, and that
have been suggested. When, at last, the in- many wild notions were entertained, and many
creased resources of constructive art, coupled  horrid rites practised by them; but, amid all,
with a weaker and more humanized idea of God, they believed in one Supreme Being, to whom all
led men to entertain the bold idea of rearing fab- other gods were far inferior. His symbol was
rics - " temples made with hands  - which  the oak, and him, exclusively, they worshipped
might mnake impressions on the mind worthy of amid the groves. They never had images of
his worship and service, the influence of old hab- him, or erected temples to him; and Tacitns,
its and old associations still operated. Most na- speaking of the Senones, who were a branch of
tions took care, when in their power, to plant the Celts, and had the same religion, tells us
groves, around these buildings, for the most part that its principle consisted in the acknowledgwith an enclosing ditch, hedge, or wall; and  ment that the Deity whom they worshipped in
these groves were not only consecrated to  the the groves, the God without name, was he who
gods in whose honor the temples in the midst of governed all things, on whom  all things  dethem had been built, but were themselves places pended, and whom all beings were bound  to
of sanctuary for criminals who fled to them for obey.
refuge.                                          There are other resemblances which would renAs to the corruptions which became, in the der our position more clear if we could bring
end, associated with groves, and which led Moses them into one view. But the purpose of the presto prohibit them very strictly, and to command ent note does not require this; and we need only
that the groves which were found, in the land now observe, that these remarkable analogies
of Canaan, consecrated to idols, should be cut between the patriarchal (or say the Hebrew)
down, another opportunity will be afforded us of and Druidical religions are late discoveries of our
considering this part of the subject. Meanwhile, own day; but the antiquity and wisdom  of the
we only wish to call attention to the point allud- Druidical religion, and its conformities with that
ed to in the text, respecting some points of anal- of the Jews, were adduced so long ago as the
ogy in this matter between the practices and time of Celsus, in opposition to what that writer
the ideas of the patriarchs and those of the Celtic was pleased to consider the novelties of the gosDruids. Among them  we seem  to find pre- pel.




108                             AN ILLUSTRATED
his son Isaac, and attended by two servants, pious and affectionate parent, went cheerfulwho led an ass laden with provisions, together ly on with him, and the good old patriarch,
with the wood, instruments, and other things relying on the faithfulness of the Divine
necessary for the sacrifice.  After travelling promise, overcame the strugglings of a natthree days he came within sight of the spot ural affection, which might have retarded his
God had appointed for the dreadful scene, compliance with the will of God, and prowhich was a particular mountain in the land ceeded with a resolution worthy the father
of Moriah.  Here he ordered his servants to of the faithful.
stop with the ass, while he and his son went   As they approached near the appointed
to a spot at some distance to perform their place for executing the awful injunction,
religious duties.                         Isaac, recollecting that a proper victim (the
Abraham having laden his son with the most essential requisite for the sacrifice) was
wood and other materials for a burnt-offering, wanting, innocently asked his father, where
they proceeded on their journey.  The harm- was the lamb for the burnt-offering?  Such
less Isaac, ignorant of the design of his a question, at such a time, was enough to
_ _:_~-_=..
DRUIDICAL CIRCLE, JERSEY.
have startled  any heart less firm  than    Every  preparation  being  now  made,
Abraham's; but, fixed in the resolution to  Abraham, taking up the knife, stretched
obey the divine command, he coolly replied, forth his hand to give the finishing stroke to
"My son, God will provide one himself."   the life of his son; when, behold! God is
Being now arrived at the spot which the satisfied with the faith and obedience of the
Almighty  had  directed, the first thing father, and the piety and resignation of the
Abraham  did was to erect an altar; after son.  The voice of a heavenly messenger is
which, having prepared the instruments, and suddenly  heard, saying  unto  Abraham,
laid the wood in order, he embraced his "Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither
son, and then bound him.  Here the sacred do thou any thing  unto him."  The uplifted
historian, like a great painter, hath drawn arm was now withheld, and the fatal blow
a veil over the sorrow of Abraham, and the happily averted.  The divine sound intiresignation of Isaac, that the imagination mated, that the Almighty neither delighted
of the reader might paint to him  more in human sacrifices, nor wished to make a
forcibly the struggles of the parent, and the father the murderer of a son whom he had
agonies of the son, than words can possibly bestowed on him  as a peculiar favor; but
express.                                  that the command had been given to try




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               109
if his obedience to God exceeded his feelings form the last offices due to his departed wife.
as a man, and if his natural affections could As he was a stranger in the country, and had
submit to his religious duties.            no land there of his own, he could not give
When the divine voice ceased, the pious her honorable interment without first obtainpatriarch, turning his eyes from  the dear ing the consent of the people.  He therefore
though intended victim, beheld a ram  fas- addressed himself to a general assembly of
tened by his horns in a thicket.  Convinced the principal inhabitants, entreating them  to
in his mind that this was the gracious sub- allow him the liberty of burying his wife in
stitute of Providence, he immediately flew  their country.  This request being readily
to it with raptures, and having slain it with granted, Abraham bowed to the assembly in
that knife which was intended  for the acknowledgment for the favor; after which
destruction of his son, brought it to the altar he told them  he should be glad to purchase
and presented it (instead of the before- a piece of ground as a sepulchre for himself
destined Isaac) as a burnt-offering, to his and family, and begged of them  to entreat
great and benevolent benefactor.            Ephron, the prince of the country, to sell, This infallible token of Abraham's obe- him the cave of Machpelah.
dience was so satisfactory to the Almighty,   This request being likewise granted, and
that he was pleased to renew his gracious application made to Ephron, he generously
promise to him  with enlarged abundance; offered the patriarch not only the cave, but
and even to confirm  the same by a solemn also the whole field in which it stood, as a
oath.  "By myself have I sworn, for be- burying-place.  Abraham acknowledged the
cause thou hast done this thing, and hast not bounty of the offer; but as he had ever
withheld thy son, thine only son, from me." acted on a principle of strict justice, he
Having thus complied with the will of desired the prince to fix a price on the field;
God, and received a most convincing testi- and that, on such condition, he would take
mony of the divine approbation, Abraham  possession of it for the purposes intended.
and Isaac returned to the servants, and they    The prince, finding the patriarch resolute,
all went joyfully together to Beersheba, at asked four hundred shekels (a sum  greatly
that time the place of Abraham's residence. beneath its real value).  The purchase was
In memory of this singular transaction, the made before all the people of Hebron, and
pious patriarch called the place where it hap- the field, together with the cave, was formally
pened, " Jehovah-jirha," in allusion to the assigned over to Abraham and his heirs foranswer he gave to his son's question, " God ever.
will provide himself a lamb."                 This matter being adjusted, Abraham,
When Abraham returned home, he received after the usual ceremonies of mourning were
the agreeable intelligence of the increase of over, buried his wife in the cave he had then
his family, namely, that Milcah, his brother purchased, and in which his own remains
Nahor's wife, had brought him  a numerous were afterward deposited.
issue.@   But the joy he received on this    Abraham, being now  far advanced in
account was soon damped by a circumstance years, and apprehending he had not much
which happened in his own family, namely, longer to live, was desirous of seeing his
the loss of his wife  Sarah, who died at own son Isaac married; and settled in the
Kirjath-arba (afterward called Hebron), in world, before his departure  out of this
the one hundred and twenty-seventh year of transitory life.  He therefore called to him
her age.                                    his household steward, an old and trusty
At the time of Sarah's death, Abraham  servant, to whom he related his intention of
was at Beersheba; but he no sooner heard marrying his son; and obtained from him an
of the melancholy event than he imme- oath,t that (in case he died first) he should
diately repaired to Hebron, in order to per- procure a wife  for him  among his own
* The names of the children of Nahor, by indicated in the precise mention which is made of
Milcah, were as follows: Huz, Buz, Kemuel, marriages which took place against this regulaCheshed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel. tion —as in the cases of Ishmael and Esau.
The last of these begat Rebecca, who was after- Such a desire has always prevailed wherever the
ward the wife of Isaac.                     distinction of clans or tribes has been strongly
t The great anxiety of the patriarchs to secure marked, for the sake of keeping up its property,
the marriage of their sons to women of their own blood, and peculiar feelings, and of compacting
clan or family appears everywhere, and is even its union and influence; and these ordinary mo



110                              AN ILLUSTRATED
kindred, and not from the daughters of the    These matters being settled, Eliezer (for
Canaanites. Having obtained this solemn that was the name of this trusty servant)
oath, Abraham  told his servant to go into set out on his embassy, attended by a numMesopotamia, which was the place of his ber of servants and camels, agreeably to the
nativity, and there choose a wife, out of his importance of his business, and the dignity
own kindred, for his son Isaac.  On re- of the person by whom he was employed.
ceiving these orders, the servant asked him     After undergoing great fatigue, both from
this question: " If," says he, " the woman the badness of the roads and the want of
refuse to follow me into the land of Canaan, water, this trusty servant, with his attendmust I return and fetch thy son to her? " ants, reached  Mesopotamia, and  repaired
The patriarch immediately answered in the to Haran,* a city belonging to his master's
negative, as no consideration could prevail brother Nahor.  When he had arrived near
on him to suffer his son to return to a land the entrance of the city, he stopped at the
which he himself had left on account of the public well (whither it was customary for
inhumanity and idolatry of its inhabitants. the young women of the place  to  come
To encourage the servant in the prosecution every morning and evening for water), in
of his intended expedition, Abraham assured order to refresh the camels.t
him  that a heavenly messenger would con-   Having been properly instructed by his
duct him  to the place whence he should  master in the fear of God, and being sensibring a wife unto his son.                   ble of the importance of the business, as
tives acquired increased intensity in the instance village inhabited by a few families of Arabs.of the Hebrew patriarchs in consequence of the Bib. Dictionary.                   A. B.
general idolatry or superstition into which all the    t Water is usually drawn in the evening, and
surrounding nations had fallen, and which alone frequently in the cool of the morning  also.
would have sufficed to preclude intermarriages
with them. This consideration, separately from
any other, has always prevented the Jews from
forming matrimonial connections with any but
the daughters of Israel. Their law forbade such
marriages in the strictest manner; and we shall
find instances of their being severely punished,
and of the deep disgust which they inspired.
They were neither to take the females of other
nations, nor give their own females to them
(Deut. vii. 3, 4); and the reason was, "For they  Ancient Skin-Bottles. (Mluseo Borbonico.)
will turn away thy sons from following me."
While this principle inhibited marriages with Fetching water is one of the heaviest of the many
other nations, there was another law which pre- heavy duties which devolve upon the females in
served the integrity of property in the respective the East, and one which the most sensibly imtribes, by directing that daughters having any presses us with a sense of their degraded condition.
inheritance should not marry out of the tribe of The usage varies in different countries. Among
their father, (Num. xxxvi.). " So shall not the the Arabs and other nomads, and also in many
inheritance of the children of Israel remove from
tribe to tribe."  These principles, taken from the
subsequent laws of the Hebrews, afford the best
explanation of the conduct of the patriarchs with     n
regard to the marriages of their sons.
* Haran is the name of the place whither
Abraham  migrated with his family from Ur of
the Chaldees, and where the descendants of his
brother Nahor established themselves (comp. Gen.
xxiv. 10 with xxvii. 43). It is said to be in
Mesopotamia (Gen. xxiv. 10), or more definitely,
in Padan-Aram (xxv. 20), the cultivated district
at the foot of the hills, a name well applying to the
beautiful stretch of country which lies below
Mount Masius between the Kshabour and the Eu  Mode of carrying water or wine in skins at the present
phrates. Here, about midway in this district, is a
town still called Harrdn, which really seems never parts of India, it is the exclusive employment of
to have changed its appellation, and beyond any the women, without distinction of rank. But in
reasonable doubt is the Haran or Charran of  Turkey and Persia the poorer women only are
Scripture. H/rrdn lies upon the Belilk (ancient subject to this servile employment, respectable
Bilichus), a small affluent of theEuphrates, which families being supplied daily by men who make
falls into it nearly in long. 39o. It is now a small the supplying of water a distinct business. The




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    111
well as fearful of not executing it to his of Bethuel, came to the well, with her
master's satisfaction, he made  a  mental pitcher, for water; after she had filled it,
prayer to God, beseeching  him  to  direct the servant (having taken notice that she
him, by a certain sign, to a proper object of was exceedingly beautiful) accosted her in a
choice for his young master.  He had no very  humble  manner, begging  that she
sooner solicited this divine assistance than  would give him a draught of the water, he
his request was immediately complied with, being exceedingly thirsty.  Rebecca readily
and the sign given was, that she who, at his consented, and not only gave him to drink,
desire, permitted him  to drink of the water but also went several times to the well to
from her pitcher would be the person appoint- fetch water for the refreshment of his camed by God for the wife of his servant Isaac.  els.*
Soon after this, Rebecca, the daughter    This propitious  occurrence  highly  detents of the Bedouins are seldom pitched quite ready to supply such water as they may require
near to the well from which they obtain their for themselves or their beasts. The women conwater; and if the distance is not more than a trive to draw an enjoyment even out of this irkmile, the men do not think it necessary that the some duty, as it affords the best opportunity they
water should be brought upon the camels: and, have of meeting  and talking  together, and
of displaying their finery to each other. They by
no means appear to the worst advantage, as to
dress, at the wells; and this circumstance shows
[lfl l~  X            lthat Abraham's servant might there, without any
1/~~,)'~ }\       incongruity, invest Rebecca with the ornaments.1v/1   0)             he had brought. To a traveller in the East, the
best opportunities of making his observations on
Woman giving a child drink from a Skin-Bottle. 
lineveh Marbles.
unless there are asses to be employed on this
service, the women must go every evening, some-    G                 t
times twice, and bring home at their backs long
and heavy leathern bags full of water. The wells
are the property of tribes or individuals, who          Egyptian Bottles. (Brit. Mus.)
are not always willing that caravans should take
water from them; and in that case, a girl is some- the females will occur in the evening at the wells.
times posted at the well to exact presents from  Eliezer was aware of this, and regarded the opthose who wish to have water. It is not likely poltunity as favorable for his purpose.
a  I The pastoral poetry of classical antiquity,
which has been imitated more or less in  all
nations, has rendered us familiar with the idea of
females of birth and attractions acting as shepherdesses long after the practice itself has been discontinued, and the employment has sunk into
59/"~   ~   i              contempt. When  nations  originally  pastoral, settled in towns, and adopted the refinements of
life, the care of the sheep ceased to be a principal
consideration, and gradually devolved upon serd1!          1llllll vants or slaves, coming to be considered a mean
-, -employment, to which the proprietor or his household only gave a general and superintending attention. The respectability of the employment
Assyrian Bottles, from originals. (Brit. Mus.)  in these patriarchal times is not evinced by our
finding the daughter of so considerable a person
that Abraham's servant travelled without a leath- as Laban engaged in tending the flocks, for in
ern bucket to draw water, and it is therefore the East all drudgery devolves upon the females;
probable that he abstained from watering his ten but by our finding the sons of such persons simicamels until he should have obtained permission. larly engaged in pastoral duties, which in Homer
The women, when they are at the wells in the also appears to have been considered a fitting
evening, are generally obliging to travellers, and employment for the sons of kings and powerful




112                             AN  ILL U STRATED
lighted Abraham's servant, who, after pay- some other female ornaments, requesting her
ing some general compliments to her beauty  to accept them as a token of his esteem  for
and benevolence, made inquiry concerning her virtues, and a grateful return for her
her family and relations.  To which the distinguished condescension.  As it grew
lovely virgin replied, that she  was  the late, and he had valuable property about
daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nahor, and him, he entreated permission, for that night,
kinswoman to Abraham.                       to reside at the house of her relations.  ReThis intelligence gave fresh spirits to the becca, in a most engaging  manner, perfaithful messenger, who was now convinced mitted him  this convenience  but begged
that God approved of the alliance between that she might previously apprise the family
Rebecca and  Isaac.  He  therefore  pre- of so unexpected  a visitor.  Accordingly,
sented to her a pair of gold ear-rings, and having accepted the presents, she immediCAIELS.
ately hastened home, leaving Eliezer full of that had happened, from  her going out till
contemplation and acknowledgments to the her return; upon which Laban immediately
divine favor for the happy incident.        went to the well, where finding   Eliezer and
As soon as Rebecca entered the house, his attendants, he brought them   home with
her  brother  Laban,  observing the bracelets him,  and  ordered proper provision to be
on her arms, asked her by what means she made both for him  and his retinue.
had obtained such costly ornaments.  Re-   As soon as Eliezer had paid the necessary
becca acquainted him  with every particular compliments to Rebecca's family, he inchiefs. We are not aware that at present, in the Bramin villages of the Concan, women of the
East, the actual care of a flock or herd is consid- first distinction draw the water from wells, and
ered a dignified emloyment.  Forbes, in his tend the cattle to pasture, "like Rebecca and
"Oriental Memoirs,"  mentions, that in the Rachel."




______________~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~',~i.:'"
____________~                         "~:'           -~.
~- _:_____'   1,,~  
________                              --     -----------               KK- - r 
ii —-— t!           ~ -                                ~l'tii -~ — 
~-~i~::~EZ   AN  REB-KAH.~
i~~~-~~ ~l
I                      _.







HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                     113
formed them  of the nature of his embassy, that Divine Providence was materially conthe great success that had attended him  in cerned in the whole  affair.  Concluding,
his journey, and the fortunate incident of therefore, that it would  be  exceedingly
his meeting Rebecca without the city.  He  wrong to refuse Eliezer's request, they readlikewise gave them  an ample account of the ily consented, and told him  he might take
state of his master's family; of the wealth  Rebecca to her intended husband as soon as
and prosperity wherewith God had blessed  he thought proper.
him; of the son and heir which he had given
him in his old age; and of the large expectances which this heir had, not only from
the prerogative of his birth, but from  the
donation and entail of all his father's possessions.   Having  thus  minutely  related
every particular relative to his embassy, he                     i
demanded an immediate answer, saying, till
Bracelets. (Brit. Mus.)
1. Gold Egyptian Bracelets. 2. Silver do. 3. Bronze, with
bell attached, taken from mummy of a girl. 4. lroul
with carnelian setting. 5. Bracelet of cowries.
This business being settled, the trusty
servant presented Rebecca with jewels of
silver and gold, and fine raiment, which he
had brought with him for the purpose.
He likewise gave some considerable presents t to her mother and the rest of the family; and the remainder of the evening was
i  y   W    p     | dedicated to mirth and festivity.
Egyptian Ear-rings, from originals in the British Museum,
except the one marked a, which is from the collection at
AIlnwick Castle.
that was obtained, he could not, with any
satisfaction, take the least refreshment.             Assyrian Bracelets. (Nineveh Marbles.)
From the very singular circumstances that
had occurred in the course of Eliezer's jour-    Early in the morning, Eliezer, being imney, Laban and Bethuel  were of opinion  patient to acquaint his master with the sue* This Bethuel could not be the father of Re-    t Dr. Shaw, who resided many years in the
becca, because, had that been the case, it would East, tells us, that among the Arabians, the perhave been improper to have had Laban either son who settles a marriage contract, first adorns the
named before him, or to have given answer to espoused person with jewels, and then makes
Abraham's messenger when his father was by; presents to her relations, according to their rank.
and, therefore, since Josephus makes the damsel He adds, that, on such occasions, it is expressly
tell Eliezer that her father had been dead long stipulated what sum of money the husband shall
ago, and that she was left to the care of her settle on the wife; what jewels she shall wear;
brother Laban, this Bethuel (who is here named how many suits of raiment she shall have; and,
after Laban, and never more taken any notice of lastly, how many slaves shall be allowed to;, atduring the whole transaction) must have been tend her.
some younger brother of the family.
8




114                              AN ILLUSTRATED
cess of his embassy, desired to be dismissed. tating on the beauties of nature, and the
This request greatly surprised the family, beneficence of that Being who formed the
who, influenced by natural affection, desired  creation.  Seeing at a distance his servants
that Rebecca might be permitted to tarry  and camels on the road, he hastened to meet
with them  a few  days, to take, perhaps, a them, anxious to know  the result of Eliezer's embassy.  As he approached  near,
3        2   Q1 i             Rebecca asked who he was, and being informed, she immediately alighted from  her
camel, threw  a veil  over her face, and
waited to receive the first compliments of
her intended husband.
When Isaac came up to Rebecca, he ad@  5  { |   Xl 8 Ad      dressed her with great respect, and immediately conducted her to his mother's tent,
which had been previously fitted up for her
reception, and designed for her future habitation.  A few days after they were joined
in wedlock, and Isaac grew so fond of her,
that his mind was greatly relieved from  that
perturbation with which, for three years, it
had been loaded, for the loss of his affectionate mother.  Such was the pious regard
3   99  7  0 9children had for their parents in those days;
and such was the amiable example set by
Isaac for all who should follow!
Sometime  after  Isaac's  marriage,  his
father, though far advanced in life, yet still
possessing great strength  of constitution,
made an addition to his family, by taking
1A7Fro e ssyrian Ear-ringsd wanother wife, whose name was Keturah, and
1-7. From the sculptures. 8. Gold with pearls, found at, 
Nimroud. 9, 9. Bronze.          by whom he had six sons.  But, lest they
should interfere with Isaac in his inheritance
last farewell.  But the diligent and faithful of Canaan, as they grew  up he portioned
steward would admit of no delay; upon them  off, and sent them  towards the east,
which, the matter being referred to Rebecca where, settling in Arabia and  Syria, they
herself, she agreed to'go with him  whenever became, in time, the  rulers of different
he thought proper.  Accordingly, the ne- nations.
cessary preparations being made, and the    These are the last circumstances mentioned
bridal blessing  bestowed, she  took  her by the sacred historian, relative to the great
leave, attended by her nurse  (whose name patriarch Abraham, who at length, worn out
was Deborah) and other servants appointed  with bodily infirmities, quietly gave up the
on the occasion.                             ghost, in the one hundred and seventy-fifth
When Eliezer came within some distance year of his age, leaving behind him  a name
of his master's house, it happened  that famous to all posterity.  He was buried by
Isaac was then walking in the fields, medi- his two sons, Ishmael-and Isaac, in the cave
* Whether veiled before or not, she now  play part or the whole of their faces on ordinary
" covered herself" - her whole person - with the occasions. It is in fact, the indispensable costume
ample enveloping veil with which brides are still for the occasion. Whether the bridal veil was disconducted to the bridegroom. Rosenmuller, in tinguished from other veils does not appear; but
illustration of this passage, quotes an ancient we observe that one of red silk or muslin is affather (Tertullian), who, with an express refer- fected by the Persians on such an occasion, alence to the same text, observes, as a custom still though the ordinary veils are white or blue; and
existing in his time, that the heathen brides were Dr. Russell, in his account of a Maronite maralso conducted to their husbands covered with a riage, observes that the bride's veil was of the same
veil. It is still all but universal in the East, and color. Thus we see that Rebecca, by enveloping
it will be observed that it is used, not only by the her person in a veil, put herself into the costume
females whose faces are always concealed both usual for a bride when conducted to the tent or
before and after marriage, but by those who dis- house of her husband.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                      115
of Machpelah, where, about forty  years though not his heir, lived many years after
before, he had deposited the remains of his his father.  He  died at the age of one
beloved Sarah.                                hundred  and  seven, leaving  behind him
Ishmael, the eldest son of Abraham, twelve sons.*
CHAPTER VI.
LIFE  OF ISAAC. — FORTUNES  OF HIS FAMILY.
WHEN  Isaac married  Rebecca, he was  pain  and uneasiness, that she began, in
forty years old, and lived with her nearly  a manner, to wish herself not with child.
twenty years before she had issue.  He had  Unable to account for the cause of her
been so long uneasy on this account, that he  extreme pains, she went to consult the divine
at length prayed to God to grant him  an  oracle, and received fobr answer, that the two
heir, who being  pleased  to listen  to his  children, which she then bore, should be the
request, bestowed that blessing he had so  heads of two different nations, and that they
earnestly wished for, and the long barren  would long contest for superiority; but that,
Rebecca now conceived, to the great satis- in process of time, the glories acquired by
faction both of herself and husband.           the  elder would be  eclipsed by the more
After Rebecca had been pregnant some  resplendent transactions of the younger.
months, the struggles of the children (for    When  the time of Rebecca's delivery
she had twins within her) gave her such  arrived, the child that first entered the world
* THE ISIHMAELITES. - We know not whence  pure Arabs: while those of Ishmael receive that
the strange opinion arose that the whole Arabian  of al Arab al Mostdreba, meaning naturalized or
nation is descended from Ishmael, and that, con-  mixed Arabs. But some writers, who wish to be
sequently, the names of the Ishmaelites and Arabs  more precise, apply the first and most honorable
are co-extensive, unless from  the Chaldee and  title to the most ancient and lost tribes to which
Arabic paraphrasts, and from other Jewish writ-  we have alluded, while the descendants of Kahtan
ers, whose historical authority, at all times of the  obtained the name of Motdreba, which likewise
least possible value, becomes a perfect nullity  signifies mixed Arabs, though in a nearer degree
when open to any obvious influence, such as the  than Mostdreba; those who acknowledged Ishmael
wish to represent Abraham as the father of so  for their ancestor (through Adnan) being the
great and wide-spread a nation as the Arabians.  more distant graft. Considering the origin of
The whole testimony of the oriental writers, and  Ishmael, it is no wonder that those supposed to,
all the inferences deducible from the sacred narra- be descended from him should have no claim to bh
tive, are opposed to this conclusion   The Ara-  admitted as pure Arabs; but as he is alleged to
blans have a history anterior to Ishmael; and it have contracted an alliance with the Jorhamites
would be preposterous to suppose, that Arabia,  (descended from Jorham, a son of Kahtan), who
even to its deserts, was not occupied before his  possessed Hejaz, by marrying the daughter of
time.                                         their emir Modad, whence, and by subsequent
Accordinog to the Arabian writers, Arabia was  intermarriages his descendants became blended
occupied a few generations after the flood by the  with them into one nation, their claim to be resuccessive settlement within it of variously de- garded as Mostgreba is beyond dispute,
scended tribes, all of whom ultimately gave way    It must not be inferred that the Arabs underto the races from which the present Arabs claim  value the descent from Ishmael in comparison with
to be descended, either from being destroyed by  that from Kahtan, on account of their applying to
them or lost in them. These latter proceed from  it a less honorable designation. This is by no
two stocks, of which the most ancient is that of  means the case; for, on the contrary, they set a
Kahtan, the same who in the Bible is called  high value, like the Jews, on the privilege of
Joktan, a son of Eber; and the other that of  being descended from Abraham; and this distincAdnan, who descended in a direct line from  tion is, in the eyes of the modern Arabs, greatly
Ishmael. To the posterity of the former is given  enhanced by the circumstance that Mohammed
the distinguishing title of eminence, al Arab al belonged to this race, and gloried in being de,
Araba, (equivalent to "a Hebrew of the He- scended from Ishmael and Abraham.
brews " among the Jews), that is, the genuine or




116                                AN ILLUSTRATED
was covered  all over with  red hair,* for him  participate of the repast.  But Jacob
which reason his parents called him  Esau; (who  was probably  so instructed  by his
and the other came so close after himn, that mother) refused to comply with his request,
he took hold of his heel with his hand, and unless on the following conditions; namely,
was therefore called Jacob, to denote (what that he would immediately make over to him
he afterward proved) the supplanter of his his  birth-right.  Esau  reflecting  on  the
brother.                                       danger to which he was daily subject, from
As these two children  grew  up, they  the nature of his employment, set no great
became very different in their tempers, and value  on what Jacob required; and  the
when they arrived at the age of maturity, latter, perceiving his disposition to comply
followed different employments.  Esau, the  (that he might have the right more firmly
elder, being strong and active, delighted in  conveyed to him), proposed his doing it by
the chase, and thereby frequently supplying  way of oath.  Notwithstanding  the  singuhis father with venison, obtained  his par- larity of the request, Esau complied with it;
ticular affection; while Jacob, who was of  and the bargain being made, he ate very
a more courteous disposition, by staying  at greedily of the food prepared by his brother.
home in the tent, and employing himself in  Thus did the unthinking Esau dispose of his
family offices, became the favorite of his birth-right, with all the privileges: belongmother.                                        ing to it, for so simple a thing as a mess of
Esau having  one day  greatly  fatigued  pottage.
himself with hunting, returned home just at    Isaac, at this time, lived at Beersheba,
the time his brother Jacob had prepared a  but a dreadful famine happening in the land
mess of pottage t for his own refreshment. of Canaan, he resolved (as his father AbraEsau, being almost spent with hunger, was ham had done on a similar occasion) to avoid
so struck with the looks of the pottage, that its consequences  by  retiring  to  Egypt.
he anxiously begged  of his brother to let He  accordingly  proceeded  as far as Ge* This expression, according to some commen- Syria they are used as food after they have untators, is taken two ways, namely, either that dergone the simple process of being parched in a
Esau was, at his birth, covered with red hair, or pan over the fire.
that the color of his skin was red, like a coat of; It should be understood, that previously to
red hair; He was called Esau, from  the word  the establishment of a priesthood under the Law
Eschau, which in the Hebrew language, signifies  of Moses, the first-born had not only a preference
a hair-cloth; as Jacob was named from Hekcel, the in the secular inheritance, but succeeded excluheel, and signifies a supplanter, or one that taketh  sirely to the priestly functions which had behold of, or trippeth up another's heels.       longed to his father, in leading the religious obt The edoin, or red pottage, was prepared, we servances of the family, and performing the simple
learn from this chapter, by seething lentils (ada- religious rites of these patriarchal times. The
shim) in water; and subsequently, as we may  secular part of the birthright entitled the first-born
guess from  a practice which prevails in many  to a "double portion" of the inheritance; but
countries, adding a little manteca, or suet, to give writers are divided in opinion as to the proportion
them a flavor. The writer of these observations of this double share.  Some think that he had
has often partaken of this self-same " red pot- one-half, and that the rest was equally divided
tage," served up in the manner just described, among the other sons; but a careful consideration
and found it better food than a stranger would of Gen. xlvii. 5-22, in which we see that Jacob
be apt to imagine. The mess had the redness transfers the privilege of the first-born to Joseph,
which gained for it the name of edom; and which, and that this privilege consisted in his having
through the singular circumstance of a son selling one share more than any of his brethren, inclines
his birthright to satisfy the cravings of a pressing us to the opinion of the Rabbins, that the firstappetite, it imparted to the posterity of Esau in born had merely twice as much as any other of
the people of Edom.  The lentil (or Lens escu- his brethren. It is certainly possible, but not
lenta of some writers, and the Ervlmn lens of very likely, that in the emergency, Esau bartered
Linnseus) belongs to the leguminous or podded all his birth-right for a mess of pottage; but it
family.  The stem is branched and the leaves seems more probable that Esau did not properly
consist of about eight pairs of smaller leaflets. appreciate the value of the sacerdotal part of his
The flowers are small, and with the upper division birthright, and therefore readily transferred it to
of the flower prettily veined.  The pods con- Jacob for a trifling present advantage.  This
tain about two seeds, which vary from a tawny view of the matter seems to be confirmed by St.
red to a black. It delights in a dry, warm sandy Paul, who calls Esau a "profane person," for his
soil. Three varieties are cultivated in France -  conduct on this occasion; and it is rather for dei"small brown," "yellowish," and the "lentil of spising his spiritual than his temporal privileges,
Provence."  In the former country they are that he seems to be liable to such an imputation.
dressed and eaten during Lent as a haricot; in




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  117
rar, a city belonging to the  Philistines. ship from Abimelech, Isaac thought himself
But here he was interrupted in his intended happy under his protection, and, intending
journey by the interposition of the Almighty, to make Gerar his fixed place of residence,
who, in a dream, charged him not to go into employed himself in husbandry, and the rearEgypt, but to tarry in the country where he ing of flocks, for the future support of himself
then was; and at the same time assured him, and family.  The great success that attended
that he would not only secure him  from  his endeavors, by means of his beneficent
the danger of the famine, but, in perform- Creator, soon raised the envy and indignation
ancte of the oath which he had sworn to his of the Philistines.  In the space of one year
father Abraham, would cause his descend- only, during his residence at Gerar, so proants (to whom  he would give the whole lific was the land he sowed, that, to the great
land of Canaan in possession) to multiply astonishment of his neighbors, it yielded him
exceedingly.                                a hundred fold.
In conformity to the divine command,   This so irritated the Philistines, that, in
Isaac determined to fix his residence at order to oblige him to leave the country, they
Gerar, where he made use of the same filled up the wells which had been formerly
stratagem his father had formerly done in the dug by his father's servants; and Abimelech
same place, and from  the same motive. himself, to satisfy the resentment of the peoFearful lest the charms of his wife Rebecca pie, ordered him to quit Gerar, telling him,
might attract the particular notice of some that as he had sufficiently improved his
of the city, and thereby endanger his own fortune  under his protection, he  might
safety, it was agreed between them, that, now  give the like opportunity to others, by
instead of his wife, she should pass for his leaving the place, and retiring to a more
sister.  This deception succeeded for a time, distant part of the country.
but at length was discovered by Abimelech *    Finding to what a degree the people were
the king, who, from  a window, observed incensed against him, Isaac, to preserve his
such familiarities pass between them as con- property, as well as secure his person, left
vinced him they were man and wife.          the place, and retired to the valley of Gerar,
In consequence of this discovery, Abim- which was at some distance from  the city,
elech sent for Isaac, whom  he accused of and where Abraham  had formerly fed his
dissimulation, telling him, that from  the cattle.  Having settled  himself here, he
freedom he had observed between him  and opened the wells (which had been dug by
Rebecca, he was sure she was his wife; and his father and filled up by the Philistines)
that the imposition he had endeavored to and called them  by their ancient names.
lay on the people might have been attended In the course of. their labors, Isaac's servants
with consequences disgraceful to himself.    discovered a new  well of fine springing
Isaac, conscious of the justness of the water; but a dispute arising between them
accusation, did not attempt to disprove the and some neighboring herdsmen, the latter
charge, but urged, in vindication of his con- claiming the well as found upon their ground,
duct, that he did it to preserve that life, Isaac resolved to leave the place; and by
which, otherwise, he thought in the most im- way of perpetuating the circumstance called
minent danger.  This apology was admitted it Esek, which, in the Hebrew language,
by Abimelech, who not only forgave him the signifies contention.  Removing some way
offence, but immediately issued an edict, that farther, Isaac's servants dug another well,
whoever should presume to offer any injury which being likewise claimed by the Philiseither to him  or his wife, should  be pun- tines, he was obliged to relinquish it, and
ished with death.                           therefore, called the place Sitnah, which
Having received these tokens of friend- signifies enmity. t
* This Abimelech was probably the son of Abraham's and Isaac's people within the terrihim with whom Abraham' had formerly made a tories of Gerar, belonged  to the people who
covenant. It is reasonable  to suppose that cligged them, or to those who enjoyed the territoAbimelech was only a title commonly used for the rial right. The real motive of the opposition of
kings of the Philistines, in the same manner as the people of Gerar, and their stopping up the
Camsar was by the Roman emperors, and Pharaoh wells made by Abraham, seems to have been to
for the kings of Egypt.                     discourage the visits of such powerful persons to
t The cause of these differences seems to have their territory; for otherwise the wells would
been, that a question arose whether wells dug by have been suffered to remain on account of their




118                              AN ILLUSTRATED
Being quite tired out with repeated insults powerful hereafter, thought it most prudent
from the Philistines, in order to prevent the to avoid  future  trouble, by endeavoring
like in future, he removed to the most dis- either to renew  the old league which had
tant part of their country.  Here he dug been formerly made with his father Abraanother well; and not meeting with  any ham, or to enter into a new one.  Accordopposition, he  called it Rehoboth, which ingly, taking with him  the chief of his nosignifies enlargement, because his flocks had  bility, together with the captain-general of his
now room to feed and range the country in forces, he went, in great pomp, to Beersheba,
search of fresh pasturage: " for now," said in order to pay honor and respect to Isaac.
he, " the Lord bath made room  for us, and At the first interview Isaac, to show that he
we shall be fruitful in the land."           still retained a sense of the injuries he had
After residing a short time on this spot formerly done him, received his visit very
Isaac returned to Beersheba,* where, on the coolly, and, with apparent surprise, asked, how
very night of his arrival, the Almighty was he came to offer respect to  a person, for
pleased to appear to him  in a vision, prom- whom, by his conduct and behavior, he had
ising him his favor and protection, and that long discovered an utter aversion?  Abimbe would bless him, and multiply his seed, elech, conscious of his error, made thbe best
for the sake of his faithful servant Abraham. excuse the nature of the case would admit.
In grateful acknowledgment of this repeated  He told himn he had long been convinced
instance  of  the divine  goodness,  Isaac, that the divine favor attended him in all his
intending to continue here, first built an altar undertakings, and that he might not be
for religious worship, and then ordered his thought to oppose  God, he was come to
servants to clear out the well which had been renew the covenant between his people and
formerly dug by his father.                   Abraham's posterity, and was ready to enIsaac had not long returned  to Beer- gage in the same conditions and obligations.
sheba, when Abimelech, touched with a sense    Isaac, being naturally of a quiet and easy
of the unworthy treatment he had received, disposition, readily admitted this apology from
both from him and his subjects, as well as fear- Abimelech, whom, with his attendants, he
ing his just resentment, should he become entertained with great liberality.  The artiutility to the nation. Stopping up the wells is enabled to obtain the view, conveyed in the folstill an act of hostility in the East. The stop- lowing description, of a place of such great interping of Abraham's wellsg by the Philistines, the est in the history of the patriarchs -
re-opening of them by Isaac, and the restoration    "After crossing another elevated plateau, the
of their former names - the  commemorative character of the scene was again changed.  We
names given to the new wells, and the strifes came upon an open rolling country; all around
about them between those who had sunk them  were swelling hills, covered in ordinary seasons
and the people of the land - are all circumstan- with grass and rich pasturage, though now arid
ces highly characteristic of those countries in  and parched with drought. We now came to
which the want of rivers and brooks during sum- Wady Lebu; and on the north side of its watermer renders the tribes dependent upon the wells course we had the satisfaction of discovering the
for the very existence of the flocks and herds site of ancient Beersheba, the celebrated border
which form their wealth. It would seem that the city of Palestine, still bearing in Arabic the name
Philistines did not again stop the wells while of Bir Seba. Near the water-course are two cirIsaac was in their country. It is probable that cular wells of excellent water, nearly forty feet
the wells successfully sunk by Isaac did not deep. They are both surrounded with drinking
furnish water sufficient for both his own herds troughs of stone, for the use of camels and flocks
and those of Gerar, and thus the question be- such as doubtless were used of old for the flocks
came one of exclusive right. Such  questions that then fed on the adjacent hills. Ascending
often lead to bitter and bloody quarrels in the the low hills north of the wells, we found them
East; and it was probably to avoid the last result strewed with the ruins of former habitations -
of an appeal to arms that Isaac withdrew out of the foundations of which are distinctly to be
the more settled country toward the desert, where traced. These ruins extend over a space of half
he might enjoy the use of his wells in peace.  a mile long by a quarter of a mile broad. Here
* BEERSHEBA. - In the Biblical Repository- then, is the place where Abraham and Isaac and
for April, 1839, we have a very valuable and in- Jacob often lived! Here Samuel made his three
teresting "Report of Travels in Palestine and sons judges; and from here Elijah wandered out
the Adjacent Regions, in 1838; undertaken for the into the southern desert, and sat down under the
illustration of Bibhlcal Geography by the Rev. Prof rethem, or shrub of broom, just as our Arabs sat
E. Robinson and Rev E. Smith, " in which we down under it every day and every night. Over
find a notice of the discovery of the site of Beer- these swelling hills the flocks of the patriarch
sheba, about thirty miles to the south of Hebron. roved by thousands: we now only found a few
Our readers will not fail to be gratified at being camels, asses, and goats."




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              119
cles for a treaty of friendship were agreed  (as his father had done before on a similar
on that same evening, and the next morning occasion) Beersheba, the well of the oath,
confirmed by a solemn and mutual oath; "i. e. the well wherein water was delivered,
after which Abimelech took his leave, and on the day that Abimelech and I entered
returned home.                             into a treaty of peace, and ratified the same
Soon after the departure of Abimelech, with the solemnity of an oath."
the servants of Isaac informed him, that, in    A circumstance now occurred, which gave
the well they had been clearing out, and great uneasiness both to Isaac and his wife.
which formerly belonged to Abraham, they Their two sons were arrived at the age of
had found a spring of most excellent water. forty, and Esau had taken two wives from
This event happening on the same day that among the Hittites, one of whom was Judith,
the league of friendship had been confirmed the daughter of Beeri, and the other Bashebetween Isaac and Abimelech, he called it math, the daughter of Elon, both women of
l3'        F                                 -
GREAT OFFICER ON A JOURNEY.
respectable families in Canaan. These mar- ing the error past repair, he made a virtue of
riages he had contracted without his parents' necessity, and forgave what he could not
privity, knowing that his father had deter- remedy.
mined not to form any alliance with the idola-   Isaac, becoming very old,* imperfect in his
trous Canaanites.  Rebecca was so incensed eyesight, and apprehensive that his dissoluat Esau's conduct, that the little affection she tion was near at hand, resolved to bestow
before had for him, was now entirely alien- that parental benediction on his son Esau,
ated; but such was the power of natural affec- which he had long intended.  Accordingly,
tion in Isaac, and such his over-fondness calling him one day to his private apartment,
for an obdurate and perverse son, that know- he first related the. occasion of his sending
Isaac was at this time 137 years old, so that Esau's having sold his birth-right; for he loved
there is no wonder he should be imperfect in his him as his first-born son, and designed to bestow
sight. It appears that he was still ignorant of on him the blessing.




120                             AN ILLUSTRATED
for him, and then desired him  to take his But these objections bore no weight with
hunting instruments, to go into the fields, Rebecca, who, determined to put her design
kill some venison,* and dress it to his palate, into execution, told him, whatever bad conthat his spirits might be refreshed, and his sequences ensued, she would take all upon
mind properly disposed, for giving him  that herself: " Upon mle," said she, " be thy
solemn blessing which should crown his fu- curse, my son; only obey my voice." t
ture prosperity.                               Jacob, being  thus encouraged  by his
While Isaac was relatinig his intentions to mother, threw  off his diffidence, and going
Esau, Rebecca had so planted herself as to to the fold, brought with him, as he was
hear all that passed.  She, therefore deter- directed, two fat kids.  Rebecca immedimined, if possible, to deprive him of the in- ately killed them, and taking the choicest
tended blessing, and, by stratagem, get it con- parts, dressed them  in such manner, by the
ferred on her favorite son Jacob. - As soon, assistance of savory sauce, as to make the
therefore, as Esau was well gone, Rebecca, whole strongly resemble venison.  Having
calling her son Jacob, told him what she had  thus prepared the food, she dressed Jacob
heard, namely, that his father was going to in his brother's best attire, and covering his
bestow a benediction, which was final and hands and neck with the skins of the kids,
irrevocable, on his brother; but that, if he gave him the dish, ordering him immediately
would listen to, and follow her directions, she to take it to his father.
doubted not of getting the honor bestowed    Jacob, agreeably to his mother's directions,
on him.                                     went with the food to Isaac's apartment,
Jacob promising to pay a strict obedience which he bad no sooner entered, than the
to whatever his mother should command, she good old man (not being able to distinguish
ordered him to go immediately to the flocks, objects from the imperfection of his sight)
and bring two kids, with which, she said, she with surprise asked, who he wad. To which
would  make savory meat, such as should Jacob replied, " I am Esau, thy first-born;
resemble venison, and be agreeable to the I have punctually obeyed thy command;
palate of his father.  Jacob  made some arise, therefore, and eat of my venison, that
hesitation at complying with this injunction, thy soul may bless me."  Isaac, astonished
intimating, that if his father should discover at the haste with which his desire was exethe deception, instead  of a blessing, he cuted, inquired  of him  how  it happened
would pronounce on him  a curse.  As a that he had so quickly got the venison?
further ground of objection, he observed, To this he answered, " Because the Lord thy
that, as Esau was remarkably hairy, and he God brought it to me."  Being, however,
naturally smooth, his father, to supply the still diffident as to his person, Isaac ordered
defect of sight, might handle him, in which him to approach near, that, by feeling him,
ease a discovery must unavoidably follow. he might be convinced whether or not it
* Venison was the principal article of food, in bear it all if any happens. A stronger proof than
these early ages, next to vegetables, and it is very this cannot be given of Rebecca's full confidence
likely the aged patriarch longed for some. Ac- in the propriety of her proceeding. Indeed, it
cording to all the accounts we have of the people does not appear that the least blame is laid upon
in the Eastern countries, they had always a feast Rebecca for her conduct: on the contrary, Isaatc
prepared before they bestowed their blessing on himself confirms the blessing which Jacob had by
their first-born son.                       her means acquired; whence we must necessarily
t From a circumspect view of Rebecca's con- conclude that she acted upon right motives, and
duct throughout the whole of this affair, it appears with a full persuasion of the Divine pre-appointevident that she had been made acquainted with ment and approbation. Many particular circumthe Divine will concerning the channel in which stances, if we were fully informed of the state of
the grand promise was to pass. She therefore the family, might possibly be urged in her behalfi
resolved to do her part toward preventing the ill but this alone is sufficient to vindicate her from
effects of Isaac's partial fondness for his eldest all blame. She had certainly been pre-informed
son Esau, who had already indicated so unworthy that Jacob should have the pre-eminence, and
a disposition. To this end she incites her son therefore she acted religiously in preventing her
Jacob (as it appears) to an act of deceit, and, husband from any endeavor to counteract the
being confident of the propriety of her conduct, Divine will. Let it, however, be observed, that
absolves him from all guilt or blame. The ex- her case is so peculiar that it cannot be drawn
pression, "Upon me be thy curse, my son," is as into example; and, detached from  that impormuch as to say, I will warrant thee success; I am  taut and discriminating circumstance of God's
so fully persuaded of the rectitude of the proceed- will revealed to her, her conduct would, unquesing, that I fear no evil from it, but will readily tionably, be deemed blamable.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    121
was really and verily his son Esau.  Jacob words from  his father, he exclaimed, in the
accordingly went close to his aged father, bitterness of his soul, " Bless me, even me
who, feeling the hairy skin  on his hands also, 0  my father."  Isaac then told him
and neck, exclaimed, with great surprise, that his brother Jacob had, by stratagem,
"The hands are the hands of Esau, but obtained that blessing he had designed for
the voice is the voice of Jacob."  He then him; upon which Esau complained of his
put the question to  him  forcibly, saying, double perfidy, first, in artfully obtaining
" Art thou my very son Esau? "  To which his birth-right, and then in robbing him  of
Jacob,  without the  least  hesitation, an- his father's benediction.  I-le wept bitterly
swered, "I am."                              for some time, and then pathetically asked
The good old man, being now  satisfied, his father if he had not in reserve a blessing
arose from  his couch, ate of his son's pre- for him, repeating the importunate request,
tended venison, and drank a cup or two of " Bless me, even me also, 0 my father."
wine; after which he bade him come near that   Isaac, no doubt, was greatly grieved to
he might bestow on him the promised bless- hear the lamentations of Esau for so great a
ing.  The scent arising from  Jacob's gar- loss; but what could he do? he had already
ments gave great satisfaction to Isaac.  He bestowed the choicest of his blessings on
smelt, and praised them: "The smell of my Jacob, and as they were gone he could not
son," said he, "' is as the smell of a field, recall them.  At length, however, in order
which the Lord hath blessed." *   He then, to pacify the afflicted Esau, he told him that
in a kind of ecstasy of pleasure, embraced  his posterity should become a great people,
and  kissed  his pretended first-born; and, and live by dint of the sword; and that
after wishing him  all heavenly and earthly though they might become subject to the
blessings, at length dismissed him.           descendants of Jacob, yet in process of time
A  short time after Jacob  had left his they would shake off their yoke, and erect a
father's tent, Esau entered it, and, bring- dominion of their own.t
ing with  him  the venison  he had  been    When Esau came coolly to reflect on the
directed to prepare, invited his aged parent, loss he had sustained by the artifices of his
in the same dutiful manner his brother had brother, he resolved, as soon as a proper oppreviously  done, to arise, and  eat of it. portunity should offer, to be revenged on
Isaac, surprised  at this  address, hastily him.  The respect he had for his father laid
asked, " Who art thou? "   On being an- a restraint on the execution of his design.
swered that it was his elder son Esau, he ap- As Isaac was far advanced in years, and
peared, for some time, thunderstruck; but at exceedingly infirm, Esau imagined his existlength  recovering himself, he asked, who, ence was of short duration, and therefore
and where, that person was, who had been determined to wait till his father's death,
with him before, and taken away the bless- immediately after which he resolved to put
ing, which he neither could nor would re- a period to the life of his brother.
voke.                                           Esau having accidentally dropped some
When the disappointed Esau heard these hints of his design, they soon came to the
It is evident, from mention being here made Jews. In the days of Jehoram, the son of Jeof the smell of Jacob's garments, that the people hoshaphat, they expelled their viceroy, and set
in the most early times perfumed their clothes, up a king of their own (see 2 Kings viii. 20),
especially when they approached a,.person of supe- which fulfilled the latter part of Isaac's prophecy.
rior rank; and this custom is still preserved in For some generations after this they lived indemost parts of Asia. The comparison between the pendent of the Jews; and, when the Babylonians
smell of the garments and that of the field is very invaded Judma, they not only took part with
just; for in the Eastern countries, where they them, but greatly oppressed the inhabitants after
have a long continuance of drought, nothing can their departure.  Their animosity against the
be more sweet and delightful than the scent aris- descendants of Jacob evidently appears, indeed,
ing from a field after a refreshing shower.  to have been hereditary; nor cid they ever cease,
t The Edomnites, or Idumnans (the descend- for any considerable time, from broils and contenants of Esau), were, for a considerable time, tions, till, at length, they were conquered by
much more powerful than the Israelites, who were Hyrcanus, and reduced to the necessity either of
descended from Jacob, till, in the days of David, embracing the, Jewish religion or quitting their
they were entirely conquered.  See 2 Samuel viii. country. Preferring the former, they were inter14. After this they were governed by deputies, or mixed with the Jews, and became one nation, so
viceroys, appointed by the kings of Judah, and that in the first century after the birth of Christ
for a long time were kept inutotal subjection to the the name of Idumsean was totally annihilated.




122                              AN ILLUSTRATED
ears of his mother, who, anxious for the fu- Laban, in Mesopotamia, and provide himself
ture welfare of her favorite Jacob, acquainted with a wife from his family.  Jacob promhim with the horrid intentions of his brother. ised  to  obey  his father's orders,  upon
She told him that the most prudent method which the good old man, after repeating his
he could take would be to absent himself blessing, dismissed him.
till his brother's anger was in some degree    When Esau understood that his father had
abated, and that the most proper place for again blessed Jacob, and sent him into Meshim  to fly to was the house of his uncle opotamia to avoid marrying any of the daughLaban  in  Mesopotamia: that thither he ters of Canaan, he began seriously to reflect
might retire for a time, and as soon as she on his own misconduct, and to lament havfound his brother's resentment was assuaged, ing, by the indiscreet alliances he had formed,
she would not fail to recall him.  She said incurred the displeasure of his aged parents.
the thoughts of separating gave her great To reinstate himself, therefore, if possible, in
affliction, though nothing in comparison with his father's esteem, he took a third wife,
the misery she must feel, should she in one whose name was Mahalath, the daughter of
day be robbed of them  both -of him, by his uncle Ishmael.  This marriage certainly
the hands of his brother; and of his brother, took place both from duty and affection; but,
by the hand of justice.                     unfortunately for Esau, it was not attended
Jacob, who ever listened to and obeyed with the wished-for consequences.
the counsel of his mother, was very ready to    Early the next morning, after Jacob recomply with her proposal; but at the same ceived his father's charge and blessing, he
time was unwilling to depart without the left Beersheba, and proceeded on his journey
consent of his father, which, in this case, he toward Haran.  Determined strictly to obey
was fearful of obtaining.  Rebecca soon hit his father's commands, he travelled the most
upon a stratagem  to remove this seeming private ways he could find, shunned  the
difficulty.  She  immediately repaired  to houses of the Canaanites, and, when night
Isaac, to whom she complained of the great came on, took up his lodging in the open
concern under which she labored on account air, near a place called Luz, having only the
of Esau having taken wives from among the spangled sky for his canopy, and a hard
daughters of the Hittites.  She then inti- stone for his pillow.  Notwithstanding the
mated her fears lest Jacob should follow his uneasiness of his situation, he slept soundly,
example; to prevent which she earnestly during which he dreamed that he saw a ladder
recommended that he might be sent to set upon the earth, the top of which reached
Mesopotamia, and there choose a wife from  to heaven, and on the rounds of it were a
among her own kindred.                      number of angels, some ascending and others
Though Isaac was unacquainted with the descending.  On the summit of the ladder
drift of his wife's complaint, yet, being a appeared the Almighty, who promised him
pious man, and knowing that the promise all those privileges he had before done to
made to Abraham, and renewed in him, was Abraham  and his father Isaac; and that,
to be completed in the issue of Jacob, he wherever he went, he might be assured of the
readily assented to Rebecca's proposal.  Call- divine protection.  "Behold I am with thee,
ing, therefore, his son Jacob, he first be- and will keep thee in all places whither thou
stowed on him his blessing, and then strictly goest, and will bring thee again into this
enjoined him never to marry a Canaanitish land: for I will not leave thee until I have
woman.  To prevent so improper an alli- done that which I have spoken to thee of." *
ance, he ordered him to go to his uncle    This dream made such an impression on
* There is something very noble and sublime God. And, lastly, by the representation of the
in the representation of this vision. The ladder Divine Majesty appealing above the ladder, is
which reached fiom earth to heaven is a proper meant, that though the conduct of Providence is
image of the providence of God, whose care ex- often above the reach of human comprehension,
tends to all things in heaven and on earth. The yet the whole is directed by infinite wisdom and
angels are represented ascending and descending goodness; and though in this vale of misery we
on this mysterious ladder, because these minister- can see only a few lower steps of' the ladder,
ing spirits are always active in the execution of the nearest to the earth, yet it hath a top that reachwise designs of Providence, and appointed the eth unto heaven: and were it possible for us to
special guardians of the just: they ascend to re- trace the chain of causes and effects to their
ceive, and descend to execute, the commands of source, we should see them  gradually ascend




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    123
Jacob's mind, that, as soon as he awoke, he ship; in that very place where the pillar
paid an awful reverence to the place, and af- stood, on his return, would he make his deter a short contemplation of what had passed, vout acknowledgments, and offer unto him
thus exclaimed: " This is none other than the tenth t of whatever he should gain in the
the house of God, and this is the gate of land of Mesopotamia."
heaven! "  Having said this, he arose, and    After making this solemn vow, the pious
taking the stone which had been substituted  traveller proceeded on his journey, and  at
for a pillow, he set it upright, poured oil on length arrived at Haran.  As he came near
it, and, in pious commemoration of the vision, the town he saw some shepherds with their
called the place " Bethel," which, in the flocks not far from a well, which was covered
Ilebrew language, signifies " the house of with a large stone.  Of these shepherds he
God." *                                       made inquiry  concerning  Laban  and his
Previous to his departure from this memo- family, and was informed that they were all
rable spot, in order to bind himself more well, and that it would not be long before
strongly to the service of God, he made a Rachel, his daughter, would be there with
most solemn vow to the following  effect: her flock.  Scarce had he received this in"That if he would protect and prosper him  telligence when the damsel arrived with her
in  his journey, provide  him   with  con- fleecy care, immediately on which Jacob, as
mon necessaries in his absence, and  grant a token of respect, rolled away the stone
him a happy return to his father's house, to  from  the mouth of the well, $ and watered
him alone would he direct his religious wor- the sheep in her stead; which done, he saluted
higher and higher, till they terminate at length in  my father's house in peace,' &c., then will I give
the Supreme Being, the first and proper cause of  so much in charity; or, again, that, on first seeall, who presides over and directs the complicated( ing the place which he has so long toiled to reach,
scheme of Providence, from the creation of the the traveller should sit down and make a thanksworld to the consummation of all things.  Cer- giving, in both cases setting up a stone as a memotainly nothing could have been a more seasona- rial."  The place now pointed out as Bethel conble relief to Jacob, or filled his heart with greater tains no indication of Jacob's pillar. The Jews
joy, than the pleasing assurance, that though he believe that it was placed in the sanctuary of the
was an exile from his native country, and wan- second temple, and that the ark of the covenant
dering alone over the solitary wastes, yet he was rested upon it; and they add, that after the destill in the presence of his Maker whose powerful struction of that temple, and the desolation of
arm would constantly protect him from all dan- Judna, their fathers were accustomed to lamnent
gers, and under whose wings he should be abso- the calamities that had befallen them  over the
lutely safe.                                  stone on which Jacob's head rested at Bethel.
* Nothing can be more natural than this act The Mohammedans are persuaded  that their
of Jacob, for the purpose of marking the site and  famous temple at Mecca is built over the same
making a memorial of an occurrence of such great stone.
interest and importance to him. The true design  t This is the second place in which we find
of this humble monument seems to have been, mention of the tenth, or tithes, solemnly consehowever, to set this anointed pillar as an evidence  crated to God. Jacob promises to give them in
of the solemn vow which he made on that occa- return for his prosperous journey, as his grandsion. This use of a stone, or stones, is definitely  father Abraham had given them in return fbr his
expressed in Gen. xxxi. 48 and 52.  Mr. Morier, victory over the confederate princes.
in his " Second Journey through Persia," notices  _   Wells are still sometimes covered with a
a custom which seems to illustrate this act of stone or otherwise, to protect them from being
Jacob. In travelling through Persia, he observed  choked up by the drifted sand; and it was probathat the guide occasionally placed a stone on a bly to prevent the exposure of the well by too
conspicuous piece of rock, or two stones one upon frequently removing the stone, that the shepherds
another, at the same time uttering some words did not water their flocks until the whole were
which were understood to be a prayer for the safe assembled together; for it is not to be supposed
return of the party. This explained  to  Mr. that they waited because the united strength of
Morier what he had frequently observed before in all the sheperds was requisite to roll away the
the East, and particularly on high roads leading stone, when Jacob was able singly to do so.
to great towns, at a point where the towns are When the well is private property, in a neighborfirst seen, and where the oriental traveller sets up hood where water is scarce, the well is sometimes
his stone, accompanied by a devout exclamation kept locked, to prevent the neighboring shepherds
in token of his safe arrival. Mr. Morier adds: from watering their flocks fraudulently from it;
"Nothing is so natural, in a journey over a and even when left unlocked, some person is fredreary country, as for a solitary traveller to set quently so far the proprietor that the well may
himself down fatigued, and to make the vow that not be opened unless in the presence of himself
Jacob did.'If God will be with me, and keep or of some one belonging to his household.
me in the way that I go, and will give me bread  Chardin, whose manuscripts furnished Harmer
to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I may reach with an illustration of this text, conjectures, with




124                             AN ILLUSTRATED
her, wept for joy, and told her to whom  he during the time, rendered that interval of
belonged.                                   waiting apparently short and light.
Elated at this incident, Rachel, leaving    When the time of Jacob's servitude had
Jacob at the well, immediately hastened expired, he required Laban to fulfil his conhome, and acquainted her father with what tract, by giving him  his daughter Rachel in
had happened.  Laban was so transported at marriage.  Laban seemingly assented, and,
the arrival of his sister's son, that he fled on the occasion, invited all his friends and
with all expedition to the spot, and, after neighbors to the solemnization of the nuptials.
cordially embracing him, conducted him  to But Laban, desirous of retaining Jacob longhis house.                                  er in his service, had projected a scheme for
Jacob, after receiving some refreshment, that purpose, the execution of which gave
told his uncle the occasion of his leaving great uneasiness to his nephew.  After the
home, and related the most material inci- entertainment was over, and the company
dents that had happened in the course of his retired, Laban  caused  Leah, his eldest
journey.  Laban was sufficiently satisfied of daughter, to be conducted to Jacob's bed,
the truth of his nephew's relation, and, fiom  instead of the beautiful Rachel, to whom he
the singular circumstances that attended his was contracted.  When daylight appeared
excursion, was convinced that he was under in the morning, and Jacob discovered the
the immediate care and protection of Divine deception,? he immediately arose, and going
Providence.                                 to Laban, expostulated with him on the imAfter being a few days with his uncle, Ja- propriety of his conduct.  Laban, who had
cob, detesting an inactive life, applied him- prepared an answer for the occasion, told him,
self to business, by assisting Laban in the in a magisterial tone, that it was an unprececare of his flocks, and such other matters as dented thing in that country (and would have
pertained to his interest.  Having thus em- been deemed an injury to her sister) to marployed him, with great diligence, for the ry the younger before the elder;" but"
space of a month, his uncle one day entered  (continued he, in a milder tone), "if you
into private conversatlion with  him, and, will fulfil the nuptial week with your wife,
among other things, told him he neither ex- and consent to serve another seven years for
pected nor thought it reasonable that he her sister, I am content to take your word
should have his labor for nothing, and there- for it, and to give Rachel to you as soon as
fore, as he intended staying with him  for the seven days" (or nuptialweek for Leah)
some time, desired him to name such wages " have expired."
as would satisfy him for his services.        This unfair treatment greatly perplexed
Jacob hesitated for some time what answer Jacob, but his distinguished  affection for
to give to this request, but at length, think- Rachel made him  resolve to obtain her,
ing on the charms and graces of the beautiful however dear the purchase.  He therefore
Rachel, who had already captivated his heart, readily consented to his uncle's secondary
he proposed serving him  seven years, on terms, and when the nuptial ceremonies for
condition of having, at the expiration of that Leah were over, he likewise took Rachel in
time, Rachel for his wife.                  marriage.
Laban readily consented to this proposal,    The distinguished charms of Rachel, in
and Jacob as readily entered on his service. preference to those of Leah, made Jacob
The flattering prospect of possessing  so pay the greatest respect to the former; but
amiable a partner, after the seven years, and his happiness was greatly curtailed by Leah's
the endearments of her pleasing company having four sons t even before Rachel had
great reason, that the present well belonged to    X As all marriages in the East were solLaban's family, and that the shepherds dared not emnized in the evening, or rather at midnight,
open the well until Laban's danughter came with and as the bride was veiled, so it was no difficult
her father's flocks. Jacob, therefore, is not to he matter to impose on Jacob, who did not expect
supposed to have broken the standing rule, or to any such deceit. Dr. Shaw tells -us, that in the
have done any thing out of the ordinary course; Levant the bride is brought home in the dark to
for the oriental shepherds are not at all persons her husband, and being introduced to the harem,
likely to submit to the interference or dictation of a or apartment for the women, her mother goes
stranger.  He however rendered a kind service and conducts the bridegroom to her; but he does
to Rachel, as the business of watering cattle at a not see her till the next morning.
well is very tiresome and laborious.           t The names of these sons were Reuben,




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                   125
conceived.  This circumstance particularly    By this time Leah imagined she had done
affected Rachel, who, in a fit of melancholy, bearing children, and, therefore, to imitate
one day told her husband that unless he her sister's policy, she gave her maid (named
gave her children she should certainly die Zilpah) to Jacob, by whom  she had likewith grief.  " Give me," said she, "chil- wise two sons, the one named Gad, and the
dren, or else I die." ~                      other Ashur.
Jacob was greatly vexed at this speech    Reuben, the eldest son of Jacob, was now
of his beloved wife, who seemed to lay the arrived at years sufficient to be trusted by
whole fault of her sterility to him.  He himself, and wandering one day in the fields,
therefore sharply rebuked her in words to about the time of wheat harvest, he happened
the following effect: "That it was not in to meet with some mandrakes,  which he
his power to work miracles; that the want brought home and presented to his mother
of children was agreeable to the divine will; Leah.  Pleased with the sight of what the
and that such  uneasy and  discontented boy had brought, Rachel desired Leah to
behavior was the way to prevent, rather give her a part; but instead of complying
than obtain, such a favor."'t                with her request, she gave her this forbidThis answer greatly mortifying Rachel, ding answer: "That having robbed her of
she resolved to supply the defect of herself her husband's affections, she could not exby the same means that had been practised pect to have any part of her son's present."
by her grandmother Sarah.  She according. Notwithstanding this contemptuous answer,
ly made a proposition  to Jacob  that he Rachel was determined, if possible, to obtain
should take her handmaiden Bilhah as a some of the mandrakes, to do which she
concubinary wife, and that if she should bear thought of inducing Leah to comply with
children  they should  be  accounted  hers. her request by a method, which above all
Jacob assented to this proposal, and, in the others, was most likely to prove effectual.
proper course of time, Bilhah was delivered  It happened to be her turn that night to
of a son, whom Rachel named Dan, which, in enjoy the company of her husband; and,
the Hebrew language, signifies " judging."  therefore, in order to obtain her ends, she
Within a twelvemonth after this, Bilhah bore told Leah, if she would oblige her with some
another son, whom Rachel called Naphtali.  of her son's mandrakes, she would waive
Simeon, Levi, and Judah. Reulben signifies a son    $ Mandrlakes (Heb. dudcimn) (the word occurs
given by Divine recard; Simeon implies, God hath only in the plulal number) are mentioned in Gen.
heard or considered mne; Levi signifies joined: and xxx. 14, 15, 16, and in Cant. vii. 13. From the
Judah, praise or thanksgiving.               former passage we learn that they were found in
the fields of Mesopotamia, where Jacob and his
* This expression furnishes us with a lively wives were at one time living, and that the fruit
picture of human folly in general. If children was gathered " in the days of wheat-harvest," i. e.
are to parents like a flowery chaplet, whose in May. From Cant. vii. 13 we learn that the
beauties blossom  with ornament, and whose plant in question was strong-scented, and that it
odors breathe delight, death or some unforeseen grew in Palestine. Various attempts have been
misfortune may find means to intwine them- made to identify the duedim. The most satisfacselves with the lovely wreath.  Whenever our tory is certainly that which supposes the mandrake
souls eagerly long after some inferior acquisition, (Atropa mandragora) to be the plant denoted by
it may be truly said, in the woirds of our divine the Hebrew word. It is well known that the manMaster, "Ye know not what ye ask."  Does drake is far from  odoriferous, the whole plant
Providence withhold the thing we long for? It being, in European estimation at all events, very
denies in mercy, and only withholds the occasion fetid. But Oedmann, after quoting a number of
of our misery, if not the instrument of our ruin. authorities to show that the mandrakes were prized
With a sickly appetite we often loathe what is by the Arabs for their odor, makes the following
wholesome, and hanker after our bane. Where the just remark: —" It is known that Orientals set
imagination dreams of unmingled sweets, there an especial value on strongly smelling things that
experience frequently finds the bitterness of wo.  to more delicate European senses are unpleasing." That the fruit was fit to be gathered at the
t It is not to be wondered at that such a man time of wheat-harvest is clear from the testimony
as Jacob should be offended at an expression of several travellers. Schultze found mandrakemade use of by his beloved wife, which, in its apples on the 15th of May. Hasselquist saw
own nature, was little better than blasphemy. them at Nazareth early in May. Dr. Thomson
To say, " Give me children," was certainly a found mandrakes ripe on the lower ranges of
high indignity offered to the majesty of Heaven, Lebanon and Hermon towards the end of April.
as none but God can give being to any creature The mandrake is closely allied to the well-known
whatever.                                    deadly nightshade.-Smith's Bib. Dictionary. A.B.




126                              AN ILLUSTRATED
her pretensions for that night, and resign ther controversy, Jacob at length consented
the right of her husband's bed to her.  This to stay with his uncle, on the following conproposition being approved of by Leah, the ditions: that they should pass through the
agreement was accordingly made; and  as whole flock both of sheep and goats, and
soon as Jacob came home she related what having separated all the speckled cattle from
had passed, and asked him  to confirm  the the white, the former should be committed
bargain.  Jacob readily assented, and Leah to the care of Laban's sons, and the latter to
enjoyed his company that night, the conse- the care of Jacob; and that whatsoever
quence of which was that she conceived spotted or brown sheep or goats should, from
again, and had a fifth son, whom she called that time forward, be produced out of the
Issachar, which signifies hire or reward. white flock (which he was to keep) should
After this she had another son, whom  she be accounted his hire.
named Zebulon; and the last of all, a    Laban readily consenting to this proposal,
daughter, called Dinah.                     the flocks were accordingly separated.  The
Rachel had long lamented not having is- spotted cattle were delivered into the cussue of her own body; but at length it pleased  tody of Laban, while the rest were commit.
God to remove her troubles on that head by ted to the care of Jacob; and to prevent
giving her a son.  As soon as she found she any intercourse between them, they were
had conceived, she exclaimed, with the most placed three days' journey apart.
expressive joy, " God hath taken away my    Whether it was from his own observation
reproach; " * and when the child was born on the power of fancy in the time of concepshe called his name Joseph, which, in the tion, or (what seems much more likely) from
Hebrew language, signifies increase.        the interposition of divine wisdom  in furSoon after the birth of Joseph the ap- nishing him  with the idea; but so it was
pointed time of Jacob's last servitude being that he pursued a very extraordinary methexpired, he began to entertain thoughts of od to improve his own stock, and at the
returning to his own country, and accord- same time-lessen that of Laban.  He took
ingly begged his uncle to dismiss him  and rods or twigs of the green poplar, hazel, and
his family.  But Laban, who had found by chestnut trees, and stripping off part of the
experience no small advantage from his ser- rinds in streaks, caused some of the white
vices, entreated him to stay a little longer, to appear on the twigs.  These twigs he
promising, at the same time, that if he would placed in the watering troughs when the
comply with his request, he would give him  cattle came to drink, at the time in which
whatever wages he should think proper to they usually engfinder; so that by seeing
ask.  In answer to this, Jacob reminded the speckled twigs they might conceive and
him of the great increase of his substance bring forth speckled cattle.  He also took
since it had been under his care, and that particular care to place the twigs before the
he now thought it high time to make some fattest and most healthy, and to avoid putprovision for himself and family; so that ting any before those that were weak and
therefore he was resolved to return to Canaan, sickly; by which means he might not only
unless he could point out to him some method obtain for himself the greater number, but
whereby he might improve his fortune, and also the choicest and most valuable.
not longer waste his time in humble servi-   This scheme succeeded to his  utmost
tude.                                       wishes, and in a short time he became exLaban could not bear the thoughts of ceeding rich and powerful.  But the extraorparting with Jacob, and  therefore  again dinary increase of his property exposed him to
pressed him hard to stay, at the same time the envy, not only of Laban, but also his sons,
offering him his own terms.  After some fur- the former of whom treated him  with great
* Many reasons concur to render the posses- is not only a misfortune, but a disgrace to a wosion of sons an object of great anxiety to women man; and her hold on the affections of her husin the East.  The text expresses one of these band, and on her standing as his wife, is of a
reasons. Sons being no less earnestly desired by very feeble description.  Divorces are easily
the husband than by the wife, a woman who has effected in the East.  An Arab has only to
given birth to sons acquires an influence and enunciate the simple words, ent taleka —"thou
respectability, which strengthen with the num- art divorced" - which, in whatever heat or
ber to which she is mother. To be without sons anger spoken, constitute a legal divorce.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                                127
coolness, and the latter frequently accused pealed to them concerning his industry and
him of having procured to himself a good fidelity, and the injustice of their father
estate out of their fortunes.              toward him, first, in having deceived him,
Jacob, finding himself envied by his uncle and afterward in having so often changed
and kinsmen, had  some thoughts of leav- his wages.*  He observed, that God had
ing them, and retiring, with his family and turned  all their father's  devices to  his
effects, into his own country.  This design advantage, had taken away his cattle, and
was, in a short time, ultimately resolved given them  to him.  He then told them,
on, in consequence of the  Almighty  ap- that the Lord appeared to him  in a dream,
pearing to him  in a vision, and ordering reminding him  of the solemn vow he had
him to return to the land of Canaan.        made at Bethel, in his journey to MesopoThough Jacob was fully resolved to obey tamia, and that he had commanded him  to
the divine command, yet he thought it most return to the land of Canaan.
prudent, previous to his departure, to hold    Leah and Rachel, having listened with
a consultation with his two principal wives, great attention  to what Jacob had  said,
namely, Leah and Rachel, in order to ob- readily agreed to go with him; and by all
tain their consent.  Accordingly, sending for means recommended his paying a strict obethem into the field (which, from  its privacy dience to the divine command.
he thought the most proper place for the    In consequence of this, Jacob, having made
business) he told them, that for some time the necessary preparations for his  deparpast he  had  observed  their father had ture, set his wives and children upon camels,
treated him with great coolness and indiffer- and taking the advantage  of his  fatherence, and even sometimes with marks of in-law's absence (who was gone to shear his
displeasure, though he was not sensible of sheep, and which likewise gave Rachel the
any just cause for such behavior.  He ap- opportunity of stealing away his imagest)
* It is to be observed, that when Laban found worth; but it is most probable she still retained a
Jacob so successful in the produce of his flocks, tincture of her father's superstition, and designed
he repented of his bargain, and several times to make them the objects of her worship in Caaltered the agreement, which God, as many times, naan; for it appears (Gen. xxxv. 4) that Jacob,
turned to Jacob's advantage.
I The Hebrew word which we render irnages is
teraphimn, a kind of penates, or household gods
which they worshipped as symbols of the Deity,
Assyrlan Fish-God. (Nineveh Marbles, Brit. Mus.)
Nebo. (From statue in British M{useum.)
and consulted as oracles - hence Laban calls when he made a thorough reformation in his
them his gods. These teraphim were afterwards house, caused them to be taken from her, and
known by the name of talismnen, as they are to buried them under the oak which was by Shethis day in most parts of India. Some think chem.
those of Laban represented angels, who were    The following is a list of the idols mentioned
supposed to declare the mind of God. Rachel in scripture: Adram-melech, Isaiah xxxvii. 38;
might steal them  either for their curiosity or Anamelech, 2 Kings xvii. 31; Ashtaroth, Judges




128                             AN ILLUSTRATED
he set out upon his journey, taking with in a manner consistent with their rank and
him all his cattle, and other property, he dignity.  He added that such conduct might
had acquired during his stay at Haran.      have exposed him to his most severe resentJacob had proceeded on his journey three ment, and that he might have sustained
days before Laban received intelligence of much injury from him  who was by far the
his flight, in which time he passed the Eu- most powerful.  That, indeed, he  would
phrates, and having gained the mountains have pursued measures of revenge, had he
of Gilead, he there stopped, in order to re- not been diverted therefrom by the immediate prohibition of God himself.
In answer to this Jacob reminded his uncle of the cheat he had put upon him, in
_7                        making him serve so long for a woman he
X  did not love; the altering of the agreement
so many times made between them  relative
to the sheep; and, lastly, his late strange
behavior to him and his family.  All these,
/'                and many more, he said, were but ill requitals for his care and diligence, as well as
the blessings which God had heaped on him
for his sake.
Laban had still another thing to lay to
Jacob's charge, nanmely, the stealing of his
gods.  Fired with resentment at this accusation, Jacob (who knew  nothing of Rachel's having taken them) desired him  to
make the most diligent search  for them
throughout his family, assuring him, at the
same time, that on whomsoever they should
be found, that person should immediately be
Nisroch. (From a bas-relief in Nineveh collection, British  put to death.
Museum.)                   put to death.
The left hand bears a square vessel or basket, the right a   In consequence of this, Laban proceeded
fir-cone. Daggers are in the girdle.
fir-cone. Daggers a in te gleto search the different tents, and having exfresh himself and attendants, who by this amined those of Jacob, Leah, and her handtime were become greatly fatigued  with  maids, without effect, he went to the tent of
travelling.                                 Rachel, who, conscious of her crime, and
Laban no sooner heard that his nephew  fearful of the consequences should she be
had absconded, than he immediately pursued  detected, had just concealed the images in
him with a mind fully bent on revenge.  But the camel's furniture, on which she sat herin this he was checked by the interposition of self down to rest.
the Almighty, who, appearing to him  the    Having taken this precaution, she pleaded
same night in a vision, threatened  him  as an excuse for not arising to salute him,
severely if he committed any hostility  or that she was exceedingly ill, and that to
violence against his servant Jacob.         move then might greatly increase her comIn consequence of this, when Laban came plaint.  This excuse was readily admitted
up with his nephew  at Mount Gilead, he by her father, who, after searching every
only expostulated with him on his want of other part of the tent without effect, derespect in stealing away his daughters, and parted.
thereby preventing them  from  taking their    When Laban acquainted Jacob with his
leave as became his children, or departing  bad success, the latter upbraided him, in
ii. 13; Baal, Numbers xxii. 4; Baalim, 1 Sam- cus xviii. 21; Nebo, Isaiah xv. 2; Nergal, 2
uel vii. 4 (plural of Baal); Baal-berith, Judges Kings xvii. 30; Nibhaz, 2 Kings xvii. 31; Nisviii. 33; Baal-peor, Numbers xxv. 3; Beelzebub, roch, 2 Kings xix. 37; Pollux, Acts xxviii. 11;
2 Kings i. 2; Bel, Isaiah xlvi. 1; Calf, Exodus Remphan, Acts vii. 43; Rimmon, 2 Kings v. 18;
xxxii. 4; Castor, Acts xxviii. 11; Chemosh, Sheshach, Jeremiah li. 41;  Succoth-benoth, 2
1 Kings xi. 7; Dagon, Judges xvi. 23; Diana, Kings xvii. 30; Tammuz, Ezekiel viii. 14; TarActs xix. 24, 35; Jupiter, Acts xiv. 12; Milcomn tak, 2 Kings xvii. 31; Teraphim, Judges xvii. 5.
or Molech, 1 Kings xi. 5-7; Moloch Leviti



HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                     129
very severe terms, for his unjust suspi- uation would admit. The next morning
cions.  He then recounted the great services Laban took leave of Jacob and his family,
he had done him  during a number of years, and each departed for their respective habiand concluded with these words, " Except tations.
the God of my father had been with me,    Jacob had been favored with a heavenly
surely thou hadst sent me away empty."        vision in his way from Canaan to MlesopotaLaban, conscious that Jacob's charge was mia; and  the Almighty  was pleased  to
most justly founded, made not the least favor him again with the like token of his
attempt to vindicate his conduct; but, waiv- protection on his return.  As he was proing the argument, assumed an air of respect ceeding on his journey, there appeared  befor Jacob, and a fondness for his wives and fore him  a body  of heavenly  messengers,
children; and, in order to remove all fur- which he no sooner saw  than he broke out
ther animosity, proposed a treaty of alliance into the following  exclamation: " This  is
between them, and to erect a monument God's host; " firom  which additional mark
which should be a standing witness of the of divine protection, he called  the place
same to future ages.                          Mahanaim. t
This proposition being agreed to, and the    Though Jacob had the greatest reason to
covenant signed, they  accordingly  raised  rely on the protection of the Almighty, yet,
a pillar or heap of stones,@  as a memento as he drew near the confines of Edom, and
of the circumstance; and then took mutual within the reach  of his incensed brother
oaths that neither should invade the prop- Esau (whom  he had highly provoked, and
erty of the other.  A  particular injunction  concerning the abatement of whose resentwas likewise laid on Jacob, that he should  ment he had received no account from  his
use his wives and children with all becom- mother, though so long absent), he thought
ing tenderness and affection.                 it most prudent to send a message to him,
The covenant being  thus  ratified, and in order to allay his anger, and, if possible,
sacrifices offered up on the occasion, Jacob  regain his fraternal affection.
entertained his brethren that night in  as    He accordingly sent messengers to Esau,
magnificent manner as the nature of his sit- whose residence was at Mount Seir,4 otherX The heap of stones raised by Laban and waters were lost in the Dead Sea. Now the
Jacob in memory of this covenant was called mountains of Seir rise abruptly firom this valley,
Gilead, which, in the Hebrew languaoe, signifies and form a natural division of the country, which
a heap of witnesses. This circumstance, in after appears to have been well known to the ancients.
ages, gave name to the whole country there- The plain to the east of the hilly region which
about, which lies on the east of the Sea of Gali- these mountains form, is much more elevated
lee, being part of that ridge of mountains which than the level of the Ghor, on the west of the
ran from Mount Lebanon southward on the east same mountains; in consequence of which, the
of the Holy Land, and included the mountainous hills appear with diminished importance as viewed
region called, in the New Testament, Trachonitis.  from the eastern or upper plain. This plain terf The Hebrew word Mahanaim signifies two minates to the south by a steep rocky descent, at
hosts or camps, because the angels appeared like the base of which begins the desert of Nedjed.
two armies drawn up on either side for his pro- It is to a part of this upper plain, and to the
tection, according to that beautiful expression of mountains which constitute  its western limit,
the Psalmist, " The angel of the Lord encamp- that, as Burckhardt thinks, the name of Arabia
eth round about them that fear him, and delivereth Petrta, or the Stony, was given by the ancients;
them."  Psalm xxxiv. 7.                      the denomination being, however, extended northThe place called Mahanaim  was situated ward, so as to include the eastern plain with the
between Mount Gilead and the brook Jabbok. mountains which form the eastern boundary of
It was afterward one of the residences of the Palestine so far north as the river Jabbok.
Levites, and one of the strong places belonging Speaking of this region, Burckhardt says: "It
to David.                                     might well be called Petrea, not only on account
$ The term  "Mount Seir," or rather the of its rocky mountains, but also of the elevated
mountains of Seir, must be understood with con- plain, which is so covered with stones, especially
siderable latitude. It was applied indefinitely to flints, that it may with great propriety be called
that range of mountains which, under the mod- a stony desert, although susceptible of culture.
ern names of Djebal, Shera, and Hasma, extends In many places it is overgrown with herbs, and
from the southern extremity of the Dead Sea to must once have been thickly inhabited, for the
the Gulf of Akaba. The reader will recollect the traces of many ruined towns and villages are met
"Ghor," or valley, extending in the same direc- with on both sides of the Hadj route between
tion, which we have had frequent occasion to Maan and Akaba, as well as between Mnan and
mention, and which is supposed to have formed the plains of the Haouran, in which direction
the continued channel of the Jordan before its there are many springs. At present, all this
9




130                             AN ILLUSTRATED
wise called the country of Edom, whither What an infinite condescension, O my God,
he had settled himself soon after his mar- to a poor unworthy creature i  The least of
riage with the daughter of Ishmael.         all thy mercies is too good for me; and yet
The message Jacob sent to his brother thou hast been pleased to show  me the
was to the following efect: that during his greatest.  When I crossed Jordan, I had
residence in Mesopotamia he had acquired nothing besides my staff; but in thy goodprodigious wealth, and that as he was now  ness thou hast caused my family and subon his return to his native country, he stance to increase so fast, that I am now
thought proper to notify his arrival to him, possessed of great riches.  O  God, thou
and at the same time to implore his favor promisedst to make my seed a great nation;
and friendship.                             and although I know thou couldst suffer
The messengers, having discharged their them to be killed, and raise them  up from
embassy, returned, and gave Jacob such an the dead, yet, O most merciful Father, be
account as greatly alarmed  him.  They pleased still to preserve them, and suffer
brought no direct answer from  Esau, and not my enraged brother to destroy them;
only told their master that his brother was I know  that thy  promise is truth itself,
coming to meet him at the head of four hun- and I will cheerfully trust in thee."
dred men.                                     After having thus humbly and earnestly
Jacob, concluding that the design of this implored the guidance and protection of the
mighty retinue was to act against him in a Almighty, Jacob  determined  to  pursue
hostile manner, was greatly perplexed, and another measure in order to appease the
at a loss in what manner to proceed.  He anger of his brother, which he imagined to
knew, on the one hand, that the number of his be no less severe than when he left Canaan.
people was too small to engage with that of Imagining that Esau might consider his first
his brother; and, on the other hand, that his message as an empty piece of formality, he
baggage was too heavy for flight.  At length resolved, as he had already informed him of
he came to this conclusion: to divide his com- the great wealth of which he was possessed,
pany into two bands, so that, if Esau should to send him  a very liberal present.  He
fall upon one, he might have the chance of accordingly selected from his stock the folescaping with the other.                   lowing articles, namely; two hundred sheSuch was the plan laid down by Jacob; goats and  twenty he-goats; two hundred
but as he well knew, from  former expe- ewes and twenty rams; thirty milch camels
rience, that his safety depended upon the with their colts; forty swine and ten bulls;
divine protection, independent of all human twenty she-asses and ten foals.  These becreatures, he, in this critical juncture, ad- ing divided into separate droves, he ordered
dressed himself to God in a very humble the servants to keep a proper space between
and submissive prayer, the substance of them, and strictly charged them, whenever
which was to the following effect: " 0 thou they should meet his brother, to present
eternal Majesty of heaven, whom my father each to him separately, and to tell him  that
worshipped, and who alone art the object of they were presents sent by Jacob to his lord
my prayer, permit an  unworthy  creature Esau.
to repeat thy own promise to thee.  When    Jacob, having dismissed his servants with
my family began to increase, thou wast this present to his brother, arose early next
graciously pleased to order me to return to morning, and, before  daylight, sent his
my native country; and, to encourage me, wives and children, together with all his
thou promisedst that thou wouldst protect me. substance, forward on their journey, staying
country is desert, and Maan is the only inhabited which then prevail prevent the temperature from
place in it." -( " Travels in Syria; " different becoming suffocating. The winter, on the other
parts of which have been analyzed to furnish this hand, is very cold; deep snow falls, and the firosts
geographical statement.)  The mountains them- sometimes continue to the end of March. This
selves are described by the same traveller as mountainous country is adequately fertile, prochiefly calcareous, with an occasional mixture of I ducing figs, pomegranates,  apples,  peaches,
basalt. The mountainous region which they olives, apricots, and most European fruits. The
form, of course, differs from  the plain which region has been in all times noted for the salubriskirts it on the east. The climate is very pleas- ty of its air; and Burckhardt observes, there
ant. The air is pure; and although the heat is awas no part of Syria in which he saw so few
very great in summer, the refreshing breezes invalids.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                   131
himself for some time behind.  A  short compliments by running to him with eager
time after the departure of his family and joy, falling on his neck, and most cordially
children, being alone, he was accosted by an embracing him.   He wept over him  for
angel, who, appearing in the shape of a man, some time; after which, seeing his wives
began to wrestle with him, which exercise and children  prostrate  themselves before
they continued till break of day.  The con- him in the order Jacob had placed them, he
test was certainly unequal, notwithstanding returned their civilities with the like tenderwhich, the angel permitted Jacob to pre- ness he had done his brother's.  Thus was
vail; but, to convince him  that he did not revenge turned into love and pity; andr
obtain the victory by means of his own Esau, who once thirsted for his brother's
strength, and how easily himself could have blood, dissolves into tears of joy, and melts
made a conquest, he touched the sinews* or with the softest endearments of love and
hollow of his thigh, which was immediately friendship.
put out of joint.                             Thus  transported with this  happy inThe angel then asked Jacob his name, terview, Esau surveyed his brother's possesand on being answered, he told him  he sions with pleasure, and expressed his satisshould hereafter be called Israel,t which faction at the great success he had met with
signifies "a man that has prevailed with during his residence in Mesopotamia.  He
God."  After saying this, the angel blessed kindly acknowledged the presents Jacob had
Jacob, and then departed.  In consequence sent him, but begged he would excuse his
of so singular a circumstance, Jacob called  accepting  them, because  they would be
the place where it happened Peniel, which superfluous to'him, who had already great
signifies the " face of God," being confident abundance.  Jacob, however, pressed him
that it must have been a divine agent with so earnestly, that he at length agreed to acwhom he had been contending.                cept them; to make some recompense for
Soon after the angel disappeared, Jacob, which, Esau invited him to Seir, and offered
though lame, made what haste he could to to accompany him the remaining part of the
join the company.  Having come up with journey.  Though Jacob had no design of
them, they proceeded with great expedition  accepting this offer, yet he did not choose to
on their journey; but they had not travelled make a direct refusal.  He therefore reprefar before  Jacob  discovered  his brother sented to Esau the tenderness of his chilEsau, attended by a considerable body of dren and flocks, and that they could not
men, coming toward him.  Alarmed at the travel with such expedition as would be
sight of so powerful a retinue, Jacob im- agreeable to him.  He begged they might
mediately divided his family into three com- not confine him  to their slow movements,
panies, placing them at equal distances from  but that he would return home his own
each other.  The two maid-servants and pace, and he would follow with as much extheir sons went first; Leah and her children pedition as possible.  Esau then offered to
next, and Rachel and Joseph (the latter of leave him a number of men to guard and
whom was now about six years old) in the conduct him  into his territories; but this
rear, while himself led the van.            compliment Jacob likewise thought proper
As soon as Jacob approached his brother, to decline, upon which, after saluting each
he showed his respect to him  by bowing other, they parted.
seven times to the ground.  Esau, filled    Esau returned immediately to Seir, and
with the tenderest sense of fraternal affee- expected that his brother would follow him;
tion, at once removed his brother's fears and but Jacob turned another way, and coming
+ This was the sinew or tendon that keeps the    t The words in the text are — "Thy name
thigh-bone in the socket, not only in the human shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel."  This
species, but also in the brute creation; and from  expression clearly evinces the mis-translation of
this circumstance, even to the present time, the some passages in the scriptures, it being certain
Jews will not eat that part. In the Misnah, one that the patriarch was frequently after called
of their books of directions concerning religious Jacob. But this seeming contradiction will be
ceremonies, they have a whole chapter prescrib- easily adjusted, by substituting the words not only
ing the manner in which it is to be cut out of the for " no more;" in which case the sense will read
beast when killed; and it is further enjoined that thus: Thou shalt not only be called Jacob, but
they shall not eat the sinews of the hips of any also Israel- the latter of which names was at
animal whatever.                           length established in Jacob's descendants.




132                               AN ILLUSTRATED
to a spot which struck his fancy, he resolved    Jacob was soon informed of the depreda
(at least for a time) to settle in it; in con- tion made on his daughter's chastity, and
sequence of which he built a house for his though greatly incensed at so unjustifiable a
family, as also proper conveniences for the proceeding, he resolved not to take any noreception of his cattle.                      tice of it till his sons (who were then abroad)
After staying here some time, Jacob re- came home.  Accordingly, on their arrival,
moved to Shechem, and having purchased  he told them the injury their sister had susa piece of ground of Hamor, the prince of tained, and by whom; upon which their rethe country, he there pitched his tents,* in- sentment was raised to the greatest height,
tending to make it his fixed place of resi- and they vowed severely to revenge the disdence.  He  also  erected  an  altar,  and  honor thus thrown upon their family.
called  it El-alohe-Israel,  which  signifies    In the mean time, Shechem  having pre"the great or mighty God of Israel."          vailed with his father to use his interest in
Jacob might probably have lived at this obtaining for him the beautiful Dinah, they
place a considerable time, had it not been  both went together to make the proposal to
for an occurrence of a very singular nature. Jacob, whose sons were with him  at the
His daughter Dinah, who was at this time  time of their arrival.  After the first salutaabout sixteen years of age, and very beauti- tions were over, Hamor, addressing himself
ful in person, being  desirous of seeing the  to Jacob, told him  the great affection his
dresses and ornaments of the women of that son had for his daughter Dinah, and earcountry, rambled abroad from  her mother's nestly entreated him that he would give her
tent, in  order to  gratify  her  curiosity. to him in marriage.  He at the same time
Young  Shechem, the son of Hamor (the  proposed that Jacob's family should interking of the country), happening to see her, marry with his people, and offered them the
was so captivated with her charms, that, privilege of settling and trading in any part
unable to restrain the force of his passion, he of his dominions they thought proper.  To
determined, if possible, to  possess  her. strengthen  this proposal, young  Shechem
He diligently watched her for some time, promised to give Dinah as large a dowry,
till at length, taking the opportunity of her and her relations as costly presents, as they
being alone, he suddenly seized on her, and, should desire.  In short, he offered them
by mere  dint of violence, obtained  his whatever advantages they should please to
wishes.                                       nominate, bidding  them  only  name their
But notwithstanding this dishi,norable act, terms, and they should be granted to the
Shechem was still so enamored with Dinah's uttermost, provided they would but give him
charms, that he most earnestly wished to  Dinah in marriage.
marry her; and strongly solicited his father    These were certainly very fair offers, and
to intercede with her friends in his behalf, such as evinced that Shechem  was desirous
and to form a treaty with them for that pur- of making some recompense for the injury
pose.                                         he had done his beloved Dinah.  But, in* The use of tents probably arose at first out whose circumstances admit it endeavor, so far as
of the exigencies of pastoral life, which rendered it possible, to occupy tents during  the summer
necessary that men removing from one place to months.  This was the constant practice of the
another in search of pasture should have a porta- late king of Persia, who every year left his capital
ble habitation. Accordingly, we find that the with all the nobles, and more than half the inhabfirst mention of tents is connected with the keep- itants, to encamp in the plain  of Sultalich.
ing of cattle (Gen. iv. 20), and to this day tents Many of the princes, his sons, did the same in
remain the exclusive residence of only pastoral their several provinces, and the practice is an old
people. Portability is not the only  recom- one in Persia. It is true that tents would seem
mendation of tents to the nomad tribes of the to be rather cheerless abodes in the winter; but it
East: the shelter which they offer in the warm  is to berecollected that the nomads have generbut delicious climates of Western Asia is positive ally the power of changing the climate with the
enjoyment. Shelter fiom the sun is all that is season. In winter the Bedouins plunge into the
needful, and this a tent sufficiently affords, with- heart of the desert, and others descend, in the
out excluding the balmy and delicate external air, same season, from the mountainous and high
the comparative exclusion of which renders the lands, where they had enjoyed comparative coolfinest house detestable to one accustomed to a ness in summer, to the genial winter climate of
residence in tents. The advantage of tents in the low valleys and plains, which in the summer
this respect is so well understood, even by the had been too warm.
inhabitants of towns, that, in many places, those




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    133
stead of accepting these proposals, the they went (unknown to their father) into
treacherous sons of Jacob, who only medi- the city, and suddenly falling on the inhabittated the most bloody revenge, made the ants, put every male to the sword, Hamor
following reply   " That it was not lawful and  his  son  not excepted.   They then
for them to'contract an affinity with an un- searched the king's palace, where, finding
circumcised nation, but that, if they and their sister Dinah, they immediately brought
their people would consent to be circumcised her away; after which they plundered the
(as they were), they would then agree to houses of the city, took both women and
the terms proposed."                         children captive, and possessed themselves
Shechem  was so enamored with Dinah, of what property they could, as well in catand Hamor so fond of his son, that, not- tie as in other articles; and such things as
withstanding the singularity of this proposal, they could not take with them, they totally
they readily agreed to  it.  Accordingly, destroyed.t
leaving Jacob and his son, they immediate-    When Jacob (who was totally unacquaintly repaired to the city, and having convened ed with these unjustifiable proceedings till
a general assembly of the inhabitants, they  after they had taken place) first heard of them,
told them  " that the  Israelites  were  a he was greatly incensed against his sons, and
wealthy, peaceable, and good-natured peo- very severely reprimanded them for commitple; that they might reap many great ad- ting so treacherous and barbarous an action.
vantages from them, and, in process of time, But Simeon and Levi paid little attention to
by intermarrying with them, might make all their father's rebuke; on the contrary, such
their substance (which was very considera- were their ideas of the crime committed in
ble) their own; but that this could not be the violation of their sister's chastity, that
done without a general consent to be cir- they intimated to him'he resentment they
cumeised."                                    had shown was but just'pr so base an inCaptivated with  the prospect of great jury.
wealth, and influenced by the powerful in-    It is not to be wondered at that this vioterest both Hamor and his son had among lent outrage, committed in the capital of the
them, they unanimously assented to the pro- Shechemites, should exasperate the whole
posal; and on that very day every male of  people of the country against the Israelites.
them was circumcised.                        This seems to have been the reason why the
This circumstance furnished Simeon and  Almighty, soon  after the transaction hapLevi (the sons of Jacob, and brother to  pened, commanded the patriarch to remove to
Dinah, by the same mother) with an oppor- Bethel, the place which he had dedicated to his
tunity of wreaking  that revenge on the immediate service.  Though the sons of Jacob
Shechemites which they had privately re- had wholly destroyed one colony of the Casolved on for the violation of their sister's naanites, yet there were great numbers borchastity.  Sensible of the great pain the derinug on the spot, who, either in their own
Shechemites felt in consequence of circum- defence, or in revenge for the cruel and
cision, they determined to take advantage  unjust treatment of their countrymen, might
of it, by attacking them at a time when they  give the good patriarch much disquiet, if not
knew they must be totally incapable of mak- totally destroy him  and his family.  His
ing the least resistance.  Accordingly, on omnipotent Creator, therefore, in order to
the third days after the operation  (having secure him firom danger, ordered him to go
properly armed themselves for the purpose), to Bethel,? there to fix his residence, and
* This was the time, according to most physi- sent the injury done to her honor, they are made
cians, when fevers generally attended circumci- the chief contrivers and conductors of it. It is,
sion, occasioned by the violent inflammation of however, reasonable to imagine, that the rest of
the wound. The Jews themselves observe that Jacob's sons, who were old enough to bear arms,
the pain was much more severe on the third day as well as the greatest part of his domestics, were
than at any other time after the operation.   engaged in the execution of this wicked exploit;
t Though the sacred historian only mentions because it is scarcely conceivable how two men
Simeon and Levi to have been the perpetrators of alone should be able to master a whole city, to
this horrid act of cruelty, yet there is not the least slay all the men in it, and take all the women
doubt but they had  considerable  assistance. captives, who, on this occasion, may be supposed
They, indeed, are only mentioned because, being more than sufficient to have overpowered them.
own brothers to Dinah both by father and    t BETHEL. - The following brief but interestmother, and consequently more concerned to re- ing notice of the site of Bethel has lately been




134                              AN ILLUSTRATED
erect an altar to the same God who appeared    Jacob, having thus cleansed  his family
to him when he fled from the presence of his from  impurities, set out with them  on his
brother Esau.                                journey  to  Bethel.  In  order to insure
The obedient and pious Jacob hesitated  their safety, the Almighty, ever mindful of
not to comply with the divine command; but, his promise to his chosen people, struck such
previous to his setting about the business, he a terror into the people belonging to the
thought it necessary to make a reformation country through  which they passed, that,
in his family, and cleanse it from  the pollu- notwithstanding the provocation given by the
tions that might be offensive in so sacred a massacre at Shechebn, not a single person
place.  To effect this, he strictly charged not presumed to interrupt them, and they travonly his own family, but all that belonged to elled to their destined  place without the
him, to bring out their idols, or strange gods, least molestation.
then  clean  themselves,* and change their    No sooner did Jacob arrive at Bethel,~
garments, telling them  they must go with than, agreeably to the divine command, he
all expedition to Bethel, the house of their erected an altar, which he called El-beth-el;
God.                                         and on which he performed the very vow he
They readily obeyed the patriarch's or- had before made when on his journey firom
ders, and delivered up to him not only their Canaan to Mesopotamia.
idols,t but also their ear-rings,? all of which'A short time after Jacob had performed this
Jacob buried in a deep hole under an oak II act of worship, the Almighty was pleased to
near Shechem.                                appear to him again, and to give him fresh
afforded by Professor Robinson. After telling us innocent blood, as they would otherwise be unfit
that the site now bears the name of Beit-in, he to hold an intercourse with their God; as if he
proceeds to state that, - " It lies just east of the had said, " Put off your sordid apparel, especially
Nablous Road, forty-five minutes north-east of those garments in which you were so lately deBireh. Here are ruins of very considerable cx- filed with blood, and put on your cleanest raiment,
tent, and among them the foundations of several as an emblem of your being divested of all impure
churches, lying on the point of a low hill between affections, and clothed with those internal graces
two shallow wadys, which unite below, and run and pious dispositions, which are the ornament
off south-east into a deep and rugged valley. of the soul, and render it comely in the sight of
This was evidently a place of note in the early God.
Christian ages, and apparently also in the days    t The greater part of these idols belonged to
of the Crusades. It is now entirely uninhabited; the Shechemites; but among them were those
except that a few Arabs, probably fiom  some which Rachel had stole from her father Laban,
neighboring village, had pitched their tents here and which she had probably worshipped (unknown
for a time. In the western valley we spread our to her father) during her stay at Shechem.
carpets, and breakfasted on the grass within the    j The ear-rings and other jewels worn by these
limits of what was once an immense reservoir. people were consecrated to the honor of that idol
We obtained here from the Arabs butter of excel- whom they worshipped; and on them were enlent quality, which might have done honor to the graven some figures.  The reason of their weardays when the flocks of Abraham and Jacob were ing them was, to preserve them (as they thought)
pastured on these hills." — Biblical Repository, from any danger or misfortune; and from this
April, 1839, p. 420.                         act of idolatry we may suppose arose the custom
* The Hebrew word which we translate clean, among the papists of wearing the relics and imaproperly signifies the washing of the body with water. ges of their saints.
As there is some analogy between external clean-   II The oak here mentioned seems to have been
liness and purity of mind, it may denote the the place where these servants of Jacob, who
cleansing of the soul by repentance from all those had strange gods, used to meet; and certainly
impurities whereby a man becomes morally pol- no place could be more proper for burying their
luted in the sight of God. In which view, this idols than the spot on which they had worshipped
rite of washing the body with water was used as them.
a sign of inward purification, not only among the    ~ According to the sacred historian (though
idolatrous heathens, but also by the worshippers he does not mention any time) it appears that
of the true God, both before and under the law. soon after Jacob's arrival at Bethel, Deborah
" Wash ye, make ye clean, put away the evil of (Rebecca's nurse) died there. What age she was
your doings from before mine eyes," Isaiah i. 16. we are not informed; but it is certain she must
And as men should at all times have their souls have been very old, as she came with Rebecca
adorned with this inward purity, so especially from  Mesopotamia, when she was married to
when they approach their Maker in the duties of Isaac. Her remains were deposited beneath an
his immediate worship. It was, therefore, highly oak (as was the custom  in those days) called
commendable in Jacob, on this solemn occasion, Allon-bachuth, from which the Jews have a trato enjoin all under his care to cleanse and purify dition that Rebecca died on the same day with her
themselves particularly from idolatry, and from  nurse; that word, in the Hebrew language, signi.
those guilty stains lately contracted by shedding fying mourning.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    135
assurances of his design to multiply his pos- refresh himself and family, he stopped and
terity, and to bestow on him the inheritance  pitched his tents on a pleasant spot, at some
of the land of Canaan.  As a lasting monu- distance from  the tower of Edlar.t  During
ment of this additional mark of the divine his stay here his eldest son Reuben, havino
favor, Jacob erected a pillar of stone, which taken a liking to Bilhah (the concubinary
he consecrated in the usual form, by pouring wife which Rachel had given to Jacob), made
on it wine and oil.                          no scruple of defiling her.  Though Jacob
After being some time at Bethel, Jacob, took no notice of this disagreeable circumurged, by filial affection, resolved to leave it, stance at the time it occurred, yet he was
in order to pay a visit to his ancient father greatly afflicted in his mind, and retained a
at Al[amre.  Accordingly, taking with him  painful sense of it even to his dying day, as
his family, they set out on their journey, in- is evident from  a reproachful hint he gave
tending to stop that night at Ephrath (after- him a short time before his death.b$
ward called Bethlehem), a small place not   Though these aggravated griefs sat heavy
far distant from  Bethel.  But before they  on Jacob's mind, yet he continued his resocould reach the intended spot Rachel fell lution of visiting his aged parent.  He acsuddenly in labor, and having very severe  cordingly pursued his journey, and at length
pangs, the midwife, in order to encourage her, came to Matmre, the place of his father's
bid her not fear, for she would have another abode.  It is not to be doubted but, at their
son.  She was indeed delivered of a boy, first meeting, a reciprocal affection displayed
but expired immediately after, having  but itself, as each must be happy in the sight of
just a moment's space of time to give him  the other after so long an absence.
the name of Benoni, which signifies "the    With this circumstance the sacred historian
son of my sorrow."  But Jacob, unwilling concludes the life of Isaac, who, as he into increase the remembrance of so melancholy  forms us, paid the debt of nature in the one
a circumstance, called him Benjamin, that is, hundred and eightieth year of his age, being
"the son of my right hand,'"  or  "my  five years older than his father Abraham.
strength;" intimating thereby his peculiar He had been very infirm, and almost blind,
affection for this last pledge of his beloved  for a considerable time; but was always rewife.                                        spectable for his piety, tranquillity, and subThe remains of Rachel were deposited at mission to the will of Heaven.  Hle was
the place where she died, and in order to buried by his two sons, Esau and Jacob, inperpetuate her memory, Jacob  erected a the cave of Macbpelah, which Abraham purmonument of stone " over her grave, which  chased of Ephron as a burying-place for his
the sacred historian tell us was extant in his family.  It is to be observed that the death
days.                                         of Isaac is here mentioned by way of anticiBut this was not the only misfortune that pation, it being certain that he lived some
attended  Jacob on his journey to Mamre. years after Jacob's return from  M/esopoAfter travelling some way farther, in order to tamia.
-We have no doubt that the original erection  hem where those shepherds were keeping their
by Jacob was merely the most tall and shapely flock to whom the angels appeared, and gave instone which could be found in the neighborhood. formation of the birth of our Saviour. Among
The site seems always since to have been marked  others, one reason which induces them to think so
by some sepulchral erection or other. That which is because the word Edar, in the Hebrew tongue,
now exists is such as those with which sheiks signifies afiock: so that what is here called the towand other persons of note are honored.  Its date er of Edar should be rendered the tower of the floclcs.
we can not find, but it is certainly modern. The Others are of opinion that by the tower of Edar
structure which the travellers of the sixteenth and is to be understood some place near Jerusalem;
seventeenth centuries figure and describe had the it being spoken of by the prophet Micah as the
same general shape, but it was open, in arches, on place or stronghold of the daughters of Sion.
all sides.                                    See Micah iv. 8.
t Some commentators are of opinion, that by    $ See Genesis xlix. 4.
the tower of Edar is meant the field near Bethle



136                               AN ILLUSTRATED
CH APTER VII.
HISTORY  OF JOSEPH.-  JACOB  AND  FAMILY  REMOVED  TO  EGYPT.
THE pious Jacob had not long enjoyed  the field, his sheaf arose and stood upright,
the company of his aged father, after his  while their sheaves round about fell down,
return from  Mesopotamia, before a circum- and, as it were, made obeisance to his."
stance occurred which gave him  great un- This dream being considered by his brethren
happiness.  Joseph was his beloved child,  as an indication of his pride and ambition,
as being  the  son  of his dear departed  their malice was greatly increased, but still
Rachel, besides which, he particularly at- more so when they heard the substance of
tracted the attention of his father from  his the  second dream.  "Behold,"  says he,
very extraordinary genius.  In consequence  "the sun and the moon and the eleven stars
of these circumstances, Jacob, as a token  made obeisance to me."  When Joseph reof his peculiar love to his favorite Joseph,  lated this last dream his father was present,
gave him  clothes much richer than he did  on which the good old man, either to apthe rest; and, among others, one coat which  pease the anger of his other sons, or check
was made of a changeable or party-colored  that presumption which in young minds so
stuff.*  This naturally raised the envy of  naturally  arises from  good omens, reprihis brothers; besides which, they had for manded him in these words:' Shall I and
some time considered him  as a spy, because  thy brethren come to bow down ourselves to
he had told his father of some indiscretions  thee to the earth?"   But though Jacob
committed by the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, thought proper to reprimand his son Joseph,
with whom  he was most conversant, by fre- for the reason here assigned, yet, in his own
quently assisting them  in the care of their mind, he thought there was something very
flocks.   From   these  circumstances  they  ominous in the dreams, and that they were
treated  Joseph  with  contempt, withheld  predictions of events that would some time
from him the common offices of civility, and  or other come to pass.
made it their constant study to perplex and    After Joseph had related these dreams to
torment him.                                  his brethren (notwithstanding the reprimand
But what completed the envy and resent- given him  by his father), instead of their
ment of Joseph's brethren, or, rather, pro- hatred being abated, they grew  every day
duced an irreconcilable hatred, was his in- more and more exasperated; so that they
nocently relating to them  two dreams, the  resolved at length to cut him off, and only
explanations of which seemed to portend his waited  for a convenient opportunity  for
own future greatness.   The substance of effecting their purposes.
the first of these dreams was, that " as he    Some time after this, Jacob, having purwas binding sheaves with his brethren in  chased some land near Shechem, sent all his
* This.paty-colored tunic of Joseph has such a dress was a distinction for a king's danghoccasioned some speculation; but it would seem  ter (2 Samuel xiii. 18); and in Judges v. 30, we
that the real point of interest has not been noticed. see ladies anticipating the return of a victorious
It would be desirable to know whether the art general with " a prey of divers colors, of divers
of interweaving a piece in various colors was at colors of needlework on both sides."  We may,
this time discovered or not. Judging from the therefore, infer that in these times people geneinformation which this text gives, it would seem  rally did not wear variegated dresses, the common,no.t;,for the word which is constantly rendered use of which must have been consequent on the
"colors" may, as in the marginal reading, with  discovery of the art of interweaving a variegated
more than equal propriety be rendered "pieces;" pattern in the original texture, or of printing it
which makes it probable that the agreeable effect subsequently. The most remarkable illustration
resulting from a combination of colors was ob- of this text which we have seen is given by Mr.
tained by patchwork in the first instance, and Roberts, who states that in India it is customary
in after times by being wrought with a needle. to invest a beautiful or favorite child with "a coat
The value and distinction attached to such varie- of many colors," consisting of crimson, purple,
gated dresses show that they were not common, and other colors, which are often tastefully sewed
and were worked by some elaborate process. together.
This continued long after.  In the'time of David,




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  137
sons (Joseph excepted) to keep their flocks    This horrid design would certainly have
there.  After being absent a long time, and  been carried into execution had it not been
no intelligence received of them  by Jacob, for the interposition of Reuben, who used
he was very anxious for their welfare, fear- the most forcible arguments to  dissuade
ing lest the inhabitants of the land should  them  from  imbruing their hands in  the
revenge on them the loss of their countrymen, blood of their brother.  As they were, howwho had been put to death by Jacob's sons. ever, determined to show some instance of
To remove these disagreeable apprehensions, their resentment, Reuben proposed that they
he ordered Joseph to go to Sheehem, and  should cast Joseph into the next pit, with a
inquire after the health and welfare of his  design, no doubt, of taking him out privately
brethren, and return with all convenient  and conveying him safe to his father.  This
expedition.                                 proposition being approved of by the rest of
Joseph, in obedience to his father's com- the brethren, as soon as Joseph came up to
mands, set out for Shechem, which was them they immediately seized him, and, after
about sixty miles distant fiom  the place  taking off his party-colored garment, threw
where his father now  dwelt.   When he  him into a pit, which at that time happened
came within some distance of Shechem, he  to be dry.  As soon as this was done Reuhappened to meet a stranger, of whom  he  ben withdrew, in order to contrive some
made inquiry after his brethren.  The stran- means for rescuing his brother, while the
ger told him they had removed from  She-  rest, insensible of remorse for the deed they
chem some time, and were gone to a place  had committed, sat down and regaled themcalled Dothan.*  Joseph accordingly has- selves with such provisions as the place
tened to Dothan; and no sooner did his  afforded.   They  were  satisfied  in  their
brethren see him approaching than their old  minds that their base ends wo ild soon be
malice revived, and they determined to em- answered, and that Joseph musO inevitably
brace this opportunity of destroying him. perish in the pit for the want of food.  But
" Behold " (says one of them to the rest),  the eye of Omnipotence beheld his distress,
" this dreamer cometh.  Come now, there- and interposed in his behalf; for as Reuben
fore, and let us slay him, and cast him  into  had already been the means of preventing
some pit, and we will say some evil beast his immediate death, so Judah now became
has devoured him; and we shall see what the means of delivering him out of the pit.
will become of his dreams."                   It happened that while they were regal.
X This place is mentioned as a "city" in Dothan, if this be Dothan, was atout five or
2 Kings vi. 13-15. Eusebius says it was twelve six days' journey, which, as Dr. Richardson
miles south of Samaria. That it was somewhere observes, " is a long way for the sons of Jacob
north of Shechem would appear from the present to go to feed their herds, and a still farther way
text. What is meant by the "pit" into which for a solitary youth like Joseph to be sent in
Joseph was cast is an exhausted cistern, or reser- quest of them."  But we do not consider this
voir, in which the rain-water is collected, and distance too great, particularly as we know the
of which there are many in Palestine. Many of place was somewhere beyond Shechem. Indeed
them  are found to be empty in summer, the the doctor himself admits that it is a very likely
supply of water they contain being often soon place, particularly as it lies in what is still one
exhausted.   Dr. Richardson thus mentions the of the principal roads from the Haouran and
place which is pointed out as the scene of the Mount Gilead to Egypt. Speaking of the same
affair recorded in this chapter: "Having cleared neighborhood (Nablous or Shechem), Dr. Clarke
the intricate defiles of this part of the country, says: "Along the valley we beheld a company
we got upon an extensive open field which bore of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, as in the days
an abundant crop of thistles, and on which several of Reuben and Judah,' with their camels, bearherds of black cattle were feeding.  This, by ing spicery, and balm, and myrrh,' who would
some, is supposed to be the scene of the infamous gladly have purchased another Joseph of his
conspiracy of which the liberty of Joseph was the brethren, and conveyed him as a slave to some
temporary victim. A little farther on we arrived Potiphar in Egypt. Upon the hills around, flocks
at Gib Youssouff, or the pit into which Joseph and herds were feeding as of old; nor, in the
was cast by his brethren, being a ride of three simple garb of the shepherds of Samaria, was
hours and forty minutes from Mensura. Here there any thing to contradict the notions we may
there is a large Khan for the accommodation of entertain of the appearance formerly exhibited
travellers, and a well of very excellent water, and by the sons of Jacob." He adds, that the morna very comfortable oratory for a Mussulman to ing after his arrival at Nablous, he met caravans
pray in."  This place is about two and a half coming from  Grand Cairo, and noticed others
or three days' journey from Shechem, which is reposing in the large olive plantations near the
nearly equal to the distance between Hebron and gates.
Shechem; so that the distance from Hebron to




138                                 AN ILLUSTRATED
ing themselves they espied at a distance a  and  other merchandise.*    The  sight of
caravan of Ishmaelites, who were travelling  these furnished  Judah  with a thought in
from  Mount Gilead into Egypt with spices what manner he might secure his brother
* Midianites being also mentioned as denomi- of such principles did not apply themselves to
nating this company, we nlay infer that it was a  navigation until very late."  Besides, the Egypmixed caravan, and  principally  composed of  tians had a religious aversion to. the sea, and conIshmaelites  and Midianites.  We might call sidered all those as impious and degraded who
them generally " Arabians," as the Chaldee does. embarked upon it.  The sea was, in their view,
" Here," says Dr. Vincent, "upon opening the  an emblem of the evil being (Typhon), the irnoldest history in the world, we find the Ishmael- placable enemy of Osiris; and the aversion of the
ites from  Gilead conducting a caravan loaded  priests in particular was so strong, that they
with the spices of India, the balsam  and myrrh  carefully kept mariners at a distance, even when
of Hadrainaut; and in the regular course of their  the rest of the nation began to pay sonime attentraffic proceeding to Egypt for a market.  The  tion to sea-affairs.  But besides their religious
date of this transaction is more than seventeen  hatred to the sea, and political aversion to strancenturies before the Christian era, and notwith-  gers, other causes concuerred in preventing the culstanding its antiquity, it has all the  genuine  tivation of maritime commnnerce by the Egyptians.
features of a caravan crossing the Desert at the  The country produces no wood suitable for the
present hour."  (Commerce and Navigation of  construction of vessels.   Therefore, when the
the Ancients, vol. ii., p. 262.)  We cannot at  later Egyptians and the Greek sovereigns began
this moment enter into the question, which Dr.  to attend to navigation, they could not fit out a
Vincent assumes, that the Arabians had already  fleet till they had obtained a command over the
become the medium of communication between  forests of Phoenicia, which gave occasion to bloody
India and Egypt. As the subject divides itself  wars between the Ptolemies and the Seleucidw
into two parts, the commerce of the Arabians  for the possession of those countries. The unand that of the Egyptians, we postpone the for- healthiness of the Egyptian coast, and the paucity
mer, and confine ourselves to a few remarks on  of good harbors, may also be numbered among
the latter.  Dr. Vincent calls the Egyptians, with  the circumstances which operated, with others, in
great propriety, the Chinese of antiquity; and  preventing attention to maritime affairs.  Morethe analogy between the two people might fbrm  over, all the nations who in those times traded ill
a subject for very interesting discussion.  In the  the Mediterranean were also pirates, who made it
present text we see a caravan of foreigners pro-  a particular branch of their business to kidnap
ceeding to Egypt, their camels laden with articles  men from the coasts; and it was therefore natural
of luxury; whence it is an obvious inference that that a people who had no vessels with which to
Egypt had then become what it is always recorded  oppose them or retaliate upon them, should allow
to have been, the centre of a most extensive land  them no pretence to land upon their shores.
commerce:- the great emporium  to which the    The indifference of' the Egyptians to foreign
merchants brought gold, ivory, and slaves from   commerce is demrnonstrated by the fact that they
Ethiopia, incense fi-om Arabia, spices from India, abandoned the navigation of the Red Sea to whatand wine from Phoenicia and Greece: for which  ever people cared to exercise it. They allowed
Egypt gave in exchange its corn, its manu- the Phenicians, the Edomites, the Jews, the
factures of fine linen, its robes, and its carpets.  Syrians, successively, to have fleets there and
In after-times, the merchants of the west, of  maritime stations on its shores.  It was not until
Greece and Rome, resorted to Egypt for its own  toward the termination of the national independproducts, and for the goods brought thither by  ence that the sovereigns of' Egypt began to turn
the oriental merchants. But none of this was their attention to such matters.  The  parts of
done by Egyptians themselves.  We never, either Lower Egypt were ultimately opened  to the
in ancient or modern times, read of Egyptian  Phoenicians and Greeks, by Psammeticus, about
caravans. This doubtless arose in a great degree  658 years B. c. His son, Necho, for the purpose
from  the aversion which (in common with all of facilitating commerce, attempted to unite the
people who observe a certain diet and mode of life  Mediterranean and Red Sea, by means of a canal
prescribed by religion) they entertained to any  from the Nile; but desisted after having lost
intercourse with strangers, and which reminds us  100,000 workmen. This work was completed by
continually of the restrictive policy of the Japanese  the Persians, but turned out to be of little practical
in some respects, and of the religious prejudices of  benefit, either from  the failure of the eastern
Hindoos and strict Mohammedans.  Thus, it was  channel of the Nile, or firom being choked by the
a maxim among the Egyptians not to leave their sands drifted from  the desert. Failing in this
own country, and we have ample evidence that project, Necho contrived to pay great attention
they rarely did so, except in attendance upon the  to navigation..He caused ships to be built both
wars and expeditions of their sovereigns, even  on the Mediterranean and Red Sea, and interested
when their restrictive policy and peculiar customs  himself in maritime discovery, with a view to the
became relaxed under the Greek and Roman rulers  extension of the commercial relations of Egypt.
of the country.  " They waited," says Goguet, He sent on a voyage of discovery those Phceni.
after Strabo, " till other nations brought them   cian mariners who effected the famous circumthe things they stood in need of, and they did this  navigation of Africa, sailing from the Red Sea,
with the more tranquillity, as the great fertility  and, after doubling the Cape of Good Hope,
of their country in those times left them few things  returning by the Mediterranean.  The maritime
to desire. It is not at all surprising that a people  power of Egypt increased  thenceforward, the




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                   139
Joseph from certain death, and at the same coat, than he was convinced to whom it betime  answer  their ends by  getting  him  longed, and not suspecting that any human
totally  removed.   As  the  caravan  ap- hand could be guilty of such an unnatural
proached, he urged  the iniquity  of being cruelty as to murder him, concluded that he
instrumental in the destruction of their own had been unhappily devoured by some wild
brother, by which they would contract an beast.  This loss was the most severe he
eternal stain of guilt.  He therefore advised had ever sustained.   When  his beloved
them to sell him to the Ishmaelites, by which Racbel died, it was in a natural way; but
means they would not only save his life, but Joseph (according to his present apprehenlikewise promote their own interest.  This sion) is, by a savage animal, barbarously
proposal being universally approved of, Jo- torn in pieces before his timle.  His grief,
seph was taken out of the pit, and sold to therefore, knew  no bounds; he rent his
the merchants for twenty pieces of silver; and clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourned for
the merchants, on their arrival in Egypt, his beloved son many days; nay, so excessold him  again  to Potiphar, one of the sive was his affliction, that when his children
king's chief officers, and captain  of his in general endeavored  to comfort him, it
guards.                                      availed nothing, and all the answer he made
Reuben, who was absent while this cir- them was, that he could only cease to mourn
cumstance happened, came soon after to the when he should follow him  in the path of
pit, in order to assist his brother in making  mortality.
his escape; but, astonished  at not finding    In conformity to the sacred historian, we
him  there, he ran hastily to his brethren, must here make a short digression from  the
rent his clothes, and upbraided himself as further transactions of Joseph, in order to
the cause of his being lost:;' The child,"  admit some occurrences which are materially
said he, " is not, and whither shall I go? "  connected with the history, and, therefore,
In short, he bewailed himself to such a de- must not be suffered to pass unnoticecl.
gree, that his brethren, in order to mitigate    Some time before Joseph was sold into
his grief, told him in what manner they had  Egypt, Judah (his father's son by Leah),
disposed of him; upon which Reuben, find- who had been  the means of saving his
ing it impossible now to recover him, joined  brother's life, married a Canaanitish woman,
with the rest, in forming  a tale for their named Shuah, by whom he had three sons,
father which might take from  them  all sus- viz, Er, Onan, and Shelah.
picion of their being instrumental in the loss    In process of time, when Er, his eldest
of his beloved Joseph.                       son, grew up to years of maturity, he took
To effect this purpose, they killed a kid, him  a wife whose name was Tamar; but
and dipping Joseph's coat into the blood, Er, being naturally of a very wicked dispotook it to their father, telling him  they had  sition, the Almighty was pleased to cut him
found it in the field, and were fearful it was off before he had any children by his wife.
their brother's.  " This," said they, " have  In consequence of this, Judah (agreeably to
we found; know  now  whether it be thy  the custom  of the country) advised Onan,
son's coat, or no."                          his second son, to marry his brother's widow
The good old patriarch no sooner saw the in order to preserve the succession of his
clearest proof of which may be found in the fact, oriental produce: and so wise was the new policy,
that in the reign of Necho's grandson, Apries, and so deep had it taken root, that the Romans,
the Egyptian fleet ventured to give battle, and upon the subjection of Egypt, found it more exactually defeated so experienced a naval power as pedient to leave Alexandria in possession of its
that of the Pheenicians.                     privileges, than to alter the course of trade, or
After all, the Egyptians were not themselves occupy it themselves."  (The facts combined in
a people addicted to maritime commerce. The this sketch of Egyptian trade, &c., have been
Greek rulers of Egypt indeed changed the entire drawn from the works of Vincent, Heeren, Reysystem of Egyptian trade, and the new capital, nier, Goguet, Rennel, and Hales.)
Alexandria, became the first mart of the world,
while the ancient inland capitals, which had arisen    X Though the past and following events seem
under the former system, sunk into insignificance. to be connected by the sacred writtr, yet the marBut it was the Greeks of Egypt, not the Egyp- ria.ge of Judah certainly took place long before
tians, who did this. " They became," says Dr. Joseph was sold into Egypt; and, in all probaVincent, "the carriers of the Mediterranean, as bility, a short time after Jacob's return from his
well as the agents, factors, and importers of uncle Laban.




140                              AN ILLUSTRATED
family.  Onan seemingly obeyed his father's    Shuah, Judah's wife, had been some time
orders, but not brooking the thoughts that dead, and as soon as the usual time of mournany of his children  should  inherit his ing was expired, he went, accompanied by a
brother's name (which must have been the particular friend, to Timnath, in order to
case had Tamar borne him any) he took a participate in the accustomed amusements
very wicked method of avoiding it, for which of sheap-shearing.
offence he was (as his brother had been be-   Tamar, having received previous intellifore him) punished with sudden death.
Shelab, the third son, being as yet too
young for marriage,  Judah  desired  his
daughter-in-law Tamar to retire to her father's house, and there remain a widow, till
his son became of proper age, at which time
he would make him her husband.
Tamar obeyed  her father-in-law's corm-;
mands, and waited till Shelah was come to
man's estate; but finding no signs of his
Porcelain Rings.
gence of his intended  excursion, and the
time of his going, threw  off her widow's
0          -I>b habit; and dressing herself like a courtesan,
she threw  a veil * over her face, and then
placed herself between two ways through
one of which she knew Judah must necessarily pass in his road to Timnath.
As soon as Judah saw her he took her to
be what she appeared, and accordingly, in a
I~    uf   l        ~        very familiar manner, paid his addresses to
her.   Previous, however, to any further
intimacy, she insisted upon  having some
reward for her compliance, which he readily
3                      agreed to, and promised to send her a kid;
Egyptian Rings and Signets. (From originals in British but she having a further design upon him
Museum.)
1. With name of a king, successor to Amenoph ITI. 2. I demanded a pledge for the performance of
am the servant of Bast (Pasht). 3. Gold and lapis-lazuli, his  which was, h          his
with title of Queen Hatasu, Thebes.             promise,                his sgnt  his
bracelet,  and  his  staff.  Judah  readily
intending to fulfil his promise, she deter- complying with this request, they retired
mined on revenge for her disappointment, together, the consequence of which was that
which she effected by the following strata- Tamar soon after proved with child.
gem.                                            Agreeably to the promise made by Judah
* That veils were not peculiar to harlots, but being disappointed of him, she gratified Judah, in
worn by the most modest women in those times, order to be again taken into the family.
there is not the least doubt: yet as harlots were    i The word here translated a signet should
not then allowed to enter into cities, they usually have been a ring, which ornaments were then
sat in the public ways, and covered their faces worn according to their different ranks. At that
with a veil, in order to conceal their infamy; and time there could be no occasion for signets, it
some assert that the veils they wore differed from  being most probable that writing was not then
those used by modest women. Tamar assumed known. By the word bracelets is generally underthat character, most probably, to engage Shelah, stood a girdle of twisted silk, which either hung
who was her betrothed husband, and who she from the neck, or was fastened round the waist
might expect would come with his father; but, somewhat in the form of a child's sash.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                   141
to Tamar, previous to their intercourse, the the other was called Zarah which implies
former sent his friend Hirah (for that was "he ariseth," alluding to the sign he gave
his name) with a kid to redeem  his pledge; of his coming, by putting forth his hand.
but when he came to the place the woman    What further  circumstances  occurred,
was gone, nor could he, upon the strictest after this, relative to Tamar, we are not ininquiry, learn that any such person as he formed; but it is reasonable to suppose that
described had ever been there.  This cir- she continued the remainder of her life in
cumstance greatly perplexed  Judah, who, the house of Judah, and that she lived the
upon cool reflection, thought it most prudent whole time in a state of widowhood.
to let her go with the pledges, fearing, if he    Having, with the sacred historian, menshould make further search after her, it tioned the before-mentioned particulars relamight injure his reputation.                tive to Judah and his family, we shall, in
About three months after this, Judah re- like manner, now  resume the history of
ceived intelligence that his daughter-in-law  Joseph, and relate the various adventures
had played the harlot, and that she was cer- and enterprises that befell him  during his
tainly with child.  Enraged at her incon- residence in Egypt.
tinence, he ordered her to be brought forth,    From  the time that Joseph had first adand, according to the laws of the country, mission into Potiphar's family, he conducted
be publicly burnt.*                         himself with the greatest diligence and fidelTamar, instead of being alarmed at this ity.  By his faithful services he so obtained
dreadful sentence pronounced against her, the favor of his master, that, after some
only sent the pledges to Judah, and with time, he not only dismissed him from every
them  this message   " That the man to laborious employment, but made him superwhom  those belonged was the very person intendent of his whole property and comby whom she was with child."                mitted the charge of his house solely to his
Judah, struck with confusion at the sight care and direction.
of the pledge he so well knew, and reflect-   Joseph being  then  appointed principal
ing on the injury he had done Tamar in not manager of his master's affairs, both within
fulfilling the promise of giving her his son doors and without, the Lord was pleased to
in marriage, acknowledged her to be less bestow a blessing on the house of the Egypculpable in the whole affair than himself. tian; who, by means of Joseph, flour"She hath," said he, " been more righteous ished exceedingly, and being sensible of the
than I."t  Tamar's ends were answered in cause of his very singular success, daily inthis stratagem, for Judah immediately took creased in his good offices toward his faithher home to his house, but never after had ful servant.
any intercourse with her.                     Thus circumstanced, Joseph had reason
When  the  time  of Tamar's  delivery to hope for a comfortable life, though sold to
came, she was brought to bed of twins, slavery; and to expect, in time, his liberty,
whose births were attended with these singu- as a reward for his truth and fidelity.  But
lar circumstances.   One of them  having it pleased the Almighty further to exercise
put forth his hand, the midwife immediately  his faith and patience, in order to prepare
tied around it a scarlet thread, in order to him for a still brighter display of his grace
distinguish him  as the first-born; but the and goodness toward his chosen people.
child having withdrawn its hand, the other   Joseph was now about twenty-seven years
made its way, and came first into the world. of age, of a comely form, beautiful comnThis occasioned  his name  to  be  called plexion, and winning deportment.  These
Pharez, which signifies " breaking forth: " united charms not only engaged the atten* It may appear strange that Judah should the sentence, till he had made further inquiry into
have such authority as to order this punishment the nature of her offence.
to be inflicted on his daughter-in-law Tamar.    t He does not say Tamar was more holy or
But it is to be observed that the ancients supposed chaste, bht more righteous or just; that is, Judah,
everyr man to be judge or chief magistrate in his not keeping his promise in marryin~g her to Sheown family; so that, though Tamar was a Ca- lah, provoked her to lay this trap for him, resolving
naanite, yet, as she married into Judah's family, since he would not let her have children by Shelah,
and brought disgrace upon it, she necessarily lay she would have them by him. Thus, though she
under the cognizance of him, who may be sup- may be deemed more wicked in the sight of God,
posed, from what followed, to have suspended she appeareth more just in the opinion of Judah.




142                                AN ILLUSTRATED
tion, but also excited the love of his mas- house, and he hath committed all that he
ter's wife, who, when all tacit tokens to  bath to my hand.  There is none greater in
draw the youth into an indulgence of her this house than  I; neither hath he kept
unlawful flame failed, was so fired by her back any thing from  me, but thee, because
eager passion, that she broke through every  thou art his wife: how then can I do this
rule of decency, and, in plain terms, courted  great wickedness, and sin against God?" "
him  to her bed.  But how  great was her    But this repulse, sufficient to have filled
surprise when, instead  of a ready compli- with shame a mind not entirely lost to honor
ance, as she probably expected, she found  and virtue, had no effect on this lewd woherself  not  only  denied,  but  likewise man, who determined  still, if possible, to
severely reprimanded  for her dissolute and  obtain  her ends.   After making  several
illegal passion! "Behold," said he, " my  other fruitless attempts, at length a favorable
master wotteth not what is with me in the opportunity  offered for accomplishing  her
EGYPTIAN FEMALES (OFFICIAL DRESSES).
wishes.  It happened one day that Potiphar day  (having properly prepared herself for
was  engaged  abroad  on  some particular  the purpose) Joseph's mistress called hilm to
business, and all the servants, except Jo- her apartment, which  he had  no  sooner
seph, were employed about their work in  entered than she addressed herself to him in
the adjoining fields.  In the course of the  a language calculated to steal the soul fromn
* This answer was trulv noble, and is highly  with the utmost horror and indignation.  This
worthy of imitation: it speaks a mind whose pas- is an example of the greatest pr obitv and ii-iflexisions are in subjection to the ruling principle of ble integrity; an example worthy of the highest
reason and conscience; a mind that had the most commendation.  Joseph was then a servant in a
delicate sentiments of honor, and the most lively  strange country; he was tempted b)y an impei iols
impressions of religion. His honest heart startles woman: if he complied, he would be suire of conat the thought of committing so foul a crime as cealment and rewards; he would be sire to enjoy
adultery; and the ingratitude and breach of trust his place, and be advanced; if he resisted, he mnuest
with which it would have been accompanied in  expect to be accused and treated as a criminal,
him, present it to his mind in the blackest colors; be deprived of his place, of his liberty, of his fame,
so that these virtuous sentiments concurring with and perhaps of his life too.  These ame weighty
his awful reverence of the Supreme Beinervants, who  considerations; but he pefes chans inominyer
beholds and judges all the actions of the sons of and even death itself, to the crime of committing
Thisen, enabled him to repel this violent assault so heinous an action  and sininlg gationst God
mten, enabled him to r-epel this violent assault so heinous an action, an~d sin~ni~#y against God.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  143
virtue, and melt the coldest continence into ing a malicious accusation against Joseph.
the warmest desires. But Joseph's in- Accordingly, she began by making a most
tegrity was not to be shaken.  Though her horrid outcry, which immediately brought in
arguments were enforced with all the bland- all the servants who were within hearing to
ishments of art, they made not the least her assistance.  As soon as they entered the
impression on him. On the contrary, he again room she showed them  Joseph's cloak, and
expostulated with her on the heinousness of at the same time thus vehemently exclaimed:
the crime, begging her not to desire him  to "See," said she, "he hath brought in a
commit an act which must be destructive to Hebrew unto us to mock us: he came in
him  and disgraceful to her.  But all his unto me to lie with me."  And further to
reasonings were of none effect: instead of her engage them  in her cause when the affair
passion being allayed it was further in- should come to examination, she craftily
flamed, and at length, breaking through all added: "And I cried with a loud voice,
decency, she caught him  by his cloak, and and when he heard it, he left his garment
attempted to compel him  to compliance. with me and fled."  Having then prepared
the servants to confirm her declaration, she
laid the cloak by her, in order to produce it
as an evidence against Joseph when his
master should return.
By the time Potiphar catme home she had
dressed up the story so well, and expressed
the pretended indignity put upon her by the
Hebrew * servant (as she called him) with
such an air of resentment, that he made no
Egyptian Lady. (From an ancient Egyptian painting.)
doubt of the truth of her tale.  The creduHe struggled with his mistress for some lous husband, little suspecting his wife's
time, and finding he had no other way of treachery, was particularly prepossessed with
escaping, he slipped himself from   his gar-  the circumstance of the cloak, and therefore,
ment, which he left in her hand, and precipi- without making the least inquiry  into the
tately fled.                                merits of the cause, immediately committed
Joseph to the king's prison.
Though  the innocent Joseph  was thus
persecuted, in consequence of his base and
treacherous mistress, and was thereby bereft
both of friends and relations, yet he was not
without that divine Friend whno had hitherto
protected him.  He had not been long in
prison before his virtuous and oblioing deportment gained him  the peculiar favor of
the keeper, insomuch that he not only intrusted him  with the management of the
affairs belonging to the prison, but also with
r  At    X     the custody of the prisoners themselves.
Nubian Woman. (From aphotograph.)       Some time after Joseph's confinement, it
happened that two persons of note (nalmely,
Fired with resentment at the supposed the king's cup-bearer and his chief baker)
indignity, and fearful of the disgrace that were, for some offence or other,t committed
would attend the discovery of her shameful to the same prison, and being delivered to
passion, she resolved to shield herself by lay- the care of Joseph, he attended them in per* She did not call Joseph by his own name, of which these men were accused was that of havbut that of the people to whom he belonged. ing embezzled the king's treasure; but the TarThis she did in order to increase her husband's (gum says, they had attempted to poison him
rage against him, the Egyptians and Hebrews Whatever were their crimes, they must have been
being, at this time, inveterate enemies to each very great persons with respect to their birth; for,
qther.                                      accordincg to Diodorus Siculus, none but the sons
of the chief priests were admitted into those oft Some authors are of opinion that the crime fices.




144                             AN ILLUSTRATED
son, and by that means an intimacy between mend his case to the king, since the truth
them was soon established.                  was, he had been fraudulently taken from
Joseph, going one morning to their de- his own country, and thrown into prison,
partment, as he was accustomed to do, found without having been guilty  of the least
them both in a very pensive and melancholy offence.
situation.  On inquiring the cause of this    The baker, hearing so happy an interpresudden change, they told him  that each had tation of the cup-bearer's dream, was the
(the preceding night) a very extraordinary more ready to relate his, which was to this
dream; and that they were uneasy on ac- effect: "That while, as he thought, he had
count of being in a place where they could on his head three wicker baskets, in the upnot have a person to interpret them.  To permost of which were several kinds of baked
allay their superstitious humor in trusting to meats for the king's table, the birds came,
diviners' and soothsayers, Joseph told them  and ate them out of the basket."  The interthat the interpretation of dreams did not pretation Joseph gave of this dream  was,
depend upon rules of art; but, if there was " that the three baskets (even as the three
any certainty in them, it must proceed from  branches had done) signified three days; but
a divine inspiration.  Having said this, he that, in the space of that time, the king,
desired that each would  relate  the  par- having inquired into his conduct, and found
ticulars of what he had dreamed, and he him guilty, would order him to be first bewould give them his opinion with respect to headed, and afterward his body to be hanged
the interpretation.                         on a gibbet, for the fowls of the air to devour
The cup-bearer told his dream  first, the his flesh."@ 
substance of which was as follows: "That   As Joseph had foretold, so it came to
in his sleep he fancied he saw  a vine with pass; for, three days after this, the cup-bearthree branches, which, all on a sudden, bud- er was restored and the baker hanged.  The
ded, then blossomed, and at length brought cup-bearer, however, proved very ungrateful
forth ripe grapes: that he held Pharaoh's to Joseph, in not using the least endeavors
cup in his hand, pressed the juice into the to get his releasement, and he might probasame, and gave it to the king, who, as usual, bly have continued in prison the remainder
took it and drank."  This dream  Joseph  of his life, had it not been for the following
interpreted  thus: "The three branches," incident.
said he, " denote three days, within which    When Joseph had been more than two
Pharaoh will restore thee to thy place, and years in prison, it happened that Pharaoh
thou shalt, as usual, give him  to drink, ac- the king had in one night two very portencording to the duties of thy office. "  TIe tous dreams, which gave him  the more unthen told the cup-bearer that, if his inter- easiness, because none  of the  Egyptian
pretation proved true, he hoped he would, Magi t (whom he consulted the next morning)
in his prosperity, remember him, and recom- could give him the least explanation of their
Boats conveying stone and timber.
meaning. While the king was in this state of ceived some agreeable intelligence from his
perplexity on account of his dreams, he re- cup-bearer, who, recollecting Joseph, told
r It racy appear strange that the sacred histo- were, at that time, a regular body of people in
rian should mention the baker's being first be- Egypt, and always consulted with respect to their
headed, and afterward hanged. But it is to be pretended knowledge of future events.  Their
observed that this practice was common at that method of interpretation was from an attentive
time.  Hence Jeremiah says, " princes were consideration of the symbols or images that aphanged up by their hands," intimating that their peared in the dream. Thus, the best they could
heads had been previously cut off. See Lamen- pretend was no more than conjecture; but they
tations v 12. Also 1 Sam. xxxi. 9, 10.      always gave their answers to whatever questions
they were asked in such ambiguous words that
* The magicians, or interpreters of'dreams, they could hardly be detected.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    145
him that while he and the chief baker were gence, and so anxious to have his dreams
under his majesty's displeasure in prison, explained, that he immediately despatched a
each of them, in the salme night, had a dream, messenger to the prison, with orders to bring
which a young  man, a Hebrew, then in Joseph before him.  Aceordingly, after havprison with them, interpreted exactly, and ing shaved himself, and put on his best
as the events happened; and that, in his attire, he left the prison, and being conducted
opinion, he had  a talent that way much to the palace, was immediately introduced to
superior to  any  that had  been hitherto  the king, who, after a short time, related to
consulted.                                   him his dreams as follows: "That, as he
Pharaoh was so pleased with this intelli- was walking on the banks of the river,* he
Boat conveying cattle.      Passenger boat, showing the nature of the rigging.
saw  seven  fat kine come out of it, and remembrance of plenty would be lost through
feed on  the meadow; after which  seven  out the land of Egypt."
others, exceeding lean, and frightful to be-    After Joseph  had thus interpreted  the
hold, came also to the river, and devoured king's dreams, he advised him  to improve
the seven fat kine.  That after this  he the hints given in them, by appointing some
dreamed  again, and fancied lie saw seven  wise and prudent person over his whole kingfull ears of corn, proceeding all from  the dom, who should take care to build granaries
same stalk, which were, in like manner with  and appoint officers under him  in every pros
the kine, devoured by seven others that were vince, and that these officers should collect
blasted and withered."                       and lay up a fifth part of each plentiful year's
When the king had finished relating his produce, that a proper supply might be had
dreams, Joseph (after giving him  to under- during the succeeding years of famine.
stand that it was by the assistance t of God    This careful and prudent advice was highalone he was enabled to be an interpreter of ly approved of by the king, who, struck with
dreams) told him "that the seven kine and the extraordinary foresight and sagacity of
seven ears of corn signified the same thing, Joseph, did not long hesitate in fixing on the
and the repetition of the dream only denoted  person thus recommended; for, turning first
the certainty  of the event: that, there- to his subjects, and then to Joseph, he thus
fore, as the lean kine seemed to eat up the  respectively  addressed  them: " Can we,"
fat, and the withered ears of corn to consume  says he, " find such a one as this is? a man
the full and flourishing; so, after seven years in whom  the Spirit of God is.  Forasmuch
of great plenty, other seven years of extreme  as God has showed thee all this, there is none
famine would succeed, insomuch  that the so discreet and wise as thou art: thou shalt
The river here mentioned was the Nile, so too low, then there is not a sufficiency to fertilize
much celebrated in ancient history. This river the soil.
has its rise in Numidia, and after running many    t The answer Joseph gave the king when he
miles northward through a country scorched with first asked him to interpret his dreams was exthe violent heat of the sun, it enters Upper Egypt ceeding modest, and much of the same nature
with great force, and passes over a cataract or with that given by Daniel to King Nebuchadnezbroken rock. Hence it continues its course still zar. See l)aniel ii. 28, 29. He elevates the monnorth, and receiving the addition of many other arch's mind to the first cause of the dreams which
rivers, it falls over another cataract, and then so troubled him, and engages his attention by
continues its course to the Lower Egypt as far as making him hope he should give him an answer;
Grand Cairo, after which it divides itself into of which God himself was the author: "It is,
three branches, and then empties itself into the not," says he, "in me; God shall give Pharaoh
Mediterranean Sea.  Once every year it over- an answer of peace."  Which was as much as ta
flows the greater part of Lower Egypt, and say, "I have no more skill than those already
from  that proceeds either scarcity or plenty. consulted; from  God alone the interpretation
If the water rises too high, scarcity ensues, be- must proceed; and he, I trust, will give a favormause it lies too long on the ground; and if able one to your dreams."
10




146                              AN ILLUSTRATED
be over my house; and according to thy but also the neighboring countries.  But,
word shall all my people be ruled: only in through Joseph's provident care, under the
the throne will I be greater than thou."    blessing of Divine Providence, Egypt was
Having said this, Pharaoh appointed Jo. so well furnished with provisions, as not only
seph his deputy over the land of Egypt, and to supply its own inhabitants, but also foreignimmediately invested him with the ensigns of ers, with bread and other necessaries of life.
that high station.  He took the ring from
his own finger, and put it on Joseph's; caused
hin to be clothed in a robe of fine linen, and
put a golden chain about his neck.  He ordered him to ride in the chariot next to his; and
that wherever he went heralds should go
before, to give notice of his coming to the
people, who should show  their subjection to
him by bending the knee as he passed.
Pharaoh having thus bestowed on Joseph
the  greatest power and  highest honors,
in order to attach him  more strongly to his
interest, and make him  forget the  very
thoughts of ever returning to his own country, changed his name from Joseph to Zaphnath-paaneah; ~ soon after which he procured
him an honorable alliance, by marriage, with
Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, priest,
or prince of On.t
Joseph's prediction began now to be fulfilled; and the plenteous years having commenced, he entered upon the duties of the
high office with which he had been invested.
He made a progress throughout the whole                     Egyptian Wheat.
kingdom, built granaries in all the principal
places, and appointed proper officers to col- The king referred all who applied to him for
lect and lay up the stipulated quantity of these articles, to Joseph, who opened the
provisions.  The same method he invariably storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians and
pursued every season of the fruitful years, others, in such quantities, and at such rates,
till at length he had amassed such quantities as seemed to him most just and equitable.
of corn as even to exceed computation.        The famine having penetrated as far as the
During the seven years of plenty, Joseph land of Canaan, and particularly affected
had two sons by his wife Asenath, the first that part of the country where Jacob resided,
of whom he called Manasseh, intimating that he, hearing there was corn to be bought in
God had made him forget all his toils; and Egypt, sent ten of his sons thither for that
the other he called Ephraim, because he had purpose.- On their arrival they were directmade him fruitful in the land of his affliction. ed to apply to Joseph for an order, whom
The seven years of plenty being expired, they no sooner approached, than they bowed
those of dearth commenced, according to themselves before him,$ as a token of reverJoseph's prediction, and the famine was not ence to his dignified office.
only spread throughout the land of Egypt,   Joseph, at first sight, knew his brethren,
X The generality of interpreters are of opinion, ty miles from Memphis, the metropolis of the
that this is a Coptic word, and implies a revealer kingdom. Here was celebrated an annual festiof secrets, alluding to Joseph's having interpreted val, in honor of the sun, from which it was afterPharaoh's dreams.  It was customary, at this ward called Heliopolis. The. word we translate
time, for princes to give foreigners a new name, priest may signify one who ministers at the altar,
to denote their naturalization, to take away all or one who governs in civil affairs: priests were
invidious distinction, and declare them worthy of anciently the chief men of the kingdom; for kings
their most intimate favor and protection.   themselves were priests.
t On was a famous city in Egypt, situated be-    t This manner of salutation was common in
tween the Nile and the Arabian gulf, about twen- their own country, but not in use among the




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  147
but did not choose, at present, to make him- and brought their youngest brother with
self known to them, intending to take this them, the one confined should be immediopportunity of punishing them  for the ill- ately released, and all of them  considered
treatment he had received at their hands. as men of honesty and integrity."
The better to effect his purpose, instead of   Being reduced to a state of extremity, and
speaking to them himself, he appointed an knowing it was in vain to remonstrate with
interpreter, who, by his directions, with a one, under whose immediate power they
severe look and angry tone of voice, asked were, they unanimously, though no doubt
them whence they came.  They answered, with reluctance, agreed  to this proposal.
" From  the land of Canaan to buy provis- The interpreter was at this time absent, and,
ions;" upon which he charged them with supposing no one else understood their lanbeing spies, who came thither for no other guage, they, imagining their present dispurpose but to discover the weakness of the tressed situation was a punishment for their
country.   They replied, that they came cruel treatment of their brother, began, in
with no other intent than purely to buy corn Joseph's presence, to condemn each other
for their numerous family; and that they for their barbarous  conduct.  " Justly,"
were all the sons of one man,* who once, said they, " do we now suffer for our cruelindeed, had twelve, but that the youngest ty to our brother, to whom we refused merwas left at home, and the next to him was cy, though he begged it in the anguish of
dead.                                       his soul; therefore God is just in sending
But Joseph still insisted they were spies, upon us this distress."  Reuben, who was
and, to put their honesty to the test, made not so culpable as the rest, told them  that
this proposition: "That, since, as they said, all this mischief might have been prevented
they had a younger brother at home, some had they listened to his counsel, and not
one of them should be despatched to bring acted so inhumanly to their innocent brothhim, while the rest should be kept in con- er, for whose sake it was no more than what
finemnent till his arrival; and if they did not they might expect, that vengeance, at one
assent to this he should consider them in no time or other, would certainly overtake them.
other light than that of spies and enemies."    Though  Joseph  could  counterfeit the
Having said this, he ordered them  all to stranger in his looks, his mien, and his voice,
prison, there to remain till they should give yet he still retained the brother in his heart.
a proper answer to the matter proposed.     The confusion and distress of his brethren
On the third day of their confinement, awakened all his fraternal tenderness, and
Joseph sent for them  again, and, showing a he was obliged to withdraw from  their presmore pleasant countenance than he had yet ence to give vent to his passions.  In  a
done, told them, by means of his interpreter, short time, however, he returned, and, after
that as himself feared God, and was desir- commanding Simeon t to be bound in their
ous of acting justly by them, he was unwill- presence, he sent him to prison.  Having
ing that their family should want provision, done this, he set all the rest at liberty, and
or that they themselves should  suffer, if ordered the officer who distributed the corn,
innocent. He therefore proposed, " That one to supply them with what they wanted, and,
of them should be confined as a hostage for at the same time, unknown to them, to put
the rest, while they returned with corn for each man's money into the mouth of his sack.
the family; and that, when they came again,   These orders being punctually obeyed,
Egyptians: a sufficient proof that Jacob's family    t The Jewish Rabbis say, that Joseph deterhad little or no acquaintance with the inhabitants mined to retain Simeon rather than any other, beof the neighboring kingdoms. But by using the cause it was he who threw him into the pit. This
customary form of their family, they fulfilled the tradition is far from being improbable. It is cerdreams of Joseph (as far as they had any rela- tain that Reuben was desirous of saving Joseph,
tion to themselves) and no doubt brought those and Judah inclined to favor him; so that if Simdreams to Joseph's remembrance.             eon had joined with them, their authority might
* This part of their answer was certainly very have prevailed over the rest to save him.  We
pertinent, as it was not probable that a father may add to this, that Simeon was a violent man,
would have sent his sons, and much less all of as is evident from his barbarous treatment of
them, in one company, upon so dangerous an the Shechemites; and that Joseph might think
expedition: nor that one particular person, or proper to detain him, as it would least afflict his
family, would have formed a design against so father.
capital a kingdom as that of Egypt.




148                            AN ILLUSTRATED
they set out for Canaan, and at the close of his brother is dead, and he is left alone; if
their first day's journey, met with a circum- mischief befall him by the way in the which
stance they little expected.  One of them  ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray
opening his sack to give his ass provender, hairs with sorrow to the grave." *
observed his money in the mouth of it,   In this state of doubt and perplexity did
which, on examination, appeared to be the they spend their time, till the famine every
case with all the rest.  This unexpected day increasing, and their stock of provisions
event gave them  great uneasiness, and, being nearly consumed, Jacob told his sons
looking confusedly at each other, they ex- to go again into Egypt for a fresh supply;
claimed, " What is this God hath done unto but at the same time took no notice of their
us?"  They imagined it to be a plot con- obligation to the viceroy to bring with them
certed by the viceroy of Egypt, and that he their youngest brother.
intended, on their return, to make them    Jacob's  sons, knowing their departure
slaves, by accusing them of theft.         without Benjamin would not only argue in
Prosecuting their journey, they at length them  the greatest folly and rashness, but
arrived at the habitation of their venerable also expose them  to the resentment of the
parent, to whom they related all the partic- viceroy, and, at the same time, thinking it
ulars of their journey into the land of Egypt. impossible to obtain their father's consent,
They informed him  of the treatment they were reduced to the utmost dilemma.  Reuhad received from the viceroy: that he had ben had already tried his efforts in vain;
accused them of being spies, and that they Judah, therefore, now' addressed him  in
had no method of clearing themselves, but by more positive terms, urging at once the ableaving Simeon bound in prison, as a pledge, solute and indispensable necessity of taking
till they should return with Benjamin, on Benjamin with them, " as the viceroy had
which terms alone their innocence could be most solemnly declared they should not so
justified.                                much as see his face, if, on their return, he
The  good  old  patriarch was sensibly was not with them."
affected at these melancholy tidings, and, in   Jacob, being now put to his last shifts for
the affliction of his soul, thus complained: the preservation of his favorite son Benja" That one way or other, he had been de- min, knew not how to act, and, in the fulprived  of his children; that Joseph was ness of his soul, reproved his sons for havdead, Simeon was left in Egypt, and now  ing informed the viceroy they had a brother.
they were going to take Benjamin from  him  In answer to this Judah told him, that what
likewise, which were things too heavy for was said upon that head proceeded from the
him to bear."                             simplicity of their hearts; that he inquired
Reuben, finding his father thus unhappily so minutely into  their circumstances and
circumstanced, in order to mitigate his af- family, that they could not possibly avoid
fiiction, told him he need not be apprehen- giving the information  he required; and
sive of any danger from the absence of Ben- added, that they had little suspicion of his
jamin.  He begged that he would put him  making so singular a demand.
under his protection, and at the same time    Judah, finding his father waver a little in
assured him, that if he did not bring him  his resolution, repeated the necessity of their
safe back, he would readily agree to the loss going again into Egypt, and pressed him to
of his own two sons for such defect.      consent to give up their brother Benjamin,
But this proposal had little weight with solemnly promising that, at the hazard of
Jacob, and, instead of assuaging his grief, his own life, he would take care, and return
only contributed to augment it.  Resolved, him safe into his hands.  " Send the lad,"
therefore, not to trust Benjamin with them, said he, "with me, and we will arise and
he answered Reuben as follows: "My son," go; that we may live, and not die, both we,
said he, "shall not go down with you, for and those, and also our little ones: I will
* Nothing can be more tender and picturesque he had only these two sons. We here seem, as it
than these words of the venerable patriarch. Still were, to behold the gray-headed venerable parent
affected with the remembrance of his beloved pleading with his sons; the beloved Benjamin
Rachel, he cannot think of parting with Benja- standing by his side; impatient sorrow in their
min, the only remaining pledge of that love, now countenances, and, in his, all the feeling anxiety
Joseph, as he supposes, is no more; for, by her, of paternal love.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                   149
be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou  having been let into the secret, and perceivrequire him: if I bring him  not unto thee, ing the concern they were in, desired them
and set him  before thee, then let me bear not to make themselves in the least uneasy.
the blame forever."                         He told them  that what they found in their
From the strong importunities of Judah, sacks they ought to look upon as a treasure
and a proper reflection on the necessity of  sent from Heaven: he owned that he himself
affairs, Jacob was at length induced to com- had fairly received their money, and gave
ply, and therefore delivered up to them  his them  assurance that they would never hear
son Benjamin.  But before their departure  more of it.  To convince them  that they
he advised them, since it must be so, to take  might rely on what he said, he left them a short
a double quantity of money with them, lest time, and then returned with their brother
there should have been some mistake made  Simeon unbound: after which he acquainted
in the other that was returned, and the price  them  that they were that day to dine with
of what they had already bought demanded. his master; and, in the mean time, showed
lie likewise told them  to take some such  them all the tokens of civility due to welcome
presents as the country afforded, and what guests.
they imagined would be most acceptable to    As the time was near at hand that Joseph
the viceroy.  Having said this, he entreat-  was to come home to dinner, his brethren
edl Heaven for their safety, and then dis- took care to have their present ready; and,
missed them with an aching heart, though  on his entering the apartment, they gave it
fully resolved to acquiesce in God's good  him in the most humble and submissive manProvidence, whatever might be the event.    ner.  He saluted them  with the greatest
On their arrival in Egypt, they immedi- cordiality, and made anxious inquiry conately went to the king's principal granaries, cerning the health and welfare of their aged
and presented themselves before  Joseph, father.  To which they submissively replied:
who, seeing their brother Benjamin with  " Thy servant, our father, is in good health;
them, gave orders to his steward to conduct he is yet alive."
them  to his house, where he designed they    Though Joseph addressed his brethren in
should that day dine with him.  They now  general terms, his attention was principally
began to have disagreeable apprehensions, fixed on his brother Benjamin, who was
fearing this might be a contrivance against most near and dear to him.  After inquiring
them  on account of the money which was of the rest if he was the youngest brother
returned in their sacks.  They, therefore, whom they had mentioned, without waiting
before they entered the house, acquainted  for an answer, he saluted him in these words,
the steward with the whole affair; and, to  " God be gracious unto thee, my son."'
demonstrate their honesty, told him, that His passions were now raised to such a pitch,
besides the money which they found returned, that, unable to contain the flood of tears that
they had brought more with them  to buy a was ready to flow from his eyes, and fearing
fresh quantity of provision.  The steward, lest he should discover himself too soon, he
_. I.     
Ladies and gentlemen at a pal ty: servants presenting a cup of wine, garlands, etc.
(From an ancient painting, Brit. Mus.)
retired into an adjoining apartment, and  After a short time, having dried up his tears,
there gave loose to his fraternal emotions. and washed his face, that it might not appear
* Joseph was the only brother of Benjamin by  superiors in saluting their inferiors, whom they
his mother Rachel.  His calling him son, there- styled sons, with respect to themselves, as fathers
fore, was only an appellation of courtesy used by  of the country.




150                             AN ILLUSTRATED
he had wept, he returned to the company, so basely requited his master's civility as to
and gave immediate orders for the provision steal away his cup.
to be served up.                               The steward did as he was commanded,
In the room where the entertainment was and having overtaken them, accused them
provided were three tables; one for Joseph of theft.  Conscious of their innocence, they
alone, on account of his dignity; another for were not in the least affected at the charge.
his Egyptian guests, who would never eat As a test of their integrity they reminded
with the Hebrews, * and a third for his the steward of their bringing back the money
brethren.                                   which they found in their sacks in  their
These last were all placed in exact order former journey; and to obviate every suspiaccording to their seniority, a circumstance cion of their being guilty of the accusation
which greatly surprised them, for, not know- laid against them, they offered to stand search
ing their brother Joseph, they could not under the severest penalties: " With whomconceive by what means he had obtained so soever of thy servants," said they, " it may
perfect a knowledge of their respective ages. be found, let him  die, and we also will be
During the entertainment Joseph behaved  my lord's bondmen."
in the -most courteous manner, not only to    The steward took them at their word, but
his brethren, but to the whole company  softened the penalty, by fixing it, that the
He sent from his own table t messes to each person on whom  the cup should be found
of his brothers; but with this difference, that should be his servant, and the rest considered
the one sent to Benjamin was five times as blameless.
larger than any of the rest. $  This was    Impatient to prove their innocence, every
another mystery they could not account for; one hastily unloaded his beast, and, as they
however, they made themselves easy for the opened  their sacks, the steward searched
present, and enjoyed the repast which had them; when behold, to their great astonishbeen so bountifully prepared for them.      ment and surprise, the cup was found in the
The entertainment being over, Joseph's sack belonging to Benjamin.  It was to no
brethren took their leave, and made the  purpose for the poor youth to say any thing in
necessary preparations for setting off, the next his defence: upon such a demonstration none
morning, to the land of Canaan, pleased with  would believe him.  As they were all conthe thoughts of what had passed, and the cerned  in  the disgrace, they rent their
satisfaction their aged parent would receive clothes, and, without attempting even to
on their safe arrival.  But Joseph had one palliate the fact, loaded their asses, and,
more fright for them  still in reserve.  He in a mournful manner, returned  to  the
ordered his steward, when he filled their city.
sacks with corn, to return their money (as    Joseph had remained at home in expectahe had done before) but into Benjamin's tion of their return, and no sooner did they
sack not only to put his money, but the approach his presence than they immediately
silver cup likewise, out of which himself was prostrated themselves before him.  Joseph,
accustomed to drink. ][                     without giving them  time to speak a word
This being done, early the next morning in their defence, charged them with the fact,
they proceeded  on  their journey toward and  reprimanded them  for their folly in
Canaan; but they had not got far when committing a theft, which it was totally out
Joseph ordered his steward to pursue them, of their power to conceal.  "What deed,"
and upbraid them with ingratitude in having says he, " is this ye have done?  Wot ye
* The dislike which the Egyptians took to the observe whether the rest would look upon their
Hebrews did not arise, as some have imagined, younger brother with the same envious eye as
from the latter eating animal food, but from their they had formerly done upon himself.
low degree in life, being shepherds, an employ-   11 Joseph ordered this cup to be privately put
ment, which, though esteemed by the Hebrews, into Benjamin's sack, in order to make a further
was despised by the Egyptians.             trial of his brethren's temper, and to see whether,
t It was the custom among the ancients for all moved with envy, they would give up Benjamin,
the provision to be placed on one table, and the or endeavor to assist him in his danger. It is not
master of the feast to distribute to every one his likely (as some have thought) that he really deportion.                                   signed to have made a pretence for detaining Bent Joseph certainly did this not only to show jamin; or that he could be ignorant of his
his particular regard to Benjamin, but also to father's warm affection to his youngest son.




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HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    151
not, that such  a man as I can certainly  could no longercontainhimself: the force of
divine." *                                    nature shook his frame, and obliged him  to
In the midst of a general horror, Judah,  throw off all disguise.  Ordering, therefore,
in a very humble tone, addressed himself to  the rest of the company to depart, that he
Joseph in words to this effect: "We have  might discover himself with more affectionate
nothing to offer in our defence; God hath  freedom, they were no sooner gone, than he
detected our iniquity, and we must remain  burst into a flood of tears, and, looking earslaves with him in whose sack the cup was  nestly at his brethren, pathetically exclaimed,
found."  But Joseph interrupted  him  by  " I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? " t
declaring, that he could  by no means do        Conscious guilt at the very name of that
such injustice; for that he only who stole  Joseph whom they had so unnaturally treated,
the cup should be his slave, while the rest,  struck them dumb, as they now dreaded the
whenever they pleased, were at full liberty to  power he had of resenting the injuries they
return to their father.                       had  done him.  But brotherly love overJudah, encouraged by finding the viceroy  came resentment, and banished every desire
somewhat softened, presumed further to ad-  of revenge.  Joseph, observing their confudress him, which he did in the most submis-  sion, bid them, in the most endearing mansive and pathetic terms.  He acquainted  ner, approach nearer to him, when he assured
him with the whole case between them  and  them  that he was the very brother they had
their father, in relation to their bringing  sold into Egypt, and though he had assumed
Benjamin into Egypt, to take away the sus-  the dignity becoming his office, he still repicion of their being spies.  I-He very feel-  tained the tenderness of a brother.  To reingly  described  their father's melancholy  move all further apprehensions of danger, he
situation for the loss of his son Joseph; the  told them  that their selling him into Egypt
extreme fondness he had for his son Ben-  was directed by an unforeseen Providence;
jamin; the difficulty they were under to  and that they had no reason to be angry with
prevail with him to trust him with them, in- themselves for doing it, since they were no
somuch that himself was forced to become  more than the instruments in God's hand to
security for his safe return; and that, if he  bring about what his wise purpose had detershould go home without him, his father's  mined.  That himself had  no  reason to
life was so wrapped up in the child, that he  resent it, since, by that means, he had been
would certainly die with grief.  To prevent, advanced to the honor and dignity of being
therefore, so melancholy a scene, he offered  governor of all Egypt.  And, lastly, that
himself as an equivalent for his brother.  neither his father, nor any  of his family,
" I pray thee," said he, " let thy servant ought to murmur at it, since God appointed
abide, instead of the lad, a bondman to my  this method for the preservation of their
lord, and let the lad go up with his breth-  lives.$ 
ren; for how shall I go up to my father,    Having said this, he told them that there
and the lad be not with me?"                 were yet five years of the famine to come, and
This moving speech, and generous offer, so  therefore he would advise them  to hasten
operated on the passions of Joseph, that he  home, and, as soon as possible, bring their
* This was as much as to say, " You see by    $ These passages point out to us the very nomy office that I am one of the great ministers of ble and just ideas which Joseph entertained constate, while the other diviners are preferred only  cerning the providence of God; but, besides this,
from the college of priests. As I am, therefore, we may observe a peculiar generosity and tenderso superior to them, could you be insensible that ness of temper in this apology to his brethren,
it was in my power to divine or detect your rob- wherein he endeavors to remove every uneasy apbery  "                                       prehension from their minds. Good hearts are
always averse to giving pain; the same benevolence
t There is certainly a distinguished beauty in of disposition which makes them zealous to diffuse
this interrogation; and the transition is finely happiness makes them tender of inflicting a mowrought. The soul of Joseph was so full of filial mentary smart. Joseph was unwilling that his
affection for his father, that, before he had fin- brethren should feel any alloy to their satisfaction
ished his sentence, he inquired after him, though  which the present event afforded; and therefore
but a short time hefore, they had told him he was he turned, as it were, from their view the very
alive. And how must such an abrupt declaration  thought and remembrance of their former unnataffect his brothers! No wonder they were dumb ural behavior to him, and directed their attention
for some time with astonishment, and unable to to reflections which were equally comfortable and
answer the question asked.                   important.




152                              AN ILLUSTRATED
father, together with  all the family, into Benjamin's neck, kissed him, and wept for
Egypt.  As an  inducement for them  to  joy; and, having a little recovered himself,
leave their own country, he desired them, he treated all the rest with like tenderness.
from  him, to address their father to this His brethren being thus convinced that a
effect: "that God had made him lord of all perfect reconciliation had taken place between
Egypt, and that therefore he must not defer them  took courage, and conversed with him
coming; for he would provide Goshen' for in a manner very difierent to what they had
the place of his habitation, and there would done previous to this happy discovery.
he carefully nourish not only him but all his    The rumor had  reached  the king  that
family."  He acknowledged that this rela- Joseph's brethren were come; and it is a
tion must, of course, appear strange to his pleasing evidence of the esteem in which he
father;  but that he certainly would  not was held, and the regard which he had condoubt the testimony of so many eyewitnesses; ciliated, that a domestic incident which was
and above all, that he would not fail to be- calculated to be a satisfaction to him  was
lieve what was told him by his favorite son highly agreeable to Pharaoh and all his court.
Benjamin.  He then  threw  himself upon The monarch sent for him, and authorized
~_   -:     z-' -_:
MODERN SRIAIN CARTS, OF ANCIENT FORM,
him to express the kindest attentions toward  and he had the consideration to direct that
themn, and the utmost anxiety for their wel- they should be well supplied with provisions
fare.  He, as well as Joseph, saw that it on the way, and that they should be furnished
would be best for them  to come to Egypt, with carts,t in which the aged Jacob, with
* This was the most fruitful part of all Lower curricles for civil use. The Nile and the numerEgypt, especially for pasturage; and therefore the ous canals offered such facilities for carriage and
most commodious for those who were brought conveyance by water, that the use of carts and
up shepherds and accustomed to a pastoral life. wagons does not appear to have been thought of.
Besides this, it was very conveniently situated, Carts are indeed represented in the paintings and
being but a small distance from  the city where sculptures of that ancient country; but not as
Pharaoh kept his court.                       being in use among the Egyptians themselves,
t CARTS.- The Egyptians had no chariots, but by a people with _whom they are at war, apexcept perhaps war chariots, suited to bear such parently a nomad people of Asia, and who are
a journey as this, and they would have been most represented as escaping in their carts. Now, we
unsuitable for the present purpose. Besides, the infer, that as the Egyptians had no carts of their
word for a chariot is different from that which is own, those which were sent for Jacob were such
here employed, although a wheel-carriage of some as they had either taken in war from a people by
kind or other is certainly indicated. To indicate whom they were used, or had been left behind by
that carriage, wve have taken the word "cart," as theintrusive shepherd-race. As having been used
preferable, upon the whole, to that of "wagon" -  by a pastoral people, they would seem to the king
partly as being less definite. But it does not ap- particularly suitable for the removal of a pastopear that the Egyptians had any carts, or any ral family.  In connection with preceding statewheeled carriages save chariots of war, and light meants, and with the conjecture just offered, it de



HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                     153
the women and young children, might pass afforded.  To his brethren  he gave each
from  Canaan to Egypt with more comfort, changes of raiment, but to Benjamin he gave
than by the more ordinary means of convey- five changes, together with three hundred
ance.                                        pieces of silver.  Having done this, Joseph
It is little to be wondered at that Joseph  dismissed his brethren, giving them, at the
should very readily obey  the king's com- same time, a strict charge that they should
mands.  Accordingly, he  furnished  them  notfall out by the way.*
with a proper number of carts for bringing    Thus supplied, and thus circumstanced,
their family and substance, together with a the sons of Jacob, with hearts full of joy,
sufficient quantity  of provision  for their prosecuted  their journey  to Canaan.  As
journey as well home as back again.  He soon as their aged father saw  them, his
sent his father a present, consisting of ten  drooping  spirits  revived, more especially
asses laden with the choicest dainties Egypt when he beheld his sons Benjamin and Sim_
CARTS OF THE TARTAR NOMADS.
eon, whose return  he had little expected.    When Jacob came again to himself, his
But when they informed him  that his son  sons showed him the presents sent by Joseph,
Joseph was likewise alive, and described the  together with the carts that were to carry him
great pomp and splendor in which he lived, and  his family into Egypt.  The sight of
the good old patriarch was affected indeed; these, with many particulars they related of
and, unable to bear so much good news at their brother Joseph, revived his spirits; his
once, fainted in their arms.                  doubts and fears vanished, and, in an ecstasy
serves to be noticed that the next instance of Carts the early pastoral races with which early Bible
which occurs in the scriptural history is found history makes us acquainted.
among the Philistines.  1 Samuel vi. 7. The    * Joseph was no stranger to the tempers of his
first of our engravings represents the only kind brethren, and therefore thought proper to reprove
of wheel-carriage now used in Syria, and that them in this gentle manner.  Probably he suschiefly for agricultural purposes.  The second pected they might accuse each other with the
represents the carts of the Tartar nomads of cruelty they had exercised toward him, or throw
Central Asia, whose usages offer many remarka- envious reflections on Benjamin, because he had
ble resemblances to those of the patriarchs and been eminently distinguished above the rest.




154                            AN ILLUSTRATED
of joy, he exclaimed, " It is enough! Joseph, it was in his power to make him happy and
my son, is yet alive: I will go and see him  comfortable during the remainder of his life.
before I die."                             Words cannot describe the expressions of
The necessary preparations being made, filial duty and paternal affection that tookl
Jacob and his family left Hebron, and pro- place on this occasion.  Tears of joy plenticeeded on their journey toward Egypt.  It fully flowed on both sides.  While the son
might be supposed that the old man's anxiety was contemplating the goodness of God in
to see so dear a son, and for whom he had so bringing him to the sight of his aged parent,
long mourned, would have made him proceed the father, on the other hand, thought all his
with the greatest expedition; but parental happiness on earth completed in this interaffection gave way to religious duties.  Be- view; and, therefore, in the fulness of his
ing desirous of making proper acknowledg- soul, he exclaimed, " Now let me die, since
ments to God for the benefits already re- I have seen thy face, because thou art yet
ceived, as well as to implore his further pro- alive."
tection, he stopped at Beersheba, and there    These mutual endearments being over, and
offered up sacrifices to the Lord.  The rea- Joseph having paid his respects to the whole
sons for his choosing this spot on the present family, he told his father and brethren that
occasion were, because it was the place where he would go before and acquaint the king
Abraham and Isaac had lived so long: and with their arrival.  As he imagined Pharaoh
at the same time it was in the way to Egypt, would be desirous of seeing some of them, he
being the utmost boundary of Canaan toward gave them this caution: that in case he should
the south.                                 ask of what occupation they were, their
On the evening of the same day that Jacob answer should be, that they were shepherds,
had performed his religious duties at Beer- as their ancestors, for many generations, had
sheba, the Almighty appeared to him in a been before them.  By these means, he told
vision, bidding him  not fear to go down them, he might secure the land of Goshen
into Egypt, since he would be with him and for their residence, which was not only one
protect him, and in due time, bring his posteri- of the most pleasant parts of Egypt, but the
ty out of it to take possession of the promised best calculated for feeding their flocks and
land.  That as to himself, he should live herds.  Besides this, he said, there would
near his beloved Joseph, die in his arms, be another material advantage, namely, that
and have his eyes closed by his hand.*    it would be a happy retreat from the insults
Encouraged by this divine promise, Jacob of the Egyptians, who were known to have
left Beersheba, and cheerfully pursued his an utter detestation to those who followed a
journey toward Egypt, his sons taking with shepherd's life.
them their children and wives in the carts   Having given this caution, Joseph took
which Joseph had sent forthe purpose.  They with him five of his brothers, and after prelikewise took with them all their cattle and viously informing Pharaoh that his father and
goods; and the whole number of souls de- family were arrived at Goshen, presented
scended from Jacob's loins amounted to three- them  before the king.  Pharaoh received
score and ten.                             them with great courtesy, out of respect to
As soon as they came to the borders of Joseph, and, among other questions, asked
Egypt (and  not far from  the  land of them of what occupation they were.  They
Goshen) Jacob despatched his son Judah answered (agreeably to the directions given
before them, in order to acquaint Joseph them by Joseph) that they were shepherds,
with their arrival.  This intelligence was as their ancestors, for many generations bevery agreeable to Joseph, who immediately fore, had been: that want of pasturage for
ordered his chariot to be got ready, and, their cattle, and sustenance for themselves,
with a retinue suitable to his high station, had made them  leave Canaan, and they
hastened to meet his father, whom he con- humbly beseeched his majesty that they might
gratulated on his safe arrival at a place where be permitted to settle in the land of Goshen,
* It must certain!v have given great consola- The custom of closing the eyes of persons departtion to good old Jacob to find, from the promise ed is very ancient, and they were usually the
of God, that Joseph was to attend him on his nearest and dearest friends who performed this
death-bed, and close those eyes that had often as- last office.
sisted him in contemplating the beauties of nature.




HISTORY  OF THE  BIBLE.                                155
that part of the country being best adapted swered, he was a hundred and thirty; upon
for the purposes of their employment.  Pha- which the king expressing some surprise from
raoh readily granted  their request,  and his appearing so strong and healthy, Jacob
moreover told Joseph, that if any of his further told him, that his life was not, as
brethren were remarkable for their activity yet, near so long as some of his ancestors,
and knowledge, he might, if he thought nor did he look so well as those who were
proper, appoint them  as superintendents much further advanced in life, which was
over the royal shepherds.                   owing to the great troubles and perplexities
Joseph's project having so far happily suc- under which he had long labored.  Some
ceeded, he soon after introduced his aged other questions being asked and the answers
parent to Pharaoh, who after receiving him  given, Jacob, after wishing the king health
in a very courteous manner, among other and prosperity, took his leave., and returned
questions, asked him  his age.  Jacob  an- to Goshen, where Joseph took care to supply
y,
THE SULTAN ON HIS THRONE.
him  and his family with such an abundance  every day, and Joseph keeping up the corn
of necessaries as made them insensible of the at a very high price, in a short time all
general calamity.                           the money was brought into the king's coffers.
While Jacob and his family were thus WVhen their money was gone, they were all
happily circumstanced, by means of the  (except the priests who were furnished from
power and affection of Joseph, the Egyptians the king's stores) obliged to part with their
were in the utmost distress.  The dreadful cattle, their houses, their lands, and, at
effects of the famine appeared more and more length, even their liberty, for provision.@
* Whatever those may think who have en- them; for, as they had not corn for themselves,
deavored to depreciate the conduct of Joseph, it is they could much less have it for their cattle; and,
certain that there was no injustice in Joseph's therefore, this was the only way to preserve the
making the Egyptians pay for the corn which he lives of' both, and to prevent that waste of the
had bought with Pharaoh's money, and laid up corn which must have been made if they had had
with great care and expense.  In demanding the keeping and feeding of the cattle themselves;
their cattle, he had most probably a view to save and it is highly probable that he returned them




156                             AN ILLUSTRATED
All these Joseph purchased of the people of nature.  Seventeen of these years of
in the king's name, and for the king's use; plenty did Jacob live to see, at the expiration
and to let them  see that the purchase was of which nature's lamp grew dim, and life
in earnest, and that their liberties and prop- was nearly exhausted; his decayed spirits
erties were now become the king's, he re- warned hirn of his approaching fate, and each
moved them, from  their former places of drooping faculty beats an alarm to death.
abode, into different and very distant parts    When Jacob found himself thus circumof the kingdom.                             stanced, he sent for his son Joseph, whom
In any other person such conduct might he addressed in words to the following effect:
have been considered as arising from an im- " Though the desire of seeing a son so dear
moderate zeal for absolute power in the king, to me as you are raised to the height of
and an advantage unjustly taken of the ne- Egyptian glory, joined to the raging famine
cessities of the people; but so Joseph man- which then visited our land, made me willagedo the matter as to gain the approbation ingly come down into this strange country;
both  of prince  and  people.  When  the yet Canaan being the inheritance which God
seventh and last year of the famine was come, promised to Abraham and his posterity, and
he told them  they might expect to have a where he lies interred with my father Isaac,
crop the ensuing year; for that the Nile and some other of our family, in the ground
would overflow its banks, and the earth bring which he purchased of the inhabitants for
forth her fi'ruits as usual.  Having made this that purpose; my last and dying request to
known, he distributed fiesh lands, cattle, and you is, that you will not suffer me to be bucorn to the people, that they might return to  tied here, but swear to see me carried to
their tillage as before; but this he did on the Machpelah, and there deposited with my anfollowing condition: that thenceforth thefifth  cestors.  Your great power with the king
part of all the produce of their lands should  will easily obtain that favor, which is the last
become the property of the king.  " Be- I have to ask."
hold," says lhe, "I have bought you this   Joseph not only promised, but likewise
day and your land for Pharaoh.   Lo, here swore, strictly to fulfil his father's request;
is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. upon which the good old man was so perfectly
And it shall come to pass in the increase, satisfied, that, after thanking his son for these
that you shall give the fifth part unto Pha- fiesh assurances of his fidelity, he bowed himraoh, and four parts shall be your own for self in acknowledgment to God, who, besides
seed of the field, and for your food, and all his other mercies, had given him this last
for them  of your household, and for food token of his protection, in assuring him, by
for your little ones."                      Joseph's promise and oath, that he should be
To these conditions the people willingly removed from Egypt into the promised land.
consented, imputing the preservation of their   Joseph, having thus satisfied his father in
lives to Joseph's care: "Thou hast saved,"  this particular, took his leave, but not withsaid they, "our lives; let us find grace in out giving a strict charge to those who attendthe sight of my lord, and we will be Pha- ed him, that, upon the very first appearance
raoh's servants."  From  this time it passed  of danger, they should immediately send for
into a law, that the fifth part of the produce him.  He had been but a short time at court,
of the land of Egypt (except what belonged  before a messenger arrived with the dismal
to the priests) should become the property intelligence that his father was near expiring;
of the crown.                               upon which, taking with him his two sons,
While Joseph was enjoying the fruits of Manasseh and Ephraim, he hastened with all
his great success and policy, his family at expedition to visit him.
Goshen (whom he failed not frequently to    As soon as the feeble patriarch understood
visit) became not only numerous, but exceed- that his son Joseph had arrived, it immediing wealthy.  The seven years of famine ately raised his sinking spirits, and he became
were succeeded by great plenty, the earth so far revived as to be able to sit upright in
resuming  its former fertility, and the whole his bed.  Desiring his favorite Joseph to
land abounding in all the usual productions approach near him, he began with recapitutheir cattle after the famine, when they were fixed would have been hardly possible for them to supagain in their several habitations -otherwise it port their families and carry on their business.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                     157
lating all the glorious promises which God  and Ephraim on the left: but Jacob, crosshad formerly made him concerning his pos- ing his hands, laid his right (which carried
terity possessing the land of Canaan; and  with it the preference) upon the younger,
after mentioning the death of Rachel, togeth- and his left upon the elder of them.  Joer with the place where her remains were  seph, observing this, and supposing it to prodeposited,* he spoke to the following effect: ceed from  a mistake, was going to rectify
" How tenderly I loved my dear Rachel, all it; but his father told him that what he did
my family can testify; but this further proof was by divine direction, and therefore made
I now give you of my affection to her.  You  Ephraim  not only the first in nomination,
have two sons born in a foreign country and  but gave him  a blessing much more extenwho, according to the usual order of inheri- sive  than  that conferred  on  his  elder
tance, should have only  the  portion  of brother.
grandchildren in the division of the promised    This conversation was hitherto private, beland; but, from this day forward, they shall ing only between Jacob and his favorite son
be esteemed my sons, and, as heads of two  Joseph.  But the good old patriarch, finddistinct tribes (for they shall not be called  ing his dissolution near at hand, ordered all
the tribe of Joseph, but the tribes of Eph- his sons to  be brought before him, that,
raim  and Manasseh), receive a double por- while he had strength to speak, he might
tion in that allotment.  But it must not be take his last farewell, and not only distribute
so with the other sons which you may beget his blessing among them, but likewise foretell
after these: they must come in only for the  what should happen to them  and their posportion of grandchildren.  And to you in  terity in future times.
particular, I bequeath that tract of land    Accordingly,  all  Jacob's  sons  being
which, by the force of arms, I took from the  brought before him, he addressed them sepal
Amorites."t                                  rately, beginning with Reuben, the eldest.
During the time Jacob was thus talking    " Reuben," says he, "thou art my firstwith Joseph concerning himself and chil- born, and, by right of primogeniture, entitled
dren, he had not observed that Joseph's sons to many privileges and prerogatives in supewere with him, but spoke of them as if they  riority over thy brethren; but, for the crime
had been absent.  At length, turning  to  of incest in polluting thy father's bed, both
Joseph, and  observing  (as  he thought)  thou and thy tribe are totally degraded from
somebody with him (though he could not the privileges of birthright."
discern who it was, on account of his eyes    Having said this to Reuben, he next adbeing dimn with age), he asked who he had  dressed himself to Simeon  and Levi conwith him.  To which Joseph  replied, his  junctively; telling them, that for their imsons Ephraim  and Manasseh, and at the  pious massacre of Hamor and his people,
same time, with great reverence, bowed him- their tribes should be ever separate, and
self to the ground.                          dispersed among the rest.  " I will divide
Jacob was greatly rejoiced at this intel- them," says he, "in Jacob, and scatter them
ligence, and immediately ordered them to be  in Israel."'
brought near, that he might bestow on them      Jacob, then turning to Judah, prophesied
his blessing.  Joseph  obeyed  his father's of him  to this effect: That to his tribe
commands, and placed the children accord- should  the sovereignty belong, and they
ing to the order of their age, that is, Ma- should be situated in a very fruitful counnasseh, as being the first-born, on the right, try: that from  his name should the whole
* It is probable that Jacob here mentioned to land taken from the Amorites by Jacob. All,
Joseph the place of Rachel's interment, in hopes therefore, which can be said upon the subject must
that he might, at some convenient opportunity, be mere conjecture; of which the most probable
remove her ashes to the cave of Machpelah.   is, that the parcel of ground near Shechem, which
t There are many particulars in the lives of Jacob purchased of Hamor, is here meant, and
the patriarchs, and of others, which are not at all which, probably, he took or recovered, by force of
mentioned in scripture; and there are some in- arms, from the Amorites, who, it seems, had seized
stances of a transient reference to facts of this kind, on it after his removal to another part of Canaan.
to things which have been said and done, but are    I This prophecy was literally fulfilled; for the
never related. Of this kind, it is reasonable to Levites were scattered throughout all the other
suppose, is the passage in question; at least, we tribes, and Simeon had only a part of the land of
have no mention in scripture of any portion of Judah for his residence.




158                                AN ILLUSTRATED
nation of the Jews derive their appellation; tribe should be planted near the seacoasts,
and that the form  of government which he and have harbors convenient for shipping; t
then instituted should remain among them  and of Issachar, that his should prove a pusiluntil the coming of the Messiah.*               lanimous people, and  be lovers of ingloriOf Zebulun, Jacob prophesied that his ous ease more than of liberty and renown.1
* The words in the text run thus:- Judah, who should enjoy it. Thus it departed from the
"thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise; thy tribe of Benjamin on the death of Saul; and it is
father's children shall bow  down before thee. well known that the ten tribes were carried away
The sceptre shall not depart from Jiudah, nor a captive, and  incorporated with other nations,
lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; while that of Benjamin put itself under the proand unto him shall the gathering of the people be." tection of Judah.
Many commentators have written largely on this    From  the time of David till the taking of
remarkable prophecy related by Jacob to his son Jerusalem  by Nebuchadnezzar, Judah exercised
Judah.                                          the regal authority; and although ten of the tribes,
From the time that our first parents ate of the who  followed the idolatry of Jeroboam, had
forbidden fruit, we have seen that the promllised kings, yet they were fobr the most part subject to
seed was, one age after another, more and more those of Judah. It is true, the Jews were also carcircumscribed, although its salutary effects were to ried captive to Babylon; but during the seventy
be the same. It is first called the seed of the years they were in that country, they were so far
woman; it is next consigned over to Seth; Shem, firom beingtreated as slaves, that they were allowed
the younger son of Noah, gets the preference; to build houses, and lived in such affluence, that
afterward Abraham is made choice of; fiom Isaac, many of them refused to return to their own
the son of Abraham, it goes to his second son country  when permission was granted  them.
Jacob; and here Jacob, by the spirit of prophecy, When Cyrus, the emperor, issued his orders for
conveys it to the posterity of Judah.           them to return to the land of Judea, they had rulers
There are several things to be attended to in among them, for they were expressly mentioned
this remarkable prophecy, and such as are of the in the royal proclamation. It is certain, that
utmost importance for us to know. First, we are after returning from their captivity they were not
told that Jtidah's brethren should praise him, and  so free as before, because they were frequently
that his hand should be in the neck of his ene- oppressed by the Persians, Greeks, and Romans;
mies. This was remarkably fulfilled in the local but, for all that, they lived as a distinct people,
situation of the tribe of Judah; for their being so under their own laws and government.
near the Arabians, obliged them to be continually    From these observations, will not the imparon their guard; and as they were for the most tial reader declare that this prophecy has been
part successful, so it may be justly said that the literally fulfilled? and is not the present melanhand of Judah was in the neck of his enemies, and choly state of the Jews a striking proof of its authat his brethren praised him for standing up in  thenticity?  Till the Messiah came, they had a
their defence.  Secondly, it is here said that his regal government; but, because they rejected him,
father's children should bow down before him, and  they are now scattered up and down through all
certainly nothing was ever more literally fulfilled. nations, without being permitted to enjoy the
David, in whose family the royal sovereignty was privileges of any nation whatever.  Surely this
placed, was of the tribe of Judah, and to him all should convince us that no human testimony can
the other tribes bowed down. But the prophecy  overthrow the evidence brought in support of the
conveys a further idea, namely, that from  Judah, Mosaic and Gospel histories.
according to the flesh, the Messiah should come,    I It is remarkable that Zebulun is mentioned
to whom all nations should bow down; and in the by Jacob before Issachar, who was the eldest; but
book of Revelations he is called the lion of the this distinction, it is probable, arose from  his
tribe of Judah.  Thirdly, "the sceptre shall not great superiority and merit. Zebulun's portion of
depart from Judah," &c.; by which we are to un- the country was likewise very preferable to Issaderstand that there should never be one wanting  char's; for, besides the advantage he had in comto sway the regal sceptre, or exercise sovereign mon with him, and that our Lord chiefly resided in
authority in the tribe of Judah, till that glorious his tribe,and was thence called a Galilean, he is here
and Divine Person came, whose kingdom  was to promised a seacoast, with harbors commodious for
have no end, and to whom the people were to be ships. If Jacob had been present at the division
gathered; for the Messiah is, in many places of of the promised land, he could hardly have given
scripture, called the " desire of all nations."  Such a more exact description of Zebulun's lot; for it
is the nature of this remarkable prophecy; and extended from the Mediterranean sea on the west
now, in order to prove the concurring authenticity  to the lake of Tiberias, or sea of Galilee, on the
of the Mosaic and Gospel history, let us see in east.
what manner it has been fulfilled.                4 Of all the tribes of Israel, that of Issachar
During the time of Joshua's wars with the was distinguished for being the most indolent.
Canaanites, the tribe of Judah was more dis- That part of the country which fell to their share
tinguished for its valor than the others; and it was exceeding fertile; but that fertility only served
appears, from the book of Judges, that thev were to enervate the people, so that when they were
always the most forward to engage with the com- invaded by foreign enemies, they soon became an
mon enemy.  When it is said that " the sceptre easy prey to them, and were often obliged to pay
shall not depart from Judah," it implies that it tribute.
should depart from. all those of the other tribes




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    1.59
Jacob, having predicted the fate of, and  " even the God of thy fathers, shall bless
bestowed  his  blessings  on, the  children  thee with the dew of heaven and with the
descended from   Leah, proceeds next to  fatness of the earth, with the fruit of the
those of his two concubinary wives.  I-Ie  womb," that is, with a numerous posterity,
began with Dan, the son of Bilhah, whose  " and with  plenty  of all sorts of cattle.
posterity, he  foretold  (though  descended  May all the blessings promised to me and
from  a handmaid), should have the same  my forefathers be doubled upon Joseph's
privileges with the other tribes, become a  head; may they out-top and outstretch the
politic people, and greatly versed in the  highest mountains; and prove to him  more
stratagems of war.*  Of Gad's posterity he  fiutiful and more lasting than they."~
foretold, that they should be frequently in-    The only one now  remaining to receive
fested with robbers, but should overcome at Jacob's blessing was his youngest son Benlast.t  Of Asher's, that they  should be  jamin, who, no doubt, from  having been a
situated in a pleasant and fruitful country;;  great favorite with his father, expected a
and of Naphtali's, that they should spread  suitable  distinction from  the rest of his
their branches like an oak, and multiply  brethren; but, whether Jacob foresaw that
exceedingly. [I                               no extraordinary merit or happiness would
Jacob, having now done with those chil-  attend this tribe, or that it should afterward
dren begotten on Leah and his concubinary  be blended with that of Judah, and consewives, next directs his attention to the sons  quently share the blessing of that tribe, so
of his beloved Rachel.  Turning himself to  it was that he only prophesied of him  that
Joseph, he first took some notice of his past  his descendants should be of a fierce and
troubles, and then set forth the future great-  warlike disposition; and, " like a ravenous
ness of his descendants; after which he  wolf, should shed the blood of their enemies,
bestowed his benediction on him in words to  and in the evening divide the spoil." ~
the following effect: " The Lord," says he,    The good old patriarch having thus (by
* The words inr the text are, " Dan shall be a  let loose;" the meaning of which is, that the
serpent by the way, an adder in the path; that people should be exceeding swift in the pursuit
biteth the horse's heels so that his rider shall fall of their enemies, which, indeed, was the case, in
backward."  It is to be observed, that the part of a very peculiar manner, with this tribe.
Canaan which the descendants of Dan inhabited   ~ The fruitfulness promised to Joseph in the
was noted for serpents of a particular species, who  great increase of his posterity was exemplified in
were so cunning that they used to lie in wait the prodigious number of his twofold tribe,
to bite the feet of passengers.  This very justly  Ephraim and Manasseh. At the first numbering
alluded to the disposition of Dan's descendants, of the tribes, these produced 72,700 men capawho, when engaged in war, frequently did more  ble of bearing arms.  (See Numb. i. 33-35.)
execution by craft and stratagem  than by force  And at the second numbering, 85,200 (Numb.
of arms. It is the opinion of the Jews that the  xxvi. 34-37), which by far exceeded the number
prophecy of Dan's destroying his enemies by  of either of the other tribes.
cunning was more particularly fulfilled, when   ~ History sufficiently justifies the truth of this
Samson, who was of that tribe, pulled down the  prediction relative to the tribe of Benjamin, for they
temple, which crushed himself and the Philistines  alone maintained a war with all the other tribes,
to death. See Judges xvi. 30.                 and overcame them in two battles, though they had
t The tribe of Gad had their portion of land  sixteen to one. It must, however, be observed,
on the frontiers of the Jewish territories, so that that the comparison does not only respect mere
thev were continually exposed to the incursions  valor and fortitude in defending themselves, but
of the bordering Arabs; but, in the course of  also fierceness in making wars and depredations
time, they became so expert in war, that they  upon others. But what is chiefly to be regarded
always repulsed them.                         in this prophecy is, that the tribe of Benjamin
$ The tribe of Asher possessed that part of the  should continue till the final destruction of the
country which reached from  Zidon to Mount Jewish polity. For since the natural morning and
Carmel: it was so beautiful and fertile a spot, evening cannot with the least propriety be here
that it not only abounded with all kinds of pro- understood, and as the Jewish state is the subject
visions, but also with the choicest fruits, and  of all Jacob's prophecy, we must consider the
most luxuriant productions of the earth.      morning and the night as the beginning and final
11 In the territories allotted to the tribe of  period of that state; and, consequently, that the
Naphtali was the country of Gennesaret; which  tribe of Benjamin would exist till Shiloh came.
(Josephus says) was looked upon as the utmost And this prophecy was fully accomplished; for,
effbrt of nature in point of beauty. It was also  upon the division of the kingdom after Solomon's
remarkable for producing some of the best wines death, the tribe of Benjamin adhered to that of
in all Palestine. In one part of the prophecy, as Judah, and formed one people with it: continued
related by Moses, it is said, " Naphtali is a hind  to share the same fortune, and by that means




160                             AN ILLUSTRATED
divine direction) foretold the fate of his He died in the one hundred and forty-seventh
descendants, he bestowed his blessing on year of his age, during the last seventeen
each of his sons separately; after which he of which he resided in Egypt.
reminded them  all (but more especially    The loss of so good a father must unJoseph), that it was his most earnest request doubtedly be very afflicting to the whole
they would bury him  among his ancestors, family, but none of them  expressed their
in the cave of Machpelah, which had been grief with such filial affection as the pious
purchased by Abraham, and where not only Joseph, who could not behold his aged parthe remains of him and his wife Sarah were  ent's face, though  dead, without kissing
deposited, but likewise those of Isaac and  and bathing it with his tears.  Having thus
Rebecca, and where he had also buried his given vent to his passions, and somewhat
wife Leah.                                  recovered himself, he ordered the physicians
Having given this last charge, the pious  (according to the custom of the country) to
Jacob laid himself gently down in his bed, embalm his father's body, and then set about
a short time after which he calmly resigned  makitlg  the necessary preparations for his
his soul into the hands of Him who gave it. funeral.
A Mummy with its inner and outer wrappers.
The time that Jacob's family mourned for him in a sepulchre belonging to their family,
their father was seventy days, during which in the land of Canaan; and that therefore
Joseph never appeared at court, it being he begged permission that he might go and
improper for him so to do on such an occa- fulfil his last commands; after which he
sion.  In consequence of this, he requested  would return to court with all convenient
some of the officers about the king to ac- expedition.
quaint him  that his father, previous to his    Pharaoh not only complied with Joseph's
death, had enjoined him, upon oath, to bury request, but (in compliment to him and his
Egyptian Threshing-floor. (From ancient painting, Thebes.)
family) gave orders that the chief officers one of the most pompous processions evee
of his household, together with some of the seen on a similar occasion.
principal nobility of the kingdom, should    On their arrival in the land of Canaan
attend the funeral; who, joined with his they halted at a place called "the threshingown, and his father's whole family, some in floor of Atad," * where they continued seven
chariots and others on horseback, formed days mourning  for the  deceased.   The
existed till the destruction of Jerusalem by the    This place is supposed to have been situated
Romans, which happened many years after the about two leagues from Jericho, on the other side
other ten tribes were no longer a people.   of the Jordan, and about fifty miles from Hebron.




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                               ~161
Canaanites, who inhabited that part of the numerous offspring in his two sons, Ephraim
country, observing the Egyptians mixing and Manasseh, even to the third generation;
themselves in these obsequies, were aston- during which time, it is reasonable to supished; and imagining them  to be the prin- pose, he continued in'high favor with his
cipals concerned in the funeral lamentation, prince, and in a considerable employuent
could not forbear exclaiming, "This is a under him.
grievous  mourning to the  Egyptians!"    When Joseph grew  old, and found his
whence they called the name of the place death approaching, he sent for his brethren,
Abel-Mizraim, which signifies " the mourn- and, with the like prophetic spirit that his
ing of the Egyptians."                    father Jacob had done, told them that God,
This solemnity being ended, they pro- according to his promise, would not fail bringceeded on their journey, and at length, ing their posterity out of Egypt into the land
arriving at the field of Machpelah, they of Canaan.  At the same time he made them
deposited the remains of Jacob in the cave swear, that when it should please God thus
with his ancestors, after which the whole to visit them, they should not forget to carry
company returned in solemn procession to his remains with them, that they might be
Egypt.                                    deposited in the burial-place of his ancestors.
During the life of Jacob, Joseph's brethren thought themselves secure; but now
their aged father was no more, their former
fears returned, and suggested to them the
just revenge Joseph might yet take for the
great injuries he had received from their
hands.  In consequence of this, they held
a consultation together in what manner to
proceed for their own security; the result
of which was to form a message (purporting
Bandaging a Mummy. (From apainting.)
to have been delivered by Jacob), and send
it to their brother.  This was accordingly    The pious Joseph, having thus bound his
done, and the substance of the message was brethren by oath to convey his remains to
to the following effect: " Thy father com- his native land, soon after departed this life,
manded, before he died, saying, Thus shall in the one hundred and tenth year of his
ye say to Joseph: Forgive, I pray thee age.  In compliance with the injunction laid,
now, the trespass of thy brethren and their his brethren had the body immediately emsin; for they did evil unto thee; but pardon balmed, put into a coffin, and carefully
them, not only for my sake, but because secured, till the time should come when the
they are the servants of the God of thy prediction was to be fulfilled of their leaving
father."                                   Egypt, and possessing the land of Canaan.
When Joseph read this. message, such was   Thus have we finished the life of the great
his compassionate and forgiving temper, that patriarch Joseph, who is certainly one of the
he could not refrain from weeping.   To most distinguished characters to be met with
remove, therefore, the fears and apprehen- either in sacred or profane history.  To
sions of his brethren, he immediately sent enliven what has already been said of him,
for them, and, receiving them with the same we shali conclude this chapter with some
kind affection as when their father was alive, general reflections and observations on the
excused the actions they had formerly com- whole of his conduct; and likewise point
mitted to his prejudice in the most obliging out some of the most distinguished writers,
manner; and, in order fully to remove their whose accounts of him  justly  corroborate
ill-founded fears, dismissed them  with the that given by the sacred historian.
assurance that they should always find in him    It is observable that Moses is more diffuse
a constant friend and an affectionate brother. on the history of Joseph than on that of any
Though Joseph lived fifty-four years after other of the patriarchs; indeed, the whole is
his father's death, yet the sacred historian a master-piece of history: there is not only
does not mention any further particulars of in the manner throughout such a happy,
him except the following; namely, that he though uncommon mixture of simplicity and
lived to see himself the happy parent of a grandeur (which is a double character so




162                            AN ILLUSTRATED
hard to be united as is seldom met with in dom, - of the noblest resolution and forticompositions merely human), but it is like- tude, that the strongest temptations could
wise related with the greatest variety of never subdue, - of such admirable sagacity,
tender and affectiing circumstances, which wisdom  and prudence, that made even a
would afford matter for reflections useful for prince and his nobles consider him as under
the conduct of almost every part and stage divine inspiration, - of that indefatigable inof the life of man.                       dustry and diligence which made him sucConsider him  in whatever point of view  cessful in the most arduous attempts, - of the
or in whatever light you will, he must ap- most generous compassion and forgiveness of
pear amiable and excellent, worthy of imi- spirit, that the most malicious and cruel intation, and claiming the highest applause. juries could never weaken or destroy, - as
You see him spoken of in the sacred books the preserver of Egypt and the neighboring
with the highest honor; as a person greatly nations, and as the stay and support of his
in the favor of God, and protected by him  own father and family, - as one patient and
wherever he went, even in so extraordinary a humble in adversity, -  moderate in the use
manner as to become the observation of of power and the height of prosperity,
others, -as one of the strictest fidelity in faithful as a servant, dutiful as a son, affecevery trust committed to him, - of the most tionate as a brother, and just and generous as
exemplary chastity and honor, that no soli- a ruler over the people; - in a word, as one
citations could overcome, - of the most fixed of the best and most finished characters, and
reverence for God, in the midst of all the as an instance of the most exemplary piety
corruptions of an idolatrous court and king- and strictest virtue.
CHAPTER VIII.
LIFE AND MISSION OF MOSES. -  DEPARTURE FROM  EGYPT.
TuE distinguished: happiness which the ing burdens, digging clay, making bricks, and
descendants of Jacob had possessed during building strong fortresses in different parts of
the power invested in their great protector the kingdom; by means of which their
Joseph, was, after his death, materially inter- spirits would be sunk, their bodies impoverrupted by the accession of a new king to the ished, and the great increase that had for
throne of Egypt.  This monarch beheld, with some time taken place among them in a great
a jealous eye, not only the prosperity, but measure stopped.
also the great increase, of the Israelites, and   No sooner was this resolution formed than
began to fear that, in case of an invasion, it was carried into execution.  The wretched
they might possibly take part with the enemy, Israelites were set about the laborious emand thereby divest him of his regal dignity. ploy to which they were assigned, and that
In consequence of these conjectures, Pha- they might not be negligent in the execution
raoh summoned a counsel of his principal of their business, taskmasters were set over
nobility, to whom he stated the absolute ne- them, whose natural dispositions were so
cessity of taking some measures to lessen not cruel that they did all in their power to make
>only the power, but also the great increase of their lives truly miserable.
the Israelites, who were to be considered as   But such was the goodness of God in
strangers in the land where they now dwelt, behalf of the poor Israelites, that Pharaoh's
and, in time, might be prejudicial to the project was far from succeeding to his wishes;
public weal.                              for the more they were oppressed, the more
The counsel agreed in opinion with the they multiplied.   This so aggravated the
king; upon which it was resolved not only king, and increased his jealousy to such a
to impose heavy taxes on them, but to con- degree, that, in order to obtain his purposes,
fine them likewise to the hard labor of bear- he hit upon another expedient. He sent for




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               -163
two of the most eminent of the Egyptianl same tribe.  The first child they had was a
midwives (whose names were Shiprah and daughter, whom  they called Miriam, and
Puah), to whom he gave a strict charge, about four years after she was delivered of a
that whenever they were called to do their son, whom they named Aaron.  In the time
office to any Hebrew woman, if the child of this cruel persecution, Jochebed was dewere a male they should privately strangle livered of another son, who being a child of
it, but if a female, they might let it live.  most exquisite beauty, she was particularly
The midwives, touched with the cruelty of anxious for the preservation of its life.
this injunction, and fully satisfied in their   In hopes of accomplishing her wishes, she
minds that it was better to obey God than concealed the child in her house for three
man, paid no regard to Pharaoh's orders, but months; but, not being able to secrete him
saved both male and female alike.  Irritated  any longer, and fearful that he would fall
at their disobedience, the king sent for them, into the hands of those appointed to drown
and reprimanded them  for their conduct in the male children, she at length resolved to
very severe terms; but they excused them- commit him to the providence of God.  Aeselves by telling him  that the Hebrew  cordingly, having made a little ark or boat of
women were so much stronger in their con- rushes,? and well plastered it, both within
stitutions than the Egyptians, and so lively, and without, with pitch or bitumen, she put
that they were generally delivered before the child into it, and going privately down
they could reach them.                      the river, left it among the flags by the
The judicious as well as humane conduct bank, placing his sister Miriam at a proper
of the Egyptian midwives was very aceepta- distance to observe the event.
ble to God; but Pharaoh was highly in-   But the Providence of God soon intercensed against them, considering the excuse posed in behalf of the helpless infant.  A
they made as a mere evasion.  He therefore short time after the  mother had left it,
determined not to trust them any longer, but Pharaoh's daughter, 1 attended. by the maids
to try another expedient, which might more of honor, came to the river to bathe herself,
effectively answer the intended purposes, and and seeing the basket at some distance, she
totally extirpate the whole male race of the ordered one of her attendants to go and
Hebrews.  To accomplish this end, he issued bring it out of the flags.  Her orders were
out an edict,* commanding that every male immediately obeyed, upon which, no sooner
born among the Israelites should be thrown did she uncover the child than it made its
into the river and drowned, but that all the mourning complaint to heir in a flood of tears.
females should be saved.                    This circumstance, joined to the extraordinary
It is not to be wondered at that so bar- beauty of the infant, so moved her heart
barous an  edict should greatly afflict the with compassion, that (notwithstanding she
already distressed Israelites, and that they perceived it was one of those children whom
should concert various methods whereby her father, in his edict, had ordered to be
they might secure their offspring from  the drowned) she determined to preserve it,
consequences of so inhuman a decree. That and declared her intention of having  it
methods of this nature were used, will appear brought up under her direction.
from the following circumstances.             By this time, Miriam, the child's sister,
Some years before this cruel edict was pub- had mixed herself with the attendants of
lished, one Amram, of the house of Levi, the princess, and observing with what tenmarried a woman named Jochebed, of the derness she looked upon her brother, and at
* It is the opinion of most commentators, and made of papyrus, the product of the country:
the learned in general, that this inhuman edict was and his assertion is confirmed by several other
so abhorred by the Egyptians, that they scarce profane writers.
ever put it in execution; and that it was recalled    $ Josephus calls this princess Thurmuthis; and
immediately after the death of the king who from him Philo, who adds, that she was the king's
enacted it; which time Eusebius and others place only daughter and heir; and that being some
in the fourth year after the birth of Moses.  time married without having issue, she pretended
t Though his ark, or boat, is said to have been to be big with child, and to be delivered of Moses,
made with rushes, it is most probable that it was whom she owned as her natural son. That he
formed with flags of the tree papyrus, of which was esteemed so is evident, from what the Apostle
the Egyptians made their paper, and which grew  to the Hebrews says, namely, " That when Moses
particularly on the banks of the Nile. Clemens was grown up, he scorned to be thought the son
Alexandrinus expressly says, that the vessel was of Pharaoh's daughter."  See Heb. xi. 24.




1164                             AN ILLUSTRATED
the same time hearing  her intimate her they were treated by their merciless taskdesire of procuring a proper nurse for it, masters, he was greatly  affected; and to
she very officiously offered her service to such a degree was his indignation raised,
procure one.  The princess accepted this that, seeing one day an Egyptian  treat a
offer, and ordered  her to  go immediately Hebrew  in a very cruel manner, he imand bring the person with her, and she mediately stepped up to his assistance, and,
would  wait  her  return.   Accordingly, not perceiving any person near, slew him,
the  girl  hastened  with  all  expedition  and buried his body in the sand.$
to the mother, and soon bringing her to the    As he was walking out the next day he
place, the princess delivered the child into  met with two Hebrews, in strong contest with
her hands, ordering her to take the utmost each  other; upon which  he  admonished
care of it, and at the same time told her, them  to consider that they were brethren,
that whatever expenses attended the rearing and endeavored  to decide the quarrel beof it, she would defray.  This, no doubt, tween them.  But he who was the aggreswas a welcome bargain to the mother, who, sor, instead  of listening to  his  advice,
taking the child home with her, nursed it treated it with contempt, and upbraided him
openly, her fears being removed by having with having been guilty of murder in killing
a royal protection for its security.         an Egyptian.
When the child was of a proper age, his    Moses (little suspecting that any one had
mother took him  to court, in order to show  seen the transactions of the preceding day)
him to the princess.  The graces of his per- was greatly alarmed at this circumstance,
son, joined to the beautiful yet noble sim- being apprehensive as it was known by one,
plicity of his countenance, so engaged her it would circulate from him among the mulattention, that she adopted him  as her own titude, and that it could not be long before
son, and gave him  the name of Moses.* it reached the ears of Pharaoh, in which
That he might be perfectly accomplished, case it might be attended with the most fatal
she kept him  constantly at court, where he consequences.  To remove, therefore, these
was instructed in all the learning and disci- disagreeable apprehensions, and secure himpline, both civil and military, used among self from  all danger, he resolved to leave
the Egyptians, and in every other respect Egypt, which he accordingly did, and fled
treated in a manner becoming the dignity of  into the land of Midian, I1 a beautiful and'
a prince of the blood.t                      fertile country situated to the east of the
Moses continued to live  in  Pharaoh's Red Sea.
court till he arrived at the age of maturity,    This was the happy spot where majesty,
when he resolved to leave it, and associate guarded only by rural innocence, submitted
himself with his persecuted brethren  the to the humble office of a shepherd; and a
Israelites.  Observing their wretched state crook, instead of a sceptre, graced the hand
of servility, and the cruel manner in which of the peaceful monarch.  Here Jethro (the
* The word Mo, in the Egyptian language Moses was justifiable. Le Clerc observes, that,
signifies water, and yses, saved; so that the name as the Egyptian king authorized the oppression
Moses was very suitable to the circumstance of of the Israelites, it was fruitless to apply to him
his being saved from perishing in the water.  for redress of their grievances. The civil magist It is uncertain at what age Moses was deliv- trate, who ought to have protected injured innoered to the. princess. It is, however, reasonable cence, was himself become the oppressor; and,
to suppose that his parents had so well instructed consequently, the society, being degenerated into
him in their religion, and taken such care to let a confederacy, in oppression and injustice, it was
him know both what relation they bore to him, as lawful to use private force and resistance, as
and what hope they had conceived of his being against a band of robbers and cut-throats. Howdesigned by Heaven to be the deliverer of his ever, we are to remember, that the divine hand
nation; that he had made no other use of his was in all this: and that thus the way was preeducation, which the princess gave him, than to paring for the grand deliverance of Israel from
confirm himself more and more against the super- Egyptian oppression.
stitions and idolatry of the Egyptians; and to   11 Midian is supposed to be that part of Arabia
make himself fit to answer those ends, for which, Petraea, which bordered on the land of Goshen,
by Providence, he seemed designed.           and whose metropolis (called Petrlea) was situated
t We may reasonably suppose that the Egyp- not far from Mount Itoreb. It is generally agreed
tian whom Moses slew, through indignation at that the people of this country originated from
his brethren's wrongs, was one of the task-masters. Midian, the fourth son of Abraham  by Keturah,
It has been questioned how far this action of from whom they were called Midianites.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              165
principal man of the country), in quality signifies a " stranger," alluding to his own
both of prince and priest, enjoyed the bless- condition in that country.  The younger he
ings of a quiet reign, and whose daughters called Eliezer, which signifies "God is my
(laying aside the distinction of their birth) help," in grateful acknowledgment of God's
took more delight in the innocent employ- having delivered him  from  the hands of
ment of tending their father's flocks than Pharaoh.
in all the gayeties of a luxurious court.    After Moses had been some few vears in
In the plains of Midian was a well to which Jethro's family, the king of Egypt, who was
it was common for all the neighboring people upon the throne at the time he left the counto drive their flocks to water.  Moses, having try, died; but this was not productive of the
reached this spot, and being greatly fatigued, least benefit to the persecuted Israelites; his
after quenching his thirst with the water, sat successor was no less a tyrant than himself,
himself down to rest.  He had not been  and their miseries, instead of being mitigated,
long here before the seven daughters of Jethro  were daily increased.  At length their comcame to draw water for their flocks; but they plaints reached heaven; the Almighty rehad no sooner filled their vessels than some membering the covenant which he had made
rude shepherds, who came on the like errand, with their forefathers, looked upon them with
being resolved to have their turn first served, an eye of compassion; and having resolved,
violently seized on the water drawn by the in his secret providence, to make Moses the
damsels, and thereby greatly frightened them. principal instrument in bringing about their
Moses, disapproving of such ill conduct in  deliverance, he began to prepare him for so
the men, interposed in behalf of the women, distinguished an undertaking.
and, obliging the shepherds to retire, drew    As Moses was one day attending his
more water for them, and gave it to their father-in-law's sheep, they happened to stray
flocks.  The damsels, in the most engaging  much farther than usual, upon which he folmanner, made their acknowledgments to him  lowed them as far into the desert as Mount
for his services, after which they took leave Horeb.  He had no sooner arrived here than
and hastened home.                         the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a
Jethro expressed great surprise at the flame of fire out of the midst of a bush.  So
quickness of his daughters' return; upon uncommon a sight greatly startled Moses, but
which they informed him that they had met what increased his astonishment was the
with a strangerat the well, who not only assist- continuance of the bush unconsumed, noted them, but likewise protected them from the withstanding it appeared tG be wholly encominsults of several rustics, who had forcibly passed with flames.
taken from  them the water they had drawn    After reflecting some time on this extrafor their cattle.  After hearing this story, and ordinary circumstance, Moses resolved to
not seeing the person who had thus gallantly approach nearer the bush, in order, if possible,
defended them, Jethro reprehended his daugh- to discover the cause of its seeming to burn,
ters for being guilty of ingratitude and incivili- and yet appearing not to be in the least
ty, and asked what had become of the generous damaged.  But the Almighty, to prevent
stranger.  They answered they had left him  his irreverent approaches, and to strike the
at the well, upon which he ordered them im- greater awe and sense of the divine presence
mediately to return, and invite him home.   into him, called ou1, of the bush, and forbade
The daughters obeyed their father's com- him  drawing near; and, to make him still
mand, and Moses being introduced into the more sensible of the sacredness of the place,
house of Jethro, he treated him with every commanded him to take off his sandals, bemark of the most distinguished respect.  And cause the ground on which he stood was
so pleased was Moses with the courteous holy.
reception he met with, that, after a short   Moses immediately  obeyed  the divine
time, he expressed his willingness to take up order, upon which the Almighty discovered
his abode with him and become his shepherd. himself to him in these words: " I am the God
Jethro very readily accepted this proposal, of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of
and, to attach Moses the more strongly to his Isaac, and the God of Jacob."  The frightinterest, gave him his daughter Zipporah in ened Moses was struck with such reverence of
marriage.  By this wife he had two sons, the the divine Majesty, and fear of the effects of his
eldest of whom he called Gershom, which presumption, that he immediately fell on the




166                            AN ILLUSTRATED
ground and covered his face, being unable to Israelites, from their thraldom; nor had
sustain the refulgeney of the divine presence. he any opinion of his own abilities, should
When Moses had a little recovered him  he make the attempt, to succeed in so diffiself, the Almighty, in words to this effect, cult an undertaking.  Wherefore, when the
addressed him: "I have seen," said he, Almighty proposed the thing to him, he en"the affliction of my people which are in deavored to excuse himself, by urging his
meanness and insufficiency to take upon him
the  character  of a divine ambassador.
" Who am I," said he, "that I should go
unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth
the children of Israel out of Egypt?"  But
this difficulty the Almighty removed, by assuring him that he would be with him, and
assist him in every step he took; that he
would enable him, however perplexed and
arduous the task, to accomplish it; and for a
token of his veracity herein, told him that
within a small compass of time he should see
those very people, who were now in slavery,
set free and worshipping him on that very
mountain.
Assyrian Shoes. (From the marbles.)   Still unwilling to undertake the  task,
Moses desired to know what he should say
Eigypt, and have heard their cry by reason to the people, and by what name he was to
of their taskmasters: for I know their sor- call the person who sent him on the message.
rows.  And I am  come down to deliver To which the Almighty replied, that he
them out of the hand of their oppressors, and should tell hm  it was an eternal, indeto conduct them to the promised land, a land  pendent, self-existing Being, the God of
flowing with milk and honey.  Thee have I Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, by which name
chosen to be the instrument in this great he had ever gone, and by which he would
continue to go, to all eternity.  He then
ordered him to go into Egypt, where, on his
arrival, he should first assemble together the
chief of the Israelites, and acquaint them
with his business; after which he should go
directly to the king, and demand of him
their liberty, at least for three days, that
they might retire into the wilderness, in
order to sacrifice to their God. This request,
he told Moses, the king would not at first
grant, but in the end he would be glad to
consent, when he should see the divine power
displayed in a variety of miracles which
would take place on sundry occasions. "I
will exert myself," said he, " in many miraculous operations on him and his subjects,
and at last he shall permit you to depart;
but you shall not go away empty, for ye shall
be loaded with the spoils of lle Egyptians."
Egyptian Sandals and Shoes. (From specimens in the    It might be thought that such solemn
British Museum.)
assurances, even from  the mouth of God
work: therefore be of good courage, for I himself, would have been sufficient to have
will send thee to Pharaoh, to demand liberty gained a ready compliance; but Moses,
of him for my people, the children of Israel." either from the ideas he entertained of the
Moses had long laid aside all thoughts of difficulty of the enterprise, or fiom diffidence
attempting  to  rescue  his brethren, the of his own abilities, was still desirous of de



HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                           164
olining the task, and objected, that when he therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth,
came into Egypt the people would probably and teach thee what thou shalt say."
doubt his word, and consider him as an   Hitherto Moses had some shadow of preimpostor.                                tence for his unwillingness to go into Egypt;
This objection God immediately removed but now, all his objections being answered,
by showing him a miracle.  Asking him  he, in very plain terms desired to be excused
what he had in his hand, he replied, a rod; from the enterprise, and begged of God that
upon which the Almighty ordered him to he would be pleased to appoint some other
throw it on the ground, which he had no person in his stead.
sooner done than it was immediately turned    So long as Moses had any thing to plead
into a serpent.  Moses, frightened at this in excuse for not going, God heard him
sudden change of his rod, attempted to run patiently, and graciously condescended to
away; but God, to encourage him, bid him  remove his doubts; but, when all this was
take it up by the tail, which he had no sooner done, and he at length gave an absolute
done than it resumed its former shape; and refusal, the Almighty was greatly displeased,
to convince him, at the same time, that he though at the same time he did not display
should not want credit with the Israelites, he any instance of his resentment.  On the
gave him a commission to perform the same contrary, he resumed Moses' last objection
miracle before them when he should get into (which he had already answered in general),
Egypt.                                   and showed him, in a more particular manStill further to remove Moses' scruples, ner, how he should supply that defect: "Is
the Almighty was pleased to give him ano- not," said he, "Aaron, the Levite, thy
ther instance of his great and distinguished brother?  He is eloquent,* and I will appower.  He ordered him to put his hand into' point him to meet thee.  Tell him what I
his bosom, which he accordingly did, and on have said; and be assured that I will always
pulling it out, it was covered all over with assist you both, and direct you what to say.
leprosy.  He then told him to put his hand He shall be the orator, and thou shalt be to
into his bosom again, which he likewise did, him instead of God.  And to strengthen thy
and on taking it out the leprosy was gone, commission, and give thee credit among thy
and it became as clean as at first.  This people, take this rod in thy hand, for with
miracle he likewise commissioned Moses to it shalt thou be enabled to perform  many
show the Israelites; and moreover, to arm  miracles."
him sufficiently beyond all doubt, he was   Every obstacle being removed, and the
pleased to empower him with a third miracle. most evincing demonstrations of a miracu" If," says he, " they will not believe these lous power, together with the protection of
two former, thou shalt take of the water of the Divine Providence, given to Moses, he was
river, and pour it upon dry land, and the at length prevailed on to accept the comwater shall become blood."               mission.  He accordingly went first to his
Notwithstanding these solemn and repeat- father-in-law, Jethro, and, without telling
ed assurances of the Divine aid, favor, and him the occasion, requested permission to go
protection, Moses still endeavored to waive and visit his brethren, who were then in the
the important office, urging as a further plea land of Egypt.
that he wanted eloquence, the great qualifi-   Jethro readily consented to Moses' racation of an ambassador; and that since God quest; upon which, taking his wife and
had condescended to talk to him, he was children with him, be proceeded on his jourmuch more deficient in his speech than ney.  He had not, however, gone far, when
before.  But this obstacle the Almighty was an angel appeared to him, and with a stern
likewise pleased to remove, by putting Moses countenance, and flaming sword in his hand,
in mind of his oinipotence.  " Who," said threatened to kill him, because, either from
he, "hath made man's mouth? or who the persuasions of his wife or from his own
maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or neglect, he had not yet circumcised his
the blind? have not I the Lord?  Now younger son Eliezer.  As soon as Zipporah
* Moses excelled in wisdom and conduct; different gifts to different persons, that they may
Aaron, his brother, in eloquence. Such is the each be assisting to one another, and knit more
wise order of Providence, which has dispensed firmly the band of society!




168,AN  ILLUSTRATED
understood the cause of the Divine displeas- opened to him the purport of his commission,
ure, she immediately took an instrument the instructions he had received from  God,
made of a sharp flint, and with it circum- and the miraculous works he was empowercised the child; which being done, the angry ed to perform.
vision, after giving signs that God was ap-    The two brothers, being thus joined in
peased, disappeared.*                       the same commission (though Moses was
While Moses was on his journey to Egypt, the sovereign), repaired with all expedition
Aaron, by a Divine revelation, was inform- to Egypt.  Immediately on  their arrival
ed thereof, and ordered to go and meet him  they called an assembly of the chief elders
in the wilderness.  Aaron obeyed the Di- of the Israelites, to whom  Aaron declared
vine command, and met his brother at a the message which God had sent by Moses;
small distance from  Mount Horeb.  After while the latter, to confirm  the truth of his
mutual embraces and endearments, Moses divine mission, wrought the several miracles
Brickmaking. (From Roselilli.)
which God had appointed in the presence of  went to Pharoah's court, and, having obthe whole assembly.  In  consequence of  tained admnission to the king, requested of
this, they all appeared fully convinced that him that he would permit the Israelites to
he was a true prophet come from  the God  go three days' journey into the wilderness,
of their fathers, who had at length commis- in order to perform a solemn service to the
erated their afflictions, and sent him  now  Lord their God.  But the haughty tyrant
to deliver them  from  their bondage; and, not only refused complying with their rewith this persuasion, they all knelt down  quest, but most impiously arraigned the cliand worshipped God.                         vine prerogative, and called in question the
A few days after this, Moses and Aaron  existence of the only wise and true God in
* The best interpretation that can be given  sequence: for who would have regarded the law,
of this extraordinary circumstance is, that Moses if the lawgiver himself had neglected it?  Ziphaving deferred the circumcision of his youngest porah, therefore, conscious of her husband's danson (perhaps in compliance to his -wife), God was ger, as well as of her own negligence, immnediately
peculiarly offended with him for such neglect; performed the office herself; in consequence of
not only because Moses knew that no child could  which the caLse being removed, God's anger also
be admitted a member of the Jewish community, ceased; and he suffered -Moses to pursue his
nor be entitled to the blessings of God's covenant journey.  Zipporah is supposed to have perwith those people, without circumcision; but formed the office, because Moses was in too great
also because his example was of the greatest con- a consternation to do it himself.




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                               169
these presumptuous words: "Who is the under-officers addressed the king himself,
Lord, that I should obey his voice to let and, in the most humble manner, laid their
Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither grievances before him.. But so far were
will I let Israel go."                    they from  receiving any redress, that the
Pharoah suspected that the Israelites had answer returned them was — that " the king
a design of revolting from  his service, and would have his edict fully executed, and
that they had been laying schemes to get insisted on having their full number of bricks,
out of his dominions.  This to him was an though he was resolved not to allow them
argument that they had too much leisure any straw."
time from business, and that the most effec-   This answer greatly afflicted the poor Istual way to check their contrivances would raelites, insomuch that they were almost
be to curtail their vacant hours; he there- driven to despair.  On their return from
fore ordered greater tasks and more work to the king they happened to meet Moses and
be laid on them.  He reprimanded Moses Aaron, and supposing them  to be the cause!
and Aaron for going among the people and of the additional burden laid on them, exinterrupting them  in  their employments; pressed their grief and resentment in words
and strictly charged the task-masters not to to this effect: " That they had taken care
allow them any more straw, and yet to exact to infuse an odium  into the king against
the same tale of bricks from  them without them, and given him a plausible handle to
abatement.                                 destroy them, which they wished to God
The task-masters acquainted their under- might fall on their own heads."
officers with this severe injunction, who im-   These bitter expressions greatly afflicted
mediately communicated it to the people, Moses, who, retiring to a private place, adand they were accordingly forced to wander dressed himself to God in this humble exabout the country to seek for straw, the postulation: " Why," said he, " 0O Lord,
task-masters, at the same time, exacting hast thou thus afflicted the people?  For
from  them  their usual number of bricks; since I spoke to Pharoah in thy name, he
and when they were unable to perform their hath treated them  with more severity than
task, the under-officers, who were Israelites, before, and they are more unlikely to be
and whom  the task-masters had set over delivered than ever."
them, were called to account and punished.    The great concern Moses had for the oppression of the Israelites was certainly the
cause of his forgetting the promise which'
God had given him, as also what he had
foretold relative to the perverseness of Pharoah.  But, notwithstanding this, the A1mighty was pleased to give him fresh assurances of his divine intentions of removing
[q~.' luliit,, -'.the Israelites from the state of bondage: "I
"  *':~                 Iam the Lord," said he, " the Almighty God,
Egyptian brick, stamped with the oval of Thothmes III. that appeared unto Abraham, Isaac, and
i(Brit. Mus.)             Jacob.  Was I not known to them  by my
name Jehovah? Be assured that I the
Lord, who made a covenant with them  to
l4  lp~  4 I d44 AdL  V        give their posterity the land of Canaan, have
l TT 7i:   19- T f 4 4 f-4     heard their complaints and remembered my
n4 A~k P I       promise.  Therefore, say thus to the chil,
If Y~Ld~bf"~-~4d~           dren of Israel, I am  Jehovah, who exist
1 fTT5,-T -                  only of myself, and give existence to all
beings.  Tell them I will deliver them fiorm
the Egyptian slavery, with the power of my
Assyrian brick from Nimrod, inscribed with the name and Almighty arm, and inflict heavy judgments
title of Shalmaneser.                  arm, and inflict eavy judgments
on them that oppress them. Nor will I
Not knowing whence this unreasonable only deliver you all from this bondage, but
severity proceeded, whether from  the royal I will take you under my immediate proedict or the rigor of the task-masters, the tection: ye shall be my people, and I will




170                            AN ILLUSTRATED
be your God.  I am  Jehovah, the Lord, ders to him and his people, and deliver the
that promiseth this, and that can and will children of Israel by the strength of my hand.
do it."                                    For since Pharaoh has begun to harden his
Encouraged by this gracious and divine heart in contemptuously treating me and
declaration, Moses immediately repaired to abusing my people, I will now permit him to
the Israelites, to whom he delivered his mes- go on in his obstinate humor, that I may
sage as God had commanded.  But such exert my power in miraculous operations in
was their affliction of mind, in consequence the land of Egypt.  Therefore, when ye
of the increase of their servitude, and which come into Pharaoh's presence, and he shall
they attributed to have arisen from him, that demand a miracle of you, to convince him of
they paid no attention to what he said. They the truth of your mission, thou shalt direct
were prejudiced  against him, and rather Aaron to cast his rod on the ground before
looked upon him as an enemy than as one Pharaoh, and it shall be turned into a serwho was desirous of procuring their enlarge- pent."
ment.                                        In  consequence  of these  instructions,
The Almighty, fully resolved to pursue Moses and Aaron went again to the king,
the ends of his Providence, again commanded and repeated their demand of his dismissing
Moses to go to the king of Egypt and de- the Israelites. Pharaoh desired them to show
mand the liberty of the Israelites.  Having him some miracle, whereby he might be inbeen so roughly dismissed from Pharaoh's duced to believe, that the God, of whom they
presence before, and so unkindly rejected by had so much spoken, had really sent for
the Israelites, Moses endeavored to decline them.  Upon this Aaron threw down his rod,
the errand by drawing an argument from each which bad no sooner touched the ground,
circumstance: " Since," says he, "the chil- than it was changed into a living serpent.
dren of Israel, thine own people, would not   Though Pharaoh was somewhat surprised
hear me, though what I offered was so much at this incident, yet he was determined, if
to their advantage, how can I expect that so possible, to make it appear of no great imwicked a prince as Pharaoh is should pay any portance.  To effect this, he sent for his
attention to so insignificant a person * as I principal magicians, whom he ordered to try,
am, and in a matter so much to his loss? "  if, by their magical arts, they could cause
To remove this objection, the Almighty the like transmigration.  They obeyed the
was pleased to address himself to Moses in king's commands, and, to his great satisfacwords to this effect: " Consider," said he, tion, their attempts succeeded.  They threw
"I have made thee as a God t to Pharaoh, and down their rods, which were immediately
Aaron, thy brother, shall be thy interpreter, changed into serpents, only with this remarkor orator.  Thou shalt tell him  all that I able circumstance,that Aaron's rod swallowed
have commanded thee, and ye shall demand up (while in the figure of a serpent) all
of Pharaoh the deliverance of my people. those of the magicians, after which it reAnd that thou mayest not be discouraged by sumed its accustomed form.  It might have
a repulse, as before, take notice that Pha- been supposed, that this would have been
raoh shall give no credit to what thou sayest, sufficient to have convinced the proud monthat I may thereby show my power and won- arch of the superior power of the God of
* It is remarkable, that in the text Moses here opinion Moses had for himself, his unfitness for
calls himself an uncircumcised person, or rather such an office, and his inability to persuade or prea man whose lips had not been circumcised. See vail with so haughty a monarch as Pharaoh.
Exod. vi. 12. By this we are to understand, that   t The word here translated a God, signifies a
he meant no more than that he was not possessed prince, a counsellor, or governor; and as Moses
of that fluency of speech which was necessary on was to work many wonders in the land of Egypt,
so important an occasion. The word circumcised so there is no doubt but Pharaoh would look
is phraseologically used by the Hebrews on several upon him as a person endued with supernatural
occasions, as when they call any one uncircumcised power. It was then beginning to grow common
in heart, mind, or tongue, they mean no more than with the heathen nations, particularly the Egypthat the person spoken of is not so perfect in these tians, to rank their great men among the number
particulars as might be wished. Besides, as cir- of their gods; and, therefore, when the Lord here
cumcision was the first and greatest sacrament speaks to Moses, he does not say that he made
among them, so uncircumcision was esteemed the him an object of worship, but only that he would
greatest scandal and disgrace. The phrase, there- endue him with so much power, that the Egypt
fore, naturally and clearly expresses the humble tians would look upon him as a God.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              171
Israel; but his heart was so averse to the magic skill.   Wherefore, calling for his
thoughts of parting with the Hebrews, that magicians, he put them upon the like trial;
it did not in the least affect him.        who, taking some water out of the wells they
As this miracle made no impression on the had dug, so artfully changed its color, as to
obstinate tyrant, the Almighty resolved to make it appear like blood. Though this was
make use of more forcible scourges, and to but a delusion, yet Pharaoh was satisfied in
afflict the Egyptians with such a succession his own mind that what Moses and Aaron
of plagues as should compel them to dismiss had done was not the effect of any superthe long-enslaved Israelites.  Having ob- natural power, but a mere trick of art; and
served to Moses, that Pharaoh's heart was therefore still resolved not to permit the
hardened, he ordered him to take the rod, departure of the Israelites.
which had been turned into a serpent, and (in    But the Almighty was pleased to display
company with his brother Aaron) to throw  still further miracles before this impious and
himself in the way of Pharaoh, at his usual obstinate tyrant. When the seven days were
time of coming to the banks of the river expired, and the waters had resumled their
Nile.  That as soon as he saw the king, he natural qualities, Moses, at the command of
should again demand of him the liberty of God, accosted Pharaoh again, and renewed
the Israelites; and that if he still continued his solicitations for the delivery of the
obstinate, as a further sign that they were Israelites, threatening, on his refusal, to
messengers from God, he should give the rod bring upon the land such prodigious numbers
to Aaron, who, by striking it on the water, of frogs, as should visit him and his subjects
should immediately change it into blood.    in their most private recesses.
In  obedience to the divine command,   Pharaoh, regardless of these threats, defied
Moses, at the time appointed, went to the him; upon which Moses ordered Aaron to take
bank of the river, soon after which the king his rod, and stretch forth his hand with it
arriving, he accosted him  in words to this over the rivers, which in an instant affected
effect: " That he was sent from the Almighty all the waters of Egypt, that, not waiting for
God of the Hebrews, to demand the release the slow productions of nature, the animated
of the Israelites, and that if he did not comply streams unburdened themselves upon  the
with his request, but still remained obstinate, land in shoals of frogs, which immediately
his God should not only afflict him for his invaded all parts of the country, and infested
perverseness, but bring down the most heavy even the royal palace itself.*
judgments on his people."                    The obstinate and perverse king had again
The infidel prince, regardless of the order recourse to his magicians, who, by their mimic
of God, by these two appointed missionaries, power, so deluded Pharaoh as to make him
still persisted in his resolution (so little did believe they had wrought the like miracle.
the first miracle operate on his mind) of This hardened his heart for a time; but the
detaining the Israelites, and continuing them  loathsome plague continuing, and pursuing
in their wretched state of bondage. Finding his people wherever they went, he was at
all remonstrances in vain, Moses delivered length forced to apply to Moses and Aaron,
his rod to Aaron, who, striking the water to whom he promised that the Israelites should
with it, as God had commanded him, it have their liberty, provided their God would
changed into blood, and so continued for the remove so infestuous a plague.  " Entreat the
space of seven days, by means of which the Lord," said he, " that he may take away the
fish were suffocated, and the inhabitants com- frogs from me, and from my people; and I
pelled to dig for water to allay their thirst. will let the people go that they may do
As it was known that Moses received his sacrifice unto the Lord."
education among the Egyptians, Pharaoh    Moses demanded the time when this should
concluded, that all this was performed by be put to an issue, upon which the next day
* This plague of the frogs, as well as that of ing that river to produce such an infinite multithe water being changed into blood, was excel- tude of these creatures to annoy them, God, with
lently adapted to subvert the superstitions of wonderful propriety, adapted their chastisement
Egypt, and to demonstrate the over-ruling power to the nature of their crimes; for frogs were not
of the Almighty; for as the bank of the river Nile only the instruments of their abominations, but
was the grand scene of the magical operations of likewise the emblems of those impure demons
the Egyptians, in which blood and frogs made a whom they invoked by their incantations.
principal part of the apparatus; so, by command



172                             AN ILLUSTRATED
was conjunctively agreed on.  Accordingly, Lord: let my people go, that they may serve
Moses, in order to fulfil his part of the con- me, or I will send swarms of flies upon thee
tract, after leaving Pharaoh, retired to a and thy people, which shall fill their houses,
private place, and, addressing himself to God, and cover the face of the earth.  And that
humbly besought him to remove the plague thou mayest know, that this is brought as a
of the frogs from  the land of Egypt.  The judgment upon thee and thy subjects, for
Almighty was pleased to listen to Moses' oppressing my people, I will, on that day,
solicitations; the frogs soon died, which the separate the land of Goshen, in which my
people gathered together in heaps; but they servants dwell, from the rest of Egypt, that
were so numerous, that before they could be the flies shall not molest them."
removed, the scent, which was exceeding    Moses, in conformity to the divine comrnobnoxious, spread itself throughout the whole mand, delivered this message to Pharaoh,
country.                                    whose obstinacy and perverseness were so
As Moses had now fulfilled his part of great, that he still refused the Israelites to
the contract, he naturally expected that Pha- depart.  In consequence of this, the next
raoh would have performed his; but the im- day, clouds of swarming insects filled the
pious monarch, vainly imagining that the air, which in numberless troops descended to
artillery of divine vengeance was now ex- the earth, and, with their unusual noise, surhausted, unfaithfully broke his word, and prised and affrighted the wretched inhabitstill refused to let the Israelites depart.  ants.  All attempts to remove this dreadful
This breach of promise so offended the calamity proved vain and fruitless; their
Ahnl ghty, that he resolved to treat the most private recesses could not secure them
haughty tyrant in a more severe manner from the poisonous stings of these obnoxious
than he had hitherto done.  As yet God had animals, and a succession of painful misery
given him previous notice of the judgments invaded them  on all sides.  The magicians
he intended to denounce, that he might have beheld, with confusion, this dlieful plague,
the opportunity of escap'ng them; but now, and no more attempted to offer any imitation.
without giving him  the least intimation of A  general horror was spread throughout the
his design, he commanded Moses to direct whole country, and every part echoed with
Aaron to stretch out his rod, and strike the the cries of toitured men and cattle.
dust with it, that it mnght become lice through-    Not being able longer to endure this dreadout all the land of Egypt.  Aaron had no ful calamity, and find ng no likelihood of its
sooner obeyed the divine command than the being removed, the obstinate Pharaoh sent
animated dust was immediately turned into for Moses and Aaron, and, in a sullen, dissatswarms of vermin, which not only infested isfied  tone, bade them  go and sacrifice to
the human species, but also the beasts of the their God; but with this injunction, that
field.  Pharaoh again had recourse to his they should not pass beyond the bounds of
magicians, who (though they had faintly im- Egypt.  He was desirous of obtaining reitated the former plagues) now attempted  lef, but, at the same time, was unwilling to
this in vain: they owned their art outdone, part with a people, fiom whose slavery he
and acknowledged this to be the inimitable had reaped such great advantage.  Being a
work of a divine hand.                      stranger to the true God, he did not conceive
But notwithstanding this, Pharaoh's heart that the Israelites could not acceptably sacriwas so hardened, that he would not pay the flee to their God while under Egyptian bondleast attention to the solicitations of Moses; age.
upon which the Almighty was pleased to give    Moses, desirous of convincing rather than
him another summons, in words to this ef- inflaming, the infidel prince, prudently anfect: " Rise up," says he to Moses, " early swered: " We cannot sacrifice to our God
in the morning, and meet Pharaoh as he in this land, for that would be an affront to
comes to the river: tell him, Thus saith the the Egyptians,+ and they will be revenged
* The meaning of this expression is, that the esteemed it a profanation to sacrifice any kind of
animals which they were to sacrifice to the Lord, cattle except swine, bulls, calves, and geese; and
being those which were worshipped by the Egyp- that heifers, rams, and goats (the usual sacrifices
tians, it would be such an affront and abomination of the Israelites) were, by them, held sacred. It
to them as would endanger the lives of the Israel- is, therefore, no wonder that the Israelites should
ites.  Herodotus tells us, that the Egyptians wish to offer up their sacrifices in a place detach



HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              173
on us.  Permit us, therefore, to avoid their upon him, seeing that it exactly answered
resentment, by going three days' journey the divine prediction.  But notwithstanding
into the wilderness, where we can sacrifice this, his heart was so callous, that he still
to our God in the manner he hath com- preserved the resolution of not suffering the
manded."                                  Israelites to depart.
In reply to this, the haughty monarch    These means proving ineffectual, the Alsaid, "If nothing else will serve you but to mighty, in order to make some impression
go into the desert, I will let you go; but on the mind of this impious monarch, deterremember, it must not be far.  And in re- mined to afflict him  and his people with a
turn for this concession, I desire you will plague, and that without giving him the
entreat your God to remove the plague."    least notice of his intentions.  He accordMoses promised to intercede for him, but ingly commanded Moses and Aaron to take
at the same time cautioned him to be sincere ashes of the furnace, and throw them into
in what he said, and not violate his engage- the air in the presence of Pharaoh.  This
ments as he had before done. Leaving Pha- was accordingly done, upon which the ashes
raoh, Moses retired to a proper place, where soon spread the dire contagion, and the
he addressed himself to God, beseeching him  tainted air infected the Egyptian blood with
to remove the plague of the flies.  His its pernicious influence.  The most inveterate
prayers were accordingly heard, and the in- boils and ulcers appeared on their flesh, and
sects soon took their flight.  But this obsta- their whole constitution became a noisome
cle was no sooner removed, than the haughty spring of sores.   So universal was this
tyrant re-assumed his former obstinacy, and plague, that even the magicians (who, it is
peremptorily forbid the Israelites worship- probable, would willingly have once more
ping their God in the way and manner he tried their skill) were affected, and that in
had directed.                              such manner, that they dared not appear in
This additional provocation so incensed public.
the Almighty against Pharaoh, that he again    Pharaoh's obstinacy, which before prosent Moses to him with this message: " Tell ceeded from  an implacable hatred to the
him," said he, " Thus saith the God of the chosen people of God, now arose from the
Hebrews, let my people go, that they may mere hardness of his heart, and notwithserve me, or be assured I will visit all thy standing he must be sensible that the present
cattle that are in the field with a grievous plague was the immediate effect of a divine
murrain; and to make thee still more sen- I and supernatural direction, yet he continued
sible of my Omnipotence, I will, by a won- firm in his resolution of detaining the Isderful distinction, preserve the cattle of my raelites.  But the Almighty, determined to
people, while I destroy those of the Egyp- make some impression on him, rendered the
tians."                                   very powers of Heaven subservient to his
Pharaoh paid no more attention to this divine purpose, giving this charge to his
message than he had done to the former, in servant Moses: " Go," says he, " early in
consequence of which, the very next day, the morning, to the king of Egypt, and tell
this awful threat was most severely executed. him, that I, the God of the Hebrews, demand
Though this was certainly a most horrid the liberty of my people, that they may
spectacle, yet it made not the least impres- worship me; which, if he refuse, he may be
sion on the hardened Pharaoh, who still re- assured that I will shower my plagues upon
solved to brave Heaven with his impious him and his people; and I will make him
perverseness.   Remembering what Moses know that I am the only God on earth. Stay
had said of the preservation of the Israelites' further to him: If, when lately I smote the
cattle, he sent to Goshen to learn how it had cattle with a murrain, I had smitten thee
fared with them, and was assured that not and thy people with pestilence, thou hadst
one of their cattle had died, or received the been cut off from the earth.  But I have releast infection.  This circumstance was cer- served thee to show my power, and by the
tainly sufficient to have convinced him that judgments I shall inflict will I make known
it was no casualty, but a direct judgment my name to all the world.  Oppress not,
nor detain my people; for if thou dost toed from the sight of the Egyptians, justly sus-                        thou. 
pecting, that, had they not, it might have been morrow, by this time, unless thou submit
attended with fatal consequences.         thyself, I will send such a storm of hail from




174                           AN ILLUSTRATED
heaven upon Egypt as never was known fears totally vanished, his perverseness resince it has been a nation.  And that thou turned, and he resolved still to keep the
mayest not lose what cattle the murrain left, Israelites in a state of bondage.
which being not in the field escaped that   The Almighty was now pleased to make
plague, send thy servants, and let them  another trial, and to send his servant Moses
drive them under shelter; for upon every to apprise the haughty and perfidious tyrant
man and beast, which shall be found in the of his intentions.  The message he delivered
field, the storm shall fall, and they shall to Moses was prefaced by his reasons (as,
surely die."                            indeed, he had done before) why he permitSo careless, as well as impious, was ted Pharaoh to continue in his obstinacy; the
Pharaoh, that even this declaration would substance of which, together with the mesnot make him submit, though his own life, sage itself, was to this effect: "I have,"
as well as those of his people, was in immi- says he, " hardened Pharaoh's heart, and
nent danger.  But some of them, who had the hearts of his servants, that I may show
been witnesses of the dreadful wrath of God, these my wonders before them, and that thou
made a prudent use of the divine caution, mayest tell, in the hearing of thy sons, and
and, housing their cattle in time, they were the Israelites to succeeding generations, what
preserved from the general destruction.  prodigies I have wrought in Egypt, that ye
The appointed time being come, Moses, may all know that I am the Lord, the A1in obedience to the divine command, waved mighty Jehovah.  Wherefore, go to Pharaoh,
his rod in the air, which soon began to mur- and tell him, Thus saith the Lord God of
mur in imperfect sounds, till the full-charged the Hebrews, Why dost thou persist in thy
clouds, with impetuous force, burst and dis- obstinacy? Let my people go, that they
charged themselves in such horrid peals of may serve me, or I will bring the locusts
thunder, as to shake the whole frame of na- into thy land to-morrow, which shall come in
ture.  This was succeeded  by a stormy such swarms, as to cover the surface of the
shower of hail, which covered the ground earth, and devour all the products of it that
with the scattered remains of trees and have escaped the former plagues.  And this
houses, and the dead bodies of men and shall prove such a plague as none of thy
beasts.  Nor did the divine vengeance stop predecessors ever saw."
here: the heavens discharged a body of   This message Moses carefully delivered to
liquid fire, which, darting on the ground, Pharaoh in the presence of his nobles, and,
glided over the waters, and filled every place not receiving any answer to it, he retired.
with the most dreadful horror.           As soon as he was gone, Pharaoh's courtiers,
The haughty tyrant began now to be im- still sensibly impressed with the late calamipressed with those sensations to which he had ties, and fearful that he was about to call
hitherto been a stranger.  Seeing all nature, down more plagues upon them, very roughly
as he imagined, ready to dissolve, he melted accosted their king, desiring him to let the
into penitence, and, sending for Moses and Israelites go and serve their God, lest, for
Aaron, confessed himself guilty.  " I have his obstinacy, not only himself, but also the
sinned this time," said he; "the Lord is whole people of his kingdom, should be torighteous, and I and my people are wicked. tally destroyed.
Entreat the Lord that there be no more   The importunity of Pharaoh's courtiers
mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let prevailed more than God's threats and judgyou go, and  ye shall stay no longer." ments.  He immediately despatched a mesMoses promised to comply with this request, senger after Moses  and  Aaron,  who
but at the same time assured him, he knew  accordingly returning, he told them  they
there was no sincerity in his heart; and that might go and serve their God; but under
his seeming repentance was only the effect this limitation, that it should only be the
of his fright.                           men, for that all the women and children
Moses, however, in conformity to his prom- should be left behind.  This, however, would
ise, addressed himself to the Almighty be- not do for Moses: he insisted that all the
seeching him to remove the plague; which Israelites should go, both old and young, sons
was no sooner done than his prediction was and daughters; nay, and their flocks and
verified: for, when Pharaoh found the storm  herds; "for," said he, "we must hold a
was ceased, and all was calm and serene, his feast to the Lord, and all must be at it."




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             17b
Pharaoh considered this demand as not only    Moses obeyed the Divine command, immeperemptory, but insolent: he therefore bade diately on which such solid and thick clouds
them  look to it, and consider well what they of darkness invaded the sky, that nature
insisted on; after which, in a very threaten- seemed at once to be involved in one dreading manner, he dismissed them.            ful eclipse: the sun no longer enlightened
This repulse occasioned another judgment the lower world with his cheerful beams; the
to be inflicted on the miserable subjects of an moon, with the stars, no more illuminated
infidel king; for Moses, by the divine com- the air; and so dismal was the aspect of all
mand, stretched out his hand, with the rod things, that nature appeared as if about to
in it, and immediately a scorching wind blew  return to her original chaos.
all that day and the succeeding night; the    This dreadful scene of horror lasted three
consequence of which was, the next morning days, and the haughty Pharaoh  was so
there appeared endless legions of locusts, affected at it, that though he had long stood
which, in a short time, so devoured the fruits immovable against the threats and judgments
of the earth, that it became, as it were, quite of God, yet he now, fearing a universal disnaked: the happy productions arising from  solution, and frightened at the continual terthe fertile Nile, and all that bountiful nature ror of this long night, began seriously to
afforded, were carried off by these airy pilla- relent, and sending for Moses, thus addressed
gers, and nothing appeared but horror and him: -" Ye may go," said he, "with your
desolation throughout the land of Egypt.    little ones, and serve the Lord; but, for my
The hardened Pharaoh was more sensibly security, I would have you leave your flocks
affected at this plague than he had been at and herds behind."
any of the former.  He plainly saw that the    But this not being absolutely consistent
destruction of the fruits of the earth must be with the Divine command, Moses would not
succeeded by the destruction of man and accept it.  He told Pharaoh that it was the
beast.  Wherefore, sending for Moses and express command of their God to remove
Aaron, he, in a more suppliant manner, ad- with all their substance; and that they knew
dressed them  in words to this effect: "I not in what manner they were to offer sacrihave, indeed, offended Jehovah your God, fiee to their God, nor should they till they
in refusing to obey his command, and you, came into the wilderness.
in so often breaking my word with you: for-   The haughty tyrant, incensed at the nongive me this offence, and entreat your God compliance of Moses to what he esteemed a
to avert this judgment, that I and my people distinguished indulgence, commanded him to
perish not by devouring famine."          be gone, and, with great austerity, told him
Moses, once more  compassionating the if he* ever appeared before him  again, it
case of the justly afflicted king, addressed should cost him his life.
himself to the Almighty in his behalf, and    Moses promised Pharaoh he should never
the locusts, by the force of a strong westerly again see his face; but, by the Divine comwind, were driven into the Red Sea.  But mand, he once more visited him, and that
this plague was no sooner removed than with a message more severe than any he had
Pharaoh's obstinacy and contempt of God's yet delivered.   "Tell him,"  says the
commands returned, and he again refused Almighty to Moses, "in the hearing of
the departure of the Israelites.          his people, Thus saith the Lord, About
All these methods to reduce Pharaoh to an midnight will I go out into the midst of
obedience of the Divine command proving Egypt.  And all the first-born in the land
ineffectual, the Almighty commanded Moses of Egypt shall die, from  the first-born of
to stretch forth his hand toward heaven, that Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even
there might be a universal darkness, such as unto the first-born of the female servant that
before had never been known, throughout is behind the mill; * and all the first-born of
the land of Egypt.                        beasts.  And there shall be a great cry
* It was usual for the lowest slaves to be em- 1, 2. Dr. Shaw observes, that most families in
ployed in the drudgery of the mill; and therefore those countries still grind their wheat and barley
the prophet Isaiah uses this idea to express the at home, having two portable mill-stones for that
abject state of slavery to which Babylon should purpose; the uppermost whereof is turned round
be reduced: " Come down, and sit in the dust, 0 by a small handle of wood or iron, which is placed
virgin daughter of Babylon: sit on the ground, in the rim. When the stone is large, or expeditake the mill-stones and grind meal." Isaiah lvii. tion is required, then a second person is called in




176                               AN ILLUSTRATED
throughout all the land of Egypt, such as upon which Moses, findng him  inflexible,
was never before, nor shall be again.  But turned away and left him.
the children of Israel shall not be in the    Previous to the carrying of this last senleast affected, that ye may know the distine- tence into execution, the Almighty instructed
tion made by the Lord between you and Moses and Aaron in what manner to direct
the people to prepare the passover, which
was to be a feast in commemoration of their
departure out of Egypt, and was to be held
~.' }~,'on the day  precedin, that event.   The
directions which, by the Divine command,
Moses gave to the people on this occasion,
were  to the following  effect: that every
family of Israel (or, if the family was too
small, two neighboring families joining together) should, on the tenth t day of the
_ month, take a lamb, or kid, and having shut
it up till the fourteenth day, then kill it.
Women grinding corn with the hand-mill of modern Syria. That the lamb, or kid, should be a male not
above a year old, and without any manner of
them.   And all thy  servants shall come blemish: that, when  they killed it, they
down unto me, saying, Get thee out, and should catch the blood in a vessel, and, with
all the people that follow  thee; and after a bunch of hyssop dipped in it, sprinkle the
that will I go out myself."                   side-posts of the outer door, after which they
Moses delivered this message to Pharaoh  should not stir out of the house till the next
in the manner he had been commanded. morning.  In the mean time, they were to
But the haughty tyrant defied his threats, eat the lamb, or kid (dressed whole, and
without breaking a bone of it), neither raw
nor sodden, but roasted, with unleavened
bread and bitter herbs; that if there was
more than they could dispense with, they
~~   \-"xxx-\ -  were to bury it; and, lastly, that the posture
%~~~~~                  in which they were to eat it was to be in a
Section of Easternhand-mill.       hurry, with their clothesS on their shoulders
and their staves in their hands, as if they
and still persisted in his obstinacy that the were just upon the point of going to depart.
Israelites should not depart from  Egypt;    The tremendous night was not long deto assist; and it is usual for the women alone to    t The passover, or feast, was to be celebrated
be concerned in this employment, who seat them- on the fourteenth day of the month, so that four
selves over against each other with the mill-stones clays were allowed previous to its being held. In
between them.  We may see not only the propri- after-times the Jews did not begin their preparaety of the expression in this verse, of sitting be- tions till the thirteenth, or the day preceding the
hind the ntill, but the force of another, Matt. xxiv. passover; but here, they are ordered to prepare
41, that " Two women shall be grinding at the on the tenth day of the month, not only because
mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left."  this being the first time of the celebration of the
* These directions given by the Almighty to passover, they might require more time to prepare
Moses are introduced by the following passage: for a ceremony entirely new, but because, being
"This month shall be unto you the beginning of to depart from Egypt suddenly, and in great haste,
months; it shall be the first day of the first month  they might be perfectly ready, and have no hinof the year to you."  The Jews, like most other  derance to make them  neglect any part of the
nations, began their year, before this event, about duty enjoined.
the autumnal equinox, in the month Tifri, after    $ These clothes were slight thin garments, retheir harvest and vintage; but that which was sembling those which the Arabs now wear, and
their first month, now became their seventh; as which they call hykes. " These hykes," says Dr.
the month of Abib, which answers principally to Shaw, "are of various sizes, and of different qualiour March, was, by God's appointment, and in ties and fineness.  The usual size of them is six
commemoration of this their deliverance, consti- yards long and two broad. It serves them for a
tuted the first month of their sacred year. Abib complete dress in the day; and, as they sleep in
signifies the green corn; and the month was so their raiments, as the Israelites did of old (Deut.
named, because, about this time, the corn in those xxiv. 13), it serves likewise for their bed and covcountries began to ripen.                     ering at night."




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                               17 7
layed.  While the Jews werecelebrating this shrieks of the living, with the groans of
newly instituted feast — at midnight- the those about to die, breaking in upon the
destroying angel went forth in a pestilence, stillness of the night- the darkness of which
and smote all the first-born in the land of must greatly have aggravated the horror and
Egypt,-  " from  the first-born of Pharaoh, confusion of that hour —made the people
that sat on his throne, to the first-born of the fancy they were all doomed to destruction,
captive that lay in the dungeon; and all the and that the work of death would not cease
first-born of cattle."  And there was a great till they had all perished.  The king himself
cry in Egypt -lamentation and bitter weep- was filled with horror and alarm.  Without
ing — for there was not a house in which truly repenting his obduracy, he bitterly
there was not one dead.                   lamented its effects.  It appeared to him
The effect of this dreadful blow was ex- that the only method of arresting the proactly such as Moses had foretold.  The king, gress of the destruction was to send the
his nobles, and the Egyptian people, rose in Hebrews instantly away - in the fear that
sorrow  from  their beds that night.  The every moment they tarried would prove the
\J
~- ill7' /
ORNAM1ENTS OF EGYPTIAN FEMALES.
loss of a thousand lives to Egypt.  He and the Hebrews had been instructed by
therefore sent to Moses and Aaron by that Moses to take advantage of it, by borrowing
very  night-  that hour -to tell them, ornaments of precious metal -" Jewels of
" Get you forth from  among my people, gold and jewels of silver," with rich dresses,
both ye and the children of Israel; and go fi-om the Egyptians.  On the principle that,
and serve the Lord as ye said; take also "all that a man hath will he give for his
your flocks and herds, and begone; and life," there can be no doubt but that, under
bless me also."  And the Egyptian people circumstances which made them, consider
also, says the  scriptural narrative, were their own lives in jeopardy, and when the
urgent upon them, to send them away in losses they had sustained were calculated to
haste; for they said, "We are all dead make their finery seem  of small value in
men."  In their anxiety to get them  off, their sight, the Egyptians were quite as
lest every moment of their stay should prove ready to lend as the Hebrews to borrow.
the last to themselves or those dear to them, The women also were authorized to borrow
the Egyptians would have done any thing to from the Egyptian females: and we may
satisfy and oblige them.  This favorable dis- easily believe that their exertions added
position had been foreseen from the beginning, much to the large amount of valuable prop.
12




178                               AN ILLUSTRATED
erty which was extracted from  the fears of off, that, between persuasions, bribery, and
the Egyptians.  With whatever understand- gentle compulsion, the whole body had coming these valuable articles were given and menced its march before daybreak, although
it was not till midnight that the first-born had
been slain.  They had no time even to bake
the bread for which the dough was ready;
and they were, therefore, obliged to leave it
in their dough bags, which they carried away,
wrapped up in their clothes, with the view of
preparing  their bread when an opportunity
1               2
Egyptian Necklaces. Gold, carnelian, lapis lazuli, ani  Assyrian armlets. 1, 2, 3, from KNineveh marbles; 4, 5, iron.
jasper. (From originals in British Museum.)         (From originals in Brit. Mfus.)
received, the ultimate effect is, that in this might be offered by their first halt.  Hurried
final settlement, the Hebrews received some- as they were, they forgot not the bones of
thing like wages — though, as such, inade- Joseph, which they had kept at hand, and
quate -  for the long services they had ren- now bore away with them. On they marched,
dered to the Egyptians.*                       driving  before them  their cattle and  their
So eager were the Egyptians to get them  beasts of burden, laden with their mnovables
* There has been much discussion in respect to them favor in sight of the Egyptians, who would
the morality of the transaction of' the Hebrews in be ready to treat them at last with clemency and
borrowing jewels and other valuable articles of generosity. And they were instructed to borrow,
the Egyptians. Borrowing implies a promise to  i. e. ask or request, jewels of silver, and jewels of
return what is borrowed, which in this case was gold, and raiment; and it was added, "Ye shall
not done.  But it is alleged by critics, that the  spoil the Egyptians."  They did not take these
word translated "borrow," in the account of this things by virtual stealth, but as spoils voluntary
given up to them  by the Egyptians on their
request. They were not therefore chargeable with
_ __ ~ _ —__ _, /__ _    dishonesty.
The Hebrews were expecting to go three days'
journey into the wilderness, that they might hold
a festival in honor of their God. In accordance
with oriental usage, they would want rich jewelry
and raiment for such a sacred occasion.  The
__ j e- 1                    l t > masses of the people might have expected  to
return, as nothing was proposed by Moses further
than the celebration of this feast in the wilderness.
With this understanding, it would be easy to obtain from the Egypvtians these valuable ornaments
for such a purpose.
Egyptian Armlets. (Description de l'Egypte.)  It was foretold that " they should come out
with great substance."  The spoils with which
transaction, signifies to ask, demand, request.  The they were laden were but the well-earned reward
Hebrews were encouraged to follow the lead of of the labors of many years in the service of their
Moses in the avowed purpose of going forth from  oppressors, and there was no wrong done in the;Egypt, by the assurance that God would give course adopted to obtain this reward.-A. B.




HISTORY  OF  THE'BIBLE.                              179
~1~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~7
d                ill~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fail,.
and tents; and themselves, some, doubtless,   i l-        t!ii',tl.'.!
riding  on camels, some on asses; but, from,.,
the great number of these required for the,,~[:     ii:L: I
womenz an~d the children, most of the men
doubtless  marched on foot..  Thus, laden,                             i
with the spoils of Egypt, they went on their
way rejoicing, leaving the Egyptians to the.
thingsa which belono to nlmourr                    \\i t%;h\
Ware are told that the number of the Is-'       ~             /t/,
raelites who on this eventful night commenced.I I/'           Nj; 
their march was "about six hundred thousand         Ii'~:~5}i
1~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/V~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~~~l~l'lvT
men on  foot, besides children."  The description  of "men  on fooit" dlenotes, as  a
elsewhere appears,  men fit to bear armsd, 
toogra youn mbut toffse wh   re toorod for suhe r         ia
excluding therefore, not only those who are 
doo yubtl,    but those ho ae too ot.  for such laden
service.  As this prime class of the cowmmu a-, 
nity is usually in the proportion of one-fourth
of the whole population,  the  result would
give nearly two  miltions and a half as th om  ee
number of the posterity of Jacob.  This                                   ii
number  is so very high, that it has seemed  /   [i;.i
incredible to many.  We must confess, that'
it is difficult to realize the presence of so vast
a host, with their locks and herds, and th 
form an idea of the immense area they would a  
cover, were only   standing-room    given to "r s
them, much more where  encamped under 
tents; — and when we further consider the
of the whole population, the resultI would'~_
length and breadth of their moving body on
a march, as well as the quantities of water 
they would require, we may be tempted ton der.::
tents; - and when we further consider the'';'..~




180                             AN ILLUSTRATED
conclude that a much smaller number would number is never stated.  But probably they
amply justify the promises of God, and would were able to form an estimate of the proporrender many circumstances in the ensuing tion which the numbered part of the populaportion of their history more easy to be un- tion bore to the whole; although their conderstood.  Besides this, the ancient manner elusions in this matter must have been more
of notation afforded temptations and facilities uncertain than our own, which have been
for the corruption of numbers, whence it hap- found on repeated actual enumerations of
pens that the most disputed texts of Scripture, portions of the entire population which were
and those in which, as the copies now stand, never included in the ancient enumerations.*
there are palpable contradictions, are those    The point firom which the Hebrew  host
which contain numerical statements.   We started on their march was Rameses, one of
are not insensible  to these considerations, the " treasure cities " which they had built
and have endeavored to assign them  all the for Pharaoh in the land of Goshen, and
weight which they are entitled to bear.  But which seems to have become the chief place
seeing that the present number, high as it is, in the territory they occupied.  The difficulhas some support from  collateral evidence, ties in tracing their march begin at the very
and from the considerations to which we have first stage.
already adverted, and, above all, reflecting    There are  two  preliminary  questions,
that the present number is a positive circum- satisfactory  information  on  which  would
stance, whereas all alterat'on could only be much assist us in understanding the early
conjectural, we deem it the best and safest part of their journey.  The first is, the situacourse to take the number as we find it in the tion of Rameses, from which they started;
present copies of the Pentateuch. But besidcles and the second, the point to which their
the descendants of Jacob, there was a large  journey was, in the first instance, directed.
"mixed  multitude,"  which went out of On the first point no very satisfactory inforEgypt on this occasion.  Who they were is mation can be obtained.  It is, indeed, not
not clearly stated; but it would appear that quite clear that any particular locality is inthe mass was formed of foreign slaves, be- tended, or whether the land of Goshen, in the
longing to the principal persons among the large indefinite sense, may not be denoted
Hebrews, with a good number, probably, be- by " the land of Rameses."  But some inlonging to the Egyptians, who were glad to formation is reflected upon the first by the
take the opportunity of escaping with the answer to the second of these questions,
Israelites.  Besides this, there were mali- which answer is, that the destination which
festly a considerable number of Egyptians of was in the first instance contemplated, was
the poorer class, who perhaps expected to  doubtless the wilderness of Sinai.  The land
better their condition in some way, or had of Goshen appears most evidently to have
other very good reasons for leaving Egypt; bordered on, if it did not include, part of the
indeed, as it did not turn out that the Israel- tract over which the nearest and most conites were any thing the better for their pres- venient road to the peninsula of Sinai from the
ence, we are free to confess that we think it banks of the Nile has always passed.  This
likely they were chiefly such thieves, vaga- is nearly the line in which, in after ages, a
bonds, adventurers, and debtors, as could no canal was made connecting the Nile with the
longer stay safely in Egypt.                Gulf of Suez; and that, while it is the nearThe circumstance that Moses was so well est route, it is the only one which offers a
acquainted with the number of the Israelites supply of water, is a consideration which
before they left Egypt, intimates that an ac- doubtless as much recommended it in ancient
count of their numbers had not long before times to tohose going from Egypt to Sinai or
been taken by the Egyptians.  That ingeni- Arabia, as it does now recommend it to the
ous people employed very early, if they did gTeat caravan of pilgrimage which yearly
not invent, the practice of taking a census of journeys from  Cairo to Mecca.  The route
what is called the effective part of the popu- of this caravan is the same, as far as the
lation; and from them, unquestionably, the head of the Gulf of Suez, as one would take
Israelites, under the direction of Moses, which proceeds to the Desert of Sinai.  We
adopted this useful custom. In all such
enumerations, in ancient times, the women    * The exact number of men is given in Exod.
and children were not included, and their xxxviii. 26, and Num. i. 46.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                           181
shall therefore presume that this was the face such enemies, or any enemies whatever:
route taken.                            they were not yet even fit to be a nation;
If the Hebrews were to have gone direct and therefore, instead of being at once led to
to take possession of the Promised Land, their promised heritage, it was the divine
their nearest road would have been "by the will that they should be conducted into the
way of the Philistines;" that is, by the usual desert, there to be trained, disciplined, and
route from Egypt to Gaza. But the Philis- instructed, so as to fit them for their future
tines were unquestionably the most powerful destinies.  Moses knew that their first desand warlike people then in Palestine, and tination was the wilderness of Sinai; for
there was already some ill blood between when the Lord appeared to him in Horeb,
them and the Israelites, and they would be it was announced that the bondaged children
likely to offer a most formidable opposition to of Abraham should be brought to worship
them at the very first step of their progress. God in that very mountain.
The Hebrews were in fact altogether unfit to   The Hebrews left Rameses and proceeded.;
_____                                             4 —---— ~~~~~~~ —lAn=_-==_-= I~ _g
ADJEROUD.
on their way. And now it appeared that the the whole, more likely that the point from
Lord provided against their going astray, by which the Hebrews departed in the first inplacing a miraculous column of cloud to go stance may have been in that neighborhood.
before them by day and mark out their road; Suceoth, therefore, must be sought somewhere
while by night it became a column of fire, about a day's journey in the direction toward
and gave light to all the camp.  This was Suez.  The namedenotes tents or.booths, and
important, also, as evincing that Moses was it is useless to seek its site, as the name appears
not acting by his own authority, and that, only to denote a place where caravans passing
however highly he was entitled to their eon- that way usually encamped.
fidenee and respect, they had a more unerring Their next resting-place of which we are
Guide and a more exalted Protector.     told was "Etham, on the edge of the wilTheir first day's journey brought them to derness." But in this, as in other eases,
Suecoth. We relinquish the notion which we are not to suppose that the places which
we once entertained that Succoth may have are named are the only places at which they
been at or near the place (Birket el Hadj, or rested; and in the present instance the disPilgrim's Pool) where' the great pilgrim tance may suggest that this Etham was the
caravan encamps and makes its final arrange- third rather than the second encampment.
ments for its journey. We think it, upon The halting-places of caravans are in these




182                           AN  ILLUSTRATED
desert regions so much determined by the says of Bir-Suez (which he identifies with
presence of wells, that, in connection with Ethamn) is true also of Adjeroud, that, in
the circumstance of its being situated "on effect, it appears to be toward the extremity
the edge of the wilderness," there is not of the desert: for hence the sea is seen to
much difficulty in concluding that Etham is make a bend to the west, and by joining the
represented by the modern Adjeroud, which high chain of Mount Attaka to terminate
forms the third stage of the pilgrim's cara- the desert to the south.  The journey to
van, and where there is an old fortress, a this point had been for the most part over a
small village, and a copious well of indif- desert, the surface of which is composed of
ferent water. This place is about eleven hard gravel, often strewed with pebbles.
miles to the north-west of Suez.  The neigh-   They had now arrived near the head of
borhood seems indeed to be on the edge of the Red Sea, and also, as we suppose, at
the wilderness: for what M. du Bois-Ayme the limit of the three days' journey into the
_~ _
— _~==m
SUEZ.
-~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --..... -—.
wilderness for which they had applied. It unexpected to all parties, and which could
is therefore evident that their next move not to any indifferent spectator but have
must decide their future course, and convey seemed the result of the most gross and fatal
to the Egyptians a clear and decisive intima- infatuation.
tion of their intentions. If they designed About the head of the Gulf of Suez a
to do as they had all along declared to be desert plain extends for ten or twelve miles
their only wish, they would stay at this place, to the west and north of the city of that
and  proceed  to celebrate  the  feast to name.  On the westthisplain is boundedby
Jehovah, of which so much had been said: the chain of Attaka, which comes down tobut, if they intended to escape altogether, ward the sea in a north-easterly direction. Opthey would resume their journey, and, pass- posite Suez this chain is seen at a considering by the head of the Red Sea, strike off able distance, but, as we advance southinto the desert. And here God, who knew ward, the mountains rapidly approach the
that the king of Egypt had so far recovered sea, and proportionately contract the breadth
his consternation that he was determined to of the valley; and the chain terminates at
pursue and drive them back, if they made the sea, and seenhs, in the distant view, to
any move indicating an intention to escape, shut up the valley at Ras-el-Attaka, or Cape
directed a move which must have been most Attaka, twelve miles below Suez. But, on




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             183
approaching this point, ample room is found and Baal-zephon are not now recognizable
to pass beyond; and on passing beyond we anywhere about the head of the gulf,* no
find ourselves in a broad alluvial plain, form- facts or inferences can be deduced from
ing the mouth of the valley of Bedea.  This them; but an important confirmation is deplain is on the other or southern side nearly rived from  the circumstance that we are
shut up by the termination of another chain of told that, in consequence of the move which
these mountains, which extend between the was made, the Hebrew host were shut up
Nile and the western shore of the Red Sea. between the sea and the mountains, without
Any farther progress in this direction would any means of escape, unless through the
be impossible to a large army, especially sea, when the retreat in the rear was cut
when encumbered with flocks and herds, off.
and with women, children, and baggage;   Many have thought they found cause to
and this from the manner in which the rocks, wonder at this extraordinary movement,
the promontories, and the cliffs advance on the which placed the Hebrews in a position of
western shore.  And, besides, any advance such inextricable difficulty, forgetting that
in this direction would be suicidal to a body this was the very purpose of God, that the
desiring to escape from  Egypt, as they prospect of an extraordinary advantage might
would have the Red Sea between them and tempt the Egyptians on to their own destrucArabia Proper, and could only get involved tion, and bring them  within the reach of
among the plains and valleyswhllich separate those agencies by which God intended to act
the mountain chains of Egyptian Arabia.    against them. The wonder which the reader
The valley of Bedea, which opens to the may feel is exactly the wonder' which the
Red Sea in the broad plain to which we king of Egypt felt, and by which he was
have brought the reader, narrows as it pro- led on to his ruin.
ceecls westward toward the Nile.  It forms   The movement was made; and the thousa fine roadway between the valley of the ands of Israel encamped in the plain of
Nile and the Red Sea, and, as such, has in Bedea.
all ages been one of the most frequented    The days which had passed had given the
routes in all the country, being traversed by Egyptians time to recover from some portion
all parties and caravans which desire to of their panic; and their first feeling of
proceed firon the neighborhood of Cairo, or unmixed horror and alarm  gave place to
places to the south of Cairo, to Suez, or to considerable resentment and regret, on the
places lying beyond the head of the gulf.   king's part, that he had so suddenly conNow, the Hebrew host being at Etham, ceded all the points which had been contestand their next step thence being of the ed between him and Moses, and'had allowed
utmost importance, they were directed, not them all to depart; and as for his subjects,
-  as might obviously have been expected such of them as had a profitable interest in
-to pass round the head of the gulf into the labors of the Israelites would, to some
the Sinai peninsula, but to proceed south- extent, join in the king's feelings, as soon as
ward, between the mountains of Attaka and their bondsmen took any course to intimate
the western shore of the gulf, and, after that they intended to escape; and the same
passing the Ras-el-Attaka, to encamp in the intimation would not fail to alarm those who
plain into which the valley of Bedea opens. had "lent" to the Hebrews their "jewels
The more thoroughly any one makes him- of silver and jewels of gold," and who by
self acquainted with the topography of this this time had found leisure to think that they
region, the more obvious and reasonable, had too easily parted with their wealth.
we are persuaded, will seem to him  this Thus it seems that the course which the
explanation of the text-" Turn and en- Israelites might take after their arrival at
camp before Pi-ha-hiroth [the mouth of the Etham was regarded with much anxiety by
ridge], between Migdol and the sea, over the Egyptians, who took care to be informed
against Baal-zephon: before it ye shall en- of all their movements.
camp by the sea."  As the names Migdol   When, therefore, the king heard not only
* liqdol was probably a tower, as the name to have been a town or temple situated somewhere
imports, and may seem to have been on the monu- in the plain of Medea, or over against it on, the
tains which hem in the valley.  Baal-zephon, eastern shore of the sea.
meaning the Northern Baal or Lord, would seem




184                             AN ILLUSTRATED
that they had taken a decisive move from    One of the citations in Eusebius from the
Etham, but, through some astonishing in- lost history of Manetho, the Egyptian priest,
fatuation, had  so  moved  as to  become says: "The Heliopolitans relate that the' entangled in the land," and " shut in by king with a great army, accompanied by the
the wilderness," he hastened to avail himself sacred animals, pursued after the Jews, who
of the extraordinary advantage which they had carried off with them the suibstance of
had placed in his hands.  " He made ready the Egyptians." t  This takes notice of two
his chariot, and took his people with him." facts not mentioned by Moses, but not at all
disagreeing with his statement, namely, that,
for their protection against the God of Israel,
the Egyptians took with them  their sacred
animals, by which means the Lord executed
judgment upon the [bestial] gods of Egypt,
as had been foretold (Exod. xii. 12); and
i7.then that to recover the substance which the
Hebrews had " borrowed " was one of the
objects of the pursuit.
We do not agree with those who think
that the king of Egypt came upon the encamped  Hebrews through the valley of
Bedea, in the plain at the mouth of which
Egyptian maces and clubs. 7,7. Assyrian maces and they were encamped.  As he was so glad to
clubs.                  find how they had " entangled themselves in
He mustered not less than six hundred the land," he was not likely to take a course
chariots, which are said to be " all the [war] which would deprive him of all the advantachariots of Egypt."  This is in correspond- ges derivable from their apparent oversight.
ence with the sculptures, which show that This he would do by coming upon them
the Egyptians made great use in war of such through the valley of Bedea; for this would
have left open to them the alternative of
escaping from their position by the way they
K.S                          entered: whereas, by coming the same way
0 v   So (     they had come, he shut up that door of
(1             escape, and, if they fled before him, left
them no other visible resource but to march
up the valley of Bedea, back to Egypt,
before the Egyptian troops.  That this was
really the advantage to himself which the
king saw in their position, and that it was
his object to drive them before him back to
/U"   /   g     if j  Egypt through this valley, or to destroy them
if they offered to resist, we have not the
1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Egyptian battle-axes. Rosellini and Cham- least doubt; and it is unlikely that he would
take any road but that which would enable
chariots as our engraving exhibits.  A large him to secure these benefits.
body of infantry   was also assembled, and    The Egyptians, being satisfied that they
the pursuit commenced.  Their light, unen- had secured their prey, and that it was imcumbered march was no doubt much more possible for their fugitive bondsmen to escape
quickly performed than that of the Israelites but by returning to Egypt, were in no haste
to the same place.                        to assail them.  They were also, themselves,
* These must be intended by "his army," as but belongs to a nation the soldiers of which are
distinguished from his "chariots and horsemen." often seen' fighting as auxiliaries along with those
Our engraving (p. 186), composed from Egyptian of Egypt. A native Egyptian soldier, if he has
sculptures and paintings, shows Egyptian sol- any shield, has it round at the upper end and
diers with the equipments and arms of different square at the lower. The charioteer in the backcorps.  The man in the foreground with the ground is known to be a king by his head dress.
round studded shield is, however, not an Egyptian,   t " Proed. Evang." lib. x. cap. 27.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             185
probably wearied  by their rapid  march. enslaved condition which they had so lately
They therefore encamped for the night - for deplored.  Moses knew them well enotugh
it was toward evening when they arrived -  not to be surprised that they assailed him as
intending, probably, to give effect to their the author of all the calamities to which they
intentions in the morning.                were now exposed.  " Is it because there
As for the Israelites, the sight of their old were no graves in Egypt," said they, " that
oppressors struck them with terror.  There thou hast taken us away to die in the wilderwas no faith or spirit in them.  They knew  ness?  Is not this the word that we did tell
not how to value their newly-found liberty. thee in Egpyt, saying, Let us alone, that we
They deplored the rash adventure in which may serve the Egyptians?  For it had been
they had engaged; and their servile minds better for us to serve the Egyptians than to
looked back with regret and envy upon the die in the wilderness."  This is one specimen
-
ANCIENT EGYPTIAN WAR CHARIOT.
of a mode of feeling and character among the Divine intention had been previously
this spiritless and perverse people of which intimated to himn; for he answered, with that
Moses had seen something already, and of usual emphasis of expression which makes it
which he had soon occasion to see much a pleasure to transcribe his words: "Fear
more.  One might be disposed to judge of ye not: stand still, and see the salvation of
their feelings the more leniently, attributing the Lord, which he will show to you this day:
them to the essential operation of personal for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day
slavery in enslaving the mind, by debasing ye shall see no more again for ever.  The
its higher tones of feeling and character, did Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold
we not know that the same characteristics of your peace."  They were pacified by this
mind and temper constantly broke out among for the present; but there is good reason to
this remarkable people, very long after the suspect, that if measures of relief had long
generation which knew the slavery of Egypt been delayed, they would have given up
had passed away.                          Moses and Aaron to the Egyptians, and have
Moses did not deign to remonstrate with placed themselves at their disposal.  But
them or to vindicate himself.  It seems that measures of relief were not long delayed.




186                              AN ILLUSTRATED
When the night was fully come, the Lord also, the pillar of fire which had gone before
directed Moses to order the people to march the Hebrews to guide them on their way was
forward to the sea; on their arriving at removed  to  their rear, and, being  thus
which, the prophet lifted up his rod upon the between them  and the Egyptians, it gave
waters, over which instantly blew a powerful light to the former in their passage, while it
east wind, by which they were divided from  concealed their proceedings and persons from
shore to shore, so that the firm  bottom  of the latter.*
hard sand appeared; offering a dry road in    It thus happened that some time passed
the midst of the sea, by which they might before the Egyptians discovered  that the
pass to the eastern shore.  At that instant, Israelites were in motion.  When they made
0, kI 0
ANCIENT EGYPTIAN SOLDIERS.
this discovery, the king determined to follow. I indistinct perceptions of a people who had
It is by no means clear that they knew or not been on the spot long enough to make
thought that they were following them into particular observations, and most of them
the bed of the sea.  Conidclering the dark- probably roused from  sleep to join in the
ness of the nilght, except from  the light of pursuit, it seems likely that they felt uncerthe pillar, with the confusion of ideas and tain about the direction, and supposed that
* According to a well-known optical effect, by ites, doubtless, could not see the Egyptians. A
which we can see by night all that stands between little attention to a matter so perfectly obvious
us and the lioghlt, but nothing that lies beyond the would have spared us some speculations, such as
light. No doubt the pillar gave good light to the that which gives the pillar a cloudy side and a
Egyptians themselves, but did not enable them  flaming side, &c.
to see the Israelites. In like manner the Israel



HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                                187
they were following some accustomed route polity, it supplied a subject to which the
by which the Israelites were either endeavor- sacred poets and prophets make constant aling to escape or to return to Egypt.  They lusions in language the most sublime.  Its
may even have thought they were going up effect upon the generation more immediately
the valley of Bedea, although that actually concerned was very strong, and although
lay in an opposite direction.  Any thing, they were but too prone to forget it, was
however improbable, seems more likely to more abiding and operative than ally which
have occurred to them  than that they were had yet been made upon them.  When they
passing through the divided sea.            witnessed all these things, and soon after saw
By the time the clay broke and the Egyp- the carcasses of those who had so lately been
tians became aware of their condition, all the the objects of such intense dread to them,
Hebrews had safely reached the other side, lying by thousands on the beach, "they
and all or nearly all the Egyptians were in feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and
the bed of the gulf; the van approaching the his servant Moses."
eastern shore, and the rear having left the    In the sublime song which Moses comwestern.  The  moment of vengeance was posed and sang with the sons of Israel in
come.  They foundl themselves in the midst commemoration of this great event —their
of the sea, with the waters on their right marvellous deliverance and the overthrow of
hand and on their left, and only restrained  their enemies-he, with his usual wisdom,
from  overwhelming them  by some  power looks forward to important ulterior effects, to
they knew not, but which they must have secure to the Hebrews the benefit of which
suspected to have been that of the God'of may not improbably have formed one of the
the Hebrews.  The marine road, ploughed principal reasons for this remarkable exhibiby the multitudes which went before them, tion of the power of Jehovah, and his deterbecame distressing to them; their chariot- mination to protect the chosen race.  These
wheels dragged  heavily along, and  very anticipations, which were abundantly fulfilled,
many of them came off from tile cars which are contained in the following verses: —
they supported.  The Lord also began to "The nations shall hear this and tremhle;
trouble themn  with a furious warfare of the Anguish shall seize the inhabitants of Palestine.
elements.  The Psalmist more thlan once Then shall the princes of Edom be amazed:
alludes to this.  He exclaims:'c The waters And dismay shall possess the mighty ones of Moab.
saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee, and All the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away;
were afraid   andnl then spe]  1 1  7   s as if e Fear and terror shall fall upon them:
were afr'aid' " andi then speaks as if every Through the greatness of thine arm
element had spent its fury upon the devoted They shall become still as a stone,
heads of the Egyptians.  The earth shook   Until thy people pass over [Jordan], O JEROVAH,
the thundlers rolled; and  most appalling  Until thy people pass over whom thou hast relightnings - the arrows of God -  shot alon 
the firmament;   while  the  clouds poured    On this occasion the first instance is ofdown heavy rains, " hailstones, and coals of fered of a custom, learned most probably in
fire."   It deserves to be mentioned that Egypt, and ever retained by the Hebrew
this strife is also recorded by the Egyptian women, of celebrating with dances and timchronologer, who reports, " It is said that brels every remarkable event of joy or trifire flashed against them in front."        umph.  They were now led by Miriam, the
By this time the pursuers were thoroughly sister of Moses and Aaron; and they seem
alarmed.  "Let us flee," said they, " from  to have taken part as a chorus in the song of
the face of Israel, for JEHOVAH fighteth for the men, by answering: —
them against the Egyptians."  But at that "Let us sing unto the LORD, for he hath tri.
instant the  Lord  gave  the word, Moses        umphed gloriously,
stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the
restrained waters returned and ingulfed them    sea."
all.                                           As the timbrels of the women were doubtThis stupendous event made a profound less Egyptian, and the dresses of those of
impression upon the Hebrew mind at large. superior rank were probably Egyptian also,
From  that day to the end of the Hebrew  we have considered that a similar dance of
females, from Egyptian sources, would form
* Psalm xviii. 13-15; lxxvii. 16, 17.  a satisfactory illustration.




188                             AN ILLUSTRATED
It will appear, from the opinion we have traditions, it would be wrong entirely to disbeen induced to entertain respecting  the regard them when they support or illustrate
place in which the Israelites encamped, and conclusions otherwise probable.  We shall,
from  which they departed, on the western however, content ourselves with adding, deshore of the gulf, that we concur with those scriptively, that a number of green shrubs,
who regard Ain Mousa* as the place, on the springing from numerous hillocks, mark the
eastern shore, where they came up from the landward approach to this place.  Here are
bed of the sea, and where they witnessed also a number of neglected palm-trees grown
the overthrow of their oppressors.  That the thick and bushy for want of pruning.  The
site is thus distinguished in the local tradi- springs which here rise out of the ground in
tions of the inhabitants of Sinai, the name various places, and give name to the spot,
alone suffices to indicate; and, although un- are soon lost in the sands.  The water is of
due weight should not be attached to such a brackish quality, in consequence, probably,
DANCE OF FEMALES, WITH TIMBRIELS.
of the springs being so near the sea; but it crossed the sea.  On the side where we
is, nevertheless, cool and refreshing, and in stand, the access to the shore from the bed
these waterless deserts affords a desirable of the gulf would have been easy.  And it
resting-place.  The view from  this place, deserves to be mentioned, that not only do
looking  westward, is very beautiful, and the springs bear the name of Moses, but the
most interesting from its association with the projecting head-land below them, toward the
wonderful events which it has been our duty sea, bears the name of Ras Mousa.  Thus
to relate.  The mountain chains of Attaka, do the Cape of Moses and the Cape of Deeach running into a long promontory, stretch liverance look toward each other from  the
along the shore of Africa; and nearly oppo- opposite shores of the Arabian Gulf, and
site our station we view the opening —the unite their abiding and unshaken testimony
Pi-ha-hiroth - the " mouth of the ridge," to the judgments and wonders of that day in
formed by the valley in the mouth of which which the right hand of Jehovah was so
the Hebrews were encamped  before they abundantly "glorified in might." t
* The Fountains of Moses.               observations on its learning, language, religion,
I As Egypt has been the grand scene of the idolatry, &c. Egypt (that binds or troubles), an
very important transactions related in this chap- ancient country of Africa, peopled by Mizraim, a
ter, it may not be improper to close it with a few son of Ham, the son of Noah, from whom it re



HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                       189
CHAPTER IX.
ISRAELITES  IN  THE WILDERNESS. -  SINAI. -  TABERNACLE. -  SACRIFICES.
THIE Israelites having acknowledged their Red Sea into the desert of Shur or Etham.
thankfulness to God for his beneficent pro- Here they travelled three days without findteetion in delivering them  out of Egyptian  ing any water, which, to so great a number
bondage, Mloses conducted them  fiom  the  of people, and  in so hot a country, must
ceived its name; and the Arabs still call it Mesr.  north by the Mediterranean Sea, on the east
Egypt is about six hundred miles long, and fioin  by the istlimus of Suez and the Red Sea, which
one hundred to thlee hundreld broad: it lies at divide it from Asia, on the south by Abyssinia,
the north-east corner of Aftica, bounded on the and on the west by Libya. Egypt was divided
___  /_ _ _ _   _    _ _  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __   _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
__..'=s —=\ ~  _ _                                    __ ___ -_    _
/=   _                   ___  _____ =/ \           K    ___ 
VIEW OF AIN MOUSA.
into two districts, Upper Egypt, or Thehias, and only of the sun and moon, but of their various
Lower Egypt, or the Delta. The river Nile, run- beasts, oxen, sheep, goats, and cats, and even of
ning through the whole length of the land, from  leeks, onions, and diseases, and of monsters haynorth to south, abounds with fish, crocodiles, and ing no existence, except in their own disordered
hippopotami; and, by its annual overflowing, imaginations. Divine prophecy has been strikthe country became one of the most fruitful in the ingly illustrated in the history of Egypt, Ezek.
world, so that its majestic waters formed the glory  xxix. 8-15, xxx. 10-13. Nebuchadnezzar conof the king of Egypt, Ezek. xxix. 3-5. Egypt quered it, as foretold by the prophet; then it bewas, at an early period, famous above every other came subject to Persia; and in succession to the
country, for its progress in the arts and sciences, Greeks, Romans, Saracens, Mamaluke-slaves, and
Acts vii. 22; 1 Kings iv. 29, 30, attracting thither Turks.  Napoleon Bonaparte conquered it in
thile most celebrated philosophers and historians 1798, in the hope of acquiring India; but the
of Greece, to complete their studies. Pythagoras, French were expelled by the British, who deHerodotus, Plato, and many others, sought in- livered it up to the Turks..... It has, therefore,
struction in Egypt, among its celebrated sages; had no prince of its own; and it has been " the
yet idolatry was carried to such a height, by the basest of kingdoms:" the decrees of Heaven
wisest instructors of that country, that the Egyp- have been accomplished, and they will yet be fultians made gods for their religious worship, not filled, in the triumphs of Christianity, Isa. xi.




190                               AN ILLUSTRATED
have been very afflicting.  At length, they of Egypt, where we had plenty of bread and
came to a place called Marah, where they ameat; for now ye have brought us into this
found some water; but, on tasting it, they desert, where we must perish with famine."
could not drink it, on account of its being    The Almighty, to convince these murmurso exceeding  bitter.   This disappointment ing people of his divine power and protecinflamed  their thirst, and  increased  their tion, was pleased to inform  them  by the
dissatisfaction, insomuch that they began to mouth of Moses, that he would take care to
murmur against Moses, asking him  what supply them with food fiom  heaven, and it
they should drink?  Moses was sensible of was not long before his beneficent promise
the calamity under which they labored; and, was fulfilled.  On  that very  even'ng  he
fearful lest they should, by their future mur- caused such a number of quails to fall among
murings, provoke the Almighty to punish  them, as almost covered their camp, by
them, he addressed himself to God in their which they were plentifully supplied with the
behalf, who no sooner heard the complaint article of flesh.  The next morning, as soon
than he was pleased to remove it.  He as the dew was gone, they found the surface
ordered Moses to make use of the wood of of the earth covered with little white round
a certain tree, which, as soon  as it was things, resembling, in shape, the coriander
thrown into the water, changed its offensive seed.  The Israelites, astonished at so sinquality and became sweet.                     gular a circumstance, said one to another,
From  Marah the Israelites proceeded to  "What is this?"   Upon which Moses anElim, where they found not only plenty of swered, "It is the bread which the Lord
water, but also great numbers of palm  or hath given you to eat."   And thence they
date trees,* the fruit of which being ripe gave it the name of _Manna.
supplied them  with food.  Here it may be    As this was the bread designed by the
supposed they made some stay; for when  Almighty for the Israelites during their stay
they left the place it was the fifteenth day of in the wilderness, and as they were strangers
the second month, which was just a month to its qualities, he was pleased to give them
from the day of their departure from Egypt. the following directions in what manner they
On their removal from  Elim  they pro- were to manage it for the intended purposes.
ceeded to the Wildernesst of Sin, situated    That it was to be gathered by measure,
between  Elim  and  Mount Sinai.   Here  an omer for every head, according to the
again they fell into a general murmur against number of each family; but this direction
Moses and Aaron, on account of the barren- some persons slighting, and gathering above
ness of the place, and the scarcity of pro- the portion  allowed, found their quantity
visions.''Would to God," cried they, "we miraculously lessened, while the more modhad died by the hand of the Lord in the land  crelate had theirs increased.
9-16. Egypt still abounds with vast monuments from fifteen to twenty pounds. Exod. xv. 27.
of its former grandeur: the ruins of its ancient The palm-tree is held in great estimation by the
cities  and  temples  attest its  maognificence, inhabitants of Arabia, Egypt, and Persia, on
riches, and populousness.  The tombs of its account of its adaptation to various valuable purkings, the stupendous pyramids alone, evince poses. The Arabs celebrate its three hundred and
these things: the largest of three of them, situ- sixty uses to which the different parts may be
ated a few leagues from  Cairo, the site of the applied: they used the leaves for making ropes,
celebrated Memphis, according  to the recent sacks, mats, hats, sandals, and other things; and
measurement of a French engineer, forms a square, many people subsist almost entirely on its fruit.
each side of whose base is seven hundred and Palm-branches were carried as tokens of victory
forty-six feet, covering more than thirteen acres or joy (Lev. xxiii. 40, John xii. 13); and the
of land: the perpendicular height of it is five hun- beauty of this tree is made an emblem  of the
dred and forty-six feet; and it contains 6,000,000 active virtues of a Christian. Ps. xcii. 12.
of tons of stone, sufficient to build a wall ten feet
high, and one foot thick, eighteen hundred miles    t WILDERNESS, a desert, or uncultivated tract
in length! These prodigious monuments of the of land. Exod. xiv. 3, 1 Kings xix. 15, Acts xxi.
ancient glory of Egypt, at once confirm  and 38. Thenorth-western part of Arabia was almost
illustrate the truth and divinity of the Holy wIlolly uncultivatedc; and hence Moses calls it "a
Scriptures.                                   terrible and a waste-howling wilderness." Dent. i.
X PALM-TREE (see Engraving), a tall, fruit- 19, xxxii. 10. Paran, Sin, and Sinai, were deserts
bearing, shadowy tree, whose fruit is the date: it in that dangerous country. Several wildernesses
arrives at perfection in about thirty years, and or small deserts existed in Canaan; as " the wilthus continues about seventy years, bearing fifteen derness of Judea," famous for the ministry of
or twenty clusters of dates, each cluster weighing John the Baptist. Matt. iii. 1.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                            191
That it was to be gathered fresh every    That, on the seventh day (which was the
morning, all of which should be consumed Sabbath) there could not be any found; and
the same day.  This precept was likewise therefore, on the sixth, they should gather a
not observed by some, who, keeping a part double portion, which being laid up against
till the next morning, found, upon examina- the ensuing day, should be perfectly sweet
tion, that it stank, and was so putrefied as and wholesome.
to be totally useless.                      Such were the directions given by God to
PALM-TREE IN THE SIN'AI MOUNTAINS.
the Israelites for the use of this miraculous of the discontented Israelites in the most
bread, on which they were chiefly supported ample manner; and further to convince them
for forty years.  And in order to perpetuate of his peculiar favor and regard, directed
the remembrance of it and that their pos- their marehes from place to place, and apterity might see on what God had fed them  pointed their respective encampments.
while in the wilderness, he appointed an   Leaving the desert of Sin, and proceeding
omer of it to be put into a pot, and to be on their journey, they came to a place called
carefully preserved for that purpose.    Rephidim, where they struck their tents and
Thus did the Almihty supply the wants encamped.  Here they were again distressed
omr f t  o  e  utino   ot ad  o e n her ouny,   h y    cmet  laecle
caefll pesrvd ortht    uros.  epidmwhrethy  trckthirtetsan
Thus, did  ___ th   Amiht  uplyth   wns ncmpd.Hre hywre agai n istes%\sedi9




192                             AN ILLUSTRATED
for water, upon which they fell into their old    A  short time after this singular circumway of distrusting God's providence, and  stance happened, and while the Israelites
murmuring against Moses; but on this oc- were yet encamped at Rephidim, they were
casion they were much more mutinous and  one day suddenly alarmed at the approach
desperate than ever.  It was in vain for of an army of the Amalekites.  Moses reMoses to endeavor to persuade them to be fleeting a little on this unexpected circumpatient, and wait the will of God: this only stance, ordered Joshua t (a valiant young
inflamed them the more, and at length their man who was always about him) to draw out
rage arose to such a height, that they threat- a party of the choicest men in the camp, and
ened to stone him.                          early the next morning, to give the enemy
Moses, not knowing what to do in order battle.
to appease the rage of the people, addressed    Joshua obeyed the command of Moses,
himself to God, who was pleased to dissipate who the  next morning, accompanied  by
his fear, by promising to signalize that place  Aaron and Hur, went to the top of an emiby a miraculous supply of water, as he had nence, whence they might have a view of
lately done another by a miraculous supply  the engagement.  Moses took with him his
of food.  "Go," said he, "on before the rod, and while he held it up during the batpeople, and take with thee of the elders of  tie, the  Israelites  prevailed; but when,
Israel: and thy rod wherewith thou smotest through weariness, his hand began to drop,
the river, take in thine hand and go.  Be- the Amalekites had the better.  Aaron and
bold I will stand before thee there upon the Hur, observing this, took a stone, on which
rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the they sat Moses, and, placing themselves on
rock, and there shall come water out of it, each side, supported his hands, in one of
and the people shall drink."   Moses did as which was the rod, and the other uplifted to
he was commanded, and no sooner had he God.  This they continued to do till the
smitten the rock with his rod than water in  going down of the sun, in which time the
abundance gushed out from several places at Amalekites were routed, and every man put
the same time, which joining in one common  to the sword.
stream  ran down to the camp at Rephidim,    This distinguished success, in their first
by which the people were immediately sup- martial enterprise, gave great encouragement
plied, and their thirst being quenched, their to the Israelites; and that so remarkable an
rage against Moses instantly ceased.*  This action might be transmitted to posterity,
station, however, on account of the infamous God commanded Moses to record it in a
mutiny of the people, and their distrust of  book, that Joshua, the general, might thereGod, Moses (as a caution and remembrance  by be animated to future services; "for,"
to them in future) called Massah and Meri- said he, " I will utterly put out the remembah, which in the Hebrew language, signifies brance of Amalek from  under heaven." $
temptation and contention.                  As a memorial of this victory, Moses erect* PRETENDED ROCK OF MOSES.- We are quite through the rock, and is visible on the
indebted to Profissor Robinson's invaluable work opposite or back side; where also are similar
("Biblical Researches in Palestine") for the fol- crevices, though not so large. The holes did not
lowing interestino extract: " Ve came to the rock appear to us to be artificial, as is usually reported,
which they say Moses smote, and the water gushed  although we examined them particularly. They
out. As to this rock, one is at a loss whether belong rather to the nature of the seam; yet it
most to admire the credulity of the monks or the is possible that some of them may have been
legendary and discrepant reports of travellers. enlarged by artificial means.  The rock is a
It is hardly necessary to remark, that there is not singular one; and doubtless was selected, on
the slightest ground for assuming any connection account of this very singularity as the scene of
between this narrow valley and Rephidim; but the miracle."
on the contrary, there is every thing against it.    t This is the first mention made of Joshua,
The rock itself is a large isolated cube of coarse who makes so distinguished a figure in the subred granite, which has fallen from the eastern  sequent part of the sacred history; in which he
mountain. Down its front, in an oblique line is frequently styled the servant of Moses.
from top to bottom, runs a seam of a finer texture,    I AMALEK, or AMALEKITES, a very ancient
from twelve to fifteen inches broad, having in it people, supposed to have descended from Ham,
several irregular horizontal crevices, somewhat Gen. xiv. 7, Num. xxiv. 20; but especially the
resembling the human mouth, one above another. posterity of Esau's grandson: they were powerThese are said to be twelve in number; but I ful in Arabia, and cherishing the hatred of Esau
could make out only ten. The seam extends against Jacob, they endeavored to cut off Israel




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                       193
ed an altar on the spot, and offered sacrifice his daughter Zipporan (Moses' wife) with
to the Lord.  The name he gave it was their two sons, Gershom  and Eliezer, and
JESHOVAH-Nissi, which signifies, "the Lord  went to the Israelites' camp, where, after
is my banner."                                mutual salutations  and  embraces, Moses
Soon after the defeat of the Amalekites, entertained his father-in-law with a particuMoses left Rephidim, and proceeded with  lar account of every thing that had happened
all his people toward Mount Sinai,@ where to him  during  his absence.  In  return,
God at first appeared to him in the burning Jethro offered up solemn praises to God,
bush, and not far whence dwelt Jethro, his and joined with Moses and the rest of the
father-in-law.                                elders of Israel in sacrifices, and such other
Jethro having heard of all that God had  rejoicings as were thought proper on the
done for Moses and his people, and under- occasion.
standing they wele  now  near him, took    During Jethro's stay in the camp, he took
____~~i —---   _     -
SUMMIT OF MOUNT SINAI.
notice of the great weight of business under plaints, and determining the differences, of
which Moses labored, in hearing the corn- so great a body of people; and therefore,
in the desert, but they were defeated by Joshua, the giving of the Law, and that peak the mounExod. xvii. 8-16.   For this wickedness God tain into which Moses ascended. Here is found
doomed them to be extirpated, Num. xxiv. 20: 1 such a conjunction of mountain and plain, as
Sam. xv. 1-33; xxx. 1-18.                     meets the requirements of the Sinaitic narrative.
MOUNT SINAI.  There are several peaks, The plain here referred to, according to Robineach of which has been claimed by different travel- son, was two miles in length, and nearly twolers as the memorable mount on which the Ten thirds of a mile broad. "I know not," he reCommandments were delivered to Moses from  marks, "when I have felt a thrill of stronger
God.  Prof Robinson assigns very satisfactory emotion than when in first crossing the plain, the
reasons for the conclusion, that the modern Horeb dark precipices of Horeb rising in solitary granof the monks, viz., the N. W. and lower face of deur before us, I became aware of the entire
the Jebel MIousa, crowned with a range of mag- adaptedness of the scene to the purposes for whiclh,
nificent cliffs, the highest point called Sfifshfeh, it was chosen by the great Hebrew legislator;"
overlooking the plain er Rahabh, is the scene of - Vide Smith's Bible Dictionary.  A; B,
13




194                               AN ILLUSTRATED
being a wise and experienced man himself,    With  this answer, Moses ascended the
he advised his son-in-law to appoint certain  mount, and after making it known to the Alsubordinate officers, properly qualified, men  mighty, he commanded him  to direct the
of sincerity and abilities, such as feared God  people to cleanse and purify themselves two
and hated covetousness, to be rulers; some  days, for that on the third he should come
over thousands, some over hundreds, some  down upon the mountain and make a coyover fifties, and some over tens, who should  enant with them.  He likewise gave him a
hear and determine all trifling disputes among  strict charge to set boundaries about the
the people, and refer the greater and more  foot of the mount, which  none should atweighty causes only to him; assuring him that tempt to pass under the severest penalties.
if, with God's approbation, he followed this    These orders were strictly obeyed, and
advice, it would prove advantageous both to  every preparation made conformable to the
him and the people.                          Divine  injunctions.  On  the  third  day,
Moses, highly approving this salutary ad- early in the morning, the people saw the
vice from  his father-in-law, immediately put mountain  surrounded with a thick cloud,
it in practice, soon after which Jethro took  out of which proceeded such dreadful peals
his leave, and returned to his own habita- of thunder and flashes of lightning, as filled
tion.                                        them with horror and amazement.
It was three months after the departure    The first sounding of the trumpet was the
of the Israelites fi'om Egypt, when they en- signal for the people to approach the mouncamped in the wilderness.of Sinai, near the  tain; upon which, as soon as it began,
mount of God.  They had not been long  Moses brought them  out of the camp, and
here before the Almighty summoned Moses conducted them as near to the mount as the
to come up to him  on the mount.  Moses barrier would permit.  Here they beheld an
readily obeying the  Divine command, the  alarming sight indeed: the whole surface of
Almighty charged him to remind the Israelites the mount was covered with fire and smoke,
of the many wonders he had wrought in  while the foundation of it seemed to tremble
their favor, and to assure them  that (not- and shake under them.  In the midst of this
withstanding  their firequent  murmurings  dread-Cul scene the  trumpet was heard to
and distrust of his providence) if, for the  sound louder and louder, and the claps of
future, they would become obedient to his thunder and flashes of fire were more fielaws, he would still look upon them  as his quent and violent.  At length, on a sudden,
peculiar people, a favorite nation, and a royal the most solemn silence took place; and,
priesthood.                                   after a short pause, the Almighty was heard
Moses having communicated this gracious  (from the midst of the fire and smoke which
message from  the Almighty to the elders, yet continued) to pronounce the Law of the
and they to the people, they unanimously  Decalogue, or Ten Commandments;* which
answered, that whatsoever the Lord had  is, indeed, a complete system  of the moral
commanded, or should afterward command,  part of the Jewish institutes, and, in few but
they would strictly and obediently perform. very  significant words, comprehends  the
* THE TEN COMMI.ANDMAIENTS. - Though the  Where the highest degree of any evil is prohibited,
ten commandments were given to the Jews par- whatever is faulty in the same kind, though in a
tlcularly, yet the things contained in them are  lower degree, is by consequenceprohibited. And
such as all mankind from the beginning were  where one instance of virtuous behavior is combound to observe; and therefore under the Mosaic  manded, every other, that hath the same nature,
dispensation they, and the tables on which they  and the same reason for it, is understood to be
were engraven, and the ark in which they were  commanded too. What we are expected to abstain
put, were distinguished from the rest of' God's  from, we are expected to avoid, as far as we can,
ordinances by a peculiar regard, as containing the  all temptations to it, and occasions of it,; and
covenant of the Lord. And though the Mosaic  what we are expected to practise, we are expected
dispensation be now at an end, yet concerning  to use all fit means that may better enable us to
these moral precepts of it, our Saviour declares, practise it. All that we are bound to do ourthat " one jot or tittle shall in nowise pass from  selves, we are bound on fitting occasions to exhort
the law till all be fulfilled."  To comprehend the  and assist others to do when it belongs to them;
full extent of these commandments it will be re- and all that we are bound not to do, we are to
quisite to observe the following rules. Where  tempt nobody else to do, but keep them back from
any sin is forbidden in them, the opposite duty is  it as much as we have opportunity. The ten comnimplicitly enjoined: and where any duty is en- mandments, excepting two that required enlargejoined, the opposite sin is implicitly forbidden. ment, are delivered in a few words: which brief




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                                195
duty of mankind to God, themselves, and and offered sacrifices to God, Moses took
their neighbor.                            Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of
When the Divine voice ceased, the people, Israel, some part of the way toward the mounastonished at what they saw and heard, re- tamn, where, without incurring the least hurt,
moved farther from the camp: and, in the they were vouchsafed a prospect of the divine
height of their fear and surprise, addressed presence.  Here Moses, having committed
themselves to Moses, beseeching him that, the care of the people to these elders, left
for the future, he would speak to them  in them, and taking only Joshua with him, proGod's stead, and whatever he enjoined they ceeded toward the mount, on arriving at
would obey, because, were they again to hear which he left Joshua, and ascended it alone.
the dreadful voice of God, they should cer-   No sooner had Moses reached the summit
tainly die with horror and astonishment.    of the mount, than the whole was covered
Moses was far from being displeased at this with a thick cloud, and the glory of the Lord
request, as it evinced the reverence and re- appeared upon it, like a devouring fire, in
spect they entertained, first, to the Divine the sight of the children of Israel.  On the
Being, and next to himself.  To ease their seventh day God called to Moses, upon
m:nds from the great terror they had felt, he which he entered the midst of the cloud,
assured them that all this wonderful scene and there continued for the space of forty
was not exhibited to them with a design to days. and forty nights.
create in them any slavish fear, but a filial   During this long stay of Moses in the
confidence and submission to such laws as mount, he received instructions fi-om God in
the Divine wisdom should hereafter think fit what manner the tabernacle should be made,
to enjoin.                                 wherein he intended to be worshipped.  He
Having said this to the people, Moses described to him the form of the sanctuary,
again ascended the mountain, where (in addi- the table of the show-bread, the altar of
tion to the Decalogue) he received from God frankincense, the altar of burnt-offerings,
several other laws, both ceremonial and po- the court of the tabernacle, the basin to
litical; the whole of which were calculated wash in, the ark, the candlestick, and all the
with a wise design to preserve the people in other sacred utensils.  He gave him  the
their obedience to 9God; to prevent their in- form of the sacerdotal vestments, and taught
termixture with other nations, and to advance him how the priests were to be consecrated;
the welfare of their commonwealth, by se- what part of the oblation they were to take,
curing to all the members of it a quiet enjoy- and in what manner the perpetual sacrifice
ment of their lives and properties.i       was to be offered.  He appointed the two
When Moses had received these additional chief men who were to be the builders of the
laws, he returned from the mount, and imme- tabernacle, namely, Bezaleel, of the tribe of
diately erected an altar to God, on which he Judah, and Aholiab, of the tribe of Dan.
offered up burnt and peace offerings.  Hav- Having done this, and recommended a strict
ing written down the last laws delivered to observation of the sabbath, the Almighty
him by God, he caused them  to be read to gave Moses the two tables of stone, on which
all the people, and exacted a solemn promise were written, with his own hand (at least by
from them that they would keep them faith- his own direction), the ten great Commandfully.  He then confirmed the covenant, by ments, which were the sum and substance of
sprinkling the altar, the book, and the people, their moral law.
with the blood of the victims slaughtered on    The long absence of Moses during his
the occasion; and, to perpetuate the remem- stay in the mount occasioned gTeat murmurbrance of this alliance between God and his ings among the people in the camp, who,
people, he ordered twelve pillars to be raised giving their ruler over for lost, assembled
near the altar, according to the number of the themselves in a riotous manner about Aaron's
twelve tribes.                             tent, demanding him to make some gods to
Having delivered these laws to the people, go before them.  Astonishing as this demand
manner of speaking hath great majesty in it. no part of the moral law but may be fitly ranked
But explaining them according to these rules, -  under them.
which are natural and rational in themselves,   * These laws the reader will find in the Book
favored by ancient Jewish writers, authorized by of Exodus beginning at the twenty-first chapter,
our blessed Saviour, - we shall find that there is and ending at the twenty-third, both inclusive.




196                             AN ILLUSTRATED
was, yet such was the weakness of Aaron, secrets can be hid was instantly apprised of
and such his want of courage, that, instead this sudden revolt: " Go, get thee down,'"
of expostulating the matter with them, he said  he:  "for thy  people, whom  thou
not only tamely submitted to their request, broughtest out of Egypt, have corrupted
but even contributed to their idolatry.  He themselves. I know them to be an obstinate
ordered them  to take the golden ear-rings people, therefore intercede not for them, but
from their wives and children and bring them  see me express my resentment in their deto him: having done this, he converted them  struction; and to thee will I transfer the
into the figure of a molten calf,* with which blessings I intended for them, and of thee
will I make a great nation."
But so far was Moses from seeking his own
interest in the destruction of the people, that
he threw himself at the feet of the Lord, and
interceded for their pardon with so much
importunity, that the Almighty was at length,
in some measure, appeased, and Moses had
reason to imagine that he would not inflict on
them the punishment he had intended.,p.f f JQ Happy in having obtained this pardon for
the Israelites, Moses, taking with him  the
Apis, Calf Idol. (From bronze, Brit. Mus.)  two tables on which were written the laws,
hastened from the mount, and at the bottom
the people were so well pleased that they of it found Joshua, who had been waiting
unanimously exclaimed, " This is thy God, his return.  As they proceeded on toward
O Israel, that brought thee out of the land the camp, Joshua, hearing the noise of peoof Egypt."                                  ple shouting, observed to Moses that there
When Aaron saw with what satisfaction was the sound of war in the camp.  But
the people received their golden god (as if Moses, who knew the cause of it, told him
possessed with the same idolatrous spirit), he that the noise was not like that which was
built an altar before it, and proclaimed a either common to victory, or those who
solemn feast to be held the succeeding day. cried for quarters; but like the noise of
But it proved rather a feast of revelling those who rejoiced on some other occasion.
and luxury, than one arising from  religious    As soon as they approached the camp,
motives; for after they had made their obla- Moses saw the golden calf, and the people
tions and peace-offerings, they sat clown to dancing before it; at which he  was so
eat and drink, and spent the whole day in incensed, that, in the violence of his rage,
feasting, dancing, and other imprudent amuse- he threw the tables on which the law was
ments.                                      written against a stone on the ground, and
WThile the wanton Israelites were thus they were broken to pieces.  He then took
idolatrously revelling in the camp, Moses was the idol calf and melted it, after which,
in conversation with God on the mount, little grinding it into a powder, and mixing it
suspecting so sudden a change in a people, with water (in order to make them  more
who had so lately and solemnly entered into sensible of their folly in worshipping that
a covenant of obedience to all that God for a god which was to pass through their
should command.  But he from  whom no bodies), he obliged them to drink it.t
* It is the opinion of most commentators, that which was known to the Hebrews of the metalthe reason why they worshipped the figure of a lurgic arts at this early time, had been acquired
calf rather than any other creature was, from the in Egypt, the making qf the golden calf may be
corruptions they had learned among the Egyp- taken in evidence, amply confirmed by their existtians. These people worshipped their idol Apis, ing monuments, of the very great skill in those
or Serapis, in a living bull, as likewise an image arts which the Egyptians had attained. But the
made in the form and similitude of a bull with a destruction of the same image, in the manner debushel on his head, in memory as some say, of scribed, is a still more striking evidence of this.
Pharaoh's dreams, and Joseph's wise manage- The art of thus treating gold was a secret, probment in measuring out the corn to the people ably but known to Moses, in virtue of his perfect
during the seven years' famine.             acquaintance with all the sciences which the
t DESTRUCTION OF THE GOLDEN CALF. —  Egyptians cultivated. Goguet, remarking on the
As there is not the least question but that all subject, observes that those who work in metal




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                                197
Having inflicted this punishment on the    Moses, agreeably to his promise, returned
people, Moses proceeded to chastise Aaron to the mount, and acknowledged to the Lord
for having suffered such idolatrous acts to the great sin committed by his people.  At
be practised.  But all the excuse he could the same time he besought forgiveness for
make was, that the people became so turbu- them with that earnestness and concern, that
lent that, for his own safety, he was com- he prayed God to blot him out of his book
pelled to comply with their demand.         rather than not pardon them.  But this was
But Moses' business was to take ven- inconsistent with the  divine  justice, and
geance on the  idolaters;  and, therefore, therefore God gave him  this short answer;
leaving his brother Aaron, he went into the " Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will
midst of the camp, and called such to his I blot out of my book."
assistance as had not been concerned in the    The divine wrath being in a great measure
late rebellion: " Let those," said he, " who  appeased at the intercession of Moses, the
are for the Lord, join themselves with me."  Lord commanded him to lead the people to
In consequence of this, all the sons of Levi the place he had appointed; but at the same
(who were totally exempt from  the general time let him know he was not willing to go
guilt) immediately repaired to Moses, who with them, because, being a stiff-necked
ordered them to take their swords, go through people, they might provoke him to consume
the camp, and kill all the ringleaders of this them on the way.  To show, however, that
idolatrous  defection, together with  their he had not quite forsaken them, he told
adherents, without paying any respect to age Moses that he would send his angel before
or quality, friendship or consanguinity.  The them  to drive out the inhabitants of the
Levites strictly obeyed the orders of Moses, promised land, that he might perform  the
and the number slain on that day was about oath which he had made to their forefathers,
three thousand men.  For this laudable zeal Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
and  ready obedience, Moses blessed  the    This was very afflicting news to the Isfamily of Levi, assuring them  that by thus raelites, who now  plainly perceived that
shedding  the  blood  of their  idolatrous God's withdrawing his immediate presence
brethren, without favor or distinction, they from  them  was the  consequence of their
had obtained the approbation' of the Lord, rebellion; upon which they very grievously
who would certainly not fail of rewarding mourned, and, to show their humiliation, laid
them for it hereafter.*                     aside the ornaments they were. accustomed
This severe punishment inflicted on the to wear.
idolatrous delinquents struck a terror through-   But Moses, still to humble them the more,
out the whole camp.  The next day Moses, and to show them  how highly they had
in a very solemn manner, reproved them  offended God by their wicked apostasy, took
for their ingratitude and folly; but at the a tent, and pitching it at some distance withsame time promised them  that he would go out the camp, called it " the tabernacle of
again up to the mount, and try how far his the congregation," intimating that the Lord
prayers would prevail with the divine mercy was so highly offended with them  for their
to avert the punishment which they had so idolatry that he had removed from them, and
justly deserved.                            would no longer dwell among them, as he
know that this is an exceedingly difficult opera- ment of their disobedience; and for this purpose
6ion. " Commentators have been much perplexed no means could have been more suitable: for gold,
to explain how Moses burnt the golden image, rendered potable by the process of which I have
and reduced it to powder. Most of them offer spoken, is of a most detestable taste."' (" Origine
only vain and improbable conjectures. But an des lois," epoq. ii. liv. ii. chap. 14.)
able chemist has removed every difficulty on the    To this, from Goguet, it may be well to add
subject, and has suggested this simple process as that the operation of the acid, which acts upon
that which Moses employed. Instead of tartaric gold is much assisted by the metal being preacid, which we employ for a similar purpose, the viously heated. In this we see the reason why
Hebrew legislator used natron, which is very Moses cast the golden image into the fire in the
common in the East. (STAULL. Vitull. aureus, first instance.
in Opusc. Chym., Phys., Medic., p. 585.)  The    * This prediction was afterward fulfilled: for,
Scripture in informing us that Moses made the on the institution of the priesthood, the Levites
Israelites drink this powder, shows that he was were appointed to the honor and emoluments of
perfectly acquainted with all the effect of his that office, though in subordination to that of
operation. Hle wished to aggravate the punish- Aaron and his posterity.




198                           AN ILLUSTRATAED
had hitherto done.  Soon after Moses re- contracted such a lustre that the people were
paired to the tabernacle, which he had no not able to approach him; and therefore
sooner entered than it was surrounded by whenever he talked with them  he covered
the cloudy pillar, which had so much assisted his face with a veil, but took it off when he
the Israelites in their departure from Egypt. went into the tabernacle to receive the divine
This additional token of the divine wrath commands.
made the people particularly attentive to the    Agreeably to the instructions Moses had
motions of Moses; and therefore when he received from God during his last stay on
went out of the camp to the tabernacle they the mount, he called the people together,
rose up, and stood every man at his tent and informed them that it was the Lord's
door, looking after him till he had got in. will to have a tabernacle built for the perAnd when they saw the cloudy pillar, which formance of religious worship; and that he
they knew was a token of God's presence, had commanded him  to speak to them to
they all fell down and worshipped.        bring in their offerings, which were to conWhile Moses was in the tabernacle he was sist of such articles as were necessary for
visited by God, who permitted him, in a accomplishing the work.*  These offerings
very familiar manner, to converse with him; were not to be exacted, but the people were
which favor Moses improved to the advan- to present them voluntarily; and so desirous
tage of the people, endeavoring, with the were they of making some atonement for
greatest importunity, to obtain a reconcilia- their past sins, that they soon brought in
tion between them and their justly offended more than was requisite, so that Moses was
God.                                     obliged to cause proclamation to be made to
A short time after this the Almighty com- restrain their liberality.
manded Moses to prepare two new tables    Having thus obtained a sufficient collecof stone, like the former which  he had tion of all kinds of materials, Moses placed
broken, and to come up alone with them in them in the hands of Bezaleel and Aholiab,
the morning to Mount Sinai; "and I," said the two great artists in building, whom God
he, " will write in those tables the words had before made choice of; and so expedithat were in the first."                 tious were they in executing the work, that,
Moses strictly obeyed this command, and, in less than six months, the tabernacle, with
early in the morning, repaired to Mount all its rich furniture, was entirely completed;
Sinai with the two tables, where, prostrating and of which the following is an accurate
himself before the divine Majesty, he with description  -
the greatest fervency besought him to pardon    The tabernacle was formed somewhat like
the sins of the people.  The Almighty was a tent, though much larger, and the whole
pleased to listen to his request, at the same was covered with curtains and skins.  It was
time promising that he would make a cove- divided into two parts - the one covered, and
nant with his people on these conditions: properly called the tabernacle; and the other
That they should keep his commandments; open, called the court. The covered part
that they should not worship the gods of the was again divided into two other parts, one
Canaanites; that they should  make no of which was called the " holy of holies,"
alliances with the people of that country; and the curtains belonging to it were made
that they should have no strange gods; and of embroidered linen  of several colors.
that they should strictly keep the sabbath, There were ten curtains, twenty-eight cubits
the passover, and other festivals ordained by long and four broad: five curtains together
the law.                                 made the two coverings, and the other five,
For forty days and nights did Moses at being joined to these, covered the whole tabthis time continue (as he had done before) ernacle.  Above the rest were two other
on Mount Sinai, without either eating or coverings, the one of goat's hair, the other
drinking, at the expiration of which he re- of sheep-skins.  These veils or coverings
turned to the people, bringing with him the were laid on a square frame of planks resting
two tables of the law.  By the long con- on bases.  There were forty-eight large
verse he had held with God, his face had planks, each a cubit and a half wide and ten
* The directions given at this time were the people's transgression in idolizing the calf, they
same with those which Moses received on his first were not then delivered to them.
going up to the mount; but, by reason of the




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              129
cubits high, twenty of them  on each side, another, and held by bars running the length
and six at one end to the westward, and one of the planks.  The east end was open, and
on each corner: each plank was borne on only covered with a curtain.  The holy of
two silver bases; they were let into one holies was parted from the rest of the taber-'~"~ llltll!!!l~,,iliit  /1illil""'~'
~~~~standing ten enbits from  the end.  The euhits.!:~Ili!.
two cubits; the upper curtain which hung eubits long and fifty in breadth, enclosed by
on the north and south sides was eight cubits twenty columns, each of them twenty cubits




200                            AN ILLUSTRATED
high and ten in breadth, covered with silver, and there were gold snuffers and nippers to
and standing on copper bases five cubits dis- dress them.
tant from each other, between which there    There were two altars: one for the burntwere curtains drawn and fastened with hooks. offerings, five cubits long and wide, and
At the east end was an entrance twenty three in height, with the figure of a seraphim
cubits wide, covered with a curtain hanging at each corner.  It was hollow, covered both
loose.                                    within and without with brass plate, and open
The ark was in the sanctuary; it was a both at top and bottom.  In the midst of it
square chest made  of shittim-wood, two was a copper grate, standing on four feet, a
cubits and a half long, and one cubit and a cubit and a half high, and fastened with
half wide and deep.  It was covered with hooks and rings.  On this grate were bound
gold plates, and had a gold cornice which the offerings, for the performance of which
bore the lid.  On the sides of it were rings, there was every necessary article, such as
to put poles through to carry it.  The cov- kettles, ladles, tongs, hooks, &c.
ering was all of gold, and called the propitia-   The altar for incense was but one cubit in
tory or mercy-seat.  There were two cheru- length and breadth, and two cubits high.  It
bims on it, which covered it with their wings; was plated with gold, and over it was a crown
the tables of the law were in the ark, which of the same metal.  This altar was in the
was therefore called the ark of the testimony, sanctuary with the ark, but that for burntor of the covenant.                        offerings was placed on the north side of the
The table was made of cedar covered tabernacle.  On a pillar in the court was a
with gold, two cubits long, one in breadth, large copper basin, with several cocks for the
and one and a half in height.  About the water to run out, that those who ministered
edge of it was an ornament; it stood on four mlight conveniently wash their hands previous
feet, and had wooden bars plated with gold to the discharge of their priestly function.
to carry it on.  On it was laid the offering    The vestments of the high-priest were, the
or show-bread (which was changed every breast-plate, the ephod, the robe, the close
day), six loaves at each end, with incense coat, the mitre, and the girdle.  The ephod,
over them.  It was not lawful for any but the robe, and the close coat, were of fine
the priests to eat of that bread.          linen, and covered the whole body from the
The candlestick was of pure gold, had neck to the heels.  Over all was a purple
seven branches, three on each side and one tunic, a vestment larger and finer wrought,
but not reaching so low, the bottom of which
was ornamented with the representation of
~a     d        R $tg....pomegranates and bells.  The ephod consisted of two bands made of gold thread,;KA  S  Fand fastened to a kind of collar which hung.l       | 1 l    l ~ffi rdown both before and behind from each shoulIi~           der, and, meeting, served as a girdle to the
tunic or vestment.  On the shoulders were
two large precious stones, which joined the
front and hind parts of the ephod, and on
them were marked the names of the twelve
tribes of Israel, six on each.  The breastplate was made of'the same materials as the
rAdi! fephod, to which it was fastened with gold
K    ~  V        chains.  It was a square ornament, very
[~  P~'  X\ thick, and covered the whole breast.  The
girdle was likewise made of the same materials with the ephod.  The mitre was made
Golden Candlestick. (From Photograph.)  ] of fine flax, and covered the head; and in the
front was a gold plate, on which were carved
in the middle: each branch had three knobs these  words:  HOLINESS  TO   TIE
like apples, and three sockets in the shape LORD.  These were the solemn ornaments
of half almond-shells: that in the middle belonging to the high-priest: the others were
had four.  On each branch was a gold lamp, only a simple tunic or vestment, a linen mi



HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                        201
tre, and a girdle.  They had all garments after the  departure of the Israelites from
made of linen and cotton, which were fas- Egypt, the tabernacle was, by God's imretened at the waist, whence they reached down  diate command, set up, and all its rich furnito about the middle of the legs.                ture disposed in the proper places that had
Such was the form of the tabernacle, and  been appointed.  But no  sooner was this
such the vestments appointed for the high- done, than the pillar of the cloud (which is
priest; the whole of which, as soon as com- called the Glory of the Lord) covered the
pleted, was presented  to  Moses for his whole, so that Moses himself, for some time,
inspection and approbation   Having viewed  was not able to enter it.
them  attentively, and  found  that all was    The Almighty, at length, promising Moses
done as the Lord had commanded, he first to enter the tabernacle, gave him instructions
praised God, and then bestowed his benedic- (which he communicated to the people) in
tion on the people, for having so diligently  what manner (according to this new instituattended to the divine injunction.              tion) he was to be worshipped by sacrifices
All things being now  ready, on the first and oblations; what festivals were to be obday of the first month,* in the second year served, and how celebrated; what meats were
* MONTH, a space of four weeks, or the peri- sacred purposes in their festivals, commencing the
od of the revolution of the moon. Gen. xxix. 14. year in their month Abib, the seventh of the civil
The Israelites reckoned their time by months, of year, computing from the redemption from Egypt
which they had two series: one for civil purposes, (Exod. xii. 2-18, xiii. 4), and answering to our
commencing the year in their month Ethanim, March. The following table exhibits the order
the seventh of the sacred year (1 Kings viii. 2), of the  Jewish months, with the principal reli.
computing from  the creation of the world, and  gious festivals of the Israelites and Jews -
answering to our September; the other for their
Months of the    w
HNearly correspond- 
HEBREW  MONTHS.  ing with our   Sacred    Civil                   SACRED FESTIVALS
I         and Mererable Days.
months of      Year.    Year.   a
1H. Paschal Lamb killed.
Abib, or Nisan,       March.         1st.    7th.         15. PVsSOVE R.
16. First-fruits of barley harvest
Estxod. xiii. 218, xi. 4,                                  presented to the LORD.
W   21. Last day of the Passover.
Zif, or Iyar,        April.        2d.      8th.   | 
1 Kings vi. 1.
6. PENTECOST.
Sivan,             May.         3d.      9th.           kFirst-fruits of wheat offered to
Est. viii. 9.                                              the LORD.
Tammuz,             June.         4th.    10th.
Ezek. viii. 14. 
Ab.               July.        5th.    11th.
Elul.            August.        6th.    12th.         9. Solomon's Temple taken by the
Neh. vi. 15.                                                Chaldeans; and the second Tema m~   pie afterward by the Romans.
1. Feast of Trumpets.
Ethanim, or Tisri,    September.      7th.     1st.   J >   10. Day of Atonement.
1 Kings viii. 2.                                         15. FEAST OF TABERNACLES.
W   22. Last day of the feast.
Marchesvanu or Bul,     October.       8th.     2d.   I.
1 Kings vi. 38.                                                      
Chisleu,         November.       9th.     3d.          25. Feast of the Dedication of the
Zech. vii. 1.                                               second Temple.
Tebeth,          December.    10th.       4th.
Est. ii. 16.
Sebat,           January.      11th.     5th.
Zech. i. 7.                                       J
Adar.            February.     12th.     6th.   l    14 and 15. Feast of Purim, Est. ix.
Est. iii. 7. Ve-Adar,                                    m      18-21.
or Second Adar, is
here  added  when
necessary, 




202                               AN ILLUSTRATED
forbidden; what the instances of uncleanness a basin, and with it the priest was to sprinkle
were; and what the degrees of consanguini- the vessels and corners of the altar, throwing
ty prohibited in marriage.                    the principal part at the foot of it.  The vicThe creatures appointed to be offered in tim was to be flayed, cut in pieces, and laid
sacrifice were of five sorts, namely, oxen, on the altar, where, either the whole, or some
lambs, goats, doves, and young pigeons, all part of it (according to the several sorts of
of which were to be males and without blem- sacrifice), was to be burnt.
ish.  The person who presented the offering    Libations were likewise  added  to the
was to do it at the altar, laying his two hands sacrifices.  All the wine, or flour, offered
on the head of the creature, and then cutting with the victims, was called effusion, or pourits throat.  The blood was to be received in ing  out.  There was to be also a separate
Giulianii           ('(li,
PROBABLE FORM OF THE TABLE OF SHOW-BREAD (AFTER BERNARD LAMY). PRIESTS REMOVING THE OLD, AND PLACING
THE NEW.
offering of fine flour and oil, baked on an    3. The sacrifice of sin, committed either
iron, or in a pan, and sprinkled with oil and  wilfully or ignorantly.  In  this the priest
frankincense.                                 was to take some of the blood of the victim,
The sacrifices were of four sorts, namely, dip his finger in it, and sprinkle seven times
1. The burnt-offering, every part of which  toward the veil of the sanctuary.  The same
was to be consumed by fire on the altar, after parts of the victim. were to be burnt on the
washing the feet and entrails.                altar in this as in the former sacrifice; the
2. The peace-offering, of which only the rest, if the sacrifice was offered for the sin
inward fat or tallow was to be burnt on the of the high-priest, or for the people, was to
altar, made up with the liver and kidneys, be carried  without the camp to be burnt
and the tails of the lambs.  The breast and there, with the skin, the head, the feet, and
the right shoulder belonged to the priests, the bowels.  If it was for a private person,
the rest to him who offered the sacrifice.    the victim was to be divided, one half to the




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  203
priest, and the other to him  who offered the fine flour and oil baked, or the first-fruits of
sacrifice.                                  new  corn.  With the things offered were
4. The sacrifice of oblation was to consist always to be oil, salt, wine, and frankincense,
either of fine flour, or incense, or cakes of the latter of which was to be thrown into
COSTUME OF THE HIGH PRIEST~
the fire.  Of the other things offered the and grand. one to be observed  was the
priest was to take the whole, one part of Sabbath, which they were to keep in the
which he was to burn, and the other to con- strictest manner, dedicating it wholly to rest,
vert to his own use.                        and not doing any kind of business whatever.
With respect to their festivals, the first   The passover was likewise to be observed




204                              AN ILLUSTRATED
with great solemnity.  It was to begin on  the father, mother, mother-in-law, sister by
the fourteenth day of the March moon; and the father's or mother's side, son's or daughfor the seven days it lasted they were to eat ter's daughter, father's wife's daughter, faonly bread unleavened.  The first day after ther's or mother's sister, uncle, daughter-inthe passover they were to offer new ears of law, brother's wife, wife's sister or daughter,
corn; and on the fifteenth day was to be or grandson or granddaughter.  It was, howheld another feast, called the harvest festival, ever, not only lawful, but a command enon which they were to offer in thanksgiving joined, that the brother should marry the
two loaves made of new wheat, as the first- brother's widow, provided he died without
fruits of the harvest.  The first day of the issue.
seventh month (which was the first of the    Moses,'having  communicated these and
civil year) was also to be held as a very some other ordinances to the people, prosolemn festival, in remembrance of the de- ceeded next, agreeably to the divine comparture of the Israelites from  Egypt.  On mand, to constitute his brother Aaron highthe tenth of the same month was to be kept priest, and to fix the order of priesthood in
the feast of expiation, on which day the his son and their posterity.  In the execupriests were to go into the sanctuary, and offer tion of this ceremony, Moses robed them,
two goats, one of which was to be there anointed their heads with oil, and made them
given up as a solemn sacrifice for sin; but offer sacrifices for sin.  The function of the
the other was to be carried, not only out priests in general, was, to offer sacrifice to
of the tabernacle, but without the camp, also, the Lord, but the high-priest's was of a parand was therefore to be called the scape-goat. ticular nature.  He was to go once a year,
On the fifteenth of the same month was to on the day of expiation, into the sanctualy,
begin the feast of tabernacles, which was to clad in his priestly garments, there to burn
last eight days, being kept as a memorial incense before the ark, and sprinkle the
that the Israelites had, been accustomed to live blood of the offering seven times with his
in tents.  The whole time was to be spent in finger.   All the tribe of Levi were apmirth, and each day the people were to walk pointed to assist the priests in the services
round the altar with boughs in their hands.  of the tabernacle; and to the whole were
With respect to animal food they were to appointed particular allowances for their subbe very careful in making a proper distine- sistence.  But if any, either of the priests
tion between beasts that were clean, and or Levites, had any bodily imperfection, they
those that were otherwise, it being lawful for were to be excluded from the function, but,
them to eat the first, but not the last.  Two at the same time, permitted to enjoy the
qualifications were required for reckoning a rights and  privileges of their birth.  The
beast clean, which were, that it should have obligations they lay under were these: they
a cloven foot, and that it should chew the were not to drink any wine, or any other
cud; so that it was unlawful for them to eat intoxicating liquors, when they were to officiswine's flesh, or rabbits and hares, the for- ate in the tabernacle:'they were not to marry
mer not chewing the cud, and the latter not a woman who had been divorced or prostihaving cloven feet.  All birds of prey were tuted; and lastly, they were not to attend
forbidden; and it was unlawful for them to funerals, unless those of their own fathers,
eat blood, or the flesh of beasts strangled.   mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, or maiden
Among the laws relative to uncleanness, sisters.
leprosy was to be reckoned the greatest, of   On the eighth day after Aaron had been
the nature and quality of which the priest appointed to the office of high-priest, he
was to judge, and to dispose of the party as offered his first burnt-offering for himself and
he should think  proper.   Some unclean- the people.  This was very acceptable to the
nesses were to be removed by washing their Almighty, who was pleased to testify his
garments and bodies, and others by offering approbation by sending fire upon the altar,
up sacrifices.                               which consumed the offering in the sight of
The laws relating to matrimony were, prin- the people, who, with loud shouts and acclacipally these.  They were forbidden to marry  mations, expressed their joy for so singular
strange women.  One man might have sev- a circumstance, and prostrated themselves on
eral wives; but the persons with whom it the ground in humble adoration before the
was not allowed to contract matrimony were, Divine Majesty.




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                              205
_                         ~~~~~~~~~~TRONG-x
THE HIGH PRIEST ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT, AND A LEVITE.
The fire thus miraculously kindled was, all the oblations to be made to God.  But
by the divine command, to be kept perpet- Nadab and Abihu, two of Aaron's sons, forually burning, and no other to be used in getful of their duty, took their censers, and




206                            AN ILLUSTRATED
putting common fire in them, laid incense shaving their heads, or rending their clothes;
thereon, and offered strange fire before the but that they should leave those marks of
Lord.  For this flagrant violation of the mourning to the rest of the people, from
divine command, the Almighty was so of- whom they ought to distinguish themselves
fended, that, as a just punishment, he imme- in this, as well as in other points, in reverdiately struck them dead with lightning. ence to that holy anointing, whereby they
To strike a terror into the rest of the priest- had been consecrated to the Lord, and therely order, and deter them from disobedience by separated from their brethren.
to the commands of God, Moses ordered the    A  short time after the melancholy eircumpeople to take their dead bodies from the stance last related, another awful proof was
sanctuary, and carry them out of the camp given of the danger of incurring the disin the same condition they found them.  He pleasure of the Almighty.  This was exemlikewise charged Aaron and the rest of his plified in the case of one, whose mother's
sons, not to mourn for Nadab and Abihu, in name was Shelomith, an Israelitish woman
~~~~~~~GEN'ERAL VIE1V OF THE MIOUNTAINS OF SINAI.
cf the tribe of Dan, but whose husband was yet this blasphemous cursing being an ofan Egyptian, but supposed to have become a fence of a higher nature, against which no
proselyte to the house of Israel. This young positive law was yet provided, Moses had reman quarrelled with another, and a battle course to the Lord, who was pleased to tell
ensuing, the son of Shelomith was worsted. him thus: "Bring forth," says he, "him
Fired with resentment at being conquered, that cursed without the camp, and let all that
he in the height of his passion, cursed and heard him lay their hands upon his head,
blasphemed the name of the Lord; upon and let all the congregation stone him."
which being apprehended and brought before   In obedience to the divine command, Moses
Moses, he ordered him into custody till he ordered the sentence to be immediately put in
should know from the Lordl what punishment execution; and a law was thereon made, that
to inflict on  him  for his transgression. whosoever should, from that time, blaspheme
Though the third command in the decaloguethe name of the Lord, whether he was an Israforbade the taking of God's name in vain, elite, or a stranger, should be stoned to death.
* This way of laying hands on the heads of token of an expiatory sacrifice; for idolatry,
criminals may seem to arise from several causes. blasphemy, and such grievous crimes, if they
1. That they were witnesses of the fact, and that were not punished, they expected would attract a
the person condemned suffered justlvy; protesting, guilt, not only on the witness, hut the whole
that if he were innocent they desired that his nation, which hy the death of the criminal, as by
hlood might fall on their own heads. 2. They a victim, might be expiated. 3. That the crimiput their hands on the head of the criminal in nal was the just cause of his own death.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             207
CHAPTER x.
ENCAMPMENT OF ISRAELITES. -  MURMURINGS. -  KORAH'S SIN.
WHILE the Israelites lay encamped in the was accordingly done, when the number of
wilderness of Sinai, the Almighty ordered true born Israelites appeared.to be 603,550
Moses, assisted by Aaron and the heads of the men,* exclusive of the tribe of Levi.  These
respective tribes, to make a general muster of were, by the express command of the A1the people, in order to ascertain the number mighty, exempted, being designed for the
of those who were able to carry arms. This peculiar service of the tabernacle, not only to
-   — ~~~~~~ —-- ~ ~ ~ ~   I\3=\ 
_            __ —---------— ~~ —;, *
_~~I~~~_~...  ~ —~          ~_          —'.
BEDOUIN ENCAMPMIENT IN A VALLEY NEAR SINAI
take charge thereof, and of all the vessels which was not only to take place now, but to
belonging to it, but likewise to take it down be continued ever after, as follows:upon every remove, to guard it safe on the The whole body was divided into four
way, and to put it up again at such places as grand camps, each consisting of three tribes,
should be appointed for encampment.       under one standard, and so placed as entirely
The Israelites being thus mustered, Moses to enclose the tabernacle.
and Aaron, by the express command of God,   The standard of the camp of Judah was
appointed the manner of their encampment, first.  It consisted of the tribes of Judah,
X The ages of these men were, from twenty 300; Gad, 45,650; Jfudah. 74,600; Issachar, 54vears old to fifty; and the exact number in each 400; Zebulon, 57,400; Ephraim, 40,500; Matribe was as follows:-                    nasseh, 32.200; Bcnjamnin, 35,400; Dan, 62,700;
In the tribe of Reuben, 46,500; Simeon, 59,- Asher, 41,500; Naphtali, 53,400; total, 603,550.




208                             AN ILLUSTRATED
Issachar, and Zebulon, (the sons of Leah), camp of Ephraim, under which were the
and was pitched on the east side of the taber- tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin.
nacle, toward the rising of the sun.          On the north side was the standard of the
On the south side was the standard of the camp of Dan, under which were the tribes
camp of Reuben, under which were the tribes of Dan and Naphtali (the sons of Bilhah,
of Reuben and Simeon (the sons of Leah Rachel's maid), and of Asher (the son of
likewise), and of Gad, the son of Zilpah, Zilpah).
Leah's maid.                                 Betweenthe four great camps and the taberOn the west side was the standard of the nacle were four lesser camps, consisting of
EAST.-FIRST  DIVISION- CAMP OF JUDAH: 186,400.
JUDAH,
ISSHR       74,600.                                C
O e    s       ~T~ISSACHAR,     AND          ZEBUTUN,
S;In    ~      ~~~ 54,400.                     57,400.'.
>   \   & F i    |  MOSES,           AARON,           go         [ 
EcX S3AND THE PRIESTS.
to''009'70,
0        n
the priests and Levites, under whose imme- part of the Levites, descended from Kohath,
diate care and protection the tabernacle was the second son of Levi.
placed.                                       On the west side were the Gershonites,
On the east side were encamped Moses another part of the Levites, descended from
and Aaron, with Aaron's sons, who had the Gershon, Levi's eldest son.
charge of the sanctuary.          On the north side were planted the MeOn the south side were the Kohathites, a rarites, the remaining part of the Levites,
4,N2      8~~~~~~~ 
a ~      ~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~ B~c                     n ol
"%~~~~~~~~~~~
On the south sidle were the Kohathites, a rarites, thae remainaaing part of the Levites,




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              209
who descended from Merari, Levi's youngest parent order better than a verbal description,
son.                                       however minute.  It is thus seen that the
Such was the manner of the encampment camp was formed in a quadrangle, having on
of the Israelites, being the only regular de- each side three tribes under one general
scription of one which the Bible contains; standard.  How  these tribes were placed
but, from incidental allusions, we may gather with regard to each other is not very clear;
that the camps which the Hebrews in after- some fix the leading tribe in the centre, and
times formed in their military operations, the two others on each side; but the descripdiffered in several respects from the present, tion seems rather to indicate that the leading
the admirable arrangement of which is easily tribe extended along the whole exterior line,
perceived, although some difference of opinion and that the two other tribes pitched beside
exists as to a few of the details.         each other within. The only other alternative
The diagram preceding will exhibit the ap- seems to be to suppose that the two mInor
iii
VALLEY IN SINM.
tribes also extended in full line, the last tribe of the Levites, who had the charge and cusmentioned in each division being the inner- tody of the tabernacle, and pitched their tents
most.  The collective encampment enclosed a around it; the tents of Moses, Aaron, and
large open square, in the centre of which stood the priests, occupying the most honorable
the tabernacle. The position which the taber- place, fronting the enrtrance to the tabernacle,
nacle thus occupied still remains the place of or rather to the court which contained it.
honor in grand oriental camps, and is usually The Jewish writers say that the circunmoccupied by the tent of the king or general. ference  of the  entire  encampment was
The distance between it and the common camp about twelve miles; a statement which would
was indicative of respect; what the distance seem sufficiently moderate when we recollect
was we are not told, except by the Rabbins, the hollow square in the centre, and consider
who say that it was two thousand cubits, and the vast extent of ground required for the
apparently ground this statement upon Josh. tents of two millions of people.  This reguiii. 4.  The interval was not however wholly lar and admirable arrangement of so vast a~
vacant, being occupied by the small camps host, under their ensigns, around the taber-.
14




210                           AN ILLUSTRATED
nacle, must have given a most striking and mighty, that he sent down fire from heaven,
impressive appearance to the camp, as viewed which destroyed all those who were situated
from the hills.  We know the effect which in the extreme parts of the camp.  The rest
the view of it produced upon one person, who were so terrified at this circumstance, that
did view it from the hills, and then broke they immediately applied to Moses, at whose
forth in rapture, exclaiming, " How goodly intercession the fire ceased, but, in- rememare thy tents, O Jacob! and thy tabernacles, brance of the incident, he called the place
O Israel! As the valleys are they spread Taberah, which, in the Hebrew  language,
forth, as the trees of lign-aloes which the signifies burning.
Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside   But this instance of the divine power had
the waters."  (Num. xxiv. 5, 6.)        little effect on the dissatisfied  Israelites.
The encampment being thus formed, the They made heavy complaints for want of
next consideration was, to regulate the mode flesh for food; and intimated to Moses how
of marching, which was accordingly done as much happier they were when in the land
follows: —                               of Egypt, where, though in a state of bondWhenever they were to decamp (which age, they could possess a variety of articles
was always to take place as soon as the pil- necessary for the preservation of life.
lar of the cloud left the tabernacle) the   Moses had often heard them  murmur,
trumpet was to be immediately sounded, and patiently borne with it, but now that
and, upon the first alarm, the standard of they were grown so numerous, and  the
Judah being raised, the three tribes which greatness of their numbers demanding still
belonged to it were to set forward.  On the more care and vigilance to govern them than
movement of these the tabernacle was to be what came from the assistance of the magistaken down with all convenient expedition, trates appointed by the advice of his fatherand the Gershonites and Merarites were to in-law Jethro, he became exceedingly unattend the wagons with the boards and staves easy, and, in an address to God;, representbelonging to it.  This being done, a second ed the great and heavy burdens under which
alarm  was to be given by the trumpet, on he labored, in having the management of so
which the standard of Reuben's camp was to numerous and dissatisfied a people.
advance with the three tribes belonging to it.   No sooner did the Almighty hear the
After these were to follow the Kohathites, complaints of his faithful servant, than he
bearing the sanctuary, which, because it was immediately gave him  relief, by ordering
more holy, and not so cumbersome, as the him to choose seventy men from among the
pillars and boards of the tabernacle, was elders of Israel, and to bring them  with
not to be put into a wagon, but carried on him to the tabernacle of the congregation.
their shoulders.  Next was to follow  the " There," said he, "I will come down and
standard  of Ephraim's camp, with  the talk with thee, and I will give them a portribes belonging to it; and, last of all, the tion of the same spirit with which I have inother three tribes, under the standard of spired thee; and they shall bear the burden
Dan, were to bring up the rear.          of the people with thee."
A  short time after these matters were   In confbOrmity to the divine command,
adjusted, the pillar of the cloud gave the Moses selected seventy of the elders, sixtyIsraelites a signal to decamp.  On their eight of whom he conducted to the taberbeginning to move, agreeably to the order nacle, whither they had no sooner arrived
prescribed, Moses addressed himself to God. than the Almighty was pleased to fulfil his
"Rise," said he, " Lord, and let thine ene- promise, by inspiring them with the like
mies be scattered; and let them that hate kind of spirit he had given to Moses, and
thee flee before thee.  And when the ark by which they were enabled to prophesy.
of the covenant (by which they were direct- Nay, so extensive was this inspiration, that
ed when to stop) rested, he added "Return, though the other two came not out with the
O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel." rest of the tabernacle, but remained in the
After marching for three days in the wil- camp, yet they received the same impression
derness of Sinai, the Israelites began to of the spirit with the rest, and, in like mancomplain of the fatigues of their journey, ner, prophesied.  This circumstance so surand to relate their grievances, with great prised a certain young man in the camp,
asperity, to Moses.  This so offended the A1- that he immediately hastened to the taberna



HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               21l
cle, to acquaint Moses that Edad and Medad of his sacred oracles, began to look upon
(which were the names of the two elders him with an eye of envy.  To give some
left behind) were prophesying in the camp. color to their conduct, they pretended to fall
Joshua (who was totally unacquainted with out with him, on account of his having marthe operations of the Lord by his spirit) was ried a foreigner, whom they contemptuously
likewise greatly surprised, and, thinking it a called an Ethiopian; and, to lessen his imderogation of his master, likewise ran to the portance, and at the same time enlarge their
tabernacle, and advised Moses to restrain own, they added, " What, hath the Lord
them from that power which only belonged spoken only to Moses? hath he not spoken
to himself.  But Moses reproved him for his also by us? "
conduct in these words: " Dost thou," said    Moses saw the discontent of his brother
he, "envy them  on my account?  Would and sister; but considering it only as a perto God that all the Lord's people were in- sonal pique, took no notice of it.  The Alspired, and that they might be endued with mighty, however, being greatly offended at
the spirit of prophecy!"                 their conduct, thought proper to interpose,
The murmurings of the people for want and convince them that such behavior to his
of flesh still continued, and to such a height faithful servant was of the most heinous
did their fury arise, that they beset Moses' nature, and should not pass unnoticed.  Ortent on all sides, and, in the most tumultuous dering, therefore, Moses, Aaron, and Miriam,
manner, demanded of him to relieve their to attend at the door of the tabernacle, he
necessities.  Thus circumstanced, Moses ap- sharply rebuked the two latter for their insoplied himself to God, to whom he intimated lence, asking them, how they durst speak
the little probability there was of supplying against his servant Moses?  "You," said
so numerous a body of people with the arti- he to Miriam, " have shared in the prophetic
cle requested.  The Almighty was pleased office, and to you have I declared my will in
to promise that he would remove this evil; dreams and visions; but with Moses I have
and at the same time gently rebuked Moses conversed more familiarly, and I will speak
in these words: " Is the Lord's hand," said face to face with him, and show him as much
he, "waxed  short? thou  shalt see now  of my glory as he is capable of seeing."
whether my word shall come to pass unto    Thus Moses had the secret satisfaction of
thee or not."                             finding himself justified by his divine proIt was not long before this divine promise tector; but Aaron, to his great confusion,
was fulfilled; for the Almighty causing a beheld his sister Miriam made a dreadful exsouth wind to arise, it drove prodigious quan- ample of God's anger.: She was suddenly
tities of quails from the seacoast to within a. afflicted with a most dreadful and inveterate
mile of the camp, which being taken by the leprosy; upon  which  Aaron, addressing
people, they feasted on them  in the most himself to Moses, acknowledged the sin they
greedy manner.                            had committed, begged pardon, and solicited
But God soon called them to a dreadful him to intercede with God in behalf of his
account for their insolent demand of flesh, sister, that the leprosy might be removed,
and their distrust of his providence; for and her former health restored.
while they were regaling themselves with    Moses, who was naturally of a meek disthese dainties, he visited them with a severe position, and ever ready to pardon an injury
plague, of which great numbers died, and offered to himself, made no hesitation at comwere buried on the spot where they fell.  In plying with Aaron's request.  His intercesconsequence of this circumstance the place sion had the desired effect: the Almighty
was called Kibroth-Hattaavah, which signi- was pleased to promise that the evil should
fies the graves or sepulchres of lust and be removed; but as the offence was of a
concupiscence.                            public nature, he ordered her to be turned
From this place the Israelites marched to out of the camp for seven days, in the manHazeroth, where they had not been long be- ner of a common leper, in order to deter
fore another circumstance occurred of a very others from  committing the like seditious
disagreeable nature.  Aaron and his sister practices.
Miriam, observing  the  great power their   Soon after Miriam's return to the camp,
brother Moses had over the people, and that the Israelites removed to the desert of PaGod chiefly made use of him in the delivery ran; whence, after several encampments,




212                             AN ILLUSTRATED
they reached Kadesh-Barnea, situated on the    With these instructions the twelve spies
frontiers of the land of Canaan.           set forward on their journey, and proceeded
On their arrival at this place, Moses, by from  the entrance of the country on the
the divine command, selected twelve men, north, to its extremity on the south.  In
one from each tribe, whom he ordered to go their way back they passed through a valley
as spies into the promised land, to take a remarkable  for its fertility in vines, and
view of the country.  He charged them to therefore called the valley of Eshcol, which
make a diligent examination into the strength signifies a cluster of grapes.  Attracted by
of its cities and inhabitants, the nature and the beauty of the fruit, they determined to
fertility of its soil, and the principal articles preserve some and carry it to the camp.
it produced, some of the latter of which he They cut down a branch, on which was only
told them to bring with them on their return. one cluster of grapes, but of such an iln:
BEDOUINS COLLECTING FRUITS IN PALESTINE.
moderate size, that they were obliged to lay the country to which you sent us.  It is a
it on a pole, and carry it between two of fertile and plentiful land; but the inhabitants
them.  Nor was this the only product of of it are powerful.  There are great cities
this happy soil: the golden fig and beautiful with strong walls. We have seen those men
pomegranate adorned the trees, and a variety of the race of Anak, warlike men, and of a
of other fruits (of which they took samples gigantic stature.  The Amalekites inhabit
with them) loaded the luxuriant branches.   the south part of the land; the Hittites,
The spies having, in the compass of forty Jebusites, and  Amorites, the mountains;
days, taken a view of the whole country of and the Canaanites, the banks of the river
Canaan, returned to the camp of the Israel- Jordan."
ites; and, after showing them  the fruits of   The people were highly pleased with that
the land, gave them an account of the obser- part of the account relative to the fertility
vations they had made in the course of their of the country; but when they reflected on
journey. " We have been," said they, "in its strength,' with the size and number of its




HISTORY  OF TIlE  BIBLE.                              213
inhabitants, they were greatly alarmed, and this land, and give it us.  Do not, therefore,
expressed their fears at being brought to a by rebelling against him, forfeit his promise
place where they were in the most imminent and protecti. n.  Nor be afraid of the people
danger. But Caleb and Joshua (two of the of the land, whom we shall as surely conquer
twelve who were sent to view the country) as we eat our food, and with as much ease.
endeavored to remove their fears, by saying, The Lord is with us, and we have nothing
"Let us make ourselves masters of the to fear."
country, for we are strong enough to conquer   But so far was this speech from making
the inhabitants."                          any impression on the perverse and obstinate
This had the desired effect, and might Israelites, that, in a tumultuous manner,
have produced happy consequences, had it they called out to stone Caleb and Joshua;
not been for the cowardly disposition of the and which they would certainly have done,
other ten, who, perceiving that the account had not the glory of God at that instant visigiven by Caleb and Joshua, had fired the bly appeared before all the people, in the
people  with  a desire  of becoming  the tabernacle of the congregation.
possessors of the country by a speedy con-   As soon as Moses saw this he prostrated
quest, began to retract from  their former himself before the Lord, who, being highly
accounts, to paint matters in the worst light, incensed against the Israelites for their perand to represent it as a thing impossible, verse conduct, threatened to send a pestiboth by reason of the strength of its fortified lence that should totally extirpate them, and
towns, and the valor and gigantic stature of at the same time told Moses that he would
the inhabitants.                          make him a prince of a more numerous and
This cowardly representation defeated all powerful nation.
the arguments used by Caleb and Joshua in    The pious Moses (as he had several times
favor of the enterprise.  The Israelites, one done before) became again an intercessor for
and all, cried out they could never hope to the people.  He in the most earnest manner
overcome such powerful nations, in compari- solicited the Almighty to pardon their ofson with which they looked on themselves as fences, and represented the consequences that
mere grasshoppers and reptiles.  In short, might follow should he totally destroy them:
their murmurings grew to such a height by the substance of his solicitations and obserthe next morning, that a return to Egypt vations was in words to this effect: "0 thou
was thought more advisable than to face such everlasting  Jehovah, who  appearedst to
an enemy; and they went so far as to delib- Abraham, to Isaac, and Jacob, and who wast
crate on a proper person who should recon- graciously pleased to promise that their childuct them  into the land of their former dren should inherit the land of Canaan, look
thraldom.                                 in  mercy on this people, whom  neither
This perverseness of the people greatly promises will encourage, nor threatenings
afflicted Moses, who, finding them  bent on deter from  disobeying thee.  0 Lord, turn
their own ruin, and fearful that some dread- away thy fierce anger, for thou art a God of
ful consequence would  follow, prostrated mercy, and I will trust in thee to spare this
himself on the  ground  (as did also his wicked, this rebellious people."
brother Aaron) in the presence of the whole    These arguments and expostulations in
assembly, and besought of God that he some measure averted the divine vengeance,
would be merciful in his judgments on the the Almighty promising Moses not to put
people for their sin and ingratitude.      his first design into execution.  But as the
Caleb and Joshua expressed their grief ingratitude and infidelity of the people had
by rending their clothes; and endeavored, in become intolerable (notwithstanding God's
the most forcible manner, to convince. the constant care in  providing  against their
people that their fears were ill founded, and wants, screening them  from  their enemies,
that they might, by putting their trust in and preserving them  from  all dangers), he
God, overpower their enemies, and make declared that not one of those who had
themselves masters of the promised land. murmured, from twenty years old and up"The land " (said they) " that we passed ward, should ever enter the promised land;
through is indeed a rich and fertile land, but that they should wander with their chilabounding with all things necessary for life. dren about the wilderness for the space of
If we please the Lord he will bring us into forty years, in which time they should all




214                            -AN  ILLUSTRATED
pay the debt of nature, and that their chil- Hlormah. Though it was but eleven days'
dren should have those possessions which, journey hence to Kadesh-barnea, yet, for
had they not been so  disobedient, they their disobedience, they were so interrupted
might have enjoyed themselves.             as to be nearly two years in getting to the
As for the ten false spies, who were the place whence they came.
immediate authors of this defection, they    Many remarkable circumstances occurred
were all destroyed by a sudden death, and during the-stay of the Israelites in the wilbecame the first instances of the punishment derness.  The first recorded by the sacred
denounced against the body of the people.   historian is an instance of the divine severity
Caleb and Joshua, who had not only done on a man who, by a post-fact law, was adtheir duty in giving a faithful account of judged to be stoned to death for violating
their observations, but also endeavored to the sabbath, by gathering sticks on that
remove the ill-concerted intentions of the day.  Though a particular injunction had
people, were preserved. For thistheirconduct been laid on the people to keep this comthey received the divine approbation, as also mandment in the strictest manner, yet no
a promise that they should live to enter and penalty had been annexed to the violation
inherit the promised land.                 of it.  The people, therefore, who brought
When Moses related these particulars to the offender before Moses, were ordered to
the  people  their tempers  were  greatly keep him in custody till he should know the
altered, and they expressed their uneasiness divine pleasure concerning sabbath-breakers.
for the offence they had committed  by The Almighty was pleased to return for
putting on the deepest mourning.  Suppos- answer, that such transgressors should be
ing that their forwardness now would make stoned to death; upon which the offender
some atonement for their former cowardice, was immediately conducted out of the camp,
they assembled themselves together the next and the sentence executed.
morning, and offered to go on the conquest.   The next material circumstance that oc" We are ready," said they, " to go to the curred was a violent rebellion raised by
place whereof the Lord has spoken to us."  Korah, great-grandson of Levi, and conseBut this offer, instead of arising from any quently one of the heads of that tribe.
natural courage, took place only from a pre- This ambitious person, having long envied
sumptuous  rashness.   This  Moses well Aaron, on account of him  and his family
knew, and  therefore endeavored  all he being raised to the highest office in the
-could  to  dissuade  them  from   so  ill priesthood, and to which he thought himself
judged an enterprise.  He told them it was had an equal title, was always caballing
contrary to God's express command, and against him, till at length he had brought
therefore could not prosper; that by their over two hundred and fifty eminent persons
late undutiful behavior they had forfeited to his interest, among whom were Dathan
his assistance and protection, without which and Abiram, two of the chiefs of the tribe
it was impossible for them to succeed; and of Reuben.
that, as the Amalekites and Canaanites had    As soon as Korah thought matters propergained the passes of the mountains before ly ripe for an open rupture, he appeared
them, every attempt must prove abortive.   at the head of the faction, and publicly
But all this admonition had no' weight upbraided Moses and Aaron with an unjust
with the obstinate Israelites.  Notwithstand- ambition, in usurping that power to theming the ark of the covenant was not with selves of which he thought himself entitled
them; notwithstanding Moses, their general, to a part; and that the arbitrary measures
was not at the head of them; yet out they they pursued were injurious to the people,
marched to the top of the mountains, where, by depriving them of their just and natural
the enemy surprising them, they were immedi- liberties.
ately thrown into the greatest disorder, pro-   This strange and unexpected address so
digious numbers were slain, and the rest surprised Moses, that he immediately prosobliged to save themselves by flight; nor trated himself on the ground, in which situadid they stop till they came to a place called tion he lay for some time.*  At length he
* It is very reasonable to imagine, that Moses during the time of his being on the ground, apply(who was well acquainted with the gracious and ing himself to the Lord for protection against
ready assistance of God in time of need) was, this mutinous body of people. And it is likewise




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              215
arose, and, with great steadiness and mag- language to them, he addressed himself to
nanimity, informed them that the next day God, saying: "Respect not thou their offerthe Lord would decide the controversy, and ing.  I have not taken one ass from them,
would make it appear who were his servants, neither have I hurt one of them."  He then
who were holy, and who were the proper per- summoned Korah and all his companions
sons to be admitted into his divine presence. to meet him and Aaron the next day at the
He then, with his usual calmness and serenity tabernacle, and to bring with them their cenof mind, argued the matter with them, and, sers ready prepared with incense to appear
in the most mrild manner, rebuked them for the before the Lord.
impropriety of their conduct.  He was rather   Accordingly, early the  next morning,
more severe on Korah (who was the author Moses and Aaron went to the tabernacle,
of the defection) than the rest; and conclud- whither Korah also repaired at the head of
ed with addressing them  conjunctively in his party, with each man a censer in his hand,
words to this effect: " Hear me " (says he), and attended by a prodigious multitude of
"ye sons of Levi.  Is it a matteinof so light people, who, in all probability, went as specconcern, that the God of Israel hath distin- tators of this singular contest.
guished you from the rest of Israel, to admit   The first thing that attracted their attention
you to the more immediate service of the was the amazing splendor that issued from
tabernacle, andto stand before the congrega- the cloud over the tabernacle, from which
tion and minister to them?  Is not this an God called to Moses and Aaron, ordering
honor sufficient to satisfy your ambitious them to withdraw, that he might inflict that
spirit, but that ye must aim at the priesthood punishment on the rebellious crew they justly
too'?  This is the cause of your clamors; deserved.
and for this ye have moved the people to    Moses and Aaron, knowing that the multisedition.  But, be assured, whatever ye may tude who attended on this occasion did it only.
pretend against Aaron, this insult is against to gratify their curiosity, and at the same time
the Lord, as it is against his dispensations lamenting that they should equally suffer
that ye murmur and conspire."              with the wicked Korah and his party, pros)Dathan and Abiram were at some distance trated themselves before God, and interceded
when Moses thus talked with the rest of the for their protection.  " O God " (said they),
conspirators; and therefore, supposing they "thou God of the spirit of all flesh, shall
had been drawn into the plot at the instiga- one man sin, and wilt thou be angry with
tion of Korah, he sent for them  privately, all?"  Their prayers were no sooner offered
with a design of arguing the matter with than heard; and the Almighty, being pleased
them in the mildest terms.  But instead of to listen to their solicitation, commanded
a civil answer, he received the following them to tell the people to withdraw.  Frighthaughty message: " Is it " (said they) " a ened at the amazing splendor that issued
matter of so small moment, that thou hast fiom  the cloud, they readily obeyed this
brought us out of a land which flowed with order, and retired at some distance from the
plenty, to kill us in the desert?  Thou tents of Korah and his two principal assoaffectest dominion, and wouldst make thy- ciates, Dathan and Abiram, who stood in a
self prince over us also.  Notwithstanding  daring manner near their own tents, attended
thy fair promises, thou hast not brought by their wives and families.
us into a land that flows with milk and honey,   As soon as the multitude had retired to a
nor given us any inheritance of fields and proper distance, Moses addressed them  in
vineyards; but when we were ready to take words to this effect: "By this" (said he)
possession of the promised land, thou didst " you shall know that the Lord has commisturn us back into this barren desert, to re- sioned me to do what I have done, and that
peat the fatigues and hardships we had before I have undertaken nothing of my own head.
undergone.  We will not come."             If these men" (meaning Korah and his
These unjust reproaches highly provoked party) " die the common way of nature, or be
Moses, but, instead of returning any ill visited as other men, then take it for granted
reasonable to imagine, that while he lay in this with great courage, and to vindicate himself, put
humble posture God appeared to him, and gave the matter between him and them upon trial the
him comfortable advice in what manner he should next day.
conduct himself; as he soon after spoke to them




216                           AN ILLUSTRATED
the Lord hath not sent me; but if he deal ground, and earnestly implored of God to
with them after a strange and unusual man- spare the people; but, early as they were in
ner, and the earth, opening her mouth, swal- their supplication, the divine vengeance was
low them  up alive, then shall ye under- before them, for the Almighty, provoked by
stand that these men have provoked the the repeated rebellions of the people, had
Lord."                                   already sent a pestilence among them.
No sooner had Moses spoken these words   As soon as Moses observed this, le orthan the earth was suddenly convulsed, and dered Aaron to take a censer, put fire and
the surface of it opening, Korah and his incense in it from the altar, and hasten to
two adherents, Dathan and Abiram, to- the congregation to make atonement for the
gether with their families and substance, sins of the people.  Aaron did as Moses
were all swallowed up alive, and, the ground commanded, and standing between the dead
closing on them, they perished.  When the and the living, he prayed for some time, and
people who stood round them saw their dis- the plague ceased.  But notwithstanding
inal fate they were greatly frightened, and the very short time this calamity lasted, yet
cried out, " Let us fly, lest the earth swal- with such violence did it rage, that the numlow us up also."                         her carried off by it amounted to fourteen
In the mean time God, to punish the rest thousand and seven hundred persons.
of these rebellious people, who had profanely   Though God had thus in two instances
attempted to offer incense contrary to the punished the people for their wickedness,
law, sent down fire from  heaven and de- yet, knowing that the minds of many of
stroyed the whole two hundred and fifty men them were, by the insinuations of Korah and
that had joined with Korah.              his accomplices, still prejudiced against Aaron
To perpetuate the memory of this judg- and his family, on account of their being
ment, as well as to deter, for the future, any invested with the priesthood, he was pleased
but the sons of Aaron from presuming to to put an end to all controversy on this head
burn incense before the Lord, Moses, by the by the following miracle. He commanded
divine command, ordered Eleazer, Aaron's Mloses to take a rod from each tribe, and
son, to gather up the censers of the dead, to write upon it the name of the prince of
and to have them beat into broad plates as that tribe to whom  it belonged, and to
a covering for the altar, assigning this as a write Aaron's name on that of the tribe of
reason: "That it might be for a memorial Levi; that, when this was done, he should
to the children of Israel, that no stranger, lay up the twelve rods in the tabernacle,
or any that was not of Aaron's family, should before the ark of the testimony, until the
presume to offer incense before the Lord, next morning, when some miraculous change
lest he died the' death of Korah and his should be seen that would determine in
company."                                whose family the priesthood should be estabIt might have been supposed  that so lished.
dreadful a punishment would, at least for   Moses, who never failed paying an immesome time, have kept the Israelites within diate obedience to the divine command, did
the bounds of their obedience; but no sooner as he was ordered; and going next morning
were they recovered from their fiight than to the tabernacle,. brought out the twelve
they again began to murmur, and to accuse rods in the presence of all the people.
Moses and Aaron with having murdered Eleven of the rods were in the same state
"the people of the Lord" (as they called as when he put them into the tabernacle,
the late mutineers).                     but the twelfth (which belonged to Aaron)
Moses and Aaron, well knowing the tur- had a very different appearance, for it had
bulent temper of the people, and fearing not only budded, but likewise blossomed,
they might proceed to some violent outrage, and bore ripe almonds.  A convincing proof
took sanctuary in the tabernacle, which they to the people that God had singled out Aaron
had no sooner entered than the Almighty and his family to the priestly office.
commanded them to withdraw from the rest   In memory of this remarkable decision,.of the congregation, for that in a short time God ordered Aaron's rod to be laid up in
1he would destroy them.                  the ark of the covenant, that, by the people's
In consequence of this, Moses and Aaron seeing it, they might not again rebel, but
immediately prostrated themselves on the remain satisfied with those whom he had




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              217
been pleased, in so distinguished a manner,   Agreeably to these orders, Moses and
to appoint to the priestly office.         Aaron assembled before the rock the people,
After the establishment of the high-priest's who, no doubt, readily attended in expectaoffice in Aaron and his family, the Israelites tion of having those grievances removed of
moved about, from one place to another, in which  they  had  so  greatly  complained.
the wilderness, but chiefly about the moun- Hitherto Moses had paid an exact and absotains of Idumoea, until God, by shortening lute obedience to all the commands God had
the period of human life, had taken away enjoined him;but now (however it happened)
almost all that generation, " of whom he had he made some deviation from his instructions,
sworn in his wrath," as the Psalmist expresses and thereby committed the greatest miscarit, xcev. 2, " that they should not enter into riage of his whole life.  He was ordered to
his rest."  And, indeed, great reason had he speak to the rock before the people; but,
to be angry with them, since, during the instead of so doing, he spoke to the people,
remainder of their peregrination, they were saying, "Hear now, ye rebels; must we
guilty of many more murmurings than Moses fetch you water out of this rock? "   In
has thought proper to record, which, never- doing-this, he expressed impatience and heat
theless, are mentioned, with no small severity, of spirit, which were in direct opposition to
by other inspired writers.  See Amos v. 26; that humility he had hitherto possessed.
Acts vii. 43.                                This conduct of Moses was highly offensive
As the time, however, of their entrance to God, as appeared from  his first striking
into the land of Canaan drew  near, they the rock without its having the least effect.
advanced into the wilderness of Sin, and However, on striking it a second time, the
pitched their camp at Kadesh,* where Mir- water issued from it in great abundance, and
iam,t sister to Moses and Aaron, died, and not only the people, but likewise the cattle,
was buried.                                were plentifully supplied with that necessary
The Israelites had not been long at Kadesh, article they had so much wanted.
before they were greatly distressed for water,   Though this was the first time that Moses
upon which (as they had before done on had made the least deviation from the divine
similar occasions) they exclaimed, with great injunctions, yet it pleased the Almighty to
vehemence, against Moses and Aaron, saying, make him sensible of his fault, and to inflict
"Why have ye brought the Lord's people  a punishment on him for his disobedience.
into the wilderness to kill them  and their Considering Aaron also as concerned with
cattle?  Why did you persuade us to leave him in the transgression, he denounced this
the fertile land of Egypt to bring us into this sentence against them conjunctively.  "Bebarren place, which affords neither water to cause," said he, "ye believed me not, to
quench our thirst, nor fruits to satisfy our sanctify me in the eyes of the children of
hunger?  Would to God we had perished Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this conwith our brethren before the Lord."        gregation into the land, which I have given
The impatience and dissatisfaction of the them."  From  this unhappy accident, the
Israelites greatly perplexed Moses and Aaron, place was called Meribah, which, in the
who, as was their usual custom  on such Hebrew language, signifies, chiding or strife.
occasions, addressed themselves to God, be-   Though Moses had committed this offence,
seeching him to remove the present distresses and received the divine chastisement, yet he
of the people.  The Almighty was pleased  still preserved the command and government
to listen to their request: he ordered Moses of the people.  Intending to decamp from
to take his rod, and, with the assistance of Kadesh, as a necessary precaution in order
Aaron, assemble the people together; which to secure the safety of the people, he sent
having done, he should speak to the rock in messengers to the king of Edom (upon whose
their sight, and it should immediately produce borders they then were) requesting permission
abundance of water.                        to pass through his territories, assuring him
* This was not Kadesh-Barnea, the station or assures us, that in his time her tomb was found
encampment of the Israelites on the confines of at Kadesh, a small distance from Petroea, the capthe northern part of Canaan; but another Ka- ital of Arabia Petroea. Several of the ancients
desh, situated on the confines of Idumeca, and not are of opinion that she died a virgin, and that she
far from the Red Sea.                      was the legislatrix and governess of the Israelitt Miriam was the eldest of the three, and was ish women, as Moses was the legislator of the
nearly a hundred and thirty years old. Eusebius  men..




218                              AN ILLUSTRATED
that they would not commit any hostilities,    The time now  drawing near, that the
nor give the least molestation to any of his Israelites were to penetrate the promised land
subjects.  But the haughty Edomite was so (into which the Lord had told Aaron  he
far from  granting his request, that he came should not enter because of his transgression
out with a powerful army to oppose him; at Meribah), God gave Aaron notice that his
upon which Moses, after decamping from  dissolution was near at hand, that he nmigllt
Kadesh, took another way, and marched to the more properly prepare himself for so
Mount Hor, near the borders of Edom, awful an event.  As a necessary introducticn,
where they pitched their tents, and for some the Almighty commanded  Moses to  take
time encamped.                              Aaron, and Eleazar his son (who was to
-_~ _ ~                                                             _       -X
-~               ____ ~. 5[__~~  ~_~    — ~~MOUNT HOR.
succeed him in the office of high-priest), and    Moses having obeyed  these commands,
conduct them to the top of the mount, where Aaron, in a very short time after, gave up
he should strip Aaron of his priestly gar- the ghost;+ and when the people heard that
ments, and put them upon Eleazar his son.   he was dead, they mourned for him thirty dLys.
CHAPTER XI.
FIERY SERPENTS.   BALAAM.-APPROACH  TO  CANAAN.-DEATH  OF MOSES.
WIIILE the Israelites lay encamped near Canaan, who  dwelt in the  south, being
Mount Hor,t Arad, one of the kings of informed of their situation, and that they
* He was buried on the spot where he died, it day of the fifth month, which answers to our July,
being the ancient custom to bury persons of emi- at which time Aaron was one hundred and twentynence in high places.  See Joshua xxiv. 30; three years of age. See Num. xxxiii. 38, 39.
Judges ii. 9. This event happened in the fortieth    t HoR. - The mountain on which Aaron died
year after the Israelites left Egypt, on the first (Num. xx. 25, 27). The word Hor is regarded




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    219
intended visiting his dominions, went out the Israelites, in a very short space of time,
with a considerable army to interrupt their were carried off.
progress.   Accordingly, coming  up  with    This dreadful calamity  so alarmed the
them, an engagement took place, in which people, that they flew to Moses for protecthe Israelites were worsted, and some of them  tion, acknowledging  the offence they had
made prisoners.                               committed, and beseeching him to intercede
In consequence of this repulse, the Israel- with God in their behalf.  Moses, p'tying
ites made a vow to God, promising, if he their distress, readily compl:ed with  their
would deliver these people into their hands, request; upon which  the  A'Im:ghty  was
they would utterly destroy their cities.  Their pleased to order him  to make a serpelnt of
divine protector was pleased to listen to their brass resembling those by which they were
request: for, upon their engaging the Ca- afflicted, and to set it up on a h'gh pole;
naanites a second time, they  obtained  a telling him, at the same time, that such as
complete victory, took  possession  of their were bitten, if they looked up to this selcities, and put all the inhabitants to the pent, should be healed.
sword.                                          Moses obeyed the divine command, and
Elated with  this success the Israelites though the serpents did not cease bitino, that
decamped from  Mount Hor, and took their the people might be more sensible of their
route by the Red Sea, marching round Edom, transgression, yet, on  looking up to the
through which they had been refused a pas- brazen serpent, the force of the sting lost its
sage by the king of the country   As the effect, and the person afflicted soon recovered.
way was long, the passes difficult, and the    The  Israelites,  after  making  various
country barren, they, forgetting their late marches  and  encampments, between  the
success, and reflecting only on the present countries of Moab  and  Ammon, without
inconveniences, relapsed into their old humor committing  the  least hostility, at length
of murmuring, and heavily complained both came to the borders of that part of the counagainst God and Moses.   " Wherefore," try inhabited  by the  Amorites.   Hence
said they, " have ye brought us up out of Moses sent ambassadors to Sihon their king,
Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is requesting  permission to pass through his
no bread, neither is there any water, and country, and promising, at the same time,
our soul loatheth this light bread."         not to commit any depredation, or give hYm
As a punishment to the Israelites for this the least disturbance.
fresh instance of their impiety and distrust,    The Anorite prince, fearful of admitting
God sent among them  prodigious numbers so formidable a body into the heart of his
of fiery serpents, whose stings were so ven- kingdom, positively denied the Israelites a
omous, that those who were bit by them  passage; and thinking  it better policy to
died; and by this plague, great numbers of attack than be attacked, gathered what force
by the lexicographers as an archaic form of Har, displaying itself to  an  enormous thickness.
the usual Hebrew term for " mountain."  The Mount Hor itself is said to be entirely sandstone,
few facts given us in the Bible regarding Mount in very horizontal strata. Its height, according
Hor are soon told.  It was "on the boundary  to the latest measurements, is 4800 feet (Eng.)
line" (Num. xx. 23) or "at the edge" (xxxiii. above the Mediterranean, that is to say about
37) of the land of Edom. It was the halting- 1700 feet above the town of Petra, 4000 above the
place of the people next after Kadesh (xx. 22, level of the Arabah, and more than 6000 above
xxxiii. 37), and they quitted it for Zalmonah  the Dead Sea. The mountain is marked far and
(xxxiii. 41) in the road to the Red Sea (xxi. 4). near by its double top, which rises like a huge
It was during the encampment at Kadesh that castellated building from a lower base, and is surAaron was gathered to his fathers. It is almost mounted by a circular dome of the tomb of A aron,
unnecessary to state that it is situated on the east- a distinct white spot on the dark red surface of
ern side of the great valley of the Arabah, the the mountain. The impression received on the
highest and most conspicuous of the whole range spot is that Aaron's death took place in the small
of the sandstone mountains of Edom, having close basin between the two peaks, and that the people
beneath it on its eastern side the mysterious city were stationed either on the plain at the base of
of Petra.  The tradition has existed from the the peaks, or at that part of the Wady Abu-Kushearliest date. It is now the Jebel Nebi-Haruin, eybeh from which the top is commanded.  The
"the mountain of the Prophet Aaron."  Of the chief interest of Mount Hor will always consist
geological formation of Mount Hor we have no in the prospect from its summit - the last view of
very trustworthy accounts. The general structure Aaron - that view which was to him what Pisgah
of the range of Edom, of which it forms the was to his brother. —Bible Dictionary  A. Be
most prominent feature, is new red sandstone,




220                            AN ILLUSTRATED
he could, and marched out to give them!  The result of this consultation was, that
battle.  They met near a place called Jahaz, messengers should be sent to Balaam, a
when a desperate engagement ensued, in Inoted magician, who lived at Pethor, a city
which the Amorites were totally defeated, of Mesopotamia, to invite him by bribes to
and the whole body put to the sword.  The come to Moab, and, by cursing the IsraelIsraelites pursuing  their conquests made ites, prevent their proving successful in that
themselves masters of the most considerable part of the country. In consequence of this
places belonging to the Amorites, particu- determination, a select number of the prinlarly Heshbon, which, with  the  villages cipal people, both of Moab and Midian, were
about it, Sihon had before taken from  the despatched to Balaam with many valuable
Moabites.                                 presents, and with orders that they should,
From  Heshbon  the Israelites' marched if possible, bring him with them to Moab,
toward Bashan (taking several other places that, by his enchantments and curses, he
in their way belonging to the Amorites, par- might destroy the power of the Israelites,
ticularly a large city called Jaazer) where and thereby secure them from every kind of
the giant Og, another king of the Amorites, danger.
resided, and who, on the approach of the    As soon as these deputies arrived at Pethor
Israelites, drew out his gigantic troops in they delivered their message to Balaam, who
order to give them battle.  Fearful lest the desired them to tarry with him that night, for
Israelites should be discouraged at the sight that he could not give them any answer till
of this formidable army, Moses, by the com- he had consulted the Lord.  The Almighty,
mand of God, bade them be of good spirits, knowing the secrets of Balaam's heart, asked
and not entertain the least apprehensions of what men they were that were with him.
danger, for that God would deliver them into To which he replied, " They are some whom
their hands, and they should make as easy a the king of Moab hath sent to me, to let me
conquest over them  as they had done over know that there is a people come out of
King Sihon.                               Egypt which covers the face of the earth;
Animated at this intelligence, the Israel- and to desire me to come to him and curse
ites marched with all expedition against the them, in hopes that he may then be able to
Amorites, whom  they attacked with such overcome them and drive them away."  To
success as to obtain a complete victory, and this God made answer, "Thou shalt not
not only the whole of the people, but like- go with them; thou shalt not curse the
wise King Og and his sons, were put to the people, for they are blessed."
sword.  They then seized on the principal   Not daring to disobey the divine command,
parts of the country, and utterly destroyed Balaam  arose early in the morning, and
the inhabitants, reserving only the cattle and going to the deputies, dismissed them, sayspoil of the cities, as they had done before ing, " Be gone to your own country, for thee
in the case of Sihon.                     Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with
Encouraged by these successes, the Israel- you."
ites marched to the pla'ns of Moab, and en-   The deputies, on their return to Moab,
camped on the bank of the river Jordan, misrepresented Balaam's answer to the king;
nearly opposite to Jericho.  The approach for, instead of telling him  that God had
of these victorious strangers struck a terror refused to let him come, they told him that
among the people wherever they went, and  Balaam  himself had refused to come. In
the fame of their late success against the consequence of this, Balak, suggesting that
Amorites threw Balak, the king of Moab, either the number and quality of his messenand all his people, into the most dreadful gers did not answer Balaam's ambition, or
consternation.                            the value of the presents his covetousness,
Balak, knowing himself too weak to en- resolved, if possible, to remove this obstacle
gage the mighty force of Israel himself, by gratifying both.   He accordingly deformed a strong alliance with his neighbors spatched the chiefs of his nobility to Balaam,
the Midianites, and a consultation was held sending by them  much more considerable
between the heads of each, what steps should presents than before, and at the same time
be taken to avoid the common danger, and this- message  "Let nothing,"  said he,
to secure themselves against these bold in- " hinder thee from  coming to me; for I
vaders.                                   will promote thee to very great honor, and




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                           221
give thee whatsoever thou shalt ask, if thou a positive answer, and it was certainly the
wilt,but come and curse this people."    highest disobedience and presumption to atBalaam, being naturally of a very avari- tempt the reversing it by a further application.
cious disposition, accepted the presents from  However, blinded by covetousness and amthe deputies, but evaded complying with bition, he again addressed himself to God,
their request, by assuring them that he durst who (provoked at his obstinacy and prenot, on any account whatever, counteract sumption) was pleased to give him  this
the divine will. However, in order to amuse answer: "If the men," said he, " come to
and flatter them with expectations, he desired call thee, rise up and go with them, but
them to tarry a little while he made further yet the word which I shall say unto thee,
inquiries of the Lord, and, if he thought that shalt thou do."
proper to admit his going, he would readily   With this permission, Balaam arose in the
attend them.                             morning, and, saddling his ass, set forward
The Almighty had at first given Balaam  with the messengers on their journey to
HE —----               _.
VIEW IN THE LAND OF MOAB.
Moab.  On the road he was met by an there was no possibility of passing him; upon
angel witha drawn sword in his hand, whom, which the ass made a full stop, and fell
though he perceived not, his ass plainly saw, beneath his rider.  This enraged Balaam
and being startled, turned aside in order to still more; and as he was beating the poor
avoid him.  With some difficulty, Balaam  animal in the most unmerciful manner, God
beat his ass into the road again, soon after was pleased to give the ass the faculty of
which the angel placed himself in a narrow  speech, who expostulated with his master on
passage between two walls which enclosed a his severe treatment in words to this effect:
vineyard. The ass, who was equally startled "What," said he, "have I done to thee,
as before, not knowing how to avoid the that thou shouldst beat me these three
angel, ran against one of the walls and times?" -"Because," said Balaam, "thou
crushed Balaam's foot, upon which he was hast deserved it in mocking me: had I a
so provoked that he beat him with great sword in my hand I would kill thee."  The
severity  At length the angel removed, and ass replied, "Am  I not thine ass, upon
fixed himself in a place so very narrow that which thou hast been accustomed to ride




222                            AN ILLUSTRATED
ever since I was thine; did I ever serve thee perity and increase of the Israelites, and
so before? "                             concluded by wishing that his lot, both in life
While Balaam was thus conversing with and in death, might be like unto theirs.
his ass, God was pleased to open his eyes, " Let me die," said he, " the death of the
and let him  see the angel standing in the righteous, and let my last end be like his."
way, with a naked sword in his hand. Terri-   Balak, alarmed as well as incensed at
flied at so unexpected a sight, Balaam fell on these words, which were quite contrary to
his face, acknowledged his offence, asked what he had expected, passionately said to
pardon for it, and offered, if his journey was Balaam, "What hast thou done? I sent for
displeasing to God, immediately to return.  thee to curse mine enemies; but, instead
That his journey was displeasing to the thereof, thou hast blessed them."  Balaam
Almighty he certainly could not be ignorant, excused himself by urging the necessity of
because, in his first address, God had ex- his instructions, from which, he said, it was
pressly  interdicted  his going.  He  was not in his power at that time to make the
pleased, however, to suffer him to proceed, least deviation.
that some kind of advantage might be raised    Not discouraged at this rebuff, Balak,
out of this man's wickedness, and to make thinking that a change of place might prohim, who was hired to curse, the instrument duce a change of fortune, or better success,
of pronouncing a blessing on his people  conducted Balaam to the top of Mount PisWhen Balak heard that Balaam was on gah, in order to try whether he could thence
the road, he went himself to receive him on fulfil his wishes by cursing the Israelites.
the confines of his dominions.  As soon as   Balaam, willing to please the king, had
Balak saw him, he in a friendly manner seven other altars erected here, and a bulblamed him for not coming at his first send- lock and ram offered on each.  As soon as
ing, which Balaam  excused on account of the sacrifices were ready he withdrew, as
the restraint that had been laid upon him  before, to consult the Lord, from whom he
by the Almighty. Balak then conducted received fresh instructions.  On his return
him to his capital, where he that day pub- to Balak and his attendants, the king, big
licly entertained him in the most sumptuous with expectation of the result, asked what
manner; and the next morning Conducted the Lord had spoken.  Balaam answered as
him to the high places consecrated to the follows:' Consider," said he, " 0 Balak,
idol Baal, whence he might take an advan- thou son of Zippor, consider that God, who
tageous view of the camp of the Israelites.   hath already blessed Israel, and forbidden
After being here some short time, Balaam  me to curse them, is not like a man that be
ordered seven altars to be erected, and sev- should renounce his promise, or repent of
en oxen, together with the like number of what he does.  Hath he promised, and shall
rams, to be prepared for sacrifice.  Balaam, he not perform? or hath he spoken, and
having offered an ox and a ram  on each shall he not make it good?  Behold, I have
altar, left Balak to stand by the sacrifices, received commission to bless, and he hath
while himself withdrew at some distance to blessed, and I cannot reverse it.  He does
consult the Lord.  On his return he ad- not approve of afflictions or outrages against
dressed the king, in the presence of the the posterity of Jacob, nor of vexation or
whole company, in words to this effect: trouble against the posterity of Israel.  The
" Thou hast caused me, 0 king," said he, Lord his God is with him, and the shout of
" to come from out of the mountains of the a king is in him.  God hath brought them
east to curse the family of Jacob, and bid out of Egypt; he hath, as it were, the
defiance to Israel.  But how shall I curse strength  of a  unicorn.  Surely  no  enthose whom God hath not cursed? and how  chantment can prevail against Jacob, nor
shall I defy those whom the Lord hath not any divination against Israel  So that, condefied?  From  the tops of the rocks I see sidering what God will work this time for
their protector, and from the hills I behold the deliverance of his people, all the world
him.  Behold, this people shall be separated shall wonder and  say, What bath God
to God, and distinguished from  all other wrought, who hath put his people out of the
people in religion, laws, and course of life: reach of fraud or force, and turned the inthey shall not be reckoned among the na- tended curse into a blessing!  And to show
tions."  He then set forth the great pros- their future strength and success, the people




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              223
shall rise up as a great lion, and lift them- expected, for his predictions.  Vexed at this
selves up as a young lion.  They shall not disappointment, and considering the Israellie down until they eat of the prey, and ites as the occasion of it, he determined to
drink of the blood of the slain."          wreak his vengeance on them.  He knew
Balak was so mortified at this speech, that, that their prosperity depended on their strict
in the height of his passion, he forbade observance of the divine laws, and that there
Balaamr either to bless or curse; but after was no way to bring a curse on them  but
his indignation was somewhat abated he by seducing them from their duty.  To aechanged his mind, and desired him to make complish, therefore, his wicked design, he
a further trial at another place.  According- advised both the Moabites and Midianites to
ly, Balaam  was conducted to the top of send their daughters into the camp of the
Mount Peor, where fresh altars were raised Israelites, that they might first entice the
and fresh sacrifices offered; but all to no people into lewdness, and then into idolatry;
purpose.  Balaam  well knew  the positive by doing of which they would infallibly be
will of God in this case was to bless, and not deprived of that divine assistance that had
to curse.  He did not therefore, as before, hitherto protected them.
retire for further instructions, but, casting    This wicked stratagem, being highly ap
his eyes on the tents of the Israelites, thus proved of by the Moalites and Midianites,
exclaimed: " How goodly are thy tents, O  was immediately put into execution, and in
Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O  Israel! " some measure attended with the wished-for
He then, in proper and significant meta- success   Many of the Israelites were dephors, foretold their extent, fertility, and luded by these strange women, not only to
strength, and that " those that blessed them  commit whoredom with them, but also idolashould be blessed, and those that cursed try, by  assisting at their sacrifices, and
them should be cursed."                    worshipping their gods, even their god BaalBalak, enraged to hear Baalam, whom he peor
had sent for to curse the Israelites, thus    These offences were highly displeasing to
three times successively bless them, could no God, who, as a punishment on the people,
longer contain himself, but, clasping his commanded Moses to take the chiefs of those
hands together, bade him haste and be gone, who had worshipped Baal-peor, and hang
since by his folly, he had both abused God them up in the sight of the people, without
and defrauded himself.  "I thought," said paying respect either to friendship or kindred.
he, " to have promoted thee to great honor, This was accordingly done, and the number
if thou hadst answered my design in curs- that suffered was about one thousand.  But
ing Israel; but the Lord hath hindered thy the divine justice did not stop here, for those
preferment."                               who had committed whoredom were visited
Balaam, in excuse, made use of the same with a dreadful plague, which in a short time
arguments he had done before, namely, that carried off no less than twenty-four thousand
he could not run counter to the divine corm- persons
mands, but must speak what the Lord had   These severe punishments opened the eyes
put into his mouth.  He then, in expecta- of the sinful Israeiites, who assembled at the
tion of obtaining some reward from the king, door of the tabernacle, and, with the most
notwithstanding he had not answered the expressive sense of affliction, bewailed their
purposes for which he was sent, offered to folly and wickedness in suffering themselves
advertise him of what the Israelites would to have been deluded by a strange pcople
do to his people in subsequent ages; which who were their mortal enemies.
being accepted by Balak, he prophesied as   While the whole congregation were thus
follows: " That a star should come forth situated at the door of the tabernacle, they
from Jacob, and a rod from  Israel; that its were surprised with an instance of the most
should smite the chiefs of Moab, and destroy unparalleled boldness and depravity in one
the children of Seth; that Edom should fall of the chiefs of the tribe of Simeon, named
under its power, that the Amalekites should Zimri, who, in the sight of Moses and all the
be totally destroyed, and the Kenites made people, brought with him a young Midiancaptives."                                itish princess, named Cozbi, into the camp,
Having said this, Balaam  left the king, and, with all the actions of gallantry, con.
but without receiving any reward, as he had ducted her to his tent.




224                             AN ILLUSTRATED
This impious as well as insolent behavior the different tribes, who congratulated thern.
particularly engaged the attention of Phin- on the occasion, and the people testified their
eas, the son of Eleazar the high-priest, who, joy by the loudest acclamations.
fired with a just indignation, suddenly arose,   But when Moses saw the women captives,
and taking a javelin in his hand, ran to remembering what damage they had done by
Zimri's tent, and put a period to their lives, alluring the Israelites into idolatry, he thought
by running them both through the body at it unsafe that their lives should be spared.
the same instant.                          He therefore ordered that all those who had
After this zealous act of Phineas, the ever known man, together with all the male
plague, which God had sent among the peo- children, should be put to the sword, and none
pie for their lewdness and impiety; ceased. but virgins be saved alive.  These orders
And Phineas not only received the highest were accordingly executed, and (as a proof
commendation for his conduct among the of the importance of the victory) the number
people, but also from God, who was pleased of virgin captives amounted to two and thirty
to appoint a perpetual settlement of the thousand.
priesthood on him and his posterity.         After this Moses gave orders that the
The disorders among the Israelites being conquerors should abide seven days without
thoroughly quelled, and the offenders pun- the camp, and that both the soldiers and
ished, Moses by  the direction  of God, spoils should pass through the ceremonies of
proceeded to take vengeance on the Midian- a legal purification.
ites, who, by their conduct, had been the    When the time of purification was expired,
authors of the late calamities among the Moses, by the command of God, took an acpeople.  He ordered a detachment to be count of the whole booty that had been taken
made out of 12,000 choice men, a thousand from the MIidianites   This he divided into
out of each tribe, whom he sent against the two equal parts, one of which he gave to the
Midianiteso Among them  was the zealous soldiers who had taken it, and the other half
Phineas, who took with him the ark, together to the rest of the people who staid at homce.
with the sacred trumpets, the latter of which Out of the division given to the soldiers he
were to be blown, during the time of action, ordered a five hundredth part to be paid as
to animate the people.                     a tribute to Eleazar the high-priest, as a
The army of the Israelites was but small heave offering to the Lord; and out of the
compared with the great numbers they had to other part allotted to the people, a fiftieth,
oppose; but God, who put them  on the both of persons and beasts, to be given to the
expedition, was pleased  to  crown  their Levites.
attempts with such success, that conquest   The plunder of cattle and flocks consisted
took place wherever they went.  They van- of 670,500 sheep, 72;000 oxen, and 61,000
quished five kings, whom, with their men, asses, besides a great quantity of rich goods
they put all to the sword..Among the slain and ornaments. And, what makes the victory
was the wicked  prophet Balaam,* who, still more miraculous is, that not one man
though he had before escaped the sword among the Israelites was slain in the battle,
of the angel, could not now avoid the com- as appeared from the report afterward made
mon danger, but fell a victim  to his own on a general muster of the whole that went
baseness.                                  out to war.
In every city where the Israelites made a    The officers of the army were sensible
conquest, they destroyed not only the forti- that, in  saving the Midianitish  women,
fled places but likewise all the buildings, they had committed a great transgression.
took all the women and children prisoners, They therefore presented a prodigious quanand seized on their cattle, flocks, and goods. tity of jewels, and other rich spoils, both as
The Israelites, having thus vanquished an expiatory offering  to  atone  for their
their enemies, and loaded themselves with offence, and in gratitude to God's goodness
the spoils of conquest, returned in triumph for having given them so great and signal a
to the camp, where they were met by Moses, victory.
Eleazar the high priest, and all the elders of   The Israelites were now in possession of
* It is evident, from this circumstance, that if is much more probable that he never did return,
13alaam did return to his own country when he but dwelt with the princes of Midian, in order te
left Balak, he did not continue long there; but it give them counsel.




HISTORY  OF THE  BIBLE.                              225
all that part of the country which lay on the pleased with equal safety as when in the city
east side of the river Jordan.  It was a very of refuge.  At the same time, Moses made all
fertile spot, and stored with good pasturage, proper provision that the wilfel murderer
in consequence of which the tribes of Reu- should certainly be put to death.  But in
ben and Gad, together with the half-tribe of this, and all other capital cases, he made
Manasseh, requested of Moses that they might it a law that none should be convicted upon
be permitted to settle there, it being par- the evidence of any single person.  A  law
ticularly commodious for the feeding of their was likewise made, that every daughter who
flocks and cattle.                         should possess an inheritance in any tribe of
Moses, thinking this request arose from  the children of Israel should be married to
their pusillanimity, and that they were desir- one of the tribes of his father, that so the
ous of continuing in a country ready gained, Israelites might every one enjoy the inand thereby avoid giving their assistance in heritance of his father, and the inheritance
further conquests, was exceeding angry, and not to be transferred to another tribe.  This
blamed them for offering a proposal so dis- was grounded on a law made before, which
couraging to the rest of the tribes.  They empowered daughters to inherit land where
told him they had no other reason for wish- the heirs male should be deficient; and was
ing to continue where they were than what the case of the daughters of Zelophehad (a
they had already advanced, and that though descendant of Manasseh, the son of Joseph),)
they were desirous of settling there with their who, by this additional law, were required
families, yet they wished not to decline the to marry within the family of their father's
fatigues of war. They promised, in the most tribe.
solemn manner, that a quota should go with    The forty years' travels of the Israelites
the army into the land of Canaan, and con- being now nearly expired, Moses, considertribute all the assistance they were able in ing that the then generation were either
reducing that country which had been so long sprung up since the law was given at Mount
promised, and that when these matters were Sinai, or too young to remember and underaccomplished, and not till then, would they stand it, thought proper to repeat the whole
desire to return to their families in the plains to them, that they might not be deficient in
of Moab.  On this reason, and on these performing those duties so religiously enpromises, Moses told them  their request joined.  Accordingly, on the first day of
should be granted.                         the eleventh month, and in the fortieth year
As the Israelites were now in the neighbor- from  their departure out of Egypt (being
hood of Canaan, and the time very near then encamped on the plains of Moab, by
of their entering that country to take pos- the banks of the river Jordan) Moses called
session  of it, Moses  called  a  general all the people together, to whom  he briefly
assembly of the people, to whom he enumer- related all that had befallen their fathers
ated the several stations and removes they since the time of their leaving Egypt; the
had made from the time of their leaving the gracious dealings of God with them; their
land of Goshen in Egypt, till their arrival continual murmurings and rebellions against
in the plains of Moab.   He then, by the him; and the many severe judgments that
direction of God, pointed out the limits of followed thereupon, even to his own exclusion
what they were to conquer, and appointed from the promised land. He then gave them
the distribution of the whole among the dif- a summary of all the laws which the divine
ferent tribes to be by lot, assigning the goodness had calculated for their happiness;
chief management of it to Eleazar the high- and, after repeating the decalogue almost
priest, and Joshua, the general of his army. word for word, he reminded. them  of the
In the division of the country, Moses as- solemn and dreadful manner in which it was
signed forty-eight cities, together with their delivered from Mount Sinai, and of the manisuburbs, to be inhabited by the Levites, and fold obligations they lay under to a strict
withal ordered, that six of them should be made observance of it.  He encouraged them  to
cities of refuge, whither the innocent man- be faithful to God, by assuring them, that,
slayer who had killed his neighbor by chance, if they kept his commandments, they should
might betake himself, and where he should re- not fail of having innumerable  blessings
main in safety till the death of the high-priest, heaped on them; but at the same time he
when he was at full liberty to go where he threatened them with all manner of calami15




226                              AN ILLUSTRATED
ties if they departed from them. He then, to their future conduct in the land of
in the name  of the Lord, renewed the Canaan, did Moses not only deliver to the
covenant which their fathers had made with people by word of mouth, but likewise
God at Mount Horeb; commanded them  to ordered them to be written in a book, which
proclaim, on the mountains of Gerizimn and he committed to the care and custody of the
Ebal, beyond Jordan, blessings on such as Levites, who, by God's appointment, laid it
observed the covenant, and curses on those up on the side of the ark, there to remain a
who broke it: and to erect an altar there, on witness against the people should they afterwhich should be written, in legible characters, ward rebel.
the terms and conditions of the covenant.      Such was the care and concern of Moses
These, and several other directions relative for the future welfare of the people: and
__  _ —-~ —-.~____.........____'-_______    ___  -:      "
_ ~......
— __ __  -. -_' —----   -: —A: --
~~_~~ —= —-------   __ —_________1_____      ~_               j_ -_
_~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_____  c
MOUINTAINS OF EBAL AN]D GERIZIM.
that they might never want a proper fund of punishment wherewith he had afflicted them;
devotion, he composed a song, or poem, and the threats of greater judgments, if they
which he not only repeated to them, but persisted in provoking him by a repetition
likewise gave orders that they should all of their follies. The whole of this beautiful
learn by heart. In this song he expressed, song runs from the first verse of the thirtyin a very elegant manner, the many benefits second chapter of Deuteronomy to the fortywhich God had bestowed on his people; their third.
ingratitude and forgetfulness of him, the    The time was now near at hand when a
X These two mountains (of which we give a chem they are so steep that there is not the least
beautiful and correct representation, p. 226), are shelving: they are at most about half a league in
so near each other, that they are only separated length. But notwithstanding they are so much
by a valley of about two hundred paces wide, in alike in the particulars mentioned, they are very
which is situated the town of Shechem. They different in one instance; namely, Ebal is desolate
are much alike in length, height, and form: their and barren, whereas Gerizim is beautiful and
figure is semicircular, and on the side of She- fruitful.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                   227
period was to be put to  Moses' earthly    Moses humbly submitted to the will of the
peregrinations.  The Almighty had before Almighty, and, as a necessary preparation to
told him, that he should not conduct the the execution of this last commlancl, took a
people into the promised land because of his solemn farewell of the people, bestowing a
error at the waters of Meribah: he therefore prophetic blessing on each tribe, in like
now commanded him to go up to the moun-  manner as Jacob had done a short time pretains of Abarirn,' and there take a view of vious to his death.
the land of Canaan, which he had promised    The  Almighty  had  before  appointed
to his  forefathers, Abraham, Isaac,  and Joshua to succeed Moses in his commission;
Jacoh; and further told him, that after he and to prevent any disputes after his death,
had so done, he should die there, as his Moses first laid his own hands upon Joshua,
brother Aaron had done on Mount Hor.        and then presented him to Eleazar the high--— =-~ —_-(71 — ~ — i
ANCIENT SYRIAN CHIEF ADDRESSING THE PEOPLE.
priest, who, in a solemn form of admission, instructions relative to his office, and one
and in the presence of all the people, accept- more especially which concerned his consulted him as leader and general of the Israel- ing God, by way of Urim  and Thummim,t
ites; after which Moses gave Joshua some on matters of emergency.
* These mountains were situated in the coun- and, therefore, may very properly denote the top
try of the Moabites, between the two rivers Arnon or summit of any mountain. Not far firom Neho
and Jordan, and commanded a most extensive was Bcth-peor, which was probably so called from
prospect of the land of Canaan. One part of some deity of that name worshipped by the Moabthese mountains was distinguished by the name ites.
of Nebo, as appears from Deut. xxxii. 49, but if    t URIM AND THUMMIM.- When the Jewish
we compare this with Deut. xxxiv. 1, we shall exiles were met on their return from Babylon
find that Nebo and Pisgah were one and the same by a question which they had no data for anmountain. If, therefore, there was any distinc- swering, they agreed to postpone the settlement
tion between the names, it was probably this, that of the difficulty till there should rise up "a
the top of the mountain was more peculiarly Priest with Urim and Thummim" (Ezr ii. 63;
called Pisgah, which signifies to elevate or raise up, 1Nh. vii. 65).  The inquiry, what those Urim




228                             AN ILLUSTRATED
Having adjusted these matters, Moses, in seraphim; who were waiting to convey it to a
conformity to the divine command, retired more happy Canaan than that which he had
to Pisgah, the most elevated situation on been surveying.
Mount Nebo, directly opposite to Jericho,    The Almighty was pleased to pay the
whence he might take a full view of the funeral honors to the remains of this great
country, which God had promised to Abra- prophet himself, by burying him in a valley
ham's posterity.  At this time he was a in the land of Moab opposite to Beth-Peor,
hundred and twenty years of age, notwith- and that in so secret a manner, that the place
standing which, his natural strength and of his interment was never yet discovered.
vigor were not abated, nor had his eyesight   Thus died the illustrious and pious Moses,
in the least failed him.  He was, therefore, the most eminent servant, of God, and the
able to survey the beauteous prospect which great conductor of his chosen people, who,
the delightful plains of Jericho, and the fair as soon as they knew of his death, lamented
cliffs and lofty cedars of Lebanon, afforded the loss of him with the greatest solemnity,
him; and having done this for some time, he weeping and mourning for him in the plains
at length resigned his soul into the hands of of Moab for thirty days.
CHAPTER XII.
JOSHUA  BECOMES LEADER. -  CONQUEST OF CANAAN.
ON the death of Moses, Joshua, being    Encouraged by these divine assurances,
appointed to succeed him in the government Joshua ordered  the  officers  to  proclaim
of the Israelites, was installed into the kingly throughout the camp,* that within a few
office by Eleazar, the hih-priest, and with days they should pass the Jordan, in order
the universal approbation of the people.  To to possess the land which the Almighty had
encourage him in the great work he had to promised them, and that therefore they should
undertake, the Almighty expressly command- provide themselves with proper necessaries on
ed him  (as he had done his servant Moses) the occasion.  He then called together the
to lead the people over the Jordan, telling leaders of the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and
him that every place on which they should the half-tribe of Manasseh, whom he remind,
tread should be their own, and that no man ed of the promises they had made to Moses,
should be able to stand against him: that in and entreated them, not only for his sake,
like manner as he had been with Moses, so but also for their own, to fulfil their engagehe would be with him, and that he might be ments.  They faithfully promised to comply
assured he would never forsake him.         with his request, and that they would be
and Thummim themselves were, seems likely to of Urim applies here also. "Light and Perfecwait as long for a final and satisfying answer. tion" would probably be the best English equivaOn every side we meet with confessions of ignor- lent. The mere phrase, as such, leaves it thereance.  The starting-point of such an inquiry fore uncertain whether each word by itself denoted
must be from  the words which the A. V. has many things of a given kind, or whether the two
left untranslated.  In Urima, Hebrew scholars, taken together might be referred to two distinct
with hardly an exception, have seen the plural objects, or to one and the same object. In Deut.
of air (= light, or fire). The LXX. translators, xxxiii. 8, we have separately, " Thy Thummim
however, appear to have had reasons which led and thy Urim," the first order being inverted.
them to another rendering. The literal English Urim is found alone in Num. xxvii. 21; 1 Sam.
equivalent would of course be "lights;" but the xxviii. 6; Thummim never by itself. - Bib. Dicrenderings in the LXX. and Vulg. indicate, at tionaray.                         A. B.
least, a traditional belief amono the Jews that the    * See Enqgraving (p. 227).- The costume ia
plural form (lid not involve numerical plurality. Egypto-Svrian - that is Egyptian, with such
Tnuznrmim. - Here also there is almost a consensus modifications as the Syrians appear to have given
as to the derivation from tMimn ( = perfection, com- it in adopting it from the Egyptians.  It has
pleteness). What has been said as to the plural been very carefully studied.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                           229
equally obedient to him as they had been to fastened to the window, so that they made
his predecessor.                         their escape unperceived.  She advised them
Opposite to Joshua's camp stood the city immediately to fly to the mountains, and
of Jericho, which of course must be the first there conceal themselves for three days, in
place he would have to attack after passing which time the messengers, finding their
the river Jordan.  As a necessary precaution, endeavors ineffectual, would relinquish the
he sent two spies to take a view of the pursuit.
strength and situation of that city, and to   The two spies took Rahab's advice, and
learn the disposition  of the  inhabitants. the consequences turned out as she had preThey accordingly entered Jericho, and being dicted; for, after two days' search, the mlesconsidered as strangers come thither to grati- sengers, despairing of success, gave over the
fy their curiosity, were permitted to perambu- pursuit and returned to Jericho.  At the
late the streets without the least molestation. close of the third day the two spies left the
On the close of the day they took up their mountains, crossed the Jordan, and arriving
residence in the house of a woman named safe at the camp of Joshua, gave him a
Rahab, where, after refreshing themselves, faithful account of their expedition; adding,
they retired to rest.                    that for certain the Lord had delivered the
In the mean time, information had been country into their hands, for the people were
given the king that there were two spies in quite dispirited at the name of the Israelites.
the city, and that they had concealed them-   Pleased with this intelligence, Joshua,
selves in the house of Rahab.  On this the early the next morning, left Shittim, and
king immediately despatched proper officers conducted his army within a small distance
to seize them; but Rahab (who had been of the place where it was intended they should
previously informed of it), before their arrival, cross the river Jordan.  Here he comirnuhad secreted the two spies under some stalks nicated to every tribe the order to be observed
of flax on the roof of the house.         in their march.  He told them  that when
When the messengers arrived and related they saw the ark of the Lord carried by the
their business, Rahab told them there had priests, the whole army should then move
been such people at her house, but she and follow it, that they might know the way
knew not who they were, nor whence they by which they were to go; and that they
came; that a short time after dark, and before should leave a space of two thousand cubits
the gates of the city were shut, they departed; betwen them  and the ark.  That when the
and, as they could not have got far, it would priests were got into the middle of the chanbe no difficult matter to overtake them.  The nel, they should there stand still till the
messengers, believing Rahab's story, left her, whole multitude were got safe on the oppoand immediately set out in pursuit of the site shore; and, to prepare themselves propspies.                                    erly for this remarkable passage, they were
As soon as they were gone, Rahab uncov- all enjoined to sanctify themselves, by washered her guests, told them what had passed, ing their clothes, avoiding all impurities, and
and pointed out the great danger to which abstaining from matrimonial intercourse the
she had exposed herself and family for their preceding night.  He also, by the direction
protection.  In return for this kindness, she of the Almighty, appointed twelve men (one
exacted from them  an oath, that when the out of each tribe) to choose twelve stones
city should be invested by the Hebrews, from the middle of the river where the priests
they should preserve her and her relations were to stand with the ark, and there to set
from the general destruction. To effect this, them up (that they might be seen from each
they told her, when she found the city at- side of the river when the waters were
tacked, to shut herself up with her family in abated) as a monument of this great miracle;
her house, and that, in order to distinguish and to take twelve others with them to be
it from  the rest, she must hang a scarlet erected on the land for the like purpose.
thread to the door, which signal should be   Having given these necessary orders, early
communicated to the general, who would, no the next morning, which was the tenth day
doubt, give such directions as to secure her of the first month, the whole army proceeded
from all danger.  This being agreed on, Ra- on their march.  The priests with the ark
hab, for the better security of her guests, went first; and as soon as they touched the
let them  down into the street by a rope river with their feet, the rapidity of the




230                             AN ILLUSTRATED
stream abated; the waters above went back,   The Israelites, having by this milraculous
and rose on heaps for a considerable distance, passage gained the plains of Jericilo, enwhile those below continued their course the camped in a place afterwards called Gilgal,'
contrary way, so that there was a passage where Joshua erected the twelve stones,
opened of about sixteen miles for the Israel- which had been brought from the Jordan, as
ites to pass.  The priests stood with the ark a monument to posterity of the Almighty's inin the rmlicddle of the channel till the whole terposition in assisting them to pass that river.
multitude had got on the other side, when,   This extraordinary event being soon cirhaving raised the twelve stones as Joshua culated through the adjacent parts of the
had commanded, they left the bed of the country, the people were filled with the
river, on which the waters imnmediately re- greatest ama7zement; and when the kings of
turned, and resumed their natural course.   the Amoites (who were on the west side of
K' ~      ====~~ —~~=~ _____               ~       -
i f
THE PLA&IN OF JERICHO.
the Jordan) and the kings of the Canaanites uncircumeision] from off you, wherefore the
(who inhabited those paits next the sea) name of the place is called Gilgal [i. e rollheard of it, their hearts sunk for fear, and ing] unto this day."
their courage failed them.                   As the Israelites were now arrived in a
Soon after Joshua had encamped his army, country where there was a sufficiency of corn
God commanded the rite of circumcision  for unleavened bread, God insisted upon the
(which had been neglected for alnost forty observance of his ordinances, and resolved
years) to be renewed, that the people mi.,ght that all things should now go in a regular
be properly qualified to partake of the way. He therefore ceased to supply them
ensuing passover.t  This order being obeyed, any longer with manna, but left them for the
the Lord said unto Joshua,  "This day have future to enjoy the products of the promised
I rolled away the reproach of Egypt [i. e. inheritance.
This place received its name from the rite    t This was the third time of their celebrating
of circumcision,. which had been long disused, that festival. The first was at their departure out
being here renewed. It lay about two miles to of Egypt, and the second at their erecting the
the north-east of Jericho, and, in the time of St. tabernacle at the foot of Mount Sinai.
Jerome, was greatly venerated by the inhabitants.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                   231
Joshua, previous to his marching his army set up a great shout; at which instant the
against Jericho, went from  the camp alone, walls of the city should fall to the ground,
in order to reconnoitre the city, and to dis- and they might walk into it without the least
cover which would be the most advantageous obstruction.
way of approaching it.   While he was   Having received these orders from  the
making his observations, on a sudden there Divine messenger, Joshua returned to the
appeared before him  a person resembling a camp, and early the next morning marched
man, but with a lustre in  his face that with his whole army against Jericho.t  The
indicated he was more than mortal.  In his i place was strong, well provided, and full of
hand he held a flaming sword, and his whole inhabitants, who had retired  into it, and
appearance far surpassed any thing of human  seemed resolved to make a vigorous defence.
nature.  Undaunted at this unusual sight,    But Joshua had an irresistible force on
Joshua advanced toward him, and demand- his side.  He strictly obeyed the orders he
ing of what party he was, the vision replied, I had received, and the promises made him
of the host of the Lord,* of which he was were amply fulfilled; for, on the seventh
captain  and guardian.   On this answer, day, as soon as the people shouted, after
Joshua immediately threw himself prostrate igoing round the city seven times, the walls
on the ground, when the vision, after order- suddenly fell to the ground.  In consequence
ing him  to loose the sandals from  his feet, of this, the Israelites immediately entered
proceeded to instruct him  in what manner 1 the place, and put every living creature to
he would have the siege carried on, that the the sword, except R-ahab and her relations,
~Canaanites might see it was not the arm  of who, being preserved as had been directed
flesh alone by which they would be defeated. by Joshua, agreeably to the promise made
The instructions Joshua received were these: by the spies, were placed without the camp
that for six successive days the whole army of the army.
should march round the city, with seven    In the city were found great quantities of
priests before the ark, having in their hands gold, silver, and brass, the whole of which
trumpets made of rams' horns. That on the X was of immense value, and being gathered
seventh day, after the army had gone round' together as Joshua had ordered, he presented
the city seven times, upon signal given, the it to the priests, to be deposited in the sacred
priests were to blow their trumpets as loud| treasury.
as possible, and the people, on a sudden, to    Having  destroyed  all the  inhabitants,
X It is the opinion of the best commentators; to Judwa with Zerubbabel, and in Neh. iii. 2, we
both ancient and modern, that the person here find them at work upon the walls of Jerusalem.
called the captain of the Lord's host, was no    Jericho appears to have continued in a flourishother than an angel, or messenger from God, who ing condition during several centuries. In the
was pleased in this manner to appear to Joshua, time of our Saviour it was inferior only to Jeruboth to encourage and direct him.            salem in the number and splendor of its public
t JERicuo, " the city of palm-trees" (Dent. edifices, and was one of the royal residences of
xxxiv. 3), derives all its importance from history. Herod misnamed the Great, who died there. It
Though now only a miserable village, containing was situated in the hollow or bottom of the extenabout thirty wretched cottages, which are inhabit- sive plain called the "Great Plain," (which cired by half-naked Arabs, it was one of the oldest cumstance marks the propriety of the expression
cities in Palestine, and was the first place reduced " going down to Jerusalem," in Luke x. 30), and
by the Israelites on entering the Holy Land. It is about nineteen miles distant from the capital
was razed to the ground by Joshua, who de- of Judnea. In the last war of the Romans with
nounced a curse on the person who should rebuild the Jews, Jericho was sacked by Vespasian, and
it, Josh. vi. 20-26. Five hundred and thirty its inhabitants were put to the sword.  Subseyears afterward this malediction was literally ful- quently re-established by the emperor Hadrian,
filled upon Hiel of Bethel, 1 Kings xvi. 34, who A.D. 138, it was doomed at no very distant period
rebuilt the city, which soon appears to have to experience new disasters: again it was repaired
attained a considerable degree of importance. by the Christians, who made it an episcopal see;
There was a school of the prophets here in the but in the twelfth century it was captured by the
days of Elijah and Elisha, both of whom seemed Mohammedans, and has not since emerged from
to have resided much here. In the vicinity of its ruins. Of all its magnificent buildings there
Jericho there was a large but unwholesome spring, remains part of only one tower, the dwelling of
which rendered the soil unfruitful, until it was the governor of the district, which is seen in the
cured by the prophet Elisha, 2 Kings, ii. 21. In middle of our engraving, and which is traditionEzra ii. 34, and Neh. vii. 36, we read, that three ally said to have been the dwelling of Zaccheus
hundred and forty-five of the inhabitants of Jeri- the publican, who dwelt at Jericho (Luke xix. 1.
cho, who had been carried into captivity, returned 2).




232                            AN  ILLUSTRATED
Joshua ordered the city to be set on fire, assemble before the altar, where, first casting
which was accordingly done, and the whole lots among the tribes, it appeared the thief
reduced to a heap of ashes.  He likewise belonged to that of Judah.  They then prodenounced a heavy curse on any person who ceeded from tribe to family, from family to
should ever after attempt to rebuild it.  That j household, and from household to particular
whoever should take upon him to lay the persons; when the criminal was at length
first stone might be punished by the loss of discovered to be Achan, who, on Joshua's
his eldest son; and whoever should finish admonition, made an ample confession of the
the work, his youngest.                  whole.  " I have," says he, " sinned against
Notwithstanding Joshua had taken the the Lord God of Israel; for when I saw
greatest precaution to prevent private plunder among the spoil a royal garment and two
in the taking of Jericho, yet one Achan, of I hundred shekels of silver, with a wedge of
the tribe of Judah, committed a violent gold of fifty shekels weight, my covetousness
depredation, by taking to himself the rich prompted me to take them; which I did,
cloak of the king of the Canaanites, two and hid them in the earth in the midst of
hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of my tent."
gold of fifty shekels.  He secreted these    On this frank confession, Joshua sent
treasures in a pit he had dug in his tent, messengers to examine Achan's tent, who,
foolishly supposing the fact would be no more finding the treasures, brought them awav,
noticed by God than it was known by his and laid them  before the people.  The
companions.  But in this he soon found offender being thus fully convicted, they took
himself mistaken.                         him, together with his family (whom they
About twelve miles from Jericho (to the considered as accomplices in his crime), his
east of Bethel) was a small city called Ai, cattle, tent, and all his movables, and conwhich Joshua knowing to be neither popu- ducted them to a neighboring valley (called
lous nor well defended, he detached a small from that time, in allusion to this man's name,
body of men to take it.  But they did not the valley of Achor), where they were first
find the conquest so easy as they had ima- stoned to death, and their bodies afterward
gined; for no sooner did they approach the reduced to ashes. They likewise burnt all
place than the inhabitants immediately sal- their goods and utensils, and erected over
lied out upon them, and having slain some, the whole a pile of stones, to perpetuate the
the rest were so frightened that they betook memory of the crime, and to deter others
themselves to flight, and were pursued by from committing the like offence.
the enemy within a small distance of their   The Divine vengeance being appeased by
own camp.                                 the sentence executed upon Achan, God
This defeat, though small, struck a uni- commanded Joshua to make another attempt
versal damp on the spirits of the people; on the city of Ai, assuring him  that he
and Joshua, in particular, was so afflicted i should be no less successful than he had
that he had recourse to the Almighty, who been in the attack on Jericho.  As an entold him there was a latent cause of his dis- couragement to the soldiers, he allowed them
pleasure among the people; that some of the plunder of the city and cattle, and, in
them had taken of the accursed thing, and order the more easily to facilitate the conalso of those things which were devoted to quest, particularly enjoined Joshua to place
the Lord, and, instead of bringing them to a party of men in ambuscade near the city.
the treasury of God, had concealed them for   Agreeably to these instructions, Joshua
their own use.  He likewise told Joshua that selected thirty thousand men, out of which
no success could attend the house of Israel he sent away by night five thousand to contill the accursed thing was removed; and ceal themselves between Bethel and Ai,
discovered to him  the means whereby the who, on a signal given by him (which was to
offender might be discovered and properly be the holding up of a spear with a banner
punished.                                upon it), were immediately to enter the city
Agreeably  to the  Divine instructions, and set it on fire.  Early the next morning,
Joshua, early the next morning, set about Joshua marched with his army before the
the business of discovering the thief, who north part of the city.  As soon as the king
had brought so great an evil on the people. of Ai perceived him, he immediately sallied
For this purpose, he ordered all the tribes to out of the town with his troops, followed by




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.:233
the greater part of the inhabitants, all of inces on that side the river Jordan, that
whom had been so elated with their former they confederated together, and entered into
success, that they did not doubt of soon a league for their mutual defence.  But the
making an easy conquest.  They accordingly Gibeonites, foreseeing the destruction that
fell on the Israelites with great fury, who awaited them, and being apprehensive that
at the first onset gave way, and retreated a all resistance would be in vain, resolved to
considerable distance from  the. city.  But make a peace with the Israelites, which they
this was only a feint to draw the enemy into effected by the following stratagem: They
the plain; and therefore, as soon as Joshua selected a certain number of artful men, who
saw that by this stratagem the city was pretty were instructed to feign themselves ambaswell emptied, bhe gave the signal to the sadors come from a very distant country, in
ambuscade, who, finding it defenceless, im- order to obtain a league with the people of
mediately entered and set it on fire.  The Israel.  To make this story appear plausible,
ascent of the smoke convinced Joshua that they were dressed in tattered garments, with
his men had got possession of the place; old clouted shoes on their feet; and their
upon which he suddenly turned about and provision  consisted of dry, musty bread,
faced the enemy, who, little expecting the which they carried in old sacks, with some
Israelites would rally, were so surprised that wine in bottles, all tarnished and torn.  In
they began to think of retreating to the city. this woful-appearing plight they arrived at
But when they saw it all in flames, and the Gilgal, the place where the army of the Isparty who had set it on fire just going to fall raelites was at this time encamped.
upon their rear, they were so dispirited that   Being introduced to Joshua, they told
they could neither fight nor fly; in conse- him, that from the many miracles which God
quence of which they were all cut to pieces by had wrought for the Israelites in the land
the Israelites, who, immediately marching to of Egypt, and  the  wonderful successes
the city, put all they found in it to the sword: wherewith he had blessed their arms against
the whole number, men, women, and chil- every power that had opposed them in comdren, slain that day, amounted to twelve ing to that place, their states and rulers had
thousand.  The king of Ai being taken sent them, from  a very remote country, to
prisoner, was ordered to be hung on a gibbet form a league of friendship with them, and
till sunset; after which his body was taken that on such conditions as were customary
down and buried under a great heap of with their forefathers.  They then pointed
stones near the entrance of the city.  The to their garments, which they solemnly ascattle and spoil taken from the enemy were sured Joshua were quite new when they sat
(according  to  the  Divine  appointment) out on their journey, but that the length of
divided among the soldiers, who so effectu- it had reduced them to the state in which
ally destroyed the city as to leave it a mere they then appeared.
heap of rubbish.                             This stratagem  had the desired effect.
As Joshua was now but a small distance The plausible story of these feigned ambasfrom the mountains of Gerizim  and Ebal, sadors gained such credit with the Israelites,
he bethought himself of the command, which that they entered into an amicable alliance
had been given him  by Moses, relative to with them; and Eleazar, the high-priest,
the reading of the law (with the blessings with the princes of the respective tribes,
and curses thereunto annexed), from those two solemnly ratified the treaty, the whole mulmountains.  He accordingly went to Mount titude assenting to the oaths made by their
Ebal, where he erected an altar, on which leaders.  When the business was over, the
he offered up sacrifices to God for his late Gibeonites took their leave, and hasted home
victories.   He likewise caused an abridg- with the glad tidings of their successful
ment of the law, or some of the most remark- expedition.
able parts of it, to be engraven on stones;   Three days after the departure of these
and afterward read the whole of it to the ambassadors, the whole plot was discovered,
people, as had been commanded by Moses.  when it appeared that the Gibeonites were
The great success of Joshua against the inhabitants of Canaan, and that they resided
cities of Jericho and Ai, and the dreadful at a small distance from  Jerusalem.  This
slaughter made among the inhabitants, had discovery greatly alarmed Joshua, who imso alarmed the kings of the respective prov- mediately sent for their governors, and re



234                           AN ILLUSTRATED
proached them for having practised such a with the manifest interposition of the Al,
deception; to which they replied, that they mighty, that while he was in chase of them,
were compelled to do it in their own defence, he begged, in the most fervent manner, that
as they knew they should otherwise share a the sun and moon might stand still till he
similar fate with the inhabitants of Jericho had accomplished his wishes.  Notwithstandand Ai.  Joshua was desirous of having the ing the singularity of this request, God was
league cancelled; but as it was confirmed pleased to grant it; so that this was the most
by a solemn oath, this could not be done, memorable day that ever happened, the
without incurring the divine displeasure.  It Almighty condescending to alter the course
was therefore resolved, in order to appease of nature to answer the purposes of man.
the people, that, as a punishment for the   The confederate kings, finding themselves
imposition, the Gibeonites should ever after closely pursued, and likely to be either slain,
be kept in a state of bondage, by being or made captives, concealed themselves in a
made hewers of wood and drawers of water. cave, near Makkedah, a city belonging to
This sentence they received without the least the tribe of Judah; intelligence of which
murmur, humbly acquiescing in whatever being given to Joshua, he ordered the mouth
was thought proper to be imposed upon them  of the cave to be blocked up, and a guard
by the Israelites.                       placed over it, to prevent their escape.  In
When the confederate princes (who were this situation they remained till Joshua refive in number, the principal of whom was turned from pursuing the fugitives, when he
Adonizedek, king of Jerusalem) heard of ordered the cave to be opened, and the kings
the separate treaty made by the Gibeonites, to be brought forth, and hung upon trees till
and the artful manner in which it was ob- the evening.  This was accordingly done,
tained, they resolved to be revenged on when their bodies were taken down, and
them for their desertion of the common cause. thrown into the cave; so that the place they
Accordingly they joined all their forces, and had chosen for their sanctuary became their
marched toward the city of Gibeon, with a sepulchre.
firm  resolution of totally  destroying it.   After this signal victory, Joshua proceedWhen they came within a small distance of ed to the southern parts of Canaan; in which,
the place, they pitched their tents, intending having soon reduced the most considerable
to begin the attack early the next morning. places, and put the inhabitants to the sword,
In the mean time the Gibeonites (not daring he returned, with his victorious army, to the
to trust to their own strength) despatched a camp at Gilgal.
messenger to Joshua, imploring his imme-   The great fame of Joshua being now
diate assistance, as they must otherwise in- spread throughout Canaan, several princes
evitably fall into the hands of the Canaan- of the northern parts, at the instigation of
ites.                                    Jabin, king of Hazor, confederated together,
Joshua lost no time in complying with and raised a great army to engage the Israeltheir request. He imnmediately set out with ites, which they encamped at Berotha, a city
his army, and after marching the whole night, of the Upper Galilee, not far from the waters
arrived, the next morning, at the spot where of Merom.  This, however, did not in the
the enemy were encamped.  The appearance least intimidate Joshua, who, in pursuance
of so formidable an army, and so unexpected, of the instructions which God had given him
had such an effect on the Canaanites, that (namely, that he should not only destroy
on Joshua's making an attack they imme- them, but also their horses and chariots),
diately gave way, and were entirely routed, immediately took the field, marched toward
many being killed, and the rest betaking  the enemy, and fell so suddenly on them,
themselves to a precipitate flight.  God had that they were totally routed, and, except
all along encouraged Joshua by promising some few who escaped into the country, were
him success; and therefore, as the confederate all put to the sword; after which he hamforces were endeavoring to escape, there fell strung their horses and burnt their chariots.
a most violent storm of hail, the stones of Jabin, king of Hazor, who had been at the
which were so large that more people were head of the confederacy, and was taken
destroyed by them  than what fell by the prisoner, he put to death, and ordered l1is
sword.  Joshua was so desirous of totally city to be burnt to the ground; but the other
extirpating the Canaanites, and so elevated cities whose inhabitants were slain in the




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  235
action, he left standing, and gave the cattle country on the west side of the Jordan, he
and plunder to the soldiers.                took up his residence at a place near Shiloh,*
After defeating this powerful army, Joshua where after the wars the tabernacle was
pursued his route to the most distant parts set up, that he might have the opportunity,
of Canaan; and, by degrees, subdued all as occasion should offer, of consulting the
the inhabitants of the country.  He slew all divine oracle.
their kings, who were thirty-one in number,    After being here a few  days, Joshua
together with the Anakims, or giants, of assembled together the auxiliaries (namely,
whom  he left none remaining, except at the tribes of Reuben and Gad, with the
Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.                     half-tribe of Manasseh), and gave them  an
Joshua, having now extended his con- honorable dismission.  "He  acknowledged
quests as far as he thought necessary at the great services they had done him in his
present, resolved to divide the country he wars with the Canaanites, and highly apilad taken among the nine tribes and a half plauded  their  courage and fidelity.  He
who were yet unprovided for, and to dismiss exhorted them, as they were now going to
the two tribes and a half (namely, those of be  separated from  the tabernacle, to be
Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manas- diligent in their duty to God, and to bear
seh) who had assisted him in the wars, and always in mind those laws which he had
whose habitations had been settled by Moses given them  by his servant Moses.  He adon the east side of the river Jordan.       vised them to distribute a share of the rich
In consequence of this resolution, Joshua booty they had got aimono their brethren on
appointed commissioners to take a survey of the other side of Jordan; because, though
the captured land, and ordered them  to re- they did not partake of the troubles of the
port the state of it with all expedition. These war, they had nevertheless been of infinite
messengers having executed their commis- service in protecting their families during
sion, returned, at the expiration of seven their absence."  With these acknowledgmonths, to Joshua, to whom, having  deliv- ments and exhortations, together with many
ered their report, he, assisted by Eleazar the sincere wishes for their prosperity,' Joshua
high-priest, the elders, and the princes of dismissed them, and they immediately dethe respective  tribes, divided  the whole parted for their own country.
country into equal portions, for which (ac-    As soon as these two tribes and a half
cording to God's direction) each tribe cast arrived on the opposite side of the river Jorlots; but as some of the tribes were larger, dan, they erected an altar near the place
and some territories richer than others, he where they and their brethren had miraculoustook care to adjust the proportion of land to ly passed over, not for any religious use, but
the largeness of the tribe, and the number of as a memorial to succeeding generations, that
families in each; so that, notwithstanding  though they were parted by the river, they
they cast lots, the divisions were all made as were of the same descent and religion, and
equal as possible.                          held an equal right to the tabernacle at ShiAs soon as Joshua had thus divided the loh, and to the worship of God performed
* In Judge. xxi. 19 it is said that Shiloh is from  the last days of Joshua to the time of
"on the north side of Bethel, on the east side Samuel (Josh. xviii. 10; Judg. xviii. 31; 1 Sam.
of the highway that goeth up from  Bethel to iv. 3). It was here the Hebrew conqueror divided
Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah."  In among the tribes the portion of the west Jordanagreement with this the traveller at the present region, which had not been already allotted (Josh.
day, going north from Jerusalem, lodges the first xviii. 10, xix. 51). In this distribution, or an
night at Beitin, the ancient Bethel; the next day, earlier one, Shiloh fell within the limits of Ephraim
at the distance of a few hours, turn aside to the (Josh. xvi. 5). The seizure here of the " daughters
right, in order to visit Seilin, the Arabic for of Shiloh" by the Benjamites, is recorded as an
Shiloh; and then passing through the narrow  event which preserved one of the tribes from exWady, which brings him to the main road, leaves tinction (Judg. xxi. 19-23). The ungodly conduct
d-Lebban, the Lebonah of Scripture, on the left, of the sons of Eli occasioned the loss of the ark
as he pursues "the highway" to Ndblus, the of the covenant, which had been carried into battle
ancient Shechem. Shiloh was one of the earliest against the Philistines, and Shiloh from that time
and most sacred of the Hebrew sanctuaries. The sank into insignificance. It stands forth in the
ark of the covenant, which had been kept at Jewish history as a striking example of the
Gilgal, during the progress of the Conquest Divine indignation (Jer. vii. 12). —S   ith's Bib.
(Josh. xviii. 1 sq.) was removed thence on the Dictionary.                      A. B.
subjugation of the country, and kept at Shiloh




236                            AN ILLUSTRATED
there, as their brethren on the other side the had passed to the people, they expressed the
Jordan.  This had like to have proved of greatest satisfaction at the result of the
fatal consequences, for the latter, either from  embassy; and the angry thoughts of war
being misinformed, or misapprehending the were immediately changed into peace and
intent of the altar being erected, fell into a brotherly affection.  On the other hand, the
violent rage, considering them as apostates Reubenites and their brethren, to prevent
from  the true religion; and, in order to any future jealousy, or suspicion, called the
punish  them, assembled  their forces at altar they had erected Ed, intending it as a
Shiloh, with a resolution of immediately de- standing witness (for so the word signifies)
claring war against them.  But before they that though they lived at a distance from the
proceeded to these extremities, their rulers rest of their brethren, yet they had all but
advised them to suspend the execution of one origin, and one God, who was the corntheir wrath till they had sent a deputation in mon God and father of all Israel.
order to know their reason for building such    This matter being adjusted, and  the
an altar.  This being agreed to, they sent Israelites. quietly settled in the possession of
Phineas, the  son of Eleazar, with  ten their conquests on both  sides the  river
princes, one out of each tribe, to expostulate Jordan, Joshua disbanded his forces, and
with them on their conduct. On their arriv- retired to Shechem.
al Phineas accosted them  in very severe   No particular occurrence took place from
terms, charging them  with  idolatry and this period till the death of Joshua, which
rebellion against the Lord.              happened about twenty years after. He was
He reminded them of the calamities which at this time far advanced in years, and findGod had formerly sent upon them for their ing his dissolution near at hand, he convened
worship of Baal-peor; and that, if he had a general assembly of the princes and magisbeen so severe upon them for the offence of trates, with as many of the common people
one man (namely, Achan only) what might as could be gathered together.  As soon as
they not expect, when two tribes and a half they were met, he harangued them in a very
were going to make a general revolt?  He pertinent discourse on the great benefits and
then concluded by saying, " If ye have done protection they had received friom the hand
this from any apprehension that the land ye of Providence.  He pointed out to them in
possess on this side the Jordan is unclean, what manner he had preserved them, even
or less holy than ours, because the tabernacle in the midst of dangers; and that he had
is on our side, return and settle among us not only relieved them in all their wants and
where the tabernacle resteth; but by no distresses, but had removed them from the
means rebel against the Lord, nor us, in most abject, to the most prosperous situation
building you an altar, besides the altar of in life.  In gratitude to so great a protector
the Lord."                               and benefactor, he exhorted them to a faithThe Reubenites, Gadites, and Manassites, ful observance of his laws, and invited them
concerned to hear the ill opinion which their to renew their covenant with God, which
brethren had conceived of them, protested their forefathers had made. This being done
their innocence of any idolatrous intention, in very ample and significant terms, he reand made a solemn appeal to God, that so corded the covenant in the book of the law,
far were they from setting up an altar in and set up a great stone under an oak, near
opposition to his, that the only design of the a place of religious worship, as a testimony
structure they had raised was, to perpetuate against them, should they ever after deny
their right to the service of the tabernacle, God's service.
and to secure it to their latest posterity.  A short time after this Joshua paid the
From this answer the deputies were fully debt of nature, in the one hundred and tenth
convinced that the accusation laid against year of his age. He was buried at Timnaththeir brethren was totally groundless, and serah, in Mount Ephraim, which city, on
instead of having committed a crime, that the division of the land among the tribes,
they had only given an instance of their sin- was given to him by the Israelites, as an
cere attachment to their religious duties. acknowledgment for the great services they
The deputies, therefore, after taking  a had received from his administration.
friendly leave, returned to Shiloh, and hav-   Much about the same time died Eleazar,
ing communicated the particulars of all that the high-priest, who was likewise buried in




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                               237
one of the hills of Ephraim, which had been been brought out of Egypt, but not yet ingiven him by the Israelites, and which after- terred. They therefore took this opportunity
ward descended to Phineas, his son, and of performing the funeral obsequies of their
successor in the priesthood.              great progenitor in Shechem, where Jacob
These two funerals, so near the same time had purchased a piece of ground of the sons
and place, reminded the Israelites of the of Hamor, and which afterward became the
bones of Joseph, which, at his request, had inheritance of Joseph's posterity.
CHAPTER XIII.
WARS. -IDOLATRY. -  STORY OF RUTH. -  DEBORAH'S' HEROISM. -GIDEON.
FROM  Joshua to Samuel (a period of Jehovah was set up; but this was soon
about four hundred and seventy-four years) transferred to an idol, or was invoked as an
the condition of the Israelites varied accord- idol by others.  Idolatrous images were
ing as the fundamental law of the state was afterward set up, together with the image of
observed or transgressed, exactly as Moses Jehovah, and the Israelites fondly imagined
had predicted, and as the sanctions of the that they should be the more prosperous if
law had determined.                       they rendered homage to the ancient gods of
The last admonitions of Joshua, and the the land.  The propensity to idolatry, which
solemn renewal of the covenant with Je- was predominant in all the rest of the world,
hovah, failed to produce all the effect in- thus spread itself among the chosen people
tended.   That generation, indeed, never like a plague.  From time to time, idolatry
suffered idolatry to become predominant, but was publicly professed, and this' national
still they were very negligent with respect to treachery to their king, Jehovah, always
the expulsion of the Canaanites.  Only a few  brought with it national misfortunes.
tribes made war upon them, and even they    However, it does not appear that any form
were soon weary of the contest.  They spared of idolatry was openly tolerated until that
their dangerous and corrupting neighbors, generation was extinct, which, under Joshua,
and, contrary to express statute, were satisfied had sworn anew to the covenant with Jewith making them  tributary.  They even hovah.  After that the rulers were unable
became connected with them by unlawful or unwilling any longer to prevent the public
marriages, and then it was no longer easy worship of pagan deities.  But the Hebrews,
for them to exterminate or banish the near rendered effeminate by this voluptuous relirelatives of their own families.  The He- gion, and forsaken by their king, Jehovah,
brews thus rendered the execution of so were no longer able to contend with their
severe a law in a manner impossible, and foes, and were forced to bend their necks
wove for themselves the web in which they under a foreign yoke.  In this humiliating
were afterward entangled.  Their Canaanit- and painful subjection to a conquering people,
ish relatives invited them to their festivals, they called to mind their deliverance from
where not only lascivious songs were sung in Egypt, the ancient kindnesses of Jehovah,
honor of the gods, but fornication and un- the promises and threatenings of the law:
natural lusts were indulged in as part of the then they forsook their idols, who could afford
divine service.  These debaucheries, then them no help, - they returned to the sacred
consecrated by the religious customs of all tabernacle, and then found a deliverer who
nations, were gratifying to the sensual appe- freed them from their bondage.  The refortites; and the subject of Jehovah too readily mation was generally of no longer duration
submitted himself to such deities, so highly than the life of the deliverer.  As soon as
honored by his connections, and worshipped that generation was extinct, idolatry again
in all the neighboring nations.  At first, crept in by the same way, and soon became
probably, a  symbolical representation  of predominant.  Then followed subjection and




238                             AN ILLUSTRATED
oppression under the yoke of some neighbor- table: as I have done, so God hath requited
ing people, until a second reformation pre- me."  This proves that, as we have already on
pared them for a new deliverance.  Between more than one occasion intimated, the war
these extremes of prosperity and adversity, practices of the Israelites -  especially in the
the consequences of their fidelity or treachery treatment of their captives -were not more
to their divine king, the Hebrew nation was barbarous, and, in many respects, less barcontinually fluctuating  until the time of barous, than those of their contemporaries;
Samuel.  Such were the arrangements of and that even their polished neighbors, the
Providence, that as soon as idolatry gained Egyptians, were not in this respect above
the ascendency, some one of the neighboring them.  Adoni-bezek died soon after at Jerunations grew powerful, acquired the prepon- salem, to which place he was taken by the
derance, and subjected the Hebrews. Jehovah conquerors.  They at this time had possesalways permitted their oppressions to become sion of the lower part of that town, and soon
sufficiently severe to arouse them from their after succeeded in taking the upper city,
slumbers, to remind them of the sanctions of upon Mount Zion, which the Jebusites had
the law, and to turn them again to their God hitherto  retained.   They  sacked  it and
and king.  Then a hero arose, who inspired burned it with fire.  But as we afterward
the people with courage, defeated their ene- again find it in the occupation of the Jebumies, abolished idolatry, and re-established sites, down to the time of David, it seems
the authority of Jehovah.  As the Hebrews, they took advantage of some one of the
in the course of time, became more obstinate subsequent oppressions of Israel to recover
in their idolatry, so each subsequent oppres- the site and rebuild the upper city.
sion of the nation was always more severe    Eleazar the high-priest, as we have seen,
than the preceding.  So difficult was it, as did not long survive Joshua; and the remmankind were then situated, to preserve a nant of the seventy elders, originally apknowledge of the true God in the world, pointed by Moses to assist him in the govalthough  so repeatedly and so expressly ermnent of the nation, soon followed them
revealed, and in so high a degree made to the tomb.  While these venerable permanifest to the senses.*                   sons lived, the Israelites remained faithful to
After this general view of the whole period their divine King and to his laws.  But
above referred to, we may proceed to the soon after their death the beginnings of corhistorical details from  which that view  is ruption appeared.  A  timely attempt was
collected.                                 made to check its progress by the remonSoon after the death of Joshua, and while strances and threatenings of a prophet from
the  contemporary  elders still lived, the Gilgal.  But although they quailed under
Israelites made some vigorous and successful the rebuke which was there administered, the
exertions to extend their territory.  The most effect was but temporary.  The downward
remarkable of these exertions was that made course which the nation had taken was speedby the tribe of Judah, assisted by that of ily resumed; and it is strikingly illustrated
Simeon.  They slew ten thousand Canaan- by some circumstances which the author of
ites and Perizzites in the territory of Bezek, the book of Judges has given in an appenthe king of which, Adoni-bezek (literally, dix contained in the last five chapters of that
" my lord of Bezek"), contrived to make book, but which we shall find it more conhis escape; but he was pursued and taken, venient to introduce here in their proper
when the conquerors cut off his thumbs and chronological place.
great toes.  Now this, at the first view, was   The history of Micah furnishes a very ina barbarous act.  It was not a mode in which teresting example of the extent to which
the Hebrews were wont to treat their captives; even Israelites, well disposed in the main,
and the reason for it -that it was intended as had  become familiarized with superstitious
an act of just retaliation, or, as we should say, and idolatrous practices, and the curious
of poetic justice - appears from the bitter re- manner in which they managed to make a
mark of Adoni-bezek himself: -"Threescore monstrous and most unseemly alliance be.
and ten kings, having their thumbs and great tween the true doctrine in which they had
toes cut off, gathered their meat under my been brought up, and the erroneous notions
which they had imbibed.
* Jahn, chap. iii. sect. 20.        A woman of Ephraim had, through a mis



HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                 239
taken zeal, dedicated a large quantity of prive him of both, and take them  to their
silver (about five hundred and fifty ounces) new settlement.  They did so, notwithstandto the Lord, intending that her son should ing the protests and outcries of the owner:
make therewith a teraph, in the hope that and as for the Levite, he was easily persuadby this means she might procure to her ed to prefer the priesthood of a elan to that of
house the blessings of One who had abso- a single family.  His descendants continued
lutely forbidden  all worship  by  images. long after to exercise the priestly office, in
Her son Micah knew not of this sacred ap- connection with this idol, at Dan, which was
propriation of the money, and took it for the name the conquerors gave to the town
the use of the house.  But on learning its of Laish: and it is lamentable to have to
destination, and hearing his mother lay her add, that there is good reason to suspect that
curse upon the sacrilegious person by whom  this Levite was no other than a grandson
she supposed it had been stolen, he became of Moses.
alarmed, and restored her the silver; and    It would seem that the tribe of Benjamin
received it again from her with directions to had much the start of the other tribes in
give effect to her intention.  This he did. the moral corruption, in the infamous vices,
He provided a teraph, and all things neees- which resulted from  the looseness of their
sary to the performance of religious services religious notions, and from  the contaminatbefore it, including vestments for a priest. ing example of the heathen, with whom they
Hie set apart one of his own sons as priest, were surrounded and intermixed.
until he should be able to procure a Levite to    A  Levite of Mount Ephraim  was on his
take that character.  He had not long to way home with his wife, whom he was bringwait.  It would seem that the dues of the ing back from her father's house in BethleLevites were not properly paid at this time; hem; and, on the approach of night, he
for a young Levite, who had lived at Beth- entered the town of Gibeah, in Benjamin, to
lehem, felt himself obliged to leave that tarry till the next morning.  As the custom
place and seek  elsewhere a  subsistence. of the travellers was, he remained in the
Happening to call at Micah's house, he street till some one should invite them to his
gladly accepted that person's offer to remain house.  But in that wicked place no hosand act as priest for the recompense of his pitable notice was taken of them  until an
victuals, with two suits of clothes (one prob- old man, himself from  Mount Ephraim, but
ably sacerdotal), and eleven shekels of sil- living there, invited them  to his home.  In
ver.  Micah was delighted at this comple- the night that house was besieged by the
tion of his establishment, and, with most men of the place, after the same fashion and
marvellous infatuation, cried, " Now I know  for the same purpose as that of Lot had been,
Jehovah will bless me, seeing I have a Le- when he entertained the angels in Sodom.
vite to be my priest."  Things went on tran- The efforts of the aged host to turn them
quilly for a time.  But it happened that from their purpose were unavailing; and, as
the tribe of Dan could not get possession of a last resource, the Levite, in the hope of
more than the hilly part of its territory, as diverting them from their abominable purpose,
the Amorites retained the plain, which was put forth his wife into the street.  She was
the most rich and valuable part.  They grievously maltreated by these vile people
therefore  sought elsewhere an equivalent until the morning, when they left her.  She
territory which might be more easily ac- then went and lay down at the door of the
quired.  Having ascertained that this might house in which her lord lay; and when he
be found in the remote but wealthy and afterward opened it —she was dead.  The
peaceable town and district of Laish, near Levite lay the corpse upon his beast and
the sources of the Jordan, a body of six hastened to his home.
hundred men was sent to get possession of   There was a rather mysterious custom, in
it.  From  the persons they had previously calling an assembly, by sending to the differsent to explore the country, they had heard ent bodies of persons which were to compose
of Micah's establishment; and so far from  it a portion of a divided beast (see I Sam.
manifesting any surprise or indignation, they xi. 7); and it then became awfully imperaviewed the matter much in the same light tive upon the party which received the bloody
as Micah did himself.  They envied him  missive to obey the call which it intimated.
his idol and his priest, and resolved to de- i To give a horrible intensity to the custom in




240                            AN  ILLUSTRATED
this case, the Levite -a man of obviously who sallied from the town of Gibeah against
peculiar character - divided his wife's body them.  Corrected by this experience, they
into twelve parts, and sent one portion to applied in a proper manner to learn the will
each of the tribes of Israel.  The horror- of their King; and then the victory was
struck tribes, on receiving their portion of promised to them.
the body, and hearing the statement which    In their next attempt the Israelites resorted
the messengers delivered, agreed that such a to the same familiar stratagem of ambuscade
thing had not before been heard of in Israel, and of pretended flight, when the besieged
and hastened to the place of meeting, which sallied forth against them, as that whereby
was Mizpeh.                               the town of Ai had been taken by Joshua,
In the great audience there assembled, the and with precisely the same result.  Eighteen
Levite declared his wrongs; which when thousand Benjamites, " men of valor," were
they had heard, the thousands of Israel " trodden down with ease " by the vast host
vowed not to return to their homes until they  which now enclosed them.  The rest endeavhad brought the offenders to condign punish- ored to escape to the wilderness, but were all
ment.  And to express the earnestness of overtaken and destroyed, with the exception
their purpose, they appointed one-tenth of of six hundred who found shelter among the
their whole number to bring in provisions rocks of Rimmon.  The  conquerors then
for the rest, that the want of victuals might went through the land, subjecting it to milinot, as often happens in Oriental warfare, tary execution.  They set on fire all the
oblige them to disperse before their object towns to which they came, and put to the
was accomplished.  But, in the first instance, sword the men, the cattle, and all that came
they sent messengers throughout the tribe of  to hand.
Benjamin, explaining the occasion of their    But when the heat of the conflict and
assembling, and demanding that the offenders execution had subsided, the national and
should be delivered up to justice.  This the clannish  feelings of the  Israelites  were
Benjamites were so far from granting that shocked at the reflection that they had exthe whole tribe made common cause with the  tinguished a tribe in Israel.  It was true
people of Gibeah, and all its force was called that six hundred men remained alive among
out to repel any attempt which the other the rocks of Rimmon; but it was not clear
tribes might make against them.  Consider- how the race of Benjamin could be con.
ing that the force of the eleven tribes amounted tinued through them, as, at the very comnto four hundred thousand able men, whereas mnencement of the undertaking, the Israelthe Benjamites could bring together no more ites had solemnly sworn that they would not
than twenty-six thousand, the hardihoood of give their daughters in marriage to the Benthis resistance is well worthy of remark, if it jamites.  They had now leisure to repent of
does not make out the' claim of the Benja- this vow; although, with reference to the
mites to that character for indomitable courage vile propensities exhibited by the people of
which they appear to have acquired.  Prob- Gibeah, it was quite natural that in the
ably the influence of that acknowledged  first excitement such a vow should have been
character upon their opponents; together with taken.
their own peculiar skill in the use of the    But now they were sincerely anxious to
sling, formed their main reliance.  Among find means of repairing their error, and to
them were seven hundred left-handed men provide the survivors with wives, that the
who could sling stones to a hair's breadth and house of'Benjamin might not be wholly lost.
not miss.                                It was found that the summons whereby
The Israelites committed one fatal over- the tribes had been assembled had been
sight in this undertaking.  Although the unheeded by the men of Jabesh-Gilead,
affair was of such grave importance, they whereby they had exposed themselves to the
neglected to consult their divine King, with- terrible doom  which the very act of sum.
out whose permission they ought not to have mons denounced against the disobedient.
supposed themselves authorized to act as they That doom was inflicted, save that all the
did.  They first decided on war, and then virgins were spared to be wives for the
only consulted him as to the manner it should Benjamites.  But as these were still insufP
be conducted.  The consequence was that ficient, the  unprovided  Benjamites wele
they were twice defeated by the Benjamites, secretly advised to lie in wait in the vine




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              241
yards near Shiloh, when they attended the    The instruments of their punishment, this
next annual festival at the tabernacle; and time, were the Moabites.  By a long peace,
when the young women of the place came this nation had recovered from the defeats
out in dances, as at such times they were which they had suffered from the Amorites
wont, they might seize and carry off the before the time of Moses; and, perceiving
number they required.  The men followed that the Israelites were not invincible, Eglon,
this advice.  And when the fathers  and the king of Moab, formed a confederacy with
brothers of the stolen maidens began to the Ammonites and Amalekites, and, with
raise an outcry, the elders, by whom the this help, made an attack upon them —
measure had been counselled, interposed to probably under the same pretences which we
pacify them, and persuaded them to overlook shall find to have been employed on a subthe matter, in consideration of the difficul- sequent occasion.  He defeated the idolas
ties by which the case was surrounded.     trous Hebrews in battle, subdued the tribes
The Benjamites then returned to their beyond Jordan, and the southern tribes on
desolated cities, and rebuilt and re-occupied this side the river, and established himself in
them as they were able.  But from this time Jericho, which he must have found a conBenjamin was the least, although not the venient post for intercepting, or at least
least distinguished, of all the tribes.    checking, the communications between the
At length (B. C. 1572) the idolatries eastern and western tribes.  At that place
and demoralization of the Israelites  had the conquered tribes were obliged to brine
become so rank, that a fiery trial was judged him  presents, or, in other words, to pay a
necessary  for their correction.  A  king periodical tribute.   This subjection to a
named Cushan-rishathaim, reigning in Mes- king who resided among them was still more
opotamia, had extended his power far on oppressive than that from which they had
this side the Euphrates.  He now advanced been delivered by Othniel; and it continued
into  Canaan, and, either by victory  or more than  twice  as long-  that is, for
menace, rendered the Ilebrews tributary. eighteen years.  This oppression must have
They remained under severe bondage for been particularly heavy upon the tribe of
eight years.  At the end of that time, Benjamin, as it was their territory to which
Othniel - that relative of Caleb who has Jericho belonged, and which was therefore
already been mentioned -  was incited to encumbered by the presence of the court of
put himself at the head of the people and the conqueror.  It was natural that those
attempt their deliverance.  The garrisons whose necks were the most galled by the
which the Mesopotamians had left in the yoke should make the first effort to shake it
country were suddenly surprised and slain; off.  Accordingly, the next deliverer was of
the armies of Israel again appeared in the the tribe of Benjamin.   His name was
field, and, although at first few in number, Ehud, one of those left-handed men —or
they fought at every point the troops op- rather, perhaps, men who could use the left
posed to them; and when their numbers hand with as much ease and power as the
were increased by the re-enforcements which right -  for which this tribe seems to have
poured in from all quarters on the first news been remarkable.  He conducted a deputaof probable success, they hazarded a general tion  which  bore from  the Israelites  the
action, in which they obtained a complete customary tributes to the king.  It seemed
victory over the Mesopotamians, and drove that men with weapons were not admitted to
them beyond the Euphrates.                 the king's presence: but Ehud had a twoOthniel  remained  the  acknowledged edged dagger under his garment; but as he
judge, or regent, of the divine king for wore it on the right side, where it is worn by
forty years.  Daring his administration, the no right-handed man, its presence was not
people remained faithful to their God and suspected.  When he had left the presence
king, and  consequently  prospered.   But and dismissed his people, Ehud went on as
when the beneficial control which Othniel far as the carved images which had been
exercised was withdrawn by his death, they placed at Gilgal.  The sight of these images,
fell again into idolatry and crime, and new  which the Moabites had probably set up by
afflictions became needful to them.        the sacred monument of stones which the
* This paragraph is partly from Josephus, fills up, the brief notice which the Book of Judges
whose account is here in agreement with, while it offers.
16




242                            AN ILLUSTRATED
Israelites had there set up, seems to have part of his dwelling commands, and where
revived the perhaps faltering zeal of the also he usually withdraws to enjoy his sleep
Benjamite, and he returned to Jericho and during the heat of the day.  It is strictly a
to the presence of the king, and intimated private apartment, which no one enters withthat he had a secret message to deliver.  The out being specially invited; and accordingly
king then withdrew with him to his " sum- it is said of this, that it was an apartment
mer-parlor," which seems to have been such " which he had for himself alone."  As the
a detached or otherwise pleasantly-situated king sat in this parlor, Ehud approached
apartment as are still usually found in the him, saying, " I have a message from  God
mansions and gardens of the East, and to to thee."  On hearing that sacred name, the
-which the master retires to enjoy a freer air, king rose from  his seat, and Ehud availed
and more open prospects, than any other himself of the opportunity  of burying his
SUMiMER PEAlLOR ON THE NILE.
dagger in his bowels.  The Benjamite then always been, and are now, far more lax on
withdrew quietly, bolting after him the door this point than those which Christian civiliof the summer-parlor; and as such parlors zation has produced in Europe.  There all
usually communicate by a private stair with means of getting rid of a public enemy,
the porch, without the necessity of passing whom the arm of the law cannot reach, are
into or through the interior parts of the considered just and proper.  No one can
mansion, there was nothing to impede his read a few  pages of any Oriental history
egress, unless the porters at the outer gate without being fully aware of this; and it is
had seen cause for suspicion.              by Oriental notions, rather than by our own,
The scripture as is frequently the case, that' the act of Ehud must, to a certain
mentions this as an historical fact, without extent, be judged.
commendatory or reprehensive remark; and    The servants of Eglon supposed that their
we have no right to infer the approbation lord was taking his afternoon sleep in his
which is not expressed.  No doubt Ehud's summer-parlor, and  hence a considerable
deed was a murder; and the only excuse for time elapsed before his assassination was
it is to be found in its public object, and in discovered.
the fact that the notions of the East have    In the mean time, Ehud was able to make




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                                243
known the death of the king, and to collect but the childless wives of her sons, who had
a body of men, with whom he went down to married in that land, remained with her.
seize the  fords of the  Jordan, that the One was called Orpah, and the other Ruth.
Moabites in Canaan might neither receive At the end of ten years, Naomi determined
re-enforcements from their own country nor to return home, but, with beautiful disinterescape to it.  Confounded by the death of estedness, exhorted the widows of her two
their king, they were easily overcome.  All sons to remain in their own land with their
who were on this side the Jordan, ten well-provided friends, and not go to be parthousand in number, were destroyed- not takers of her destitution.  Orpah accordingly
one escaped.  This deliverance secured for remained: but nothing could overcome the
Israel a repose of eighty years, terminating devoted attachment of Ruth to the mother
in the year B. C. 1426, being 182 years of her lost husband.  To the really touching
after the passage of the Jordan.            representations of Naomi, her still more
At or toward the end of this period of touching reply was, " Entreat me not to leave
eighty years, a first attempt was made by the thee, or to return from following thee: for
Philistines to bring the southern tribes under whither thou goest, I will go; and where
their yoke.  But they were unable to accom- thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall
plish their design, having been repulsed on be my people, and thy God my God; where
their first advance, with the loss of six thou diest, will I die, and there will I be
hundred men,by Shamgar and other husband- buried; the Lord do so to me, and more
men, who fought with ox-goads,* beingo then also, if aught but death part thee and me."
employed in the cultivation of the fields.  This strong and unmistakable expression of
most beautiful and true affections could not
be repelled by Naomi.  They took their
homeward way together.
It is about this time that the story of Ruth,    It was barley harvest when Naomi and
which occupies a separate book in the Hebrew  Ruth arrived at Bethlehem.  Ruth, anxious
scriptures, is placed by Usher and other chro- to provide in any little way for their joint subnologers.  Being episodical, and only slightly  sistence, soon bethought herself of going forth
connected with the historical narrative, we to seek permission to glean in some harvest
cannot follow  the details of this beautiful field.  It happened that the field where she
story; but the intimations of the state of asked and obtained this permission, from the
society, and of the manners and ideas of the overseer of the reapers, belonged to Boaz, a
times, which it contains, are, even historically, person of large possession in these parts.
of too much importance to be overlooked.    Boaz himself came in the course of the day,
The scene of the principal part of the to view  the progress of the harvest.  He
story is in Bethlehem of Judah.             greeted his reapers, " Jehovah be with you;"
A famine in the land drives an inhabitant and they answered him,  " Jehovah bless
of this town, with his wife and two sons, to thee."  His attention was attracted toward
the land of Moab, which, in consequence of Ruth, and he inquired concerning her of his
the victories under Ehud, seems to have been  overseer, who told him that this was " The
at this time in some sort of subjection to the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi
Israelites.  The man's name was Elimelech, out of the land of Moab," and related how
his wife's Naomi, and the sons were called  she had applied  for leave to glean after
Mahlon and Chilion.  The woman lost her the reapers.  Boaz then himself accostedl her,
husband and two sons in the land of Moab; and kindly charged her not to go elsewhere,' "At Khan Leban the country people were as one of these that Shamgar made that., prodlinow everywhere at plough in the fields in order to gious slaughter?  I am confident that whoever
sow cotton.'Twas observable that in ploughing should see one of these implements will judge it
they used goads of an extraordinary size; upon to be a weapon not less fit, perhaps fitter, than a
measuring of several, I found them to be about sword for such an execution. Goads of this sort
eight feet long, and, at the bigger end, six inches I alwavs saw used hereabouts, and also in Syria;
in circumference. They are armed at the lesser and the reason is because the same single person
end with a sharp prickle for driving the oxen; and both drives the oxen and also holds and manages
at the other end with a small spade or paddle of the plough, which makes it necessary to use such
iron, strong and massy, to clear the plough from  a goad as is described above to avoid the incumthe clay that encumbers it in working. May we brance of two instruments."-MIaundrell, 110o
not hence conjecture that it was with such a goad




244                            AN ILLUSTRATED
but to remain in his fields, and keep com- the fields of Boaz, until the end not only of
pany with his maidens till the harvest was the barley, but of the wheat harvest.
over.  He had enjoined his young men not   When the harvest was over, Naomi, who
to molest her.  If she were athirst she might was anxious for the rest and welfare of the
go and drink freely from the vessels of water good and devoted- creature who had been
provided for the use of the reapers.  Ruth more than a daughter to her, acquainted her
was astonished at all this kindness, and fell with what had lately engaged her thoughts.
at his feet, expressing her thanks and her She said that Boaz was so near of kin that he
surprise that he should take such kind notice came under the operation of the levirate law,
of a stranger                             which required that when a man died childBut he said, " It has been -fully shown me, less, his next of kin should marry the widow,
all that thou hast done to thy mother-in-law, in order that the first child born from this
since the death of thy husband; and how union should be counted as the  son  of
thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the deceased, and inherit as his heir.  It
the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a was, therefore, no less her duty than a cirpeople which thou knowest not heretofore. cumstance highly calculated to promote her
Jehovah recompense thy deed: and a full welfare, that Boaz should be reminded of the
recompense be given to thee from Jehovah, obligation which devolved upon him.  But
the God of Israel, under whose w'ngs thou as it was not wished to press the matter upon
art come to trust."  She answered, "Let him, if he were averse to it, it was necessary
me find favor in thy sight, my lord, for that that the claim should, in the first instance, be
thou hast comforted me, and for that thou privately made.  In such a case, Ruth, a
hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, stranger very imperfectly acquainted with
though I be not like one of thine hand- the laws and habits of the Israelites, could
maclens."                                 only submit herself to Naomi's guidance.
When the meal-time of the harvest people She told Ruth that Boaz was engaged in
came round, Boaz invited her to draw near winnowing his barley in the threshing-floor;
and eat of the bread, and dip her morsel in which, of course, was nothing more than a
the vinegar with them.  He also handed her properly levelled place in  the open  air.
some new corn parched, which was considered Naomi conjectured he would rest there at
rather a luxury, and therefore Ruth reserved night, and told Ruth to mark  the spot
part of it for Naomi.                    to which he  withdrew, and  advance  to
All these little incidents, beautifully de- claim  the  protection  he  was bound to
scriptive of the innocent old customs of harvest render.  All happened as Naomi had foretime, bring strongly before the mind of one seen.  Boaz, after he had supped, withdrew
who has studied the antiquities of Egypt, the to sleep at the end of the heap of corn; and
agricultural scenes depicted in the grottos after he had lain down, Ruth advanced and;
of Eleithuias, in which so many of the usages placed herself at his feet: and when he awoke
of Egyptian agriculture  are represented. at midnight, and with much astonishment
There we see the different processes of cutting asked who she was, she answered, " I am
with the reaping-hook, and of plucking up Ruth, thy handmaid: take therefore thy
the stalks; gleaners; water refrigerating in handmaid under thy protection, for thou art
porous jars (placed on stands) for the re- a near kinsman."  Those who, measuring
freshment  of  the  reapers; the  reapers all things by their own small and current
quenching their thirst; and women bearing standards, regard as improper or indelicate
away the vessels in which drink has been this procedure of one
brought to them at their labor.
h thho feared no evil, for she knew no sin,"
When Ruth returned home in the evening
with the result of her day's gleaning-an need only hear the answer of Boaz to be
ephah of barley - Naomi was anxious to know  satisfied.  "' Blessed be thou, of Jehovah,
how it happened that her labors had been my daughter....  And now, my daughter,
so prosperous: and when she heard the name fear not: for all my fellow-citizens do know
of Boaz, she remarked that he was a near that thou art a virtuous woman."  He added,
kinsman of the family; and advised that, ac- however, that there was a person in the town
cording to his wish, Ruth should confine her more nearly related to her deceased husband;
gleaning to his fields.  So Ruth gleaned in and on him properly the levirate duty de



HISTORY  OF THE  BIBLE.                              245
volved: but if he declined it, then it fell to pears to have been confined to the tribes he
himself, and he would certainly undertake it. had been instrumental in delivering friom
It being too late for Ruth to returi' home, Boaz their oppressors.  There is, for instance, not
desired her to remain in the threshing-floor the least reason to suppose that the authority
for the night.  Early in the morning he dis- of Ehud extended over the northern tribes,
missed her, after having filled her veil with which had not been affected by the oppression
corn to take to Naomi.                     of the Moabites, from which he derived the
In those times, and long after, it was cus- south and east.. The eighty years of good
tomary to transact all business of a public conduct which followed this deliverance is
nature and to administer justice in the gates. therefore only to be understood as exhibited
When there was little use of written docu- by the tribes which were then delivered.
inents, this gave to every transaction the The northern tribes, and in some degree
binding obligation which the presence of those of the centre and the west, were meanmany witnesses involved; and thus also jus- while falling into those evil practices, from
tice was easily and speedily administered which it was necessary that distress and soramong the people, at the hours when they row should bring them back.  And therefore
passed to and fro between the fields and the they were distressed.
city.  And such hours were, for this reason,   The northern  Canaanites had, in the
those at which the judges and elders gave course of time, recovered from the effects of
their attendance in the gates.             that great overthrow  which they sustained
Boaz therefore went up to the gate; and in the time of Joshua.   A  new  Jabin,
requested ten of the elders, there present, reigning like his predecessor in Hazor, by
to sit down with him as witnesses of what the Lake Merom, rose into great power.
was to take place.  When the " near kins- His general, Sisera, was an able and sueman " passed by, he called him to sit down cessful warrior; and his powerful military
with them.  He then questioned him as to force contained not fewer than nine hundred
his willingness " to raise up the name of the of those iron-armed chariots of war whicn the
dead upon his inheritance."  This he was Israelites  regarded with so much dread.
not willing to do, " lest he should mar his With such a force, he was enabled, for the
own inheritance;" and therefore he was glad punishment of their sins, to reduce the
to relinquish his prior claim to Boaz, which northern tribes to subjection, and hold them
he did by the significant action of drawing tributary.  Considering the character of the
off his own shoe and giving it to him. power which now prevailed over them, there
This action was usual in all transactions of is reason to conclude that this was the severthis nature, and it may well be interpreted est of all the oppressions to which Israel had
by the familiar idiom which would express hitherto been subject.  The song of Debol
Boaz as being made, by this act and with rah conveys some intimations of their miserreference to this particular question, to stand able condition.   The villages and  open
in the shoes of the person who had trans- homesteads, which were continually liable to
ferred to him his rights and duties.  Boaz be pillaged, and the inhabitants insulted and
then declared all the people there present at wronged by the Canaanites, were deserted
the gate to be witnesses of this transfer, and throughout the land, and the people found
they responded, "We are witnesses."  After it necessary to congregate in the walled
this, Boaz took Ruth to be his wife; and the towns.  Travelling was unsafe; in eonsefruit of this union was Obed, the grandfather quence of which the highways were deserted,
of David, of whom, according to the flesh, and those who were obliged to go froln one
came the Saviour of the world.             place to another found it necessary to jourFrom the repose which this narrative of- ney in by-roads and unfrequented paths.
fers, one turns reluctantly to renewed scenes At the places to which it was necessary to
of war, oppression, and wrong.             resort for water, they were waylaid and
It may be doubted that the authority —  robbed, wounded, or slain; and, to crown
such as it was- of any of the judges ex- all, they were disarmed, — among forty thoutended over all the tribes.  Hardly any of sand in Israel, a shield. or spear was not to
the oppressions to which the Israelites were be found.  The details of this picture are
subject appear to have been general, and in exactly such as are offered by the condition
most cases the authority of the judge ap- of any oppressed or'subjugated population,




246                           AN ILLUSTRATED
at this day, in the East.  The government the required number of men from Naphtali
itself may be content with its tribute; but and Zebulun readily obeyed their call, and
it will be obliged to wink at, because unable marched to Mount Tabor.  These two tribes
to prevent, the far greater grievances, - had probably been selected on the ground
the exactions, robberies, insults, woundings, that they were likely to engage more readily
deaths, to which the people are subjected in  this service, in consequence of their
by the inferior officers of government, by vicinity to the metropolitan seat of the
bands of licentious soldiers, and  by an oppressing power having rendered the yoke
adverse and triumphant populace: all of of servitude more galling and irritating to
whom  look upon them  as their prey and them than to the other tribes.
spoil, as things made only to be trampled   As soon as Jabin's general, Sisera, heard
on. Such oppression the Israelites endured of the Hebrew  force assembled on Mount
for twenty years.  They then remembered Tabor, he brought forth his nine hundred
that, to them, trouble was the punishment of chariots, and assembled his whole army, not
sin, and that there was One able and willing doubting to surround and cut in pieces a
to deliver them, if they would but turn body of men so comparatively small.  The
themselves unto him.  They did turn, and Hebrews were in general much afraid of
their deliverance was certain from that hour. war-chariots, to drawn battles in open plains
In those days, a pious and able woman, they were unaccustomed, and the disparity
well acquainted with the divine law, became of numbers was in this instance very great.
an important person in Israel.  Her name Yet, encouraged by the assurances of vicwas Deborah, and she abode under a palm- tory which Deborah conveyed, Barak did
tree in the southern part of Ephraim.  Her not await the assault of Sisera, but marched
high character for piety and wisdom occa- his men down from the mountain into the
sioned the Israelites to resort to her for open plain, and fell impetuously upon the
counsel and for justice; and it is not unlikely adverse host.  In Oriental warfare the result
that her salutary influence contributed to of the first shock usually decides the battle,
move the people to that repentance which and the army is lost which then gives way or
prepared the  way for their deliverance. has its ranks broken.  So it was now. At
When their punishment had thus wrought the first shock the vast army of Sisera
its intended object, the divine king made was seized with a panic terror. The soldiers
known to the prophetess his intention to threw away their arms, and sought only how
deliver the house of Israel from its bondage; they might escape; while the chariots, drawn
but seeing that she, as a woman, could not by terrified horses, impeded the retreat of
personally lead the Israelites to battle, she the fugitives, and added to the confusion and
sent to a person of the tribe of Naphtali, the loss.  The carnage among the Canaannamed Barak, and communicated to him the ites was horrible; and, besides those who
instructions she had received.  These were, perished by the sword, vast numbers of them
that he should bring together, at Mount were swept away by the sudden overflow of
Tabor, ten thousand men of the tribes of the river Kishon.  Sisera himself fled in his
Naphtali and Zebulun, and with them give chariot across the plain of Esdraelon; but,
battle to the forces of King Jabin.  Barak, fearing that his chariot rendered him too conbeing fully aware of the difficulty of assem- spicuous, he dismounted and continued his
bling and arming a respectable force, and flight on foot. At last he came to a nomad
recollecting the greatness of that power he encampment, belonging to Heber the Kenite,
was to oppose, rather shrunk from the enter- one of the descendants of those of the family
prise. He, however, offered to undertake it, and clan of Jethro, who, with the brother-inif Deborah would afford him the benefit of law of Moses, entered the land of Canaan
her influential presence, but not else.  She with the Israelites, and enjoyed the privilege
consented; but, to rebuke the weakness of of pasturing their flocks in its plains.  Hehis faith, she prophesied that Sisera —the ber was from home; but his wife knew the
redoubted captain of King Jabin's host- illustrious fugitive, and offered him the proshould not be slain in fight with him, or be tection of her tent.  This, as the Kenites
taken captive by him, but should fall by a had been neutral in the war, Sisera did not
woman's hand.                            hesitate to accept.  He knew that the tent
They went into the north together; and of a Bedouin, and especially the woman's




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                   247
portion of it, was a sanctuary, which the the act of Ehud would regard with horror
owner would sooner perish than allow to be the murder, in his sleep, of a confiding and
violated, and that infamy worse than death friendly guest, to whom the sacred shelter
awaited him who allowed injury to befall the of the tent had been offered.  That Deborah,
guest or fugitive who was admitted to its as a prophetess, was enabled to foretell the
shelter.   Being  athirst, Sisera asked for fall of Sisera by a woman's hand, does not
water; but instead of this she gave him sour convey the divine sanction of this deed, but
milk -the best beverage an Arab tent con- only manifests the divine foreknowledge.;
tains, and the refreshing qualities of which and that the same Deborah, in her triumphant
are well known to those who have travelled  song, blesses Jael for this act, only indicates
in the East.  This, with his fatigue, disposed the feeling, in the first excitement of victory,
Sisera to sleep.  As he slept, the thought of one who had far more cause to rejoice at
occurred to Jael (that was the woman's the death of Sisera than Jael had to inflict
name) that the greatest enemy of the now  it.
victorious Israelites lay helpless before her;   The triumphant song of Deborah  has
and that it was in her power to win great attracted great and deserved attention as a
favor from the victors, by anticipating the  noble " specimen of the perfectly sublime
almost certain death which awaited the chief ode."  The design of this ode seems to be
captain of Jabin's host.  Having no weapon, twofold, religious and  political:  first, to
she took a mallet and one of the long nails thank  God for the recent deliverance of
by which the tent cords are fastened to the Israel from Canaanitish bondage and oppresground, and stealing softly to the place where sion; and, next, to celebrate the zeal and
he lay, she smote the nail into his temple, alacrity with which some of the tribes volunpinning his head to the ground.  Barak, teered their services against the common
passing that way soon after, in pursuit, was enemy; and to censure the lukewarmness
called in by Jacel, and he beheld the re- and apathy of others who staid at home,
doubted Sisera dead at his feet -slain igno- and thus betrayed the public cause; and, by
miniously by a woman's hand. He might  this contrast and exposure, to heal those fatal
then have pondered whether, had Sisera been divisions among the tribes which were so
the victor and himself the fugitive, the same  injurious to the public weal.  It consists of
fate might not have been his own.  When three parts:-  first, the exordium, containing
we reflect that "there was peace between an appeal to past times, where Israel was
Jabin, king of Hazor, and the house of under the special protection of Jehovah, as
Heber the Kenite," and that it was in the compared with their late disastrous condition;
knowledge that he deserved no wrong at next, a recital of the, circumstances which
their, hands, that Sisera accepted the shelter'preceded  and those that accompanied the
which Jael offered; and when, moreover, we victory; lastly, a fuller description of the
consider that the emir, Jael's husband, had concluding event, the death of Sisera, and
no interest in the result, save that of stand- the disappointed hopes of his mother for his
ing well with the victorious party, it will be triumphant return.  The admired conclusion
difficult to find any other motive than that is thus: —
we have assigned -  the desire to win the
favor of the victors- for an act so grossly "The mother of Sisera gazed tlhrough the winddw,
tro  all vcthors nfotion oft honoroamg   Through the lattice she, lamenting, cried,
opposed to all those notions of honor among'Why is his chariot so long in coming? *
tent-dwellers on which Sisera had relied for   Wherefore linger the steps of his steeds?'
his safety.  It was a most treacherous and   Her wise ladies answered their mistress,
cruel murder, wanting all those extenuations       she returned answer to herself,
wa   to the assassination..o'Have they not sped, and are dividing the spoil.
which were applicable to the assassination of   To every chief man a damsel or two?
King Eglon by Ehud.                           To Sisera a spoil of various colors,
The time is gone by when commentators   A spoil of various-colored embroidery,
or historians might venture to justify this   A spoil of various-colored embroideries for the
neck.' -
deed.  Our extended acquaintance with the       So let thine enemies perish, 0 Jehovah!
East enables us to know that those Orientals   But let they who love thee become
whose principles would allow them to applaud   As the sun going forth in his strength." t
* The original is highly figurative; " Why is   t "The first sentences exhibit a striking pichis chariot ashamed to come i"              ture of maternal solicitude, and of a mind sus



248                               AN ILLUSTRATED
From  the animadversions which this ode was not fairly and fully tried cannot be said
contains, it is easy to collect that only those to fail.  Ruin to the people did not come
tribes which were actually subject to the from  the system  itself; and that ruin did
oppression, and even only those on which the cnome from the neglect of its conditions, rather
oppression the most heavily fell, were willing shows how well that system  was calculated
to disturb themselves by engaging in warlike  to form a happy and united people.
operations against the oppressor.  It does    The victory of Deborah and Barak over
not appear that the southern tribes and the  Sisera gave to Israel a long repose from  the
tribes beyond Jordan were directly affected  aggressions of the nations west of the Jordan;
by the subjugation of the northern tribes; for although their peace began again to be
and even of those under tribute, the tribes disturbed after forty years (in 1336 B. C ),
more remote from  the seat of King Jabin  the invasion was then from the east.
seem  to have been more at ease than the    At the latter end of the forty years which
others.  All these were loath to come forward  followed the victory over Sisera, the Israelon this occasion; and, in general, we find ites had again relapsed into their evil and
that, among the Hebrews of this early period, idolatrous habits.  This was particularly the
there was little if any of that high-spirited  case of the tribes beyond Jordan, whose
and honorable abhorrence of a foreign yoke, repose had been of longer duration than that
which is, under God, the surest safeguard of of the western tribes, for it does not appear
a nation's independence.  It was not the that the oppressions of King  Jabin  had
yoke itself they hated, but its physical weight extended to them.
upon their shoulders; and that weight' must    Their punishment was this time particube very heavy before they could be roused  larly heavy, and came from  an unexpected
to any great effort to shake it from  them. quarter.  The pastoral tribes dwelling  on
The iron which entered their souls in Egypt the borders of the land and in the eastern
still rusted there.                          -deserts —the Midianites, Amalekites, with
These sectional divisions   or rather this other tribes of Arabia-  came  swarming
want of a general and sympathizing union  into the land "like locusts," with countless
among the several members of the house of flocks and herds, and pitching their tents
Israel —were the obvious secondary cause in the plains and valleys.  Arriving by the
of the miseries and oppressions under which  time the products of the soil began to be
different portions of that great body did from  gathered  in, they remained until the final
time to time fall; and this disunion itself was ingatherings of the year, when the advance
the natural and inevitable  result of the  of winter warned them to withdraw into their
neglect of the law, as a whole, and especially  deserts.  Thus their cattle  grew  fat upon
of those provisions which were, in  their the rich pastures of the land, while those of
proper operation, admirably  calculated  to  Israel were starved; and  the men themkeep the tribes united to'gether as one nation. selves lived merrily upon the grain which
It would  be  ridiculous  to  say  that the  the Hebrews had sowed, and upon the fruits,theocratic policy was a failure.  That which  which they had cultivated: and as, besides
pended and a-ritated between hope and fear. she repeats, she amplifies, she heightens every
Immediately, impatient of delay, she anticipates circumstance; she seems to have the very planthe consolations of her friends; and her mind  der in her immediate possession; she pauses and
being somewhat elevated, she boasts with all the contemplates every particularl.  To add to the
levity of a fond female, -                     beauty of this passage, there is also an uncommon'Vast in her hopes and giddy with success.'  neatness in the versification; great force, accuracy, and perspicuity in the diction; and the
Let us here observe how well adapted every senti- utmost elegance in the repetitions, which, notment, every word, is to the character of the  withstanding their apparent redundancv, are conspeaker..She makes no account of the slaughter ducted with the most perfect brevity. In the end,.of the enemy.of the valor and conluct of' the  the fatal disappointment of' female hope and
conqueror, of the multitude of the captives, but  credulity, tacitly insinuated by the unexpected
apostrophe, -'Burns with afemale thirst of prey and spoils.'' So let thine enemies perish, 0 Jehovah'
Nothing is omitted which is calculated to attract is expressed more forcibly by this very silence of
-and engage the passions of a vain and trifling the person who was just speaking, than it could,woman, - slaves, gold, and rich apparel. Nor is possibly have been by all the powers of lan-.she satisfied with the bare enumeration of them, guage." - Lowtlh.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              249
this deprivation of the sustenance for which had been gathered in; but no regard was
they had labored, such lawless crews are paid to the vineyards, as the season of ripe
always ready for any kind of great or small grapes was far off.  Gideon was engaged in
robbery and exaction, the Israelites- were this service when " the angel of Jehovah"
obliged to abandon the open country, and to appeared to him  standing under an oak
resort to the walled towns, to intrench them- which grew there.  When apprised of his
selves in strongholds, and even to seek the vocation to deliver Israel, the modest husshelter of the caves among the mountains. bandman would have excused himself on the
]Even those who ventured to remain in oc- ground of his wanting that eminence of stacupation of their own allotments were afraid tion which so important a service appeared
to have it known that they had in their pos- to demand; and when silenced by the emsession any of the produce of their own phatic " I will be with thee" from  his
fields.  All this while it does not appear heavenly visitant, he still sought to have
that there was any open war, or any mili- some certain tokens whereby he might feel
tary  operations.  The  invaders  bore  all assured, and be enabled  to  convey the
before them, and had entirely their own way, assurance to others, that his call was indeed
by the mere force of the intimidating im- from  God.  Accordingly, a succession of
pressions  which  their numbers  created. signal miracles were wrought to satisfy his
Countries or districts bordering on the des- mind and to confirm  his faith.  The refecert are still subject to similar visitations, tion of kid's-flesh and bread, which the hoswhere the local government is not strong pitable Gideon quickly got ready for the
enough to prevent them, or where the pre- stranger, was, as he directed, laid upon a
occupation of the border soil by Arabs in rock before him, and when he touched it
the state of semi-cultivators does not foqm  with the end of his staff, a spontaneous fire
an obstacle (as it does not always) to the arose by which it was consumed, as a sacriincursions of pure Bedouins.  Down to a fiee, and at the same time the stranger disvery recent date, the very country east of appeared.  After this, at the special desire
the Jordan, which suffered the most on the of Gideon, " a sign " of his own choosing
present occasion, suffered much from  the was granted to him.  A  fleece which he
periodical sojourn and severe exactions of laid upon the threshing-floor (in the open
the Bedouin tribes.                        air) was saturated with dew, while the soil
These incursions of the Midianites were around was all dry; and again, condescendrepeated for seven years.  By this time the ing to his prayer, the Lord was pleased to
oppression had become so heavy that the Is- reverse this miracle, by exempting the fleece
raelites, finding by bitter experience the alone from  the dewy moisture which beinsufficiency of all other help, cried to Him  spread the ground.  Gideon was satisfied.
who had delivered them  of old: their cry    Yet the family from which the deliverer
was heard.  A  prophet was commissioned was chosen was not less tainted by the sins
to point out tothemn that their disobedience than visited by the punishments of Israel;
had been the cause of their sufferings, and for Joash, the father of Gideon, had erected
to give to them  the promise of a new de- an altar to Baal, at Ophrah, the town of his
liverance.                                residence, at which the people of that place
The hero this time appointed to act for rendered their idolatrous services to that
the deliverance of Israel was Gideon of idol.  This altar Gideon was directed to
Manasseh.  His family was exposed to the destroy, and in its place to erect, over the
general suffering occasioned by the presence rock on which his offering had been conof the Bedouin tribes, - so much so, that sumed, an altar to Jehovah. It would seem
having retained possession of some corn, that Joash himself was brought back to his
they dared not thresh it out for use in the fealty to Jehovah by the first of the miracles
ordinary threshing-floor, but, to conceal it we have related, of which, probably, Gideon
from the knowledge or suspicion of the in- was not the sole witness: for when the men
vaders, were obliged to perform  this opera- of Ophrah, early in the following morning,
tion silently and secretly, in so unusual a arose to render their worship to Baal, and,
place as the vineyard, near the wine-press. finding his altar overthrown, demanded the
The threshing-floors were watched by the death of Gideon, his father stood forward to
3Midianites at this time, when the harvests vindicate his conduct.  He undauntedly re



250                             AN  ILLUSTRATED
torted the sentence of death against the to their more valorous companions.  In the
idolaters themselves for their apostasy from  present instance the result was, that although
Jehovah. By demanding the punishment the men composing the army of Gideon had
of Gideon for his act against Baal, they come forward voluntarily, above two-thirds
recognized in fact the fairness of the punish- of them  were so intimidated in the actual
ments denounced by the law against those presence of danger, that they took advantage
individuals or cities which turned away from  of this permission to depart to their own
Jehovah to serve other gods; and this, homes.  Of the thirty-two thousand, only
coupled with the derision of Joasb at the ten thousand remained with Gideon.  Yet
impotency of Baal to vindicate or avenge as these were men of valor, as evinced by
his own cause, so wrought upon the people their determination to remain, room for vainof that place, that they were among the glorious boastings was still left, and thereforemost to gather to him when he sounded fore Gideon was informed that the number
the trumpet of war.  He then sent messen- was still too large, and that a further reducgers throughout his own tribe of Manasseh  tion must be made. The process of this
(on both sides the Jordan), as well as second selection was very curious.   All
through  those  of Asher, Naphtali, and  those were dismissed who, in drinking at
Zebulun.  And so cheerfully was the call the watering-place, stooped down to drink in
obeyed, that Gideon soon found himself at large draughts of water at the surface; but
the head of thirty-two thousand men.  With  those who merely " lapped" the water, or
this force Gideon marched to the mountains took it up in the hollow of their hands to
of Gilboa, where he found vast multitudes of  drink, were retained. The different methods
the enemy encamped before him  in the of drinking have been supposed to have
plain of Esdraelon.  This fine plain had. distinguished  the  self-indulgent from  the
probably been before their favorite resort; more manly and active men.  The latterbut they seem to have congregated there in  those who took up the water in their holunusual numbers as soon as they heard of lowed hands — were but three hundred out
Gideon's preparations.  And now that the of the ten thousand; and these were declared
people might have no cause to attribute their sufficient for the enterprise.
deliverance to their own numbers and prow-    The night after this, Gideon, with his
ess, it pleased the divine King of Israel to  faithful follower Phurah, went down to the
reduce this important army to a mere hand- camp of the enemy, in consequence of an
ful of spirited men.  In the first place, intimation that be would there hear matter
Gideon was directed to proclaim  liberty for for his encouragement. What he heard was
all who now, in sight of the enemy, were one soldier, just awakened, telling a dream
fearful and faint-hearted, to return to their to his companions.  He had dreamed that
own homes.  This proclamation, according he saw a barley-cake roll down from  the
to the law (Deut. xx. 8). ought in all cases hills to the Midianitish camp, where it overto have been made; but it seems that from  threw the first tent to which it came.  The
some reason or other (perhaps either from  interpretation which the other gave was -
ignorance of the law, or from supposing that "This is none other than the sword of
it was not intended to apply to such a case Gideon, the son of Joash, a man of Israel,
as the present), it would not have ~been into whose hand God delivereth Midian and
made by Gideon without the special com- the whole camp."
mand which he received.  Such a law, or   Several facts are indicated by this incipractice, however inapplicable, or even ruin- dent; such as the stress generally laid upon
ous, it might prove  under the military dreams in that age, as indicative of continsystems and tactics of modern Europe, was gent results, - the honor attached to the
well calculated to act beneficiallyin the war- office of spy, as one of danger, and which
fare of those early times; for as every thing was therefore, as in the Mosaic age, assigned
then depended on the individual courage and to, or undertaken by, the very chief persons
prowess of those engaged, " the faint-heart- in the army, -  and the truly Oriental want
ed" were more likely to damage than assist of sentinels and pickets, even in the face of
those on whose side they appeared; as their the enemy.  This indeed may have been
conduct was tolerably certain to bring about noticed on many former occasions; and to
results fatal to themselves, and. discouraging this astonishing  neglect of a precaution




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               251
which seems to us so obvious and so simple, Then, on a signal given by Gideon, all the
may be attributed the facility and success of three companies, at the same instant, blew
those sudden surprises of which we so often their trumpets, exposed their lamps, broke
read in the military history of those early the pitchers which had concealed them, and
ages. ~                                    then continued shouting, "The sword of
Gideon no sooner heard the dream and its Jehovah and of Gideon!" *  The terrible
din and crash which thus suddenly broke in
upon  the  stillness of midnight, with  the
equally sudden blaze of light from three hundred lamps, which illumined its darkness,
struck an instant panic into the vast host of
Midian, suggesting to them that the lampbearing trumpeters (whose numbers must
have been greatly magnified in the confused
apprehension of men just awakened) were
but the advanced guard of the Hebrew host
whom they were lighting to the attack on the
camp.  They therefore fled in all clirections,
through the openings between the three companies.  In their midnight flight, not doubting that the Hebrews had fallen upon them,
they mistook friends for foes, and vast multitudes of them  perished  by each  other's
swords.  The  survivors, in  their further
flight, came up with the several parties which
Assyrian lamps of terra cotta, glass, &c. (From originals had been dismissed by Gideon to their homes,
in Brit. Mus.)             and  these committed a terrible slaughter
interpretation than he understood and accept- among the fugitives.  Gideon also sent mesed the sign.  He returned to his own small sengers desiring the Ephraimites to seize the
band, and proceeded to carry into immediate various fords of the Jordan, between the two
execution a remarkable stratagem which had lakes, and thereby prevent the escape of any
already been suggested to him.  He divided of the fugitives eastward, which was the dihis three hundred men into three companies. rection they would naturally take.  In this
Every man was provided with a trumpet in terrible overthrow no less than one hundred
and twenty thousand of the various tribes of' the children of the east" perished; and so
completely were the Midianites subdued,
that from that time they were never able " to
lift up their heads any more."
A remnant of fifteen thousand, headed by
their emirs, Zebah  and Zalmunna, managed
to escape across the river (probably before
the Ephraimites had seized the fords), and
having reached a distance where they deemed
themselves safe from further pursuit, they
ventured to encamp.  But Gideon himself,
with his faithful three hundred, continued
Bronze lamps of the Roman period, found in Egyptian the pursuit even to that distance - even into
tombs.
the land of the tent-dwellers - and falling
one hand, and in the other a pitcher contain- suddenly upon the camp, which lay carelessly
ing a lighted lamp.  They were then sta- secure, the already scared Midianites were
tioned in silence and darkness at different completely  overthrown.  The  two  emirs
points on the outside of the enemy's camp. themselves were taken alive and brought
* The hint of this watchword was taken from  with equal piety and modesty, prefixed, " the
the interpretation of the Midianitish soldier's sword of Jehovah."
dream, "the sword of Gideon," to which Gideon,




252                             AN ILLUSTRATED
before Gideon.  He had formed, for those of Midian, Oreb, and Zeeb; and what have
times, the singularly generous intention to I been able to do in comparison with you?"
spare their lives; but when he gathered, from  Gideon knew  what Solomon taught long
their own lips, that they had created a case after, "A  soft answer turneth away wrath."
of blood-revenge between himself and them,   When he had crossed the Jordan in purby putting to death, near Mount Tabor, his suit of the fugitives, he was anxious to obtain
brethren, "the sons of his own mother," * for his small band —" faint, yet pursuing "he, as the legal avenger of their blood, slew  refreshments from the town of Succoth, which
these emirs with his own hand.             he passed, and afterward from that of Peniel;
Gideon seems to have been a man eminent- but he was in both cases refused.  The inly qualified for the high and difficult station habitants seem to have been fearful of bringto which he was called.  Firm even to stern- ing upon themselves the vengeance of the
ness, where the exhibition of the stronger Midianites, to whom they had for seven years
qualities seemed necessary, and in war " a been subject, and against whom they held it
mighty man of valor," we are called upon in to be very unlikely that he would succeed
his case, more frequently than in any other with so small a force.  They not only rewhich  has occurred, to admire his truly fused, but added insult to injury.  Instead
courteous and self-retreating character, and of chastising. them  on the spot, he coolly
that nice and difficult tact -  difficult, because told both that he would do so on his return;
spontaneously natural- in the management and he now kept his promise.  Coming upon
of men, which is a rarer and finer species of Succoth by surprise, before the sun was -up,
judgment, and by which he was intuitively he took the chief persons of Succoth, and, as
taught to say the properest word, and do he had threatened, scourged them  to death
the properest deed at the most proper time. with thorns and briars.  Of Peniel he made
This is the true secret of his ultimate popu- a still severer example, for he beat down the
larity and influence, which much exceeded fortress-towerof that city, and put to death
that enjoyed  by any judge  before  him. the men belonging to it.
Some instances of the qualities which we    The Israelites, in the warmth of their
have indicated have already appeared, and gratitude, offered to make Gideon their king,
others will presently occur.               and to continue the crown to his descendants.
The Ephraimites who had guarded the This proposal, which clearly shows how unJordan, having performed all that their duty mindful the Israelites had become of the
required, hastened to join Gideon in the pur- great political principle of the theocracy with
suit of the Midianites.  They met him on which they were so unwarrantably ready to
his return, and laid before him the heads of dispense, was nobly rejected by Gideon, who
Oreb and Zeeb,t two emirs of Midian, whom  replied to it in the true spirit of the theocracy:
they had taken and slain.  This tribe of  "I will not reign over you, neither shall may
Ephraim, which was, after that of Judah, son reign over you; JEHIOVAH, he shall reign
the most important in Israel, was exceedingly  over you."  But while thus alive to the true
jealous of its superiority; and was, there- political character of the Mosaic institutions,
fore, not a little annoyed that an obscure he was not equally cognisant of the religious
Abiezrite should have undertaken so great obligations of that system.  When he was
an enterprise as that now happily completed, called to his great work at Ophrah, he had been
without consulting them.  They now took instructed to build an altar on the rock on
occasion to remonstrate with him sharply on which his offering had been accepted, and
the subject, but were soon pacified by his himself to offer sacrifices there.  This probmodest and good-tempered answer.  " How  ably led him to conclude that it would be
little have I done now in comparison with right to form a religious establishment at that
you," he said.  " Is not the gleaning of the spot, for the worship of God by sacrifice.  A
grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of more perfect acquaintance with the principles
Abiezer?  God hath delivered up the princes of the law would have taught him otherwise.
* The emphasis lies in the probability that his    t The names mean crow and wolf. It would
father had children by other wives than Gideon's seem that the chiefs of the Midianites (like the
mother.  To be her children, therefore, con- North-American Indians) took the names of
stituted a far dearer tie than to be his father's animals, as significant of qualities to which they
children in the general sense.             aspired.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                            253
However, to this object he applied the prod- bling, in its principle, the establishment
uce of the golden ear-rings of the Midian- which the Danites had formed in the north.
ites, which, at his special request (not unlike It infringed upon the peculiar claims of Shithat of Aaron, Exod. xxxii. 2), were cheer- loh, the seat of the Divine Presence; and
fully granted to him  by the army as his the result of these and all attempts to form
share of the spoil.  The weight being one separate establishments affords- ample illusthousand seven hundred shekels, the gold tration of the design with which the formal
thus obtained must have been worth upward worship of God by sacrifice was confined to
of fifteen thousand dollars of our money; one particular locality.  It proved " a snare
and the " ephod" which he is described as to Gideon and his family," in worshipping
having made with it, probably included not the true God in an improper manner.  It
only "the priests' dress," as the word signi- became popular to "all Israel," who resorted
fies, but a regular sacerdotal establishment to Ophrah to render that worship and service
in his own town, where sacrifices might be which was due only at the sacred tabernacle;
constantly offered.  For this purpose such a and, with the predisposition to idolatry, it is
sum as he applied to it must have been fully not wonderful that, fiee at this place from
requisite.  It has been  disputed whether the restraint and supervision which the worGideon himself officiated as priest, or, like ship at Shiloh imposed, the service at this
Micah, engaged a Levite for that purpose. place soon became associated with idolatrous
The latter seems the more likely supposition, ideas and objects, until at last it degenunless from having been once directed to erated into rank  idolatry after the death
offer sacrifice, Gideon concluded he had a of Gideon.  He survived and ruled. Israel
superior claim to discharge that office.  forty years after his victory over the MidHowever well intended this establishment ianites, and during all this time the tranmay have been in the first instance, this was quillity of Israel appears to have been
a most mistaken and dangerous step, resem- undisturbed.
CHAPTER XIV.
MURDER OF GIDEON S SONS. -  JEPHTHAH S VICTORY. -  SAMSON.
GIDEON left no less than seventy sons by a different spirit. He soon saw the advantage
his numerous wives, besides one spurious which he might take of the existing posture
son called Abimelech, by a concubine (whom  of affairs.  Prompted by him, his uncles
Josephus calls Drumah) who belonged to and other maternal connections suggested to
Shechemn.  A bastard among seventy legiti- the chief people of Shechem  his willingness
mate sons was not likely to be pleasantly to undertake the charge which the people
circumstanced when his father was dead, and generally were anxious to see in the hands
it is not surprising that he soon withdrew  of a son, or some of the sons, of Gideon.
from among them to his mother's relations at They suggested whether it were not much
Sheechem.  They seem to have been persons better that one man should reign over them
of some consideration in that place.      than that they should be subject to all the
After the death of Gideon, the history, sons of Gideon, seventy persons in number;
without stating the fact, seems to require us and if the government of one man was to be
to suppose that his sons had been invited to desired, who had so strong a claim to their
take the government, or to share it among- preference and attachment as one so closely
them; and that they, actuated by the same connected with them as Abimelech?  These
noble, because disinterested regard for the suggestions had their weight upon the leadprinciples of the theocracy which had in- ing men of Shechem, particularly the confluenced their father, had declined the offer. sideration  that he was "their brother."
But Abimelech, " a bold, bad man," was of They supplied him with money out of the




254                             AN ILLUSTRATED
treasury of Baal-berith, whose worship seems to their deliverer, all whose sons, save himto have been that to which the Israelites self, they had slain; together with an inti.
were at this time the most inclined.  The mation, which proved prophetic, of the probsum was not large,* but it served him  to able result.  He then fled with all haste, in
hire a set of unprincipled men, prepared for fear of Abimelech; and ultimately settled
any undertaking he might propose.  And, beyond his reach, at Beer, in the tribe of
with the usual short-sightedness of wicked Benjamin.
men, thinking to concentrate in his own    Abimelech reigned three years in Shechem,
person the attachment of the Israelites to the during which he so disgusted the men by
house of Gideon, as well as to extinguish whom he had been raised to that bad emithat which was likely to be the most active nence on which he stood, that they expelled
opposition he would  have to  encounter, him from  their city.  In return, he, with
Abimelech marched his troop to Ophrah,  the aid of the desperate fellows who rewhere he put to death all his brethren, the mained with him, did his utmost to distress
sons of Gideon, with the exception of the the inhabitants, so that at the season of
youngest, named Jotham, who managed to vintage they were afraid to go out into their
escape.  This is the first example of a stroke vineyards to collect their fruits.  Hearing
of barbarous policy which has since been of these transactions, one Gaal went over to
very common in the history of the East. In Shechem with his armed followers and kinsthe first instance it had the effect he intended; men, to see how they might be turned to
for on his return to Shechem, the people of his advantage.  We know not precisely who
that place assembled and anointed Abimelech this person was, or whence he came; but
king, close to a pillar of stone that stood there are circumstances in the original narnear that town — perhaps the same which rative which would suggest that he was a
Joshua had set up there as a memorial of Canaanite, descended from the former rulers
the covenant with God..                    of Shecheml, and that his people also were
When Jotham was made acquainted with a remnant of the original Shechemites.  He
this, he repaired secretly to the neighbor- came so opportunely, that the people very
hood of Shechem; and, taking adlvantage gladly accepted his protection during' the
of some festival which brought the inhabit- vintage.  In the feasts which followed the
ants together outside the town, he appeared  joyful labors of that season, Gaal, who
suddenly on a cliff overlooking the valley in seems to have been a cowardly, boasting
which they were assembled, and, in a loud fellow, spoke contemptuously of Abimelech,
voice, called their attention to his words. and talked largely of what he could and
He then delivered that earliest and very fine would do, if authority were vested in him.
parable which represents the trees as making This was heard with much indignation by
choice of a king: The olive refused to leave Zebul, one of the principal magistrates of
its oil, the fig-tree its sweetness, and the the city, who  lost no  time  in  secretly
vine-tree its wine, to reign over the trees sending to apprise Abimelech how matters
(thus intimating the refusal of Gideon's stood, and advised him  to show himself
sons); but the upstart bramble (represent- suddenly before the city, when he would
ing Abimelech) accepts, with great dignity, undertake  to induce Gaal to lmarch out
the offered honor, and even proposes the against him.  Accordingly, one morning,
conditions of its acceptance.  These are ex- when Zebul and other principal persons
quisitely satirical, both in their terms and in were with Gaal at the gate of the city,
their applications: " If ye truly intend to armed men were seen descending the hills.
anoint me king over you, come, take shelter Zebul amused Gaal till they canle nearer,
under my shadow; and if not, let fire come and then, by reminding him  of his recent
out of the bramble and devour the cedars boastings, compelled him  to draw out his
of Lebanon."  That they might be at no loss men to repel the advance of Abimelech.
to understand his meaning, Jotham gave the They met, and no sooner did Gaal see a
obvious "moral," in which he included a few of his men fall, than, with the rest, he
bitter rebuke of the ingratitude of the people fled hastily into the city.  Zebul availed
* Seventy shekels of silver, about equal to real value of money, although the precise amount
forty dollars of our money. But proper allow- of that difference cannot be stated.
ance must be made for a great difference in the




HISTORY  OF THE  BIBLE.                              255
himself of this palpable exhibition of im- Issachar, but dwelling in Mount Ephraim,
potence, if not cowardice, to induce the governed the people for twenty-three years.
people of Shechem  to expel Gaal and his   He was succeeded by Jair, a Gileadite
troop from the town.  Abimelech, who was (of eastern Manasseh), who judged Israel
staying at Arumah, a place not far off, was twenty-two years.  His opulence is indicated
informed of this the next morning, as well by his being the owner of thirty villages,
as that the inhabitants, although no longer which collectively bore the name of Havothguarded by Gaal, went out daily to the Jair (Jair's villages), and that he had thkrty
labors of the field.  He therefore laid am- sons, all of whom he could afford to mount
bushes in the neighborhood; and when the on young asses.  In those days, horses and
men were come forth to their work in the mules were not in use among the Hebrews.
vineyards, two of the ambushed parties rose Their place was not unworthily substituted
to destroy them, while a third hastened to by the fine breed of asses which the country
the gates to prevent their return to the town. afforded; and to possess as many as thirty
The city itself was then taken, and Abimelech of these, young and vigorous, and fit for the
caused all the buildings to be destroyed, saddle (implying the possession of many
and the ground to be strewn with salt, as a more, older and of inferior condition), was
symbol of the desolation to which his inten- no questionable sign of wealth.
tion consigned it.  The fortress, however,   As the administration of these two judges
still remained, and a thousand men were in was peaceable, the notice of them is confined
it.  But they, fancying that it was not to a few lines; the chief design of the sacred
tenable, withdrew  to " the stronghold of historian being to record the calamities which
the temple of Baal-berith," which had the the Israelites drew upon themselves by their
advantage of standing in a more elevated apostasies to the idolatries of the surroundcand commanding position.  This, it will be ino nations, and their providential delivernoted, is the first temple which we read of ances upon their repentance and return to
in scripture.  On perceiving this, Abime- their God and king. After the calm of these
lech cut down the bough of a tree with his administrations, they multiplied their idola,
battle-axe, and bore it upon his shoulder, tries; and in pun:shment for this, they were
directing all his men to do the same.  The brought under a servitude to the Amnmonites,
wood was deposited against the entrance and which continued for eighteen years, and was
walls of the stronghold, and, when kindled; particularly severe upon the tribes beyond
made a tremendous fire, in which the build- Jordan, although the southern and central
ing and the thousand men it contained were tribes on this side the river —Judah, Bendestroyed.                                jamin, and Ephraim - were also subdued.
To follow  up  this victory, Abimelech    Corrected by calamity, the Israelites put
marched against Thebez, another revolted away their idols, and cried to God for pardon
town.  As before, he took the town itself and deliverance.  In reply to their suit, they
with little difficulty, but all the people had were reminded of the deliverances which
shut themselves up in a tower or fortress, they had already experienced, notwithstandwhich  offered  a more  serious  obstacle. ing which they had repeatedly turned to
However, Abimelech advanced to the door serve other gods.  Their prayer was therewith the intention of burning it down, when fore refused, and they were told,' Go and
a woman threw a large stone from  the bat- cry to the gods that ye have chosen; let
tlements above.  It fell upon him, and them deliver you in the time of your tribulabroke his skull; and mindful, even in that tion."  Their reply to this was very proper:
bitter moment, of that principle of military " We have sinned: do thou to us whatever
honor which counts death friom  a woman's seemeth good unto thee; only deliver us, we
hands disgraceful, he hastily called to his pray thee, this time."  And forthwith they
armor-bearer to thrust him through with his rooted out the remains of idolatry from among
sword, that it might not be said a woman them, and worshipped Jehovah with such
slew  him.  But the  disgrace  which  he singleness and zeal that "his soul was grieved
desired to avoid attached forever to  his for the misery of Israel."
name; for it was always remembered to his   There was a man called'Jephthah, who:i.shonor that a woman slew him.           was, like Abimelech, the spurious son of a
After Abimelech, Tola, of the tribe of lman who had a large family of legitimate




256                             AN ILLUSTRATED
children.  When the father died, the other ters, the enemies of Israel.  However this
sons expelled Jephthah from among them, may be, the courage and conduct of Jephthah
saying, " Thou shalt not inherit in our father's became so well known by his successful enterhouse, for thou art the son of a strange prises, that when, after their repentance, the
woman."   As this last phrase generally tribes beyond Jordan determined to make a
denotes a foreigner, or one not of Israel, this stand against the Ammonites, but felt the
treatment, although very harsh, was less un- want of a leader, they agreed that there was
just, under the peculiar circumstances of no known person so fit as Jephthah to lead
the Hebrew constitution, than might at the them  to battle.  The chiefs of Gilead, his
first view appear; for it was a strong point native district, therefore went in person to
of the Mosaic policy to discourage all con- the land of Tob, to solicit this already celnection with foreigners (necessarily idola- ebrated person to undertake the conduct of
ters); and nothing was better calculated to the expedition.  They were rather harshly
this end, for a people like the Hebrews, than received.  " Did ye not hate me," said the
the disqualification of the progeny of such hero, "and expel me from my father's house?
connections from receiving a share in the in- and why do ye come to me now, when ye
beritance.                                 are in distress?"  They, however, continued
On this Jephthah withdrew  into " the to press him, and intimated that, as had been
land of Tob," toward the borders of the usual in such cases, the government of, at
desert; and as he had before this found least, the land of Gilead, would be the reopportunities of establishing a character for ward of his success.  This was very agreespirit and courage, he was soon joined by a able to Jephthah, who forthwith  accomnumber of destitute and idle young men, panied them to Mizpeh, where this agreement
who were led by inclination, or more impera- was solemnly ratified, and all things necestive inducements, to prefer the free life he sary for conducting the war were regulated.
led to the sober habits which a settled com-   By the time Jephthah had organized his
munity  requires.  Besides, from  pastoral forces in Mizpeh, the Ammonites, taking
societies, such as those beyond Jordan, the alarm, had assembled a numerous army in
step into the free life of the desert is much Gilead.  Although, from his previous habits
shorter than it would be among a more agri- of life, we should hardly have expected it
cultural people.  It is really  useless to from him, we find the Hebrew general comattempt to consider Jephthah's troop otherwise mencing the war with much more than usual
than as a set of daring, careless fellows, acting attention to those formalities which are judged
as men at the present day act in the East necessary to render the grounds of quarrel
under similar circumstances, and similarly manifest.  He sent ambassadors to the king
brought together.  Being without any other of the Ammonites, requiring to know why
means of subsistence, they unquestionably  he had come to fight against the Hebrews in
lived by a sort of robbery, as we should call their own land.  The king, in reply, alleged
it now, examples of which are found in all that he came to recover the land taken from
rude states of society, and to which, in such his ancestors by the Israelites, on their way
states of society, no one dreams of attaching from Egypt, and of which he, therefore, redisgrace.  They lived doubtless by raids, or quired peaceable restitution.  Jephthah in
plundering excursions, into the neighboring his reply gave a fair and clear recital of the
small states, driving off cattle, and taking whole transaction which had put these lands
whatever came to their hands; and we may into the possession of the Hebrews, and he
from analogy conclude that they waylaid and refused to surrender them on the following
levied black-mail upon caravans, when com- grounds: 1. He denied that the Ammonites
posed of parties which they had no reason to had any existing title to the lands, for they
treat with favor.  Their point of honor prob- had been driven out of these lands by the
ably was, to abstain from  any acts against Amorites before the Hebrews appeared; and
their own countrymen; and this exception that they (the Hebrews) in overcoming and
existing, the body of the Israelites must have driving out the Amorites, without any assistregarded the performances of Jephthah and ance from or fiiendly understanding with the
his troop with favor, especially if, as is likely, Ammonites, became entitled to the territory
they were thorns in the sides of the Ammonites, which the conquered people occupied; 2,
and took pleasure to annoy, in their own quar- that the title of the Israelites was confirmed




HISTORY  OF THE  BIBLE.                                257
~ a:,.,, NO.-    p'.,     m Al%,~                    ~
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~~~~~~1~~~~1,A~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~                            ~ ~ ~~~~~' _ _ _ _ _ _
ON I
ymmonieashedunnswhichheynonewofAmmon;o.0
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entitled wt grant hpeol  the lavnd  w'
THE, VICTOR GREF,,'ED.
ty a       areswriptioaof above three hundredm
yeto decide t he justich none of cause by the event 
Mioab bad ever reclaimedl these lands; and
of3,  as an attle which was now ad  ominenz, vitable
allhe result thewa      s such  as might be cax- 
entitled to.  Jephthah  d efeated the   Ammon - which  Z
they held as was~ their own ood Chemosb,;
accordinng to their opinion, to grant to the  0~d',",.',:
immones with reat slandsughter, andwhich they now ocu-     
pied.  This admirable  and  well-reasoned  c71                                              ~t~ 
nstatemeion  to subjection.   an appeal t Heaven 
to decide the justice of the cause by the event                          I
of tlne battle which was now inevitable
The  result wa~s such as iniolit be ex-                                             I!
pected.  Jepbthah  defeated: th:e Ammonites with orealt slaughter, and reduced the                                          i
nation to subi ection.                                             1~"   9
But not joy to exalt and gladden his                                                   i
heart, but a bitter grief to rend it deeply,
awaited the victor on his return to Mizpeh.      /                    
Feeling, perhaps, that he had not, like former.                      _!_.
deliverers, been expressly and publicly called                                        /f\
and appointed by God to the work he had'           /'y "K
undertaken, he  had sought to propitiate:
Heaven by a vow, that if allowed to return      /:
to his home in peace, whatsoever first came
forth to meet him  should be offered as a   y/
burnt-offering to Jehovah.
Jephthah had no child, save one daughter,                           __ l_
a virgin, beautiful and young.  And she,                                   
when the news camne of his great victory, and  1't(
of his return in triumph and peace, went    i                     __.l li_1&l}'-.
forth at the head of her fair companions to 
17                                      rC  ~ — -- -- -.:~




258                             AN ILLUSTRATED
meet her glorious father, dancing joyously this devotement to the tabernacle must have
to their timbrels as he drew nigh.  Here, taken place, no access to the tabernacle from
then, was the object of his vow —his cher- the east; for Jephthah was about that time
ished  daughter -  the only object in the waging  a  bitter war with the  tribe of
world which could call forth those kindly Ephraim, in whose territory, at. Shiloh, the
sympathies and tendernesses which lurk deep ark was situated.   This posture of affairs
within even those natures which have been would preclude him from receiving from the
the most scarred and roughened in the storms priests those instructions and remonstrances
of life.  The desolated father rent his clothes, which would have prevented that piteous irncrying, "Alas! my daughter, thou hast molation which he deemed his vow to require.
brought me low indeed!..for I have opened  We are persuaded that the more thoroughly
my mouth to Jehovah and I cannot reverse any one makes himself acquainted with the
it."  Then, understanding the nature of his spirit of the time, the state of religion, the navow, that noble maiden, mindful only that ture of the ideas which then prevailed, the
Israel was delivered, and impressed with the peculiarities of the ecclesiastical polity among
solemn obligation which that vow imposed, the Hebrews, and the character of Jephthah
sought not to turn her father from his pur- himself, -  the more strong will be his convicpose, or encouraged him to seek those evasions tion that the infatuated hero really did offer
which others have since discovered for him. his daughter in sacrifice, and the greater will
With unexampled magnanimity she cried, the difficulty seem  of providing  any other
"My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth  alternative.  The opinion of the Jews themto Jehovah, do with me according to that selves is also entitled to sornme weight; and
which thou hast spoken for as much as Jeho- at a time when they abhorred the idea of
vah hath taken vengeance for thee upon thine human sacrifices, they not only state it as an
enemies, upon the Ammonites."  All she unquestionable fact that this sacrifice  did
desired was that she might be allowed for two take place, but ascribe the deposition of the
months to wander among the mountains, with line of Eleazar firom. the high-priesthood, and
her companions, to bewail that it was not her the substitution of that of Ithamar, to the
lot to be a bride and mother in IsPlel.  At circumstance that the existing pontiff did not
the end of that time, Jephthah " did with her take measures to prevent this stain upon the
according to his vow."                      annals of Israel.
It is much to be regretted that the re-   We must consider how long the minds of
luctance of the sacred writer to express in  the Israelites had been saturated with notions
plain terms the dreadful immolation which  imbibed  from  the  surrounding  heathen,
we believe to be thus indicated has left the which implies the neglect, and consequent
whole matter open as a subject of dispute  ignorance, of the divine law; and  that
The early Jewish and Christian writers (in- among those ideas and practices that of the
eluding Josephus) made no question that superior efficacyof human sacrifices occupied
Jephthah, under a most mistaken notion of a prominent place. We mlay also reflect that
duty, did, after the manner of the heathen, a rough military adventurer, like Jephthah,
really offer his daughter in sacrifice; but the had been even more than usually exposed to
ingenuity of modern criticism has discovered  contaminating influences: such persons are
the alternative that she was not immolated  also usually found to be superstitious, and
on the altar, but was devoted to perpetual are seldom  capable of apprehending more
virginity in the service of the tabernacle. It than certain broad and hard features of such
must be confessed that the subject is one of higher matters as are presented  to their
such difficulty, as to render it hard to reach notice.  Jephthah knew that human victims
a positive conclusion.  But on anxiously were generally regarded as in a peculiar deconsidering  the question, we are sorry to feel gree acceptable to the gods; and as historical
constrained to adhere to the harsher alterna- facts are in general more familiarly known
tive.                                       than dogmas, it was probably unknown to
There was no institution among the Jews him that human sacrifices were abhorrent to
under which practical effect could be given Jehovah, while he was certain to know that
to the alternative which modern interpreta- Abraham had been expressly commanded by
tion has provided; and even had not this God himself to offer his beloved Isaac upon
been the case, there was, at the'time that the altar; and although the completion of




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  259
this act was prevented, it would be remem- ally happened; for his rough nature would
bered that the patriarch obtained high praise not permit him to smooth down their ruffled
because he had not withheld even his only plumes, as Gideon had done on a similar
and well-loved son from  God.  That Jeph- occasion.  And then, finding that they were
thah made such a vow at all corroborates still bent on mischief, he called out the Gilthe view we take of his character.  It was eadites, who were highly exasperated at the
superstitious; and it implies his imperfect reflections which had been cast upon them as
knowledge of the law, which would have "fugitives of Ephraim," —"a base breed
apprised him  of various alternatives which between Ephrain and Manasseh." A battle
would render the fulfilment of his vow in- took place, in which the Ephraimites were
compatible with obedience to the law.  But signally defeated.  They had crossed over to
to such a mind the literal accomplishment of the eastern side of the Jordan, and, after the
a vow - whatever its purport - will appear victory, the Gileadites hastened to seize the
the first of duties; and in the fulfilment of fords of that river, to intercept those of
such a vow as this, it would seem  that the the fugitives who attempted to return to their
greater his own anguish, the more deeply the homes.  But as Israelites of all the tribes
iron entered into his own  soul, the more were constantly passing the river, a test was
meritorious, and the more acceptable to God, necessary to distinguish the Ephraimites from
tile act of the offerer was deemed.         the others.  It is remarkable that the test
The virgins of Israel instituted an anni- chosen was that of pronunciation.  When
versary commemoration of four days, which any man approached to cross the river, he
they spent in celebrating the praises and was asked, "Art thou an Ephraimite?" If
bewailing the fate of Jephthal's daughter.*  he answered, " No," they said, " Then, say
The misunderstanding with Ephraim, to S/hibboleth" (water-brooks); but if he were
which we have incidentally  alluded, was really an Ephraimite, he could not pronounce
similar to that which the tact of Gideon had the sh, but gave the word as " Sibboleth; "
averted on a former occasion.  That haughty and was slain on the spot.  This incident is
and overbearing tribe had been called to the curious, as showing that lingual differences
war in the first instance. but refused to take had already arisen by which particular tribes
part in the enterprise; but when that enter- could be distinguished.  In like manner, a
prise proved successful, they were astonished  Galilean was, in the time of Christ, known
and mortified that Israel had been delivered at Jerusalem by his speech.
by the Gileadites without their assistance.    In this disastrous affair the loss of the
They then assembled tumultuously, and with  Ephraimites amounted to forty-two thousand
many contemptuous and abusive expressions men.  Such a success could be no matter
toward the Gileadites in general, and toward' of triumph to the unhappy Jephthah.  His
Jephthah in particular, they threatened to troubled life was not long protracted.  He
burn his house over his head, because he had died after he had judged Israel six years,
not called them to the last decisive action. B. C. 1247.
The concqueror stated the matter as it actu-   After Jephthah follow the names of three
Jephthah, a judge in Israel. His history of the heart-stricken father.  But the highis contained in Judg. xi. l-xii. 7. He was a minded maiden is ready for any personal sufferGileadite. His fame as a bold and successful ing in the hour of her father's triumph. Only
captain was carried back to his native Gilead; she asks for a respite of two months to withdraw
and when the time was ripe for throwing off the to her native mountains, and in their recesses to
yoke of Ammon, Jephthah consented to become weep with her virgin-friends over the early distheir captain, on the condition, that, in the event appointment of her life. When that time was
of his success against Ammon, he should still ended, she returned to her father, and "he did
remain as their acknowledged head.  He col- unto her his vow."  That the daughter of
lected warriors throughout Gilead and Manasseh, Jephthah was really offered up to God in sacrifice
the provinces which acknowledged his authority; - slain by the hand of her father and then burnt
and then he vowed his vow unto the Lord.  The - is a horrible conclusion, but one which it seems
Ammonites were routed with great slaughter. impossible to avoid.  Joseph Kimchi supposed
But as the conqueror returned to Mizpeh, there that, instead of being sacrificed, she was shut
came out to meet him a procession of damsels up in a house which her father built for the purwith dances and timbrels, and among them — pose, and that she was there visited by the
the first person from  his own house-his daughters of Israel four days in each year so long
daughter and only child. " Alas! my daughter, as she lived. This interpretation has been adopted
thou hast brought me very low," was the greeting by many eminent men. —Bib. Dictionary. A. B.




260                            AN ILLUSTRATED
judges, the silence of the record concerning season to a son, on whom the name of
whose actions may be understood to indicate Samson was bestowed.  As the child grew,
a period of tranquillity and ease.  These it became manifest that the most extraordiwere Ibzan, of Bethlehem  in Ephraim, for nary bodily powers had been given to him:
seven years; Elon, a Zebulonite, for ten while, to prevent undue exaltation of spirit
years; and Abdon, an Ephraimite, for eight friom the consciousness of superior powers, it
years.  Under the repose of these adminis- was known to him  that his gifts had no
trations, however, the Hebrews again insen- necessary dependence on the physical comsibly relapsed into idolatry.  For this they  plication of his sinews, but on his condition
were brought under a, rigorous servitude to as a Nazarite, and on the unshorn hair
their western foes, the Philistines, which which formed the sign and symbol of that
(in its. full rigor) lasted for forty years. condition.
This people had so recruited their strength   It is from  the twentieth year of his age,
since the days of Shamgar, that they now  which was also the twentieth of the bondage
take a very conspicuous place in the Hebrew  to the Philistines, that we are to date the
history, forming by far the most powerful commencement of Samson's vindictive adand inveterate enemies the Israelites had yet ministration.  He proved to be a man of
Oncountered.  They continued much longer ungovernable passions; but, through the
than any other power had done to wield the influence of his destiny to begin the deliverweapon by which the iniquities of Israel were ance of Israel, it was so ordered that even
chastised; for it was not until the time of his worst passions, and even the sorrows and
David that the deliverance was completed.   calamities which these passions wrought upon
When we read of the corrupt state of the himself, were made the instruments of disnation at large, it would be a grievous error tress and ruin to the Philistines.
to infer that all had departed from God.   The fact that the territory occupied by the
There are various intimations that, in the tribe of Dan, to which Samson belonged,
worst times, not a few families were to be immediately adjoined the country of the
found religious and well regulated, and Philistines, in consequence of which he bewhich maintained  among  themselves the came well acquainted with that people, minfaith of the one only God, and followed with istered occasion for most of his operations
exactitude all the requirements of the law. against them.  And first -in the Philistine
Thus, at a later day, when the prophet town of Timnath, Samson had seen a young
deemed that he was himself the only one by woman with whom  he was so well pleased
whom Jehovah was acknowledlged, God him- that he resolved to obtain her for his wife.
self knew that there were in Israel seven But as such matters were always adjusted
thousand persons whose knees had not been between the parents of the respective par.
bowed to Baal.  (1 Kings, xix. 18.)  But ties, he went home and desired his father
although these were the salt of Israel, they and mother to secure this woman for him.
could not preserve the mass from such'putre- His parents would much have preferred that
faction as required that it should be cast his choice had fallen on one of the daughters
forth and trodden under foot.             of his own people; but, seeing his determiAnd now, about the same time that the nation was fixed, they yielded, and went back
Israelites were cast forth to be trodden with him  to Tirnnath.  It was on this jourunder foot by the Philistines, it pleased ney that Samsom  gave the first recorded
their offended King, while with the one indication of the prodigious strength with
hand he punished his revolted subjects, to which he was endowed, by slaying, without
provide with the other for the beginnings of any weapon in his hands, a young and fierce
their deliverance at a future day. For about lion by which he was assailed.
that time the angel of Jehovah appeared to    At Timnath the proposals of his parents
the wife of Manoah, a Danite, who had been were favorably received by the parents of the
barren, and promised her a son, who was to damsel Samson sought in marriage.  It was
be a Nazarite (a person consecrated to God) necessary, by the customs of the time and
from the womb, and that in time he should country, that at least a month should pass
begin to deliver Israel from the yoke of the between such a proposal and the celebration
Philistines.                              of the marriage.  At the expiration of this
Accordingly, the woman gave birth in due time, Samson, again accompanied by  his




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                           261
parents, went down to Timnath to claim his sons who had expounded his riddle.  He
bride.  On the way he turned aside to see then returned to  his own home, without
what had become of the carcass of the lion again seeing his wife, with whose conduct he
he had slain on the former journey.  In that was deeply disgusted.
climate the carcasses of animals left dead upon   But after some time his resentment subthe ground are speedily devoured by jackals sided, and he went down to Timnath to
and vultures, and other beasts and birds revisit his wife, with a present of a kid.
which feed on carrion.  Even insects con- But he found that in the mean time she had
tribute largely to this service.  Accordingly, been given in marriage to a man among the
Samson found only the clean skeleton of the Philistines, who in former times had been
lion, partially covered with the undevoured his most dear and fanmiliar friend, and whom,
hide.  In the cavity thus formed a swarm of in that character, he had  chosen to act
bees had lodged and deposited their honey. as his brideman at the wedding.  The
At wedding-feasts, it was at that time usual for incensed hero  rejected  with indignation
the young men then assembled together to the offer of the father to give him his youngamuse themselves by proposing riddles —  est daughter in lieu of the woman he had
those who were unable to solve the riddle in- married; and regarding, probably, the treatcurring a forfeiture to him by whom it was ment he had received as in some degree reproposed, who himself was liable to a similar suiting from the insolence of superiority,
forfeiture if his riddle were found out.  The and from the contempt in which the Philisadventure with the lion suggested to Samson tines held the people they had so long held
the riddle which he proposed -" Out of the in subjection, he considered himself justified
eater came forth food, and out of the fierce in avenging his own  injuries upon the
came forth sweetness."  For three days they Philistine nation, as part and parcel of the
vainly tried to discover the meaning of this wrongs his nation suffered.  This mode of
riddle; and at last, rather than incur the taking his revenge was no less remarkable
heavy forfeiture of " thirty shirts and thirty than effective.  He obtained three hundred
suits of raiment," they applied to the bride, jackals, and tying them together, with a fireand threatened destruction to her family if brand between their tails, let them loose.
she did not extract from her husband the re- The affrighted animals, being so bound as to
quired solution, and make it known to them. be obliged to run side by side, hastened for
He was very unwilling to tell her, declaring  shelter to the fields of standing and ripened
that even his father and mother were ignorant corn, which, at that dry season, when the corn
of it.  But she put in practice all the little was ripe, was easily kindled into a blaze.  As
arts by which women have ever carried their the tortured jackals took different directions,
points with men usually weak - as Samson the conflagration was very extensive; nor
was, with all his corporal strength - and by was it confined to the standing corn, but
her tears, and reproaches of his want of love wrought much damage among the oliveand confidence, she so wearied him that he grounds and vineyards, and consumed the
at length gave her the information she de- corn which had been cut down and heaped
sired.  The guests were consequently en- for the threshing-floor.
abled, within the given time, to answer-    When the Philistines understood the im"What is sweeter than honey?  What is mediate cause of this act of hostility on the
fiercer than a lion?"  But Samson was well part of Samson, they went and burned his
convinced that the wit of man could never wife and her father's house with fire; thus
have discovered the true solution without a punishing them for that breach of faith to
knowledge of the circumstances, which they which they were first led by the fear of this
could only have obtained by tampering with very punishment.  If this act was intended
his wife.  He exclaimed indignantly-" If to appease Samson, it had not that effect; for
ye had not ploughed with my heifer, ye had it did not prevent him from taking an oppornot found out my riddle!"  He did not, tunity which offered of discomfiting, with
however, as he might have done, refuse much slaughter, a considerable number of
the payment of the forfeiture he had thus men belonging to that nation.  He then
unexpectedly incurred; but to obtain it he withdrew to a strong rock called Etam, in
went and slew thirty of the Philistines near the tribe of Judah.  To that place he was
Ascalon, and gave their raiment to the per- pursued by a large body of Philistines, whose




262                              AN ILLUSTRATED
presence occasioned great alarm to the Juda-   Whom God hath of his special favor raised
ites.   But when  they  understood  that   As their deliverer? If he aught begin,
Samson- individually was the sole object of..  How frequent to desert him, and at last
Samson individcually  was  the sole object  of   To heap ingratitude on worthiest deeds."
this incursion, they most shamefully under-                          SAMSON AGONISTES.
took of themselves to deliver him up to his
enemies.  Accordingly, three thousand oft i h
enem       ies. Accordingly; three thousand of was not deterred from going again among the
them. went up to him, feeling assured that m    Philistines, as soon as a motive occurred in
would not act against his own people.  They the indulgence of that blind passion which
told him they were come to bind him, and to had already brought him into much trouble,
put him into the hands of the Philistines.  It and which was des..ilutats oino -Samn bd and which was destined to be his ruin.  He
strikingly illustrates the opinion Samson  had  went to Gaza* to visit a harlot of that place.
of his own countrymen -  an opinion which His arrival was soon known, and although
the circumstances justified- that before he this was a different state from that which had
consented to be bound, he obliged them  to been the scene of his former exploits, the
swear that they would not kill him themselves.  authorities of the place were too sensible of
He then allowed them to bind him  securely  the importance of destroying this implacable
with two new ropes, and to take him  down  enemy of their nation, to neglect the advanto the Philistines. W hen   he was led to their
to the Philistines.  When he was led to their tage which his folly had placed in their hands.
camp they raised a triumphant shout against The city gates were closed to prevent his eshim.  As he heard that shout, "the Spirit cape; and a strong guard was placed there
of Jehovah came mightily upon him:" he to surprise and kill him  in the morning.
burst his strong bands asunder as easily  Samson, however, anticipated  their plan;
as if they had been tow  burnt with fire, and, rising at midnight, he went boldly to the
and seizing the jawbone of an ass which lay gate, forced it from its place, and, by way of
at hand, he flew upon the Philistines, and, bravado, carried it off entire, posts, bars, and
with no other weapon, routed the whole thou- all to the top of a hill on the way to Hebron.
sands which had come against him, slaying The guards were too much astonished and
many of their number.  They only lived who terrified to molest or pursue him.
fled. As Milton makes the hero observe —,    After this, Samson did not again venture
"Had Judah that day joined, or one whole tribe, into  he territory  of te    ilistines, but
They had by this possessed the towers of Gath, sought at home the indulgence of those blindAnd lorded over them whom now they serve.   ing passions which make the strongest weak.
But what more oft, in nations grown corrupt,   "He loved a woman in the vale of Serek,"
And by their vices brought to servitude,
Than to love bondage more than liberty,     so celebrated for its vines.  Her name was
Bondage with ease than strenuous liberty;   Delilah, and she was probably of Israel, alAnd to despise, or envy, or suspect,       though Josephus, to save the credit of his
* Gaza (properly Azzah), one of the five chief i. 18); but they did not hold it long; for soon
cities of the Philistines. It is remarkable for its afterwards we find it in the hands of the Philiscontinuous existence and importance from  the tines (Judg. iii. 3, xiii. 1, xvi. 1, 21); indeed it
very earliest times. The secret of this unbroken seems to have been their capital; and apparently
history is to be found in the situation of Gaza. continued through the times of Samuel, Saul,
It is the last town in the S. W. of Palestine, on and David to be a Philistine city (1 Sam. vi. 17,
the frontier towards Egypt. The same peculiarity  xiv. 52, xxxi. 1; 2 Sam. xxi. 15).  Solomon
of situation has made Gaza important in a became master of "Azzah" (1 K. iv. 24). But
military sense. Its name means " the strong;"  in after-times the same trouble with the Philisand this was well elucidated in. its siege by tines recurred (2 Chr. xxi. 16, xxvi. 6, xxviii.
Alexander the Great, which lasted five montlis. 18). The passage where Gaza is mentioned in
This city was one of the most important military  the N. T. (Acts viii. 26) is full of interest. It is
positions in the wars of the Maccabees (1 Macc. the account of the baptism of the Ethiopian
xi. 61, 62, xiii. 43). Some of the most impor- eunuch on his return from Jerusalem  to Egypt.
tant campaigns of the crusaders took place in the The modern Ghuzzeh is situated partly on an
neighborhood.  The Biblical history of. Gaza oblong hill of moderate height, and partly on
may be traced through the following stages. In  the lower ground. The climate of the place is
Gen. x. 19 it appears, even before the call of almost tropical, but it has deep wells of excellent
Abraham, as a " border" city of the Canaanites. water. There are a few palm-trees in the town,.In the conquest of Joshua the territory of Gaza and its fruit-orchards are very productive. But
is mentioned as one which he was not able to the chief feature of the neighborhood is the widesubdue (Josh. x. 41, xi. 22, xiii. 3).  It was spread olive-grove to the N. and N.E. - Smith's
assigned to the tribe of Judah (Josh. xv. 47), Bib. Dictionary.                   A. B.
and that tribe did obtain possession of it (Judg.




ii{S~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~?,''
— A=
- ~ll ii
(II~~~~~~~~~if~ 
DEATH ~~~~~~__________________ IOllhAllhIOll








HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              263
countrywomen, makes her a Philistine.  The 1 aroused from his sleep by the approach of the
Philistines themselves took an anxious inter- Philistines to seize him, he thought to put
est in all the movements of Samson, and forth his wonted power and destroy them all;
were soon acquainted with this new besot- but his listless arms refused to render him
ment, of which they prepared to take advan- their wonted service, and he knew, too late,
tage.  A deputation, consisting of a principal that " Jehovah had departed from him."
person from each of the five Philistine states,   The Philistines took and bound himl; and,
went up the valley to the place where he was. to complete his disablement, put out both his
And now, we observe, it was not their object eyes - a mode of rendering a public enemy
to get possession of his person while he or offender incapable of further offence, of
retained all his strength, but to ascertain how  which this is the first historical instance, but
that strength *might be  taken  from  him. which has ever since been much resorted to
They were well persuaded that a strength so in the kingdoms of the East.*  They then
greatly exceeding all they knew or had ever took him  down to Gath, and binding him
heard of, and to which that possessed by the with fetters of brass, employed him to grind
few descendants of Anak who lived among in the prison-house.
them could not for an instant be compared,   Nothing could more clearly than this depmust be supernatural - the result of some rivation evince the miraculous nature of the
condition which might be neutralized, or of superhuman strength with which Samson had
some charm which might be broken.  They been for special purposes invested.  Samson
therefore offered Delilah the heavy bribe of himself had known this before; but now,
eleven hundred shekels of silver from each  weak, blind, bound, "disglorified," and deof their number (amounting altogether to graded to a woman's service, t he had occa6871.) to discover the secret of his great sion  and  leisure  to feel it; and in his
strength, and to betray him into their hands, " prison-house" he probably learned more
that they might bind and afflict him.  Sam- of himself than he had known in all his
son amused her by telling her of certain pro- previous life.  Nor was this knowledge uncesses whereby the weakness of other men profitable.  He felt that although he had
would be brought upon him; but each time begun to deliver Israel, this employment of
the imposition was detected, by her putting the gifts confided to him had rather been the
the process to the proof.  Then she con- incidental effect of his own insensate pastinued to worry him by such trite but always sions, than the result of those stern and
effective reproaches as, " I-ow canst thou say steady purposes which became one who had' I love thee,' when thy heart is not with so solemnly been set apart, even before his
me? for thou hast deceived me these three birth, to the salvation of his country.  Such
times, and hast not told me wherein thy great thoughts as these brought repentance to his
strength lieth."  Thus dclay by day she pressed soul; and as by this repentance his condition
him and urged him, until "his soul was of Nazariteship was in some sort renewed, it
vexed unto death," and at last he told the pleased God that, along with the growth of
whole truth to her -that he was a Nazarite his hair, his strength should gradually return
from his birth, and that if he left that state to him.
by cutting off his hair, which had never yet   Fatally for the Philistines, they took the
been  shorn  or shaven, his extraordinary view that, since the strength of Samson had
strength would depart from  him.  Delilah been the gift of the God of Israel, their
saw by his earnestness that he had this time triumph over him evinced that their own god,
told her the truth.  Accordingly, she sent ]Dagon, was more powerful than Jehovah.
for a man, who, while the hero slept with his This raised the matter from  being a case
head upon her lap, shaved off the luxuriant between Samson and the Philistines, to one
tresses of his hair.  His strength departed between Jehovah and Dagol; and it thus
from  him: but he knew it not; and when became necessary that the divine honor should
* This barbarous infliction is, however, now  under the late king; and we believe that no
-under the operation of those humanizing in- instance has yet occurred in which the present
fluences which are insensibly pervading the East monarch has resorted to it.
-in the course of being discontinued. It was
formerly more common in Persia than in any    t Grinding is almost invariably performed by
other country; but it became comparatively rare women in the East.




264                              AN ILLUSTRATED
be vindicated.  An occasion for this was destroyer of their country" to be their
soon offered under aggravated circumstances. bond-slave.  After having been for some
The Philistines held a feast to Dagon, time exposed to their mockeries and insults,
their god, who, as they supposed, had deliv- the blind hero desired the lad who led and
ered their enemy into their hands.  In the held him by the hand, to let him  rest himheight of their festivity they thought of  self against the pillars which sustained the
ordering  Samson himself to be produced, chief weight of the roof of the temple,
that the people might feed their eyes with upon which no less than three thousand perthe sight of the degoyraded condition of one sons had assembled to view the spectacle,
who had not long since been their dread. and  celebrate  Dagon's  sacrifices.   Thus
The assembled  multitude greeted his ap- placed, Samson breathed the prayer   " 0
pearance  with  shouts  of  triumph,  and Lord Jehovah, remember me, I pray thee,
praised their god who had reduced "the and strengthen me, I pray thee, only tlis
SUPPORITING PILLARS OF EASTERN BUILDINGS.
once, 0 (!,,d, that I may at one be avened firom his countrymen to vindicate their libof the Phlistines for my two eyes."  Say- erties: whether it was that the arm  of the
ing this, he grasped the pillars with  his Lord might be the more visibly revealed in
mighty arms, and crying, " Let me die with him, or that his countrymen were too much
the Philistines  "he bowed himself with such depressed by the severity of their servitude
prodigious force that the pillars gave way, to be animated by his example.  They seem
and then the roof fell in, destroying with also to have feared him  almost as much as
one tremendous crash all who were above it they did the Philistines   Else why should
and below it.  Thus those whom  Samson three thousand armed men of Judah have
slew at his death were nmore in number than gone to persuade him  to surrender himself
those he slew in his life.                  to the Philistines, when, with such a leader,
"It is remarkable that the exploits of they might naturally expect to have been
Samson against the Philistines were per- invincible? or why, when  he  destroyed
formed singly, and without any co-operation [routed?] a thousand Philistines with so




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                   265
simple a weapon, did they not join in pursuit any authority in the tribes; but to carry on
of the rest?  So true was the prediction of the historical time, he is counted as one of
the angel to his mother, that he should only the judges, and his administration is cornbegin to deliver Israel." ~                 puted at forty years, ending by his death, in
It scarcely appears that Samson exercised the year 1222 B. C.
CHAPTER XV.
ELI. -— DEFEAT OF ISRAEL. -  ADMINISTRATION  OF SAMUEL.
SAMSON  was the  last of the military noticed in the history of the Judges.  From
heroes stirred up to deliver Israel from  its Phineas, the grandson of Aaron, to Eli, a
oppressors.  The two that followed, Eli and high-priest is not mentioned on any occasion,
Samuel, were men of peace — the one a nor would even their names be known but
priest, and the other a Levite.             for the list in Chronicles (1  Chron. vi.
In the absence of a person  specially  4-16, 50-52), where the  order is thus
called and appointed to deliver and judge given: -  Abishua, Bukki, Uzzi, Zerahiab,
the people, the civil government, by the Meraioth.
principles of the theocracy, devolved on    In the person of Eli, a change in the line
the high-priest, as the vizier of the great of succession to this high office took place,
king, having access to his presence, and as he was the first of the race of Ithamar,
being the interpreter of his will.  It is not the second son of Aaron.  But as the lint
easy to see that Samnson exercised the civil of his elder son Eleazar was not extinct, an I
government over any of the tribes.  And as the cause of the change is not assigned,
although, therefore, in order to carry on some difficulty has been experienced in,Jthe succession of times, it is convenient to counting for it.  The Jews, as we have seen,
say that at his death the government de- suppose that it was because the existing ponvolved on the high-priest, yet, in fact, there tiff had not taken measures sufficiently active
is little reason to question that the high- to prevent Jephthah from sacrificinghis daughpriest exercised as much authority before as ter- But if, in the absence of all positive
after.  But, in such times as these, that information, a conjecture might be hazarded,
authority was but smnall, and chiefly, as it we would suggest the probability that the
would appear, judicial, particularly in ad- last pontiff of Eleazar's line died leaving no
justing disputes between persons of dif- son oid enough to take the office, and that it
ferent tribes.  The heads of the  several then (as afterward in the succession in the
tribes seem  to have considered themselves kingdom) devolved on his adult uncle or
fully competent to manage their internal cousin of the line of Ithamar.   Such a
affairs; and  their divided  allegiance  to course resorted to in temporal successions, to
Jehovah involved the political evil, that the avoid the evils of a minority and regency,
authority of the general government was must have been much more necessary in
proportionably weakened, and the cohesion the case of the high-priesthood.  That the
of the tribes in the same degree relaxed. change took place in some such natural
Subject to this preliminary observation, the and quiet way seems to afford the most
bigh-priest may, for historical convenience, satisfactory explanation of the silence of the
be considered the successor of Samson.      record on a matter of such importance.
It is remarkable  that functionaries so    Eli was a good and pious man, estimable
important in the theory of the Hebrew con- in private life for his many virtues and the
stitution, as the high-priests, are scarcely mildness of his character; but he was greatly wanting in those sterner virtues which
* Hales ii. 108.             became his public station, and which were




266                             AN ILLUSTRATED
indeed necessary for the repression of wicked- voice calling him by his name. He supposed
ness, and the punishment of the -wrong doer. that it was Eli who had called; he hastened
As he grew old, he devolved much of his to him, but found that it was not so.  This
public duty upon his sons Hophni and Phin- was repeated three times; and at the third
eas, two evil-disposed men, who possessed time, Eli, concluding that it was the Lord
the energy their father lacked, without any who had called the lad, instructed him to
of his virtues.  Even in their sacred minis- answer, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heartrations at the tabernacle, their conduct was eth."  Samuel obeyed; and the Voice then
so shamefully signalized by rapacity and li- delivered to him, as an irrevocable doom, the
centiousness, that the people, through their former denunciations against Eli's house,
misconduct, were led to abhor the offering " because his sons had made themselves vile,
of Jehovah.  All this became known to Eli; and he restrained them  not;" declaring
but, instead of taking the immediate and that he would " do a thing in Israel at which
decisive measures which became his station, both the ears of every one that heareth it
he contented himself. with a mild and inef- shall tingle."  In the morning, the lad,
fective remonstrance. This weakness of Eli's being pressed by Eli, delivered to him the
was justly counted a sin in that venerable message he had received.  But even this
person; and a prophet was commissioned to only gave occasion for the further manifestawarn him of the evil consequences, which tion of the passive virtues of his character.
were no less than the exclusion of his race " It is Jehovah," he said; "let him  do
from the pontificate to which he had been  what seemeth to him good."
advanced.  But even this could not rouse    After this, matters went on for some time
the old man to the exertion which became much as they had done.  Eli's sons pursued
his station; but he seems rather to have ac- their old courses, making themselves still
quieseed in this judgment as a thing not to more vile; and their father, though now well
be averted.                                aware of the doom which hung over himself
The next reproof which this remiss judge and them, took no measures in the hope to
received was through an unexpected channel. avert it.  But as Samuel grew, the word of
At the tabernacle, in personal attendance the Lord again came to him  from time to
upon the high-priest, was a boy, a Levite, time, and all Israel knew that he was estabwho having been the child signally granted lished to be a prophet of Jehovah.
in answer to the many prayers of Hannah,   Thus passed ten years, at the end of
his previously barren mother, was by her which the threatened judgments begant to be
consecrated from the womb, as a Nazarite, to inflicted upon the house of Eli.  At that
Jehovah.  In  consequence of this, com- time the Israelites rashly, and without conbined with his Levitical character, he had suiting their Divine King, embarked in a
been left at the tabernacle as early as he war with the Philistines.  In the forty years
could be separated from his mother's care, since the death of Samson, this people had
to render such services there as his tender recruited their strength, and recovered the
years allowed.  His name was Samuel: and courage of which they appear to have been
as his pious mother came to Shiloh yearly for a season deprived by the astounding
with her husband to celebrate the passover calamity which swept away so many of their
(bringing with her a dress for her son), she chiefs and nobles.  In the first engagement
had the delight of perceiving that he, grow- the Israelites were defeated, with the loss of
ing up under the shadow of the altar, con- four thousand men.  On this they sent to
ducted himself with such propriety and dis- Shiloh for the ark of the covenant, not
cretion, that he stood very high in the favor doubting of victory  under its protection.
of God and man.  That he was thus, from  The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas,
his very infancy, constantly before the eyes attended it to the camp.  On its arrival
of the people when they attended at the tab- there, " all Israel shouted with a great shout,
ernacle, doubtless went far to prepare the so that the earth rang again."  On hearing
way for that influence and station which he this, and being apprised of its cause, the
ultimately attained.                       Philistines were filled with consternation;
It was the thirty-first year of Eli's admin- and the manner in which their alarm was
istration, when Samuel, then twelve years of expressed affords a very clear intimation of
age, lay on his bed at night, that he heard a the effect which had been produced on their




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                             267
minds, by the wonders which Jehovah had Phineas, were slain - and that the ark of
wrought for the deliverance and protection God was taken!  No sooner had the last
of Israel.  " Wo unto us I" they cried; words passed the lips of the messenger than
"who shall deliver us out of the hand of the high-priest fell backward from off his
these mighty gods?  These are the gods that seat; and, being old and heavy, his neck was
smote the Egyptians with all the plagues of broken in the fall.  Soon after the news of
the wilderness."  The procedure itself did all these calamities was carried to the wife
not strike them as strange, for it was not of Phineas; on hearing which she was taken
unusual among ancient nations to take their with the pains of labor, and died, after she
gods to their wars; and the ark, with its had looked upon the son to whom she gave
cherubim, the Philistines supposed to be the birth, and given him the sad name of Ichagod of the Hebrews.  They did not ques- bod (Inglorious); for she said, " The glory
tion the existence of that God, or his special is departed from  Israel; for the ark of
care for his people; neither did they deny JEHOVAH, the God of Israel, is taken."
his power, of which, indeed, they were afraid. These incidents serve to evince the depth of
They allowed Jehovah to be the god of the that astonishment and grief with which the
Hebrews, in the same sense in which they loss of the ark was regarded.
regarded Dagon to be their own god.  It   The Philistines soon found that they had
was his universal and exclusive power that small cause to rejoice in the glorious trophy
they denied, or rather did not recognize.    they had won; and most convincingly was it
Notwithstanding their alarm, the Philis- made known to them that the Israelites had
tines did not give way to despair; but like been defeated for the punishment of their
a brave people, which they were always, the sins, which rendered them unworthy of their
imminence of the danger only stimulated God's protection, and not through his want
them  to the more strenuous exertions for of power to save.  The Philistines certainly
victory. They cried to one another: " Be considered that they had taken captive the
strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye god of the Hebrews, and could, on the prinPhilistines, that ye become not servants unto ciples of pagan idolatry, hardly fail to
the Hebrews, as they have been to you! attribute it to the superior power of Dagon,
Quit yourselves like men, and fight! "   their own god.  Yet they still must have
They fought: and the victory was given had a very salutary dread of the God of
to them, to punish the Hebrews for their Israel; and while they could not but regard
misdoings, and for having engaged in this the ark as the proudest of their trophies, it
war without consulting their King, as well was probably more with the view of propitias to teach them that undue confidence in ating him, by associating him with their own
the ark itself was a superstition, if not an god, than  by way of insult, that they
idolatry, apart from a due reliance on God deposited the conquered ark in the temple
himself, whose footstool only the ark was. of their Dagon at Azotus.  But God disThirty thousand men of Israel fell in the dained this dishonoring alliance; and twice
battle and pursuit; the guilty sons of Eli the Philistines found their idol overthrown,
were among the slain, and the ark itself was and the second time broken to pieces, before
taken.                                   the ark of God.  And further to demonstrate
Eli, blind and old, remained at Shiloh, his power in such a way as might include a
anxiously expecting news from the camp; punishment for their idolatry and for the'"for his heart trembled for the ark of God;" abominations connected with it, the Lord
and that he might be in the way of receiv- smote the people of the place with hemoring the earliest rumors from the war, he sat rhoids, or the piles, with a mortal destruction.
watching by the wayside.  One day he The land also swarmed with jerboas, whereby
heard an outcry in the town, which had been the products of the fields were consumed.
occasioned by the news brought by one of Attributing these calamities to the presence
the fugitives from the battle.  This man, with of the ark, they sent it to Gath, where it
his clothes rent and dust upon his head, remained until the pressure of the same
soon came before the high-priest and gave to inflictions compelled them to send it from
him the tidings that Israel fled before the them.  It was taken to Ekron, another of
Philistines — that there had been a great the five metropolitan cities of Philistia.
slaughter —that his two sons, Hophni and The Ekronites  received it with terror,




268                              AN ILLUSTRATED
crying, " They have brought round to us the two kine, whose necks had never before
ark of the God of Israel to slay us and our been subjected to the yoke.  Their calves
people."  They therefore, in an assembly of were tied up at home; and, by the advice
"the lords of the Philistines," proposed that of the priests, it was concluded to leave
the ark should be sent back to its own place the cows firee to take their own course:
in the land of Israel.  This was determined; if the animals went away from  their calves
nor was the determination  too soon, for to the land of Israel, it was to be inferred
already the hand of God was so heavy upon  that a right judgment had been formed of
Ekron, that "the cry of the city went up to the cause from which their calamities prothe heavens."  And that it might be sent ceeded; but if not, they  might. conclude
away with all honor, the diviners, who were that it had been the result of natural causes.
consulted as to the best means of giving From such incidents the heathen were even
effect to the intention which had been formed, thus early accustomed to conjecture the will
counselled that five golden hemorrhoids, and of their gods.  In this case, no sooner were
five golden mice, one from each of the Phi- the kine set free than they turned their backs
listine states, should be deposited in a coffer upon their young, and took the road toward
beside the ark, as a trespass-offering: for the town of Bethshemesh in Judah, being
even thus early the custom  had come into  the nearest city of the Levites toward the
use of making votive offerings representing  Philistine frontier.  It was the time of the
the instruments of affliction, or of the parts wheat-harvest, when the people of the town
afflicted, to the god to whom the infliction or were abroad in the valley reaping the fruits
the cure was attributed. That they might give of their fields.  They beheld the ark advanthe glory to the God of Israel, and  not cing with great gladness; and when the kine
harden their hearts as did the Egyptians, stopped of their own accord, near a great
and thereby bring upon themselves the pun- stone, in a field belonging to one Joshua, the
ishments of that people, were the reasons by Levites who were present detached them
which this course of conduct was enforced. from the car, and offered them up in sacrifice
And  they are remarkable as showing the  upon that stone before the ark.  And the
effect, even at this remote date, upon the stone being thus consecrated by sacrifice, the
neighboring nations, of the wonders of judg- ark was removed from the car and deposited
ment  and  deliverance  which: had been  thereon.  The five lords of the Philistines,
wrought in the land of Egypt.                who had followed the car to the borders of
T''o testify all possible respect, the ark was Bethshemesh (which was twelve miles displaced in a new car,* to which were yoked tant from  Ekron), and who had stood wit* CARS DRAWN BY OXEN.- That the Philis- stages of its return from the Philistines. For the
tines thought of placing the ark on a car, to be Israelites, observing that those people had in this
drawn by oxen, shows that vehicles drawn by  manner transported it safely, continued its resuch animals were in use among them, at least in  moval in the same manner, until the contheir sacred processions. There is nothing of sequences that ultimately ensued, reminded them
the kind among the Egyptians.  Their religious of the more proper method.
processions were walking processions, and by    After Solomon, the Hebrews learned from the
water: that is to say, as all their towns were Egyptians and their nearer neighbors to have
along the Nile, their religious progresses from one chariots of war drawn by horses; and kings and
place to another were by that river, the short high military commanders appear to have had
distances to and from which they walked, bearing  their private chariots also drawn by horses. To
their arks, their idols, and their implements of these and agricultural purposes, wheel-carriages
religious service.  The Jews had no religious seem to have been very much confined; but, as
processions after they became a settled people -  far as they were used, they appear, except in the
unless it were in the removals of the ark; which cases specified, to have been drawn by oxen. The
removals resulted from circumstances, for it was use of war-chariots has now nearly disappeared
intended to be stationary.  It was indeed not in the East, and with it the employment of horses
unlawful to take the ark to the wars; but the for draught.  Oxen are employed everywhere,
only instance in which this is recorded to have from the Yellow Sea to the Mediterranean. And
been done, was when it was taken by the Philis- in our present engravings, the elegance of the
tines. In the wilderness the ark was carried on. vehicles, and the cost and finish of the equipthe shoulders of the Levites, as were the other ments, show that to ride in a car drawn by oxen
more sacred utensils of the tabernacle; but the is not, nor was, considered a mode of conveyance
fabric itself, and its heavier furniture, were placed by any means so rude or ignoble as the illustraon cars or wagons drawn by oxen. The ark itself tions at first sight might have suggested.
was never thus conveyed, except on the various




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  269
nessing  these  proceedings, now  returned with death.  On this the people cried, with
home, well convinced that it was the hand great consternation, " Who is able to stand
of the God of Israel by which they had before this holy God, Jehovah? and to whom
been smitten.  The ark had been in their shall he go from  us?"  They decided to
hands seven months.                         invite the people of Kirjath-jearim to take the
The adventures of the ark, and its con- ark away.  They did so, and deposited it
stant exposure to their sight, begat in the in the house of Abinadab " upon the hill."
Bethshemites a familiarity toward it, ineon- This person set apart his son Eleazar to take
sistent with the respect due to Jehovah, and the charge of it —to preserve it from polwhich it was highly necessary to repress. lution, and to keep all things clean and
When therefore their familiarity went so far orderly about it.  Thus it remained about
that they ventured to raise the cover of the eighty-two years.  Why it was not returnedt
ark, to gratify their curiosity with a view of to Shiloh does not very clearly  appear.
its contents, sixty of their number -  prin- Probably no command on the subject was
cipal persons of the place — were smitten  given; and from the experience which the'  i,,ll  lltl'V
INDIAN CAR, DIRAWN BY OXEN.
Israelites now had of the jealousy with which had before seemed. The tabernacle still
its sanctity was guarded, they were afraid to remained at Shiloh, which continued to be
remove it without express orders.  Besides, the seat of the appointed ministrations, until
at this time, the people were again far gone it was removed, in the reign of Saul, to
into idolatrous practices, which made them  Nob, probably in consequence of the destruecomparatively indifferent about the ark; and tion of Shiloh in the Philistine war (1 Sam.
it is not unlikely that the re-action of the xiv. 3; Jer. vii. 12-14, xxvi. 6-9).
sentiment of astonishment and grief with    For their idolatries and alienation, the
which its loss has been regarded did much Hebrews were punished by twenty years'
to impair that veneration of which it had continuance (including the seven months of
been the object.  Add to this that they had the ark's absence) of their subjection to the
been without the ark for seven months, in Philistines.
the course of which they had  accustomed    It is usually stated that Samuel succeeded
their minds to the want of it, and had learned Eli.  He was then little more than twenty
to regard it as less essential to them  than it years of age; and although, as his years




270                             AN ILLUSTRATED
advanced, he doubtless acquired much au- (representing the sun and moon), and devote
thority among the people from the influence themselves to  the  exclusive  service of
of his character and position, there is no Jehovah.  His directions were followed;
evidence that it was any other than that and he then convened an assembly of all
which prophets usually exercised.  It rather Israel at Mizpeh, where they held a solemn
appears from the text that it was after the fast and humiliation for their sins, and poured
twenty years of further servitude to the out water before Jehovah, as expressive of
Philistines, that Samuel was publicly called their despondency or grief.  And to testify
to assume the civil government.           their good intentions for the future, the
At the end of these twenty years, the prophet himself was there invested by them
people' " lamented after the Lord," or re- with the authority of a "judge."
pented  of the sins by which they had    The Philistines took umbrage at this great
alienated themselves from  him, and were assembly in  Mizpeh, which, they rightly
disposed  to  return  to  their allegiance. judged, boded no good to the continuance
Samuel then came forward in his prophetic of their dominion.  They assembled  their
character, and promised them  deliverance forces and marched to that place, to disperse
from the Philistines, if they would put away the congregation.  The people, not being
the strange gods - the Baals and Ashtaloths prepared for war, were filled with alarm  on
ETI'IOP1IAN CARi, DRtAWN BY OXEN
the approach of their enemies, and besought Ebenezer (the help-stone), saying, "Hitherto
Samuel to cry to Jehovah for them, that he Jehovah hath helped us."
might save them  from  the hand  of the    This very  brilliant victory broke  the
Philistines.  Samuel did so with great ear- spirit of the Philistines for many years.
nestness; and he was in the act of offering They were obliged to restore all their conup a lamb as a burnt-offering, when the quests firom the Israelites; and, for many
Philistines drewnear to battle.  The prayers years to come, they kept carefully within
of the prophet were then answered by a their own territories, and abstained from ally
terrible storm of thunder and lightning, by hostile acts against the Hebrews.   Their
which the enemy were alarmed and con- example was followed by the other neighfounded, while the Israelites, recognizing bors of Israel, which hence enjoyed the
the sign, were inspired with sudden and in- felicity of a profound peace during the endomitable courage.  They fell impetuously tire period of Samuel's sole administration.
upon the force they had so lately dreaded,   This excellent judge administered justice
and slew vast numbers of them, chasing the regularly to the tribes in his annual circuit,
remainder as far as Beth-car.  In memory which he took to the places of sacred stones
of this great victory, Samuel set up  a at Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and conmemorial-stone, and gave it the name of stantly at his own place of abode at Ramabh,




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  271
where he built an altar to Jehovah.  This they walked not in the steps of their father.
was probably by the divine permission or " They turned aside after lucre, and took
direction, at least for the present, as God bribes, and perverted judgment."
had not yet given any declaration where the    This misconduct of his sons, with his own
ark was to be fixed.                        advancing age, and the seemingly unsettled
The sole administration of Samuel lasted  state in which the government would be left
twelve years, dating it, as we do, from  the at his death, were among the causes which at
end of the Philistine servitude, and not from  this time induced the elders of Israel to resort
the death of Eli.  Near the close of this to Samuel at Ramah, and to demand of him
period, when the prophet was " growing old that a king should be appointed to reign
and gray-headed," being sixty-four years of over them, as in other nations.
age, he appointed his sons, Joel and Abiah, to    The causes which we have just stated, toact for him at Bethel and Beersheba.  But gether with the regular administration of
MONIUMENTAL PILLARS IN SYRIA.
justice to which Samuel had accustomed their cowardice from a want of confidence in
them, oceasioned the demand, it would seem, Jehovah; so the disunion and jealousy of
at this particular time; but there were the tribes, though selfishness was the im-,
deeper causes which would unquestionably mediate cause, arose from  a disposition to
have brought them to this point ere long, if neglect their divine king, and not to considthey had not now.  These causes have been er themselves as the united and only people
well discriminated by Jahn.                 of Jehovah.  This disposition, if it did not
This able writer justly refers the frequent originate  from, was at least very much
interruptions to the welfare of the Hebrew  heightened by, the multiplication of deities.
state under the judges to-" 1. The effem- Thus both these causes of their misfortunes
inacy and eowardiee of the people; and, 2, owed their origin to idolatry, that great
to the disunion and jealousy of the tribes, cause of all their calamities, so often menwho never assisted each other with the requi- tioned in the sanctions of the law.  Thus
site zeal and alacrity.  But as this effemi- the people, by increasing their gods, enernacy arose from  the vices of idolatry, and vated themselves, and prepared for them



272                              AN ILLUSTRATED
selves those sufferings and chastisements by engagements; and as the unseen king,
which they were again to be brought back Jehovah, would necessarily be obscured by
to their King, Jehovah."                    a subordinate, visible monarch, he, by means
He proceeds to observe that " These causes of Samuel, gave the rulers to understand his
of national misfortune were all in operation disapprobation of their request; and at the
at the time of Samuel, and threatened to same time represented to them  the burdens
produce after his death still greater calami- they would have to bear under a king,
ties.  The tribes beyond the Jordan had especially how easily he might be led to
formidable enemies in the Ammonites, and imitate other Oriental monarchs, andcl   to disthe southern tribes in the Philistines, while regard the law of Jehovah.
the northern tribes stood aloof fi'om the dan-   The picture which was then drawn by
gers  of their more exposed countrymen. Samuel exhibits in  a lively manner the
The latter seems to have been the principal character of the monarchies which at that
reason why the rulers in general assembly time existed in the East, and enables us to
requested a king.  The tribes in southern ascertain that, whatever changes may have
Palestine and beyond the Jordan were the taken place in particular states, the mnonar,
most earnest for this change in the govern- chical pi inciple as it then existed has been
mernt; they feared that the death of Samnuel preserved to this day in its full vigor in the
would leave them without a supreme magis- East.  This is so true, that there is no royal
trate, and that, the nation being again dis- usage mentioned lby Sminuel which  may not
united, they should be left to their fate. be illustrated and explained from the modern
The degeneracy of Samuel's sons, who had sovereignties of that part of the world.  The
been appointed subordinate judges, or depu- statement must have seemed the more effective
ties, increased their apprehensions.  They, firom  the implied contrast to the mild and
therefore, strenuously insisted on their de- gentle character of thlat service which the
mand,'Nay, but we will have a king over Lord, as king of Israel, had  required.
us, that'we also may be like all the nations.' Samuel remlinded them that their kiings would
They had reason to hope that a king invest  soon fall into the state of other im-onarchs, to
ed with snpreen: authority might be able to support whien the heaviest exactions upon
unite the power of the whole nation and  their persons  and  estates would become
protect each tribe with the collected strength necessary.  he would take their young men
of all; that under him the affairs of govern- and emlploy them  as ehalioteers and horsement would be more promptly administered  men, and even (according to the Egyptian
and necessary aid more readily afforded;  custom) as riunners before and about his
that if he were a man devoted to Jehovah, chariot.*  A  standing army would deprive
he could more effectually repress or prevenlt them of the valuable services of their young
idolatry, and thus place the welfare of the men; and if this were not enough, the king
state on a more solid foundation.  They  of a future day would " take them  to till
might imagine themselves justified in this his ground and to make his instruments of
request as Moses had taken it for granted war and the furniture of his chariots.  In
that the nation would eventually have a king, like manner the daughters of Israel, who
and the same thing had been promised to should marry and bring up children, would
their great progenitor Abraham.  It con- be largely taken to minister to the luxury of
duces greatly to the honor of the Hebrews the court as "confectioners and bakels."
that they attempted this change in their con- Nor would he much scruple to take the
stitution, not by their own power, but in ac- chosen and best of their male and female
cordance with the principles of the theocracy; slaves, as well as their laboring cattle, and
they requested it of their king, Jehovah, " put them to his own work."   And then to
by the intervention of a prophet, and they support his expenses, the heaviest exactions
effected it without bloodshed, — a manifest would be necessary; and although the kingly
proof that the time of the judges was neither tenth were already appropriated to Jehovah,
what is usually understood by a' barbarous' the divine king, not the less would their
nor an' heroic age.' "                     human king exact his kingly dues; thus, in
But as all the objects which they desired fact, rendering their burdens greater than
to realize were attainable under the theocracy,
were they but faithful to its principles and         * See engraving, page 273.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                                273
those of any other nation.  A  clear intima- stand in the (then and there) peculiar position
tion was also given them  of the danger to of being only a civil governor, and not, like the
which their landed  possessions would be neighboring king, also the territorial soverultimately exposed under the form of govern- eign; and that hence, wanting the means of
inmer which they so much desired.  For the providing for his family and servants which
expression, "He will take the best of your other kings possessed, he would be tempted
fields, and of your vineyards, and of your to avail himself of all kinds of pretences to
olive-yards, and give them to his servants," |lispossess them of the lands which they held
manifestly refers to the fact that, inasmuch from their divine king.  "His servants ye
as their true king, Jehovah, was the sovereign  will become," concludes the prophet. " And
proprietor of the soil, and as such had long  ye shall cry out in that day because of the
before distributed the whole in inalienable king that ye have chosen: but Jehovah wili
estates among the people, whatever human not hear you in that day."
king they might have, would necessarily    The purpose of the people was, however.,..~-%
RUNNERS ATTENDING A CHARIOT.
too firmly fixed to be shaken even by this in some future time, and perhaps might have
discouraging representation.   An acquies- been attended with civil war.
cenee  in  their  demand  was  therefore    "By this alteration of the constitution the
reluctantly  conceded, probably, as Jahn theocracy was indeed thrown somewhat into
conjectures, - "because the desired change the shade, as it was no longer so manifest
was requested of the invisible King in a law- that God was the king of the Hebrews.
ful manner, through the mediation of his Still however, as the principles of the theocprophet, and because, in the present disposi- racy were interwoven with the fundamtental
tion of the nation, it might be effected with- and unchangeable laws of the state, their
out bloodshed.  If the remark of Polybius influence did not entirely cease, but the
be in all cases true, that' all aristocracies elected king was to act as the viceroy and
and democracies terminate at last in mon  vassal of Jehovah.  On this account Moses
archy,' * this change must have taken place had already established the following regulations (Deut. xvii. 14-20) 
e Hist. lib. v. 6, 7.            "1. That the Hebrews, whenever they
18




274                            - AN  ILLUSTRATED
adopted the monarchical form  of govern- before a person of so sacred a character as
ment, should raise only those to the throne Samuel bore, without some present, however
who were chosen by Jehovah himself.  As small, in token of his respect and homage.
monarchs (called,kings of kings) were ac- But although  the  toil and travel-stained
customed to appoint sub-kings, or viceroys, stranger who appeared before the prophet
in the several provinces of their dominions, could only lay before him the worth of sevenso was the king of the Hebrews to be called pence halfpenny in silver, he was received
to the throne by Jehovah, to receive the with particular notice and honor; for it had
kingdom  from  him, and in all respects to been specially revealed to Samuel that on
consider himself as his representative, vice- that day and at that hour the destined king
roy, and vassal.  On this occasion the will of Israel would present himself before him.
of Jehovah was to be made known by a The prophet assured Saul that his father had
prophet, or by means of Urim  and Thum- found the asses, and began now to be anxious
mim, and the viceroy elect was to prove him- about his son.  Nevertheless, he urged him
self an instrument of God by protecting the to stay with him over the night, and partake
commonwealth against its foes.  The succes- of a feast which he had provided; at the
sion of the royal house was to depend on the same time conveying to him a slight intimawill of God, to be made known by his tion of the splendid fortunes which were in
prophets.                                  store for him; to which, with modest self" 2. Moses had likewise ordained that withdrawment, Saul replied, "Am  not I a
the new king should be a native Israelite. Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of
Thus foreigners were  excluded  from  the  Israel? and my family the least of all the
throne, even though they should be proposed families of the tribe of Benjamin?  Whereby false prophets; for, being heathen, they  fore then speakest thou so to me?"  Part of
might transgress the fundamental law of the this must be attributed to the Oriental forms
state by the introduction of idolatry; or, at of self-detraction; for although Benjamin
least, it might be difficult for them to rule in  was certainly the smallest of the tribes - as
all respects as the vassals of Jehovah.! This it had not recovered the serious blow inregulation had reference merely to free elec- flicted by all the other tribes —it appears
tions, and was by no means to be under- firom the history that the family of Kish was
stood, as it was explained by Judas of  of some consideration in Benjamin.
Galilee (Acts v. 37) and the Zealots during    In consequence of the intimation he had
the last war with the Romans, that the  previously received, Samnuel had against this
Hebrews were not to submit to these foreign  time prepared an entertainment, to which
powers, under whose dominion they were  thirty principal persons of the place had been
brought by an all-directing Providence. On invited.  Samuel conducted the stranger to
the contrary, Moses himself had predicted  the room in which these guests were assemsuch events, and  Jeremiah  and Ezekiel bled, and led him to the corner-seat of honor;
earnestly exhorted their countrymen to sur- and when the meat was served, directed the
render quietly to the Chaldaeans."         most honorable joint - the shoulder - to be
Upon such conditions the choice of a king set before him.
was permitted, according to law; and in the    Being summer, the bed for Saul was
year 1110 B. C., 538 years after the exode, made on the house-top; and before he lay
the first election took place.             down, Samuel communed with him  there,
Saul, the son of Kish, of the tribe of probably to ascertain his sentiments and
Benjamain, went forth about this time with a character, and to acquaint him with the true
servant to seek some strayed asses belonging nature of that form  of kingly government
to his father.   For three days the search which he was destined to establish.  Early
was fruitless; and then finding himself near in the morning the prophet called Saul to
Ramah, the stated residence of Samuel, he depart, and walked forth with him.  After a
resolved to go and consult him; for it was time Samuel directed the servant to pass on
known to all Israel that nothing was hidden before; and then the prophet, desiring Saul
from  the man of God.  According to the to stand still, that he might show him the
still subsisting custom  of the East, no one purposes of God, produced a vial of oil, and
could, with the least propriety, present him- poured it upon his head, thus anointing him
self before a man in authority, and still less " captain over the Lord's inheritance."  He




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                               275
then kissed him, and to confirm his faith, of the incidents are too illustrative of the
proceeded to tell him all the incidents that manners of the time to pass unnoticed.  In
would occur to him during his journey home, the plain of Tabor he was met by three men
and to encourage him, under the sense he who were proceeding to the place of sacred
entertained of his own inferior claims to such a stones in Bethel, to worship God there. One
distinction, assured him that on the way, and of them  carried three kids, intended as a
through  the divine influence, the needful sacrifice for each of their number; another
qualifications should grow upon him, so that had three loaves of bread; and the third a
he should seem  to receive another * heart leather bottle of wine, all evidently intended
and to become another man.                 to be used with the flesh of the kids in an
On his way home all happened to Saul offeiing-feast.  They gave Saul the salutawhich the prophet had foreshown; and some  tion of peace  such as travellers give each......... __                ---
A MEETING NEAR MOUNT TABOR.
other by the  way- probably  the usual God, orbecause it was the seat of a "school
"Peace be unto thee!" which is no other of the prophets," or a kind of college where
than the common SalaimC  caleikoom, of the young men were instructed in the duties of
modern East; and they gave him two of the religion, in the knowledge of the law, in
three loaves of bread which they had with psalmody, and other religious exercises. Or
them.                                      it may have been so called for both these
As Saul went on to Gibeah in Benjamin, reasons, for both existed.  As Saul drew
which seems to have been called "the hill nigh, he perceived a company of these prophof God," either because there was here a ets returning from the high-place where they
"high-place" consecrated to the worship of had been to worship; and as they went they
Another, not new; a distinction, which, from together with the after-conduct of Saul, it may
the scriptural acceptation of the word "new," be important to note.




276                            AN  ILLUSTRATED
sang the praises of God to the sound of the "What is this that is come unto the son of
psaltery, the tabret, the pipe, and the harp.* Kish?  Is Saul also among the prophets? "
As they drew nigh, the Spirit of God came Whence this last expression passed into a
upon him, as Samuel had predicted, and he proverb, applied to one found in society with
became as another man.  He joined the which his previous habits had not prepared
prophets, and sang the praises of God with him to mingle.  It may be seen, however,
them.  And when those to whom he was that this incident would serve in a very cone
known (for this was in his own tribe and spicuous manner to direct attention to the
neighborhood) witnessed this sudden endow- person and character of Saul.
ment of the untaught husbandman they were   Samuel, in parting from  Saul, had apmuch astonished, and said one to another, pointed a future meeting at Gilgal, to which
(1,110 111   HI
A MUSICAL PROCESSION.
place of sacred stones he convoked all Israel Saul from the household of Kish. But Saul
for the election of a king.  As on other was not to be found.  Well assured of the
occasions, the choice of God was to be mani- result, he had not formed one in the assemfested by lot, which would also tend to pre- bly, but had, from modesty, kept himself apart
vent jealousies and the suspicion of partiality among the baggage.  When his retreat was
on the part of Samuel.  In the usual man- discovered, he was led forward into the midst
ner of successive indications, the tribe of of the congregation; and the mass of the
Benjamin was taken by the lot from the sev- people observed with complacency that the
eral tribes; then the family of Matri from  elected king was of most noble presence, in
the families of that tribe; then the house of the full prime of life, comely and tall, being
Kish from the family of Matri; and, lastly, higher by the head and shoulders than any
* In this engraving (page 276) ancient musical sourccsJ for the sake of more effective illustrainstruments have been introduced (from Egyptian tion.




HISTORY  OF THE  BIBLE.                              277
of those among whom he stood.  On such a achievements were the means whereby men
man, in a rude age, when personal qualities elevated themselves to themselves to the rank of judges;
are the most valued, the suffrages of all men but our inquiry is, not how the office was
would have centred, regarding him as pointed obtained, but for what purposes it was inout by nature for rule and dominion.  And stituted.  It may, however, be proper to
so far did this feeling operate even on Sam- recollect that Jephthah and Samuel, and,
uel, that with evident pride that, since there for aught that appears, Jair, Elon, Ibzan,
must be a king, the divine choice had fallen and Abdon, were raised to this office by the
on one who must seem  in the eyes of all free, unsolicited voice of the people.
men so well qualified to dignify his high    The office of these judges or regents was
office, he thus proclaimed him to the people: held during life, but it was not hereditary,
" See ye him  whom Jehovah hath chosen, neither could they appoint their successors.
that there is none like himn acntong all the This arrangement might seem to be attended
people."  And the people, responding to with the disadvantage that at the death of
that feeling, raised at once the shout of a judge the supreme executive authority
recognition, " Lonor live the king!"       ceased; but on consideration it will appear
In concluding the present chapter, we are that these civil functions devolved on the
reluctant to withhold from the reader the very high-priest, or rather were inherent to his
interesting survey which Jahn has taken of high office, and were called into operation
the office of the judges, and of the condition in the absence of any person more especially
of Israel under their administration.  This appointed to exercise them.  And, without
survey is embodied in the ensuing paragraphs, this, the apparent disadvantage would be
but having modified several passages to suit more than counterbalanced by its preventthem to the views which we have ourselves ing a degenerate heir or successor firom
developed, we abstain from giving them the giving to idolatry the support of his influform of a direct quotation.                ence.  This authority was limited  by the
From what has been already said respect- law alone; and in doubtful cases they were
ing the judges and their achievements, we directed by the sacred  Oracle.   (Num.
can ascertain, with a tolerable degree of xxvii. 21.)  They were not obliged in corncertainty, the nature of their office.  Most mon cases to ask advice of the ordinary
of them, indeed, had been at the head of rulers; it was sufficient that they did not
armies, and delivered their countr'y from  remonstrate against the measures of the
foreign oppression: Eli and Samuel, how- judge.   In  important emergencies, however, were not military men.  Deborah was ever, they convoked a general assembly of
judge before she planned the war against the rulers, over which they presided and
Jabin; and of Jfair, Ibzan, Elon, and Ab- exerted a powerful influence.  They could
don, it is at least uncertain whether they issue orders, but not enact laws; they could
ever held any military commuand.  Judges neither levy  taxes nor appoint officers,
are mentioned in the Mosaic law, in connee- except perhaps in the army.  Their authortion with the high-priest, as arbiters of civil ity extended only over those tribes by whom
controversies, without any allusion to war. they had been  elected  or acknowledged;
(Deut. xvii. 9.)  In  like  manner, the for, as has been before remarked, several
judges who were appointed over Tyre after of the judges presided over separate tribes.
King Baal were certainly not military offi- There was no salary attached to their office,
cers, for the city was at that time tributary nor was there any income appropriated to
to Babylon.  The command of the army them, unless it might be a larger share of
can therefore be scarcely considered as the the spoils, and those presents which were
peculiar distinction  of these  magistrates. made to them  as testimonials of respect.
But as in ancient times the duties of a (Judges viii. 24.)  They had no external
judge were reckoned among the first and marks of dignity, and maintained no retinue
most important duties of a ruler, so the of courtiers. though some of themwere very
Hebrew  judges appear to have been ap- opulent.  They were not only simple in
pointed for the general administration of their manners, moderate in their desires,
public affairs, and the command  of the and free from  avarice and ambition, but
army fell to them as the supreme executive noble  and  magnanimous men, who  felt
officers.  In many cases, it is true, military that whatever they did for their country




278                            AN ILLUSTRATED
was above all reward, and could not be iv. 1-11; Judg. viii. 22, xi. 1-11; 1 Sam.
recompensed; who desired merely to pro- iv. 1, vii. 1, 2.)  These rulers, it is true,
mote the public good, and chose rather to were jealous of each other, and their jealdeserve well of their country than to be en- ousies not unfrequently broke out into civil
riched by its wealth.  This exalted patriot- war; but the union of the state was never
ism, like every thing else connected with entirely destroyed.  They were not always
politics in the theocratical state of the He- provided with arms (2 Judg. v. 8; 1 Sam.
brews, was partly of a religious character; xiii. 19); but yet, when united under their
and those regents always conducted them- king, Jehovah, they gained splendid victories.
selves as the officers of God; in all their They were not sufficiently careful to repress
enterprises they relied upon him, and their idolatry, but they never suffered it to become
only care was that their countrymen should universally predominant.  The sacred tabacknowledge the authority of Jehovah, their ernacle was never entirely deserted and shut
invisible King.   (Judg. viii 22, et seq.; up, nor was it ever polluted by the rites of
comp. Heb. xi.)  Still they were not with- heathen superstition.
out faults, neither are they so represented    These times would certainly not be conby their historians; they relate, on the sidered so turbulent as barbarous, much less
contrary, with the utmost frankness, the would they be taken, contrary to the elearest
great sins of which some of them  were evidence and to the analogy of all history,
guilty.  They were not merely deliverers of for an " heroic age," ~ if they were viewed
the state from a foreign yoke, but destroyers without the  prejudices  of  preconceived
ef idolatry, foes of pagan vices, promoters of hypothesis.  It must never bu forgotten that
the knowledge of God, of religion, and the book of Judges is by no means a comof morality; restorers of theocracy in the plete history.  It is, in a manner, a mere
minds of the Hebrews, and powerful instru- register of diseases, from  which, however,
ments of divine Providence in the promotion we have no right to conclude that there were
of the great design of preserving the He- no healthy men, much less that there were no
brew constitution, and by that means of res- healthy seasons; when the book itself, for the
cuing the true religion from destruction.  most part, mentions only a few t ibes in which
By comparing the periods during which the epidemic prevailed, and notices long
the Hebrews were oppressed by their ene- periods during which it had entirely ceased.
mies with those in which they were incle- Whatever may be the result of more accurate
pendent, and governed by their own consti- investigation, it remains undeniable that the
tution, it is apparent that the nation in history of the Hebrews during this period pergeneral experienced much more prosperity feetly corresponds throughout to the sanctions
than adversity in the time of the judges: of the law; and they were always prosperous
their dominion continued four hundred and when they complied with the conditions on
seventy-two years; but the whole period of which prosperty was promised to them; it
foreign  oppression  amounts only to  ohe remains undeniable that the government of
hundred and thirty-one years, scarcely a God was clearly manifested, not only to the
fourth part of that period.  Even during  Heljrews, but to their heathen ne:ghbors, that
these years of bondage, the whole nation the fulfilling of the promises and threatenings
was seldom under the yoke at the same time, of the law were so many sensible proofs of
but, for the most part, separate tribes only the universal dominion of the divine King of
were held  in  servitude; nor were their the Hebrews; and, consequently, that all the
oppressions always very severe; and all the various fortunes of that nation were so many
calamities terminated in the advantage and means of preserv ng the lknowledge of God
glory of the people, as soon as they abolished on the earth. The Hebrews had no sufficient
idolatry, and returned to their king, Jehovah. reason to desire a change in their constitution,
Neither was the nation in such a state of since all that was necessary was that they
anarchy at this time as has generally been should observe the  conditions on  which
supposed. There were regular judicial tribu- national prosperity had been promised to
nals at which justice could be obtained; and them.
when there was no supreme regent, the public
welfare was provided for by the high-priest   * It is thus characterized by Heeren and other
and the ordinary rulers of the tribes.  (Ruth writers.




HIISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                             2s
CHAPTER XVI.
SAUL S REIGN.-  HIS WARS. — DAVID ANOINTED KING.
THE election of Saul, though generally only begun with him.  And this it is neces.
approved, did  not meet with  universal sary to  understand, if we would clearly
acceptance.  In one point of view, the apprehend the growth of that monarchical
choice of a person belonging to a neutral principle which was only planted with Saul.
and powerless tribe was calculated to obviate    After his election at Gilgal, the king
the rivalries of the  two great tribes of returned to his own home at Gibeah, where
Ephraim  and Judah, who probably both such " presents" were brought him by the
thought that they had the better right to the people as Oriental kings usually receive, and
distinction, but neither of whom were likely which form  no inconsiderable portion of
to agree that the other should have had it. their ordinary revenue.  As the product
But, on the other hand, Saul himself was of these offerings was probably more than
not likely to derive the more respect from  adequate to the present wants and expectathis  neutral and  politically  insignificant tions of the king, who as yet assumed no
position which prevented the mutual jealous- regal state, the question as to the permanent
ies of these great rivals.  But seeing that support of the kingly government was not
the tribe of Benjamin was, from its geograph- yet pressed upon the attention of either the
ical position, closely connected with and in people or the king.  The discontented parsome degree dependent on that of Judahb, it ties, however, "brought him no presents."
is more probable that the dissentients, " the Saul took no notice of their insults, but
children of Belial," who despised Saul, and wisely " held his peace."
said, " How shall this man save us? " were    Very  soon after Saul's election, the
of the haughty and turbulent tribe of Ammonites,  under  their king  Nahash,
Ephraim.  Samuel left it to the people marched into the old disputed territory bethemselves to settle the money-price they yond Jordan, and laid siege to the important
were to pay for their new luxury; and, city of Jabesh  Gilead.  The inhabitants,
although he had foreshown the exactions which avowing their impotence, offered to submit
the regal state would in the end render to the condition of paying tribute to the
necessary, it was not his object to give his Ammonites; but the insulting and barbarous
sanction to that which he had announced as king refused to receive their submission on
a contingent evil.  Besides the  external any other terms than that the right eye of
organization of the new government was left every one of them should be extinguished,
to be developed by circumstances, the prophet that they might remain as so many living
having only cared  to secure the princi- monuments of his victory.  Here again was
ples. Saul was left to grow into his position a barbarity of which the Israelites were never
and its privileges, while Samuel continued guilty, even in thought.  The people of
to administer the civil government; for it is Jabesh Gilead were so distressed that they
to be borne in mind that Samuel continued to dared not absolutely refuse even these mercijudge Israel all the days of his life, which less conditions, but besought a grace of
did not terminate until thirty-eight years after seven days for deliberation.  This they did
the election of Saul, who himself outlived the with the hope that the tribes on the other
prophet but two years.   The position of side the river might, in the interval, be
Saul was, therefore, for the greater part roused by the news to appear for their delivof his reign, chiefly that of a military leader, erance. Nor was their hope in vain. Saul
while Samuel continued to discharge the civil no sooner received the intelligence than he
part of the regal office, to which it was prob- at once and decidedly stood up in his posiably obvious that Saul was not competent. tion of a hero and a king, claiming the
The kingdom, properly speaking, was not obedience of the people, whom he summoned
Pestablished, not developed under Saul, but to follow him to the deliverance of Jabesh




280                            AN ILLUSTRATED
Gilead.  This call was readily obeyed; for   Samuel then invited the army, which com.
it ran in the names of Saul and Samuel, prehended in fact the effective body of the
and was conveyed in that imperative and Hebrew people, to proceed to Gilgal, there
compulsory form, which it was not, under solemnly to confirm the kingdom  to Saul,
any circumstances, judged safe to disobey. seeing that now his claims were undisputed
For he hewed a yoke of oxen in pieces, and by any portion of the people.  This was
sent the pieces by the hands of swift messen- done with great solemnity, aind with abungers to all Israel, calling them, by all the dant sacrifices of peace and joy.
penalties of that well-known and dreaded    But lest this solemnity, which was obvioussign, to follow him.  All Israel obeyed with ly designed to remind the people of their
one consent.  All the men, of age to bear continued dependence on Jehovah, should
arms, quitted their several labors, and hast- be construed into an approbation and sanction
ened friom all parts to the plain of Bezek, of all their proceedings, the prophet took this
where Saul numbering his army, found it public occasion of reminding them that their
to consist of three hundred and thirty thous- proceeding had been most unpleasing to their
and men, of whom thirty thousand were of Divine King; although, if they maintained
Judah, which seems rather an inadequate their fidelity to him and to the principles of
proportion for so large a tribe.  It being the theocracy, some of the evil consequences
already the sixth day, Saul sent to apprise might be averted.  He also neglected not the
the citizens of Jabesh Gilead of the help opportunity of justifying his own conduct
which was preparing for them, and which and the purity of his administration.  iHe
they might expect to receive on the morrow, challenged assembled Israel to produce one
being the very day they were to surrender instance of oppression, fraud, or corruption,
their eyes to the Ammonites.               on his part, while he had been their s,,le
Accordingly, in the morning, the king, hav- judge; and in that vast multitude not one
ing marched all night, appeared before Ja- voice was raised to impugn his integrity and
besh, at the head of his army, invested the uprightness.  He then proceeded to remind
camp of the Ammonites, and fallin c-upon them  them  of their past transgressions, in forgeton three different sides, overthrew them with ting or turning astray fiom their God, with
a great slaughter. So complete was the rout, the punishments which had invariably folthat those who escaped were so broken and lowed, and  the  deliverances which their
dispersed, that no two could be found together. repentance had procured; showing them, by
Saul in this action displayed a large meas- these instances, the sufficiency of their Diure of those heroic qualities which the ancient vine Sovereign to rule them, and tco save
nations most desired their monarchs to pos- them  from their enemies, without the intersess.  Considering all the circumstances, the vention of an earthly king, whom they had
promptitude and energy of his decision, the persisted in demanding.  And he assured
speed with which he collected an immense them  that, under their regal government,
army and brought it into action, and: the public sins would not cease to be visited with
skill and good military conduct of the whole public  calamities.   To  add  the  greater
transaction, there are probably few operations weight to his words, and to evince the divine
of the Hebrew history which more recom-  displeasure; the commissioned prophet called
mend themselves to the respect and admira- down thunder and rain from heaven, then at
tion of a modern soldier.  Its effect was not the usual season of wheat harvest, when the
lost upon the people, who joyfully recognized air is usually, in that country, serene and
in  their king  the  qualities which  have cloudless.  On this the people were greatly
generally been held most worthy of rule; alarmed at the possible consequences of the
and so much was their enthusiasm  excited, displeasure they had provoked, and besought
that they began to talk of putting to death Samuel to intercede for them.  The prophet
the small minority who had refused to recog- kindly encouraged them to hope that if they
nize his sovereignty.  But Samuel interposed continued to trust faithfully in God, all would
to prevent an act unbecoming a day in which yet be well; and he assured them  of con"God had wrought salvation in Israel." tinued intercession on their behalf, and of
So harsh a proceeding would also have been his services as a civil judge or teacher, - for
rather likely to provoke than allay the dis- that the omission would be a sin on his own
affection of the leading tribes.           part.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                           281
Saul, now fully established as king, dis- the nations," and to fulfil one part of the
missed his numerous army; but he retained predictions of Samuel as to the course which
three thousand of their number, two thousand the kingdom was likely to take.  Even supof which he stationed at Michmash and posing (as we rather do) that he retained
Bethel, under his own immediate orders, this force to be in readiness for the smaller
while the other thousand were at Gibeah of military operations which he had in view, it
Benjamin, under his eldest son Jonathan. is evident that he had already taken the idea
Josephus says that these formed the body- of a standing army, the nucleus of which
guard of himself and his son. If so, he this body of three thousand men may be
began very soon to act "like the kings of deemed to have formed.  At all events, it
~a~ -  -I — -- 
~~~~~~~~        I~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RAMATI.
may seem as an early indication of Saul's 1 seems to be held generally in more disesteem
subsequently besetting public sin, of forget.- than the writers of his history intended, we
ting his properly vice-regal character, and shall not impute blame to him where the
his subordination to the Divine King.  It Scripture does not; but are ready to allow
was assuredly a new thing in Israel, and that, under all the circumstances, the incasdoes savor somewhat of a distrust of God's ure was prudent and proper; for it appears
providence, by which the peculiar people had that an enemy was then actually present in
hitherto been protected and delivered in the country, whose expulsion the king had
every time of need; as well as of an affee- then in view. There were garrisons of the
tation of that independent authority which Philist:nes in the land. How this came to
"the kings of the nations" took to them- pass is not very clear.  It would seem, howselves. However, as the character of Saul ever, that in resigning their conquests after




282                            AN ILLUSTRATED
their last defeat, they had retained some hill to assert his authority over the tribes beyond
fortresses, from which they knew the Hebrews Jordan, who were but too apt to regard their
would find it difficult to dislodge them; and interests as separate from those of the other
that when they recovered from  the blow  tribes, and  who might think  themselves
which was then inflicted upon their power, exempt from taking part in a war against a
they contrived, by the help of this hold which
they had in the country, to bring the southern tribes (at least those of Judah and
Benjamin) under a sort of subjection.
Thus when Saul was returning home after
having been privately anointed by Samuel
at Ramah, and met the sons of the prophets
at Gibeah, we learn that at that place was              Roman Trumpet.
"a garrison of the Philistines."  And now
we further learn that the Hebrews had in people whose oppressions had not extended to
fact been disarmed by that people. Accord- themselves,- Saul directed the proclamation
ing to that jealous policy of which other ex- to be made not only " throughout all the
amples will ultimately be offered, they had land," but in a special manner it included
even removed all the smiths of Israel, lest I" those beyond Jordan."   They did not
they should make weapons of war; in con- disobey; but came with other Israelites,
sequence of which the Hebrews were obliged
to resort to the Philistines whenever their
agricultural implements needed any other
sharpening than that which a grindstone could
give; and as this was an unpleasant alternative, even these important instruments had
been suffered to become blunt at the time to
which we are now come; and so strict had
been the deprivation of arms, that, in the
military operations which soon after followed,
no one of the Israelites, save Saul and his                  X
eldest son, was possessed of a spear or sword.
This was the state of southern Palestine,            Roman Trumpeter.
where Jonathan, acting doubtless by the
from all quarters, to the standard of the king
at Gilgal. The people generally, though
destitute of proper military weapons, were
much inspirited by the success of Jonathan,
Egyptian Trumpeter.                        Greek Trumpeter.
orders of his father, attacked and overcame and by their confidence in the now tried valor
with his thousand men the Philistine garrison and military conduct of the king.
at Gibeah.   Encouraged by this success,   Meanwhile the Philistines were not heedSaul caused open war to be proclaimed, by less of this movement among the Israelites.
sound of trumpet, against the Philistines, and No sooner did they hear of the defeat of




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                                283
their garrison in Gibeah than they assembled authorization as a prophet, was decisive of
a formidable force, which seemed sufficient the character and the fate of Saul.  If the
to overwhelm  all opposition.  It was corn- principles of the theocracy were to be preposed of three thousand chariots of war, six served, and if the political supremacy of
thousand horsemen, and  " people as the Jehovah was at all to be maintainedl, it was
sand upon the seashore for multitude."  The indispensably necessary that the first manienthusiasm of the disarmed Israelites evapo- festation by the kings of autocratic disporated in the presence of this powerful force; sitions and  of self-willed assumption of
and the army of Saul diminished every day, superiority to, the law, should be visited by
as great numbers of the men stole away to seek severe examples of punishment; for if not
refuge in caves, in woods, in rocks, in towers, checked in the beginnings, the growth would
and in pits.                               have been fatal to the constitution.  It will
Saul had exhibited his inability of under- hence appear that the punishments which
standing his true position, or his disposition Saul incurred for this and other acts manifestto regard himself as an independent sover- ingthe same class of dispositions, were not
eign, by entering upon or provoking this so disproportionecl to his offences, or so
war without consulting, through Samuel or uncalled for by the occasions of the state,
the priest, the divine will.  Although not as some persons have been led to imagine.
formally so declared, it was the well-under-   Saul had scarcely made an end of offering
stood practice of the Hebrew  constitution, his sacrifices before he was apprised of the
that no war against any other than the doom- approach of Samuel, and went forth to meet
ed nations of Canaan would be undertaken him.  The apology he made to the prophet
without the preVious consent and promised for what he had done, - that his force was
assistance of the Great King.  Yet Saul, diminishing, and that he was afraid that if
without any such authority, had taken incas- he delayed any longer the Philistines would
ures which were certain to produce a war fall upon him  before sacrifices had been
with the Philistines.  He probably thought offered to Jehovah - showed. little of. that
that the aggressions of the Philistines, and reliance upon the Divine King, which every
their existing position as the oppressors of Iebrew general was expected to manifest;
Israel, and their intrusion into the Hebrew  and but little anxiety to receive these proterritory, made his undertaking so obviously phetic counsels which Samuel had promised
just and patriotic as to render a direct to deliver.  Under nearly similar circumauthorization superfluous, as its refusal could stances, how different was the conduct of
not be supposed: nor are we quite sure that Gideon, who gained immortal honor by these
in this he was mistaken.  Be this as it may, theocratic sentiments which enabled him to
Samuel was not willing that such a precedent leave to his successors a memorable example
should be established; and therefore he had of confidence in God!  Samuel saw through
appointed to meet Saul on a particular day at the hollowness of Saul's apology, and warned
Gilgal, "to offer burnt-offerings and peace- him  that by such sentiments as he enterofferings, and to show him what he should tained, and such conduct as he manifested,
do," that is, both to propitiate the Lord, he was rendering himself unworthy to be the
as on other occasions, and to advise Saul founder of a royal house, inasmuch as he
how to act in carrying on the war.  On the could not become a pattern to his succesappointed day, S:imuel did not arrive as soon sors; and that by persevering in such a
as the king expected.  The prophet probably course he would compel the appointment of
delayed his coming on purpose to test his one more worthy than himself to reign over
fidelity and obedience.  Saul failed in this Israel, and to be the father of a kingly race.
test.  Seeing his force hourly diminishing Samuel then retired from  Gilgal, leaving
by desertions; and in the pride of his fancied Saul to carry on, as he saw best, the war he
independence, considering that he had as had undertaken.
much right as the Egyptian and other kings   On numbering his remaining force, Saul
to perform the priestly functions, he ordered found that but six hundred men remained
the victims to be brought, and offered them  with him.  With a less force than this, enehimself upon the altar.  This usurpation of mies as formidable as the Philistines had in
the priestly office by one who had no natural former times been  defeated.  But Saul,
authority as an Aaronite,  nor any special entirely overlooking, or distrusting, that di



28 4                           AN  ILLUSTRATED
vine assistance which every Hebrew  leader rash and inconsiderate king, in his deterin a just war was entitled to expect, and mination to make the most of his advantage,
regarding only the disparity of his force, felt laid an interdictive curse upon any of his
that it would be imprudent to engage or people who should taste food until the even.
oppose so vast an army with a mere handful ing.  Not only were the pursuers weakened
of disheartened men.  He therefore retired and exhausted by the strict abstinence thus
from the field, and threw  himself into the enjoined, but Jonathan, unaware of this inreconquered fortress of Gibeah.  On discov- terdict, unwittingly transgressed it by tastering his retreat, the Philistines sent three ing a little wild honey which he met with
powerful detachments in different directions in his way through a forest.
to ravage the country, while the main body    In the even'ng, the famished people, beino
of their army still remained encamped hear, then released from  the interdict, flew ravenMichmash.                                  ously upon the prey of cattle, and, in their
In this extremity, an entire chance was impatience, began to devour the raw and livwrought in the aspect of affairs through the ing flesh.  This being a transgression of the
daring valor of Jonathan.  Accompanied law which forbade meat not properly exsanonly by his armor-bearer, he withdrew  se- guinated to be eaten, Saul, who was really
cretly from  the camp, and, by climobing, rather zealous to observe the law when it
opened himself a passage to one of the out- did not interfere with his own objects, interposts of the Philistines, upon the summit of posed, and ordered the meat to be properly
a cliff, deemed inaccessible, and therefore  and legally slaughtered  and prepared for
not very strongly guarded; and penetrating food.
to the enemy by so new and unexpected a    The people being now refreshed, Saul propath, he killed the advanced pickets, and, pased to continue the pursuit during the
supported by his follower, slew all whom his gn'ht, but deemed it prudent first to consult
hand encountered, and bore disorder and the Lord through the priest.  No answer
alarm into the camp of the Philistines, then was given.  This Saul interpreted to intimuch weakened by the detachments we have mate that his solemn  interdict had  been
mentioned.  The cries which  arose  fioom  transgressed;  and, again unreasonung and
this part of the camp confounded and terri- rash, he swore that even were the transgressor
fled the more distant parts; so that, aware his own son Jonathan, he should surely be
of the presence of an enemy, which yet did put to death.  It was Jonathan: the lot denot appear to them, they turned their arms tarmln'ed this.  His father told him he must
against one another, and destroyed them- die; but the people, full of admiration of
selves with the blind fury of despairing men. the young prince, protested that not a hair
The clamor which arose in the Philistine of his head should suffer damage, and thus
camp was heard by the Israelites.  Saul at saved his life.
first was willing to go through the form of    This campaign, although concluded withconsulting the Lord by urim; but the con- out a battle, was not the less productive of
fusion increasing in the Philistine camp, he durable advantage.  The glory which Saul
deemed it a time for action rather than acquired  by it strengthened his authority
counsel; and directing the priest to forbear,  among his own people, and henceforth no
he hastened to join his valiant son, whose enemy to which he could be opposed seemed
absence was now known, and to whom  this invincible to him.  We see him, indeed,
disorder was rightly attributed.  The enemy waging war, in turn, against Moab, Ammon,
were already flying in all directions, and and Edom, and against the Amalekites and
Saul, with his small band, committed terri- the Philistines; and in whatever direction he
ble havoc upon the fugitives.  While thus turned his arms, he obtained the victory and
engaged, his force increased with still great- honor.  Valiant himself, he esteemed valor
er rapidity than it had previously dimin- in others; and whenever he discovered a
ished: for not only did the Hebrew captives man of ability and courage, he endeavored
take the opportunity of making their escape to draw him near to himself, and to attach
and joining their king, but great numbers him to his person.  The qualities most prized
came forth from their lurking places to join by Saul were eminently possessed by his own
in the pursuit; so that Saul soon found him- cousin Abner, and he became " captain of the
self at the head of six thousand men.  The host," or generalissimo of the army of Israel.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              285
The several expeditions of Saul against ment of the most important and  distant
the enemies of Israel took up, at intervals, expedition in which he had hitherto been
the space of five or six years.  During these engaged.  He then passed on to Gilgal.
years, Samuel, without further interference in Samuel came to him  there soon after his
political affairs, continued to watch the civil arrival, and at once charged him with his
interests of the people, and to administer disobedience.  Saul behaved with a degree
justice between them.  The authority which of confusion and meanness which we should
he still preserved in Israel was very great, scarcely have expected from him-n, and which
and probably not considerably less than it the consciousness of wrong-doing only can
had been at any former time.               explain.  He affirmed and persisted that he
About the tenth or eleventh year of Saul's lhad obeyed the  Divine  command, when
reign, God made known to the prophet that every thing before and around him evinced
the iniquity of the Amalekites had  now  that he had not.  In the end he confessed
reached its height, and that the time was that he had acted wrong; but than excused
fully come when the old sentence of utter himself by laying one part of it on the zeal
extermination should be executed.  Saul was of the people to sacrifice the best of the
charged with its execution; and his commis- cattle to Jehovah, and part to his own fear
sion, as delivered to him by Samuel, was of restraining them fiom it.  It was a great
expressed in the most absolute terms, and grief to Samuel to hear the k:ng of Israel
left the king no option to spare aught that betray such meanness of soul, in palliating
breathed.  Under this supreme order, the an unjustifiable action; and, conceding the
king made a general. call upon all the tribes, truth of the latter statement, he asked with
which brought together an army of two hun- severity, " Hath Jehovah as much delight in
dred thousand men, amonog whom there were burnt-offerings  and  in  sacrifices  as  in
but ten  thousand  men of Judah.  The obedience to his voice?  Behold, to obey is
deficiency of that tribe in supplying its due better than sacrifice; and to hearken than
proportion is probably not noticed by the the fat of rams."  He then continued authorihistorian on this and on a former occasion, tatively, as a prophet, to announce his rejecwithout some object; and that object probably tion from being the founder of a royal house,
was to convey the intimation that since the as the fixed purpose of the D v:ne King
seeptre had been of old promised to that whose imperative commands he had publicly
tribe, it was discontented at the government disobeyed, or assumed a power of dispens-,:ng
of Saul, and less hearty than the other tribes with, to such an extent as suited his conin its obedience.                          venience.  It would be wrong to consider
The king led his armry into the territory of this as the sole act or omission for which this
Amalek.  There he made the most able dis- rejection was incurred.  It was but one of
position of his forces, seized the most favora- many acts by which he indicated an utter
ble positions, and then turned his advantages incapability of apprehending his true position,
against the enemy.  A  general action fol- and in consequence manifested dispositions
lowed, in which the Israelites were victorious, and conduct utterly at variance with the
and they pursued the Amalekites to their principles of government which the welfare
most distant and last retreats.  Agag, the of the state, and, indeed, the very objects of
king, was taken alive with all his riches. its foundation, made it most essential to
Blinded by his ambition and his avarice to maintain.  Unless the attempts at absolute
the danger of acting in defiance of a most independence made by Saul were checked,
positive and public command from God him- or visited with some signal mark of the
self, Saul determined to spare the life of divine displeasure, the precedents established
Agag, and to preserve the more valuable by the first king were likely to become the
parts of all the booty from destruction; but rule to future sovereigns.  And hence the
with a most insulting or weak mockery of necessity, now at the beginning, of peculiar
obedience, "all that was vile and refuse they strictness, or even of severity, for preventing
utterly destroyed."  He then led home his the establishment of bad rules and precedents
triumphant army, and paused in the land of for future reigns.
Eastern Carmel,* where he erected a' monu-   Saul at first betrayed more anxiety about
* On the south-western borders of the Dead tinguish it from " Mount Carmel," which lies
Sea, and which we call " Eastern Carmel" to dis- westward, on the Mediterranean.




286                            AN ILLUSTRATED
present appearances than ultimate results; visit occasioned to the elders of Bethleand he entreated Samuel to remain, and hem, who "trembled" at his coming, for
honor him  in the sight of the people, by fear it should be not " peaceably," but in
joining with him in an act of worship to judgment.
Jehovah.  Samuel refused; and as he turned    The family to which Samuel was sent was
to go away, the king caught hold of the skirt that of Jesse, the grandson of Boaz and
of his robe to detain him, with such force, Ruth, and, as such, a person of consideration
that the skirt was rent off.  "So hath God," in that place.  Jesse was the father of eight
said the prophet, " rent from thee; this day, sons, all of whom  were present in Bethlethe kingdom of Israel, and given it to thy hem, save the youngest, David by nnme,
neighbor who is better than thee.  Nor will who was abroad with his father's flock.  The
he who gives victory to Israel lie or repent; whole family was invited by the prophet to
for he is not a man, that he should repent." be present at his sacrifice.  Samuel knew
The expression which we have here particu- that the destined king  was to be found
larly indicated was probably intended and among Jesse's sons, but knew not as yet for
understood as a further rebuke for the tri- which of them that distinction was intended.
umphal monument which Saul had erected Still influenced by those general prepossesin Carmel, and whereby he seemed to claim  sions in favor of such personal qualities as
to himself that honor for the recent victory li he had formerly beheld in Saul with complawhich, under the principles of the theocracy, cency and admiration, Samuel no sooner
was due to God only.  Samuel, however, 1beheld the commanding and stately figure of
complied with the earnest wish of the king, Jesse's eldest son, Eliab, than he concluded
and returned with him to the camp.  There that " the Lord's anointed was before him."
acting on the stern injunction which Saul For this he received the striking rebuke,
had neglected, the prophet commanded the " Look not on his countenance, or on the
king of the Amalekites, by whose sword height of his stature; because I have refused
many mothers in Israel had been made child- himn: for Jehovah seeth not as man seeth;
less, to be put to death.  When the prophet for man looketh on the outward appearance,
and the king separated, the former proceeded but Jehovah looketh on the heart."  It
to his usual residence at PRamah, and went further appeared that no one of the other
no more to see Saul to the day of his death. sons of Jesse then present was the object of
Yet as he had a great regard for a man who, the divine choice.  On this, Samuel, with
with all his faults, had many good natural some surprise, asked Jesse whether he had
qualities which would well have fitted him  other sons; and learning that the youngest,
for rule in a simple human monarchy, and a mere youth of fifteen years old, was abroad
who, moreover, was faithful and even zeal- in the fields, he caused him to be sent for.
ous for Jehovah, as his God, however defi- When lie arrived, Samuel was struck by his
cient in obedience to him as his king, the uncommonly  handsome  appearance, espeprophet continued long to mourn greatly for cially by a freshness of complexion unusual
him, and to bewail the doom which it had in that country, and by the singular fire and
been his painful duty to declare.        beauty of his eyes.  The divine choice was
After fifteen years, the Lord rebuked at once intimated to him, "Arise, anoint
Samuel for this useless repining, and cor- him, for this is he!"  As in the case of
manded him to proceed to Bethlehem, there Saul himself, this precious anointing was
to anoint the man worthier than Saul, whom  significant only of the divine intention and
he had chosen to fill his forfeited place, and choice.  As Saul had returned to his fields,
to become the founder of a royal house. so David returned to his flock. The path
This was a delicate mission; for Samuel to the throne was to be opened by circumknew enough of Saul to fear that he would stances which did not yet appear.  The
not scruple to put even himself to death if anointing was the sign and seal of an ultithe fact came to his knowledge.  He there- mate intention.  For the present, David
fore veiled his real object under the form  of was not more a king, nor Saul less one, than
a public sacrifice, which, in his prophetic before.
character, he had a right to enjoin.  That he   The doom of exclusion had been prostill retained his authority as civil judge is nounced upon Saul at a time when he was
evinced by the alarm which his unexpected daily strengthening himself on the throne,




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                           287
and increasing in power, popularity, and stances, it is easy to perceive that music was
fame; and when his eldest son, Jonathan, now, and much earlier, cultivated by the
stood, and deserved to stand, so high in the Hebrews as a private accomplishment and
favor of all the people, that no man could, solace.  It formed their most usual relaxaaccording to human probabilities, look upon tion, and divided their time with the labors
any one else as likely to succeed him in the of agriculture and the care of flocks.
throne.. But when the excitement of war
and victory had subsided, and the king had
leisure to consider and  brood  over the
solemn and declaredly irrevocable sentence
which the prophet had pronounced, a very
serious effect was gradually produced upon
his mind and character; for he was no longer
prospered and directed by God, but left a
prey to his own gloomy mind.  The consciousness that he had not met the requirements of the high vocation to which, " when
he was little in his own sight," he had been
called, together with the threatened loss of
his dominion and the possible destruction
of his house, made him jealous, sanguinary,
and irritable, and occasionally threw him into
fits of the most profound and morbid melancholy.  This is what, in the language of
scripture, is called "the evil spirit that      Assyrian Harps. (Nineveh Marbles.)
troubled him." That it was not a case of
demoniacal possession, as some have been    The report which he had heard engaged
led by this form of expression to suppose, is Saul to send to Jesse, demanding his son
obvious from the effects to which we shall David.  The old man accordingly sent him
presently advert.  Nor was it needful; for, to court, together with such a present to the
as acting upon the character of man, earth king as the customs of the age — and of
contains not a more evil spirit than the guilty the East in all ages, required as a homage.
or troubled mind abandoned to its own
impulses.
Not long after David had been anointed                     |
by Samuel, the mental malady of Saul
gathered such strength - the fits of his mad
melancholy became so long and frequent,
that some remedial measures appeared necessary.  Remembering that Saul had always
been remarkably sensible to the influence of
sweet-sounds, it occurred to his friends that
it might be attended with good effects, were
an able musician retained at court, to play
before the king when his fits of gloom and 
horror came upon him.  Saul himself approved of this advice, and'directed that a        -  J
person with the suitable qualifications should
be sought.  This reminded one of the cour-  Egyptian Harp. (From the tomb at Thebes, called
tiers how skilfully and sweetly he had heard
the youngest son of Jesse play upon the It consisted of a quantity of bread, a skin,
harp; and in mentioning this to the king he bottle of wine, and a kid.
also took occasion to commend David as a   Thus, in the providence of God, an openyoung man of known valor, prudent in ing was made for David, whereby he might
conduct, and very comely in his person. become acquainted with the manners of the
From this and other corroborative circum- court, the business of government, and




288                             AN ILLUSTRATED
the  affairs and interests of the several each other, on the sides of opposite mountribes, and was put in the way of securing tains which a valley separated.  While thus
the equally important advantage of becoming stationed, the Hebrews were astonished and
extensively known to the people.   These terrified to behold  a man of enormous
were training circumstances for the high stature, between nine and ten feet high,
destinies which awaited him.  Saul himself, advance from  the camp of the Philistines
ignorant that in him he beheld the "man attended by his armor-bearer.  His name was
worthier than himself," on whom  the in- Goliath.  He was arrayed in complete mail,
heritance of his throne was to devolve, con- and armed with weapons proportioned to his
tributed to these preparations.  He received bulk.  He stood forth between the hosts,
the youthful minstrel with fervor; and, won and, as authorized by the Philistines, who
by his engaging disposition and the beau- were confident that his match could not be
ties of his mind and person, not less than found, proposed, with great arrogance of
by the melody of his harp, became much language, that the question of tribute and
attached to him.  The personal bravery of servitude should be determined by the result
David, also, did not long remain unnoticed of a single combat between himself and any
by the veteran hero, who soon elevated him  champion which might be opposed to him.
to the honorable and confidential station The Israelites were quite as much dismayed
of  his  armor-bearer -  having   obtained at the appearance of Goliath, and at the
Jesse's consent to allow his son to remain in proposal which he made, as the Philistines
attendance upon him.  His presence was a could have expected, or as the Phllilistines
great solace and relief to Saul; for whenever themselves would  have  been  under the
he fell into his fits of melancholy, David same circumstances.` No heart in Israel was
played on his harp before him; and its soft found stout enough to dare the encounter
with this dreadful Philistine; nor was any
man then present willing to take on his
single arm  the serious consequences of the
possible result.  Then finding that no one
of riper years or higher pretensions offered
himself to the combat, David presented himself before Saul, whom he attended as his
armor-bearer, and said, " Let no man's heart
fail because of him; thy servant will go and
fight with this Philistine."  But Saul told
him that he was unequal to such a contest,
" For thou art but a youth, but he a man
-,_                     of war firom  his youth."   The reply of
David was equally forcible and modest: —
"Thy servant tended his father's flocks;
and when there came a lion or a bear, and
took a lamb out of the flock, then I pursued
and soothing strains soon calmed his troubled him and smote him, and snatched it fiom
spirit, and brought peace to his soul.     his mouth; and if he rose against me, I
In the twenty-six years which had passed caught him  by the beard, and smote him,
since the signal overthrow of the Philistines and slew him.  Both lions and bears hath
at Michmash, that people had  recruited  thy servant smitten, and this uncircumcised
their strength, and at last s deemed them- Philistine shall be like one of them.  Let
selves able to wipe out the disgrace they me go and smite him, and take away the
then incurred, and to recover their previous reproach from Israel; for who is this uneirsuperiority over the Israelites.  They re- cumcised Philistine that he should defy the
commenced the war by invading the territory hosts of the living God? "   He added,
of Judah: Saul marched  against them; " Jehovah who delivered me from the power
and the two armies encamped in the face of of lions and bears will deliver me from
the hand of this Philistine."   Saul had
B. C. 1080, five years after the anointing been too little accustomed to this mode of
of David.                                  speaking and feeling not to be struck by it.




_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _                  >'-4K- *-i —-==I
____          _    _     __- _-      _ _ /-___      _,_,           -._1                                                                                   ___ ____                                      _
--- - i —-  j   --- = —                     _____
-  ~       ~ =-5= —
DAVID AND GOLIAH.








HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  289
Although he had himself not been prone sword, and with a spear, and with a shield;
to exhibit military confidence in God, he but I come to thee in the name of the Lord
perceived that such a confidence now sup- of hosts, the God of the hosts of Israel,
plied the only prospect of success; he there- whom  thou hast defied.   This day will
fore -said, " Go; and may Jehovah be with Jehovah deliver thee into my hand; and I
thee! "  He would fain have arrayed him  will take thy head from  thee, and I will
in his own complete armor; but David re- give thy carcass, and the carcasses of the
jected this as an encumbrance, and stepped
lightly forward in his ordinary dress, and
without sword or shield, or spear, having
only in his right hand a sling - with the
use of which early pastoral habits had made
him familiar —and in his left a little bag
containing five smooth pebbles picked up
from the small brook that then meandered
and still meanders through the valley of
Elah.*  The giant was astonished, and felt
Shields.
1. Egyptian (Rosellini). 2. Assyrian (Nineveh marbles).
Assyrian Slinger.
host of the Philistines, this day to the fowls
insulted that a mere youth should be sent of the air and to the wild beasts of the
forth to contend with so redoubted a cham- earth, that the whole earth may know  that
pion as himself; and availing himself of there is a God in Israel.  And all this asthe pause which the ancient champions were sembly shall know  that Jehovah can save
wont to take to abuse, threaten, and provoke without sword or spear; for the battle is
each other, he cried, " Am  I a dog, that Jehovah's, and he will deliver you into our
thou comest against me with staves? "  He hands."  On this the enraged. giant strode
then cursed him  by his god, and, like the forward; and David hastened to fit a stone
old Homeric heroes, threatened to give his to his sling; and he flung it with so true
flesh to the fowls of the air and to the an aim that it smote the Philistine in the
beasts of the field.   David's reply, con- only vulnerable part that was not cased in
ceived in the finest and truest spirit of the armor, his forehead, and buried itself deep
theocracy, at once satisfies us that we behold in his brain.  He then ran and cut off the
in him the man fit to reign over the pecu- monster's head with his own sword, thus
liar people.  " Thou comest to me with a fulfilling the prediction he had just uttered.
"We entered the famous Terebinthine vale, The ruins of goodly edifices, indeed, attest the
renowned for centuries as the field of the victory religious veneration entertained in later periods
gained by David over the uncircumcised Philistine. for this hallowed spot; but even these are now
Nothing has occurred to alter the face of the become so insignificant that they are scarcely
country. The very brook out of which David discernible, and nothing can be said to interrupt
chose the five smooth stones has been noticed by the native dignity of this memorable scene." —
many a thirsty pilgrim journeying from Jaffa to Clarke.
Jerusalem, all of whom must pass it in their way.
19




290                            AN ILLUSTRATED
A few minutes after he had gone forth, he we know that from this time forward David
returned, and laid the head and sword of became the object, not merely of his envy
the giant at the feet of Saul.             and jealousy, but of his hatred and dislike.
The overthrow of their champion struck a Yet he was afraid, if he as yet wished, to do
panic into the Philistines.  They fled, and him any open injury; but as he could not
were pursued, with great slaughter, even to bear him any longer in his former close
attendance about his person, he threw him
more into the public service, intrusting to
hint the command of a thousand men.  From
his subsequent expressions and conduct, it
seems likely that the king expected that the
inexperience of youth might lead David into
such errors in this responsible public station
as would either give him  occasion to act
against him, or would seriously damage his
\character with the people.  But if such were
his views, they were grievously disappointed.
In his public station " David behaved himself wisely in all his ways, for Jehovah was
with him;" and the opportunity which was
Egyptian Slinger.           given him only served to evince his talents
for business and his attention to it; and,
their own country, by the Israelites, who then consequently, to increase and establish that
returned and plundered their camp..
The honor which Davidwon by.this sp en. 1 1 popularity among the people which his charThe honor which David won by this splen- acter and exploits had already won.  And
did achievement was too great for his safety. so it was, that the isle  and ap
Saul could not  ut feel that the sort  of soaul increased n roisike aon to the ansbilities
spirit by which the youthful hero had been of Saul increased in proportion to the abilities
actuated was precisely that which on many the popularity which he acquired,
re ceding o*casions h himself o- t  o ha e the popularity which he acquired.
preceding occasions he himself ought to have    The king was under the full operation of
manifested, and for not doing which the
n            those feelings, which as yet he dlurst not
doom  of exclusion had been pronounced avow, when he happened to learn that his
against him.  The feeling that David was daughter Michal had become attached to
really the hero of the recent fight was also David. This was far from displeasing him,
not pleasant to one so jealous of his military as e thought it gave him an opportlity of
as he thought it gave him an opportunity of
glory.  And wh          he women came forth entrapping the son of Jesse to his own
from  their towns to greet the returning destruction.  He promised her to him; but
conquerors with their instruments of music, one condition of so difficult an enterprise
and sang responsively to their tabrets and on l
and sa.o, responsively to their vtabrets andagainst the Philistines, as he fully expected
would insure his death.  But David, always
"     Sal has smitten his thousands,    victorious, returned in a few days with more
But David has his ten tlhousands slain,"  numerous pledges of his valor than the king
the indignation of the king was provoked to had ventured to demand; and he was then
the utmost.  " To me," he said, "' they have married to Michal, who could not with any
ascribed but thousands, and to David tens of decency be refused to him.
thousands a what more can he have but the   In  some subsequent actions against the
kingdom? "  It would therefore seem that Philistines, with whom a desultory warfare
this preference of David  to him  by the was still carried on, David displayed such
women in their songs first suggested to him  courage and military skill as greatly increased
the possibility that he was the man, worthier his renown in Israel, and increased in the
than himself, who was destined to succeed same proportion the animosity of Saul.  His
him and to supersede his descendants; and hate became at last so ungovernable, that he
the notion having once occurred, he probably could no longer confine the dark secret to his
made such inquiries as enabled him to con- own bosom, or limit himself to underhand
elude or to discover that such was the fact. attempts against the life of Jesse's son.  He
His knowledge of it appears soon after; and avowed it to his son Jonathan and to his




HISTORY  OF THE  BIBLE.                              291
courtiers, charging them to take any favor- such force, that the better reason of Saul preable opportunity of putting him  to death. vailed for the time, and he solemnly swore to
He knew  not yet of the strong attachment make no further attempt against his life.
which subsisted between Jonathan and David,   But not long after, all the evil passions of
- that his noble son, rising far above all Saul were again roused by the increased
selfishness, pride, or envy, loved the son of renown which David obtained by a splendid
Jesse even "as his own soul."  He heard victory over the Philistines.  He had scarce
the command  with horror, and apprised  returned to court before he had a narrow
David of it, counselling him to hide himself escape of being pinned to the wall by a
until he should have an opportunity of re- javelin which the king threw at him in one
monstrating on the subject privately with the of those fits of frenzied melancholy which
king.  This he did with such effect, display- the son of Jesse was at that moment endeaving the services and fidelity of David with oring to soothe by playing on his harp.
i
THROWING A JAVELIN.
David then withdrew to his own house. figure made up so as to present the appear.
But the king had now committed himself, ance of a body covered with the bedclothes.
and henceforth threw  aside all disguise or This news they carried to the king, who sent
restraint.  He sent some of his attendants to them back with orders to bring him alive in
watch the house; and David would undoubt- his bed.  By this means Michal's artifice
edly have been murdered the next morning, was discovered, and her father was so enhad not his faithful wife managed his escape raged, that, for her own safety, she made
during the night, by letting him down in a him believe that it was to save her own life
basket through one of the windows.  In the she had consented to it.
morning, when the man demanded admit-   As the only revenge then in his power,
tance with the intention of slaying her bus- Saul took away Michal, and gave her in
band, Michal told them he was very ill and marriage to another; and the story which
confined to his bed; and in proof of it showed she had made up, that David had put her in
thein the bed, in which she had placed a fear of her life, probably precluded her from




292                           AN ILLUSTRATED
making that strenuous opposition which she to him in his happier days, " prophesied,"
might otherwise have done.               and lay in an ecstatic trance, divested of his
David himself escaped to Ramah, where outer garment, all that day and night.
he acquainted Samuel with all the king's   This gave David an opportunity to leave
behavior to him.  Samuel took him  to the neighborhood; and  he  repaired  to
Naioth, which seems.to have been a kind Gibeah, where the king resided, and where
of school or college of the prophets, in the Jonathan then was, to seek a private interneighborhood of Ramah, over which Samuel view with that valuable friend.  Jonathan
thought himself fully acquainted with all the
I.1 -zMintentions of his father, and would not believe
that he really designed the death of David.
But the latter was well assured of it; and
_____;~,  thought that Saul, having become acquainted
with their friendship, had concealed his full
=-:                 purpose from Jonathan.  It was, however,
agreed between them, that the conduct of
_-_____:X;".tfl!  lo-   the king on an approaching occasion should
q               be deemed to determine his ultimate inten-  tions; and that meanwhile David should
4 A.~;'2 l                  <keep himself concealed.  The two friends
then walked forth into the fields.  Jonathan
_ i,;~~    ~-~ ~then avowed to David his conviction that he,
~i,',... i~. -;-'~o  _and not himself, was the destined successor of
Saul; and., with rare generosity of spirit and
EN|  Ua r —     Cabandonwent of self, he expressed his cheerful assent to this, and only desired to receive
}'  Il )     i- \   the pledge of David that, if himself alive
hivunii~  f"~'R'  when be became king, protection should be
ESCAPE FROM A WI2DOWv.       feel more than usual anxiety, as it appears,.  from a comparison of dates, that a son,
presided.  Saul soon heard where he was; Mephibosheth, had lately been born to him.
and so reckless was he now become, and so Reciprocally, be would pledge himself to
madly bent on his murderous object, that he protect the life of David, to the extent of his
would not respect even this asylum, but sent power, from  the designs of Saul and his
messengers to bring David to him.  These, other enemies.  These things they swore
when they beheld the company of prophets, before God to each other, and entered towith Samuel at their head, " prophesying,"  gether into a covenant of peace and love.
or singing hymns, fell into an ecstasy, and   It seems that by this time Saul lived in con-'prophesied" in like manner.  The same siderable state. At the recurrence of the new
happened to a second and a third party. At moons, he was accustomed to entertain his
last Saul determined to go himself; and in principal officers at meat.  Such a feast
his rage he probably intended to slay Samuel was now near at hand; and it appears that
also for sheltering David.  Indeed, that the Saul, who knew that David had returned to
youth had gone to Samuel, and was sheltered pGaibeah, expected that, notwithstanding what
by him, must have confirmed his conviction had passed, he would make his appearance
that David was his appointed successor, if he at this feast, as it would seem  that nondid not yet know, as he probably did, that the attendance was regarded as an offensive negson of Jesse had actually been anointed by lect.  Most probably the king thought that
the prophet.  But no sooner had the king David might regard the attempt which had
beheld what had so strongly affected his| been made upon his life as a mere frenetic
messengers, than he also, as had happened impulse, not indicative of any deliberate




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                                293
intention against him.   The first day of slain?  what hath he done?" the  madthe feast, the place which belonged to David dened king threw a javelin to smite him.
at the king's table was vacant; but Saul That he could thus treat his own son, on
then made no remark, thinking the absence whom, in fact, all the hopes that remained
might be accidental.  But when the son of to him were centred, lessens our wonder at
Jesse made no appearance on the second his behavior to David, and at the other acts
d.                     of madness of which he was guilty.  By
4   J
1. Darts or Javelins. (Nineveh Marbles.)
2, 3. Babylonian hbronze spear-heads. (Brit. Mus.)
4,4. Egyptian spear-heads. (Brit. Mus.)
5. Darts. (Brit. 3lus.)
day, the king put some questions to JonaEgyptian Archer. (Rosellini.)
than, who excused David's absence, alleging
that it was by his permission and consent. this Jonathan knew that the king really inOn this, Saul broke forth into the grossest tended to destroy his friend.  He therefore
took his bow and went forth, attended by a
lad, as if to shoot in the field where David
 o__              lay hid; for it had been agreed upon
between them  that the manner in which the
*/ ~   Q               arrows were shot, and the. expressions used
by the archer to the lad who collected the
arrows after they had been discharged, was
movable screen. (Nineveh marbles.)
abuse of Jonathan, and, assuring him  that to be a sign intimating to David the course
his succession to the throne could never be he was to take; thus preventing the danger
secure while David lived, concluded with, which might accrue to both from  another in" Wherefore now send for him; for he shall terview.  But when the unfavorable sign
surely die."  And when Jonathan ventured had been given, which he knew would rento remonstrate, " Wherefore shall he be der his friend a fugitive, Jonathan could




294                            AN ILLUSTRATED
not resist the desire again to commune with of Saul was not likely to operate to his dishim before he departed.  He therefore sent advantage.  In his way, attended by a few
away the lad, and as soon as he was gone young men who were attached to him, he
"David arose out of a place toward the came to the town of Nob, belonging to the
south, and fell on  his face toward  the priests, about twelve miles from  Gibeah,
ground, and three times did obeisance; and and in the neighborhood of Jerusalem  and
they kissed each other, and wept one with Anathoth.  To this place  the tabernacle
another, with great lamentation."        had at this time been removed.  We are
After taking leave of Jonathan, David took not made acquainted with the precise occasion
his journey westward, with the intention of of its removal firom  Shiloh; but it was
putting himself beyond the reach of Saul, by probably consequent upon the destruction
going to the land of the Philistines, who were of that town in the war with the Philistines.
not at that time in actual hostilities with the At this place he was received, as his rank and
Israelites, and with whom alone the enmity renown demanded, by the high-priest Ahime-, / \i/\/N. A_  A/i. A
EASTERN FORMS OF OBEISANCE.
lech, whose surprise  at seeing  him  he fully be eaten, he was induced  by ti.
thought himself obliged to dispel, by the alleged urgency of the occasion to give it
false and unseemly pretence that he had to David and his men.  David afterward
been sent by the king on private business inquired for weapons; and was told there
of importance.  But taking notice of the were none but the sword of Goliah, which,
presence of one Doeg, an Edomite, the as a pious memorial of the victory over that
chief of Saul's shepherds, by whom  he proud blasphemer, had been deposited in
doubted not that he should be betrayed, he the tabernacle.  This, at his desire, was
represented to Ahimelech that his business brought to him, and having girded it on,
was urgent, and begged that he would sup- he took leave of Ahimelech, and continued
ply some refreshment to himself and his his journey till he reached the Philistine
men, after which he would continue his city of Gath, where he presented himself or
journey.   The high-priest had nothing to was brought before Aebhish, the king of that
offer but bread which had lain a week on the place, or rather of the state of which that
table of showbread in the sanctuary; and place was the denominating metropolis.  It
although by the priests only this might law- does not appear that David intended himself




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             295
to be known; or if so, anticipated a more God, who best knew  by what agencies to
favorable reception: for when he found that effect his purpose, sent the prophet Gad to
he was recognized, and that the courtiers command him  to return into the land of
ominously represented him as that David to Judah.  He obeyed, and found shelter in
whom the maidens of Israel had in their songs the forest of Hareth.
ascribed the slaughter of tells of thousands of    Saul soon heard of David's return and
Philistines, and thousands only to Saul, the place of his retreat, and was greatly
dreading the result of such recollections, troubled; for, as his safety could not be the
David feigned himself mad, with such suc- object of this move from  the security which
cess that Achish exclaimed, " Lo, ye see Moab afforded, he inferred that he had rethe man is mad; why have ye brought him  turned with the intention of acting offensiveto me?  Have I need of mad men, that ye ly and vindictively against him  when occahave brought this one to play the madman sion or advantage offered.  He therefore
in my presence?  Shall such a one ~ come called together the officers of his court; and
into my house? "  He was therefore al- as there was not, as yet, any building or
lowed to go where he pleased.  He delayed palace in which such assemblies could be
not to avail himself of this advantage, and held, the king sat upon a bank, under a
hastened into the territory of his own tribe tamarisk tree, with a spear in his hand.*
of Judah, where he found shelter in the It seems that the persons present were chiefcave of Adullam.  He was here joined by ly Benjamites; and Saul, speaking as one
his parents and family, who probably deemed distrustful of their fidelity, appealed to their
themselves unsafe in Bethlehem; and as selfish interests, asking on what grounds
soon as his retreat became known in the they, as Benjamites, could hope to be betneighborhood, his reputation  attracted  to tered by the son of Jesse; and complained
him a considerable number of men hanging that there were plots between him  and his
loose upon society, as in the somewhat anal- own son Jonathan, of which they knew, but
ogous case of Jephthah.  To understand that they were not sorry for him, nor would
some of their future operations under David, give any information to him.  On this Doeg,
it is quite necessary to give them  just the Edomite, informed him of the assistance
that character, and no other, which they which David had received at, Nob from the
bear in the Scriptural record, which states high-priest; but omitted to state, if he knew,
that " Every one in distress, every one in the certainly false grounds on which that
debt, and every one discontented, flocked assistance had been claimed by David and
to him; and he became chief over them, given by the priest; and added (which was
and there were with him about four hundred not true) that Ahimelech had " inquired of
men."                                      God " for him.  On hearing this, Saul was
From  Adullam, David took an opposite highly enraged, and immediately sent for
direction to that which he had first followed, Ahimelech and all the priests of his family
and went into the land of Moab.  Here he that were at Nob.  When they arrived, the
was well received; for the king consented king fiercely charged him with his participato take the parents of the outcast under his tion in what his jealous imagination tortured
protection until the dawning of better days. into a conspiracy of David  against him.
They therefore remained among the Moab- Ahimelech declared that he had entertained
ites until the troubles of their son ended him  merely as the king's son-in-law, and
with the life of Saul.  But, although he one employed on the king's business, and
might himself have found greater safety in denied that he had consulted the sacred orathat land, it was important to his future in- cle on his behalf; but Saul, without listenterests that he should return to his own ing to his statement, commanded his followcountry, that his conduct, adventures, and ers to slay them all.  A  dead stillness fol.
persecutions there might keep him  alive in lowed this order; and, finding that no one
the minds of the people.  He did not him- moved to obey it, the frantic king turned to
self plan any thing with reference to the Doeg and commanded him to fall upon them.
destination intended for him ultimately; but The unscrupulous Edomite was ready in his
* The spear was obviously used by him not is several times mentioned. The earliest sceptres
more as a weapon than as a sceptre. As such it were, in fact, spears in many ancient nations.




296                             AN ILLUSTRATED
obedience; and although the Israelites then remained there until his arrival, withdrew
present had refused to stain their own hands from the place at the head of a force now
with the blood of the most sacred persons in increased to six hundred men.  When Saul
the land, they had not sufficient spirit or heard  this, he  discontinued  his  march
principle to interpose in their behalf, but against Keilah.
stood by and saw them slaughtered by Doeg    David now sought shelter in the eastern
and his myrmidons.  Not fewer than eighty- part of Judmea, toward  the  Dead  Sea.
five priests fell in this horrid massacre; and There were strong posts and obscure retreats
immediately after, Doeg, by Saul's order, of in that quarter, among the mountains and the
course, proceeded to Nob, and slew all that woods, to which he successively removed, as
lived in it —man, woman, child, and beast. the motions of Saul dictated; for the king,
This was a further development of that judg- now openly bent on his destruction, hastened
ment upon the house of Eli which had been to every place to which he heard that the
pronounced of old; this was that deed in son of Jesse had retreated, hunting him " like
Israel of which it had been predicted that a partridge in the mountains."  He was for
" both the ears of every one that heareth it some time in d;fferent parts of the wilderness
shall tingle."  The only individual of the of Ziph.  He was sheltered by a wood in
family of the high-priest who escaped was that willerness, when Jonathan, becoming
Abiathar, one of his sons.  This person acquainted with his place of retreat, went to
repaired to David, who was deeply afflicted him, " to encourage him  to trusct in God."
at the intelligence which he brought, and He said to him, " Fear not, for the hand of
desired him to remain with him.            Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou
Soon after this, David heard that a party shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next
of Philistines had come up against the bor- thee; and that also Saul my father knowder-town of Keilah, with the view of taking eth."  Again the friends renewed their coveaway the produce of the harvest which the nant before Jehovah, and parted — to meet
people of that town had lately gathered in. no more.  There is really nothing in all
He greatly desired to march his troop to the history finer than this love of Jonathan to
relief of that place; but his men, who, as David; it was, as the latter himself found
might be expected from their character, were occasion to describe it, " Wonderful, passing
by no means distinguished for their courage the love of women!"  It was a noble spirit
or subordination, declined so bold an enter- with which the son of the king held close to
prise.  At last, a distinct promise of victory his heart, and admitted the superior claims of,
from the sacred oracle, consulted by Abia- the man destined to supersede him and his
thar, who acted as priest, encouraged their in the most splendid object of human ambi.
obedience.  They went and obtained a com- tion, which, on ordinary principles, he might
plete victory over the Philistines, delivering have considered his just inheritance.  But
Keilah  from  the danger by which it was his were not ordinary  principles, such as
threatened.  This and other instances of swayed the mind and deterlmined the con.
David's readiness, in his own precarious duct of his father.  His were the true prinsituation, to employ his resources against ciples of the theocracy, whereby he knew
the enemies of his country, must have tend- that Jehovah was the true king of Israel,
ed much to raise his character among the and cheerfully submitted to his undoubted
people, and to keep him  before the public right to appoint whomhe would as his regent,
eye.                                       even to his own exclusion; and, with generHe now entered and remained in the town ous humility, was the first to recognize and
he had relieved, which Saul no sooner un- admire the superior qualities of the man on
derstood than he exclaimed, " God hath whom  it was known  that his forfeited desdelivered him into my hand; for he is shut tinies had fallen.  Yet lest, in our admiration
in by entering into a town that bath gates of Jonathan's conduct,. human virtue should
and bars;" and he delayed not to call to- seem too highly exalted, it may be well to
gether a powerful force, which he marched remember that the hereditary principle in
to besiege that place.  But David, being civil government was as yet without prece.
apprised by the oracle that the people of dent among the Hebrews, with whom sons
Keilah, unmindful of their obligation to him, had not yet learned to look to succeed their
would deliver him  up to the king if he fathers in their public offices.  None of




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                           297
the judges had transmitted their authority Jesse.  " Jehovah forbid," he said to them,
to their sons or relatives; and the only "that I should do this thing to my master,
instance in which an attempt had been made the anointed of Jehovah, to stretch forth my
(by Abimelech) to establish this hereditary hand against him; for the anointed of Jehovah
principle had most miserably failed.  But is he; " and the men were with difficulty
the friendship of Jonathan and David is a restrained by these words from putting the
passage in the history of the Hebrew king- king to death.  But that he might know how
dom from which the mind reluctantly with- completely his life had been in the hands of
draws. If it occurred in a fiction. it would be the man whose life he sought, David went
pointed out as an example of most refined and cut off the skirt of his mantle.  Saul at
and consummate art, that the author represents length arose, and left the cave, and went his
to us in such colors of beauty and truth the way.  David went out and called after him,
person he intends to set aside, and allows " My lord, the king!"  When Saul turned,
him so largely to share our sympathies and David bowed himself reverently toward the
admiration with the hero of his tale.    earth, and proceded in the most respectful
Not long after this, some inhabitants of terms to remonstrate against the injustice
Ziph went to Gibeah, and accquainted the with which he had been treated, and the
kino with the quarter in which David lay inveteracy with which he was pursued.  He
hid.  Saul was so transported with joy at charitably imputed the designs laid to his
the news, that he heartily blessed them as charge to the suggestions of evil-minded
the only people who had compassion upon men; and, in proof of their utter groundlesshim in his trouble; for by this time, if not ness, related  what had happened in the
before, it seems that his morbid fancy had cave, and produced the skirt to show how
fully persuaded him that Davicl was really entirely the king's life had been in his power.
engaged in a conspiracy to take his life, and Saul's naturally good feelings were touched
place the crown upon his own head.  But by this generous forbearance from  one who
David had timely intelligence that his retreat knew that his own life was then sought by
was betrayed, and withdrew southward into him.  " Is that thy voice, my son David!
the wilderness of Moan.  But Saul pursued he cried, and his softened heart yielded rehim thither, and, with the design to surround freshing tears, such. as he had not lately been
him, was already on one side of the moun- wont to shed. That which had been in David
tain, on the other side of which David lay, a forbearance resulting from the natural and
when he was providentially called off by in- spontaneous impulse of his own feelings,
telligence of a sudden incursion into  the seemed to the king an act of superhuman
country by the Philistines.  He went and virtue, which forced upon him the recognition
repulsed them; and then, at the head of that he was indeed that " worthier " man to
three thousand men, returned to follow upon whom the inheritance of his crown had been
the tracks of Jesse's son -  so inveterately prophesied.  Rendering good for evil was a
was he now bent upon his fell purpose.   new thing to him; and now, in the regard
Meanwhile David had removed to the and admiration which it excited, he freely
district of Engedi, toward the south-western acknowledged the conviction he entertained,
extremity of the Dead Sea, the caverns and -I" And now, behold, I know well that
rocky fastnesses of which offered many secure thou wilt surely be king, and that the kingdom
retreats.  Saul pursued him into this region, of Israel will be established in thy hand.
and one day entered a large cave, to repose Swear now, therefore, to me, by Jehovah,
himself during the heat of the day.  Now that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me,
it happened that David and his men were and that thou wilt not destroy my name out
already in this cave; but, being in the remote of my father's house."  The anxiety of the
and dark inner extremity, were unperceived king, and even of Jonathan, on this point,
by the king; but he, being between them  seems to show (what has already appeared
and the light which entered at the cave's in the case of Abimelech) that it was even
mouth, was seen and recognized by them. then, as it ever has been until lately, usual
As he lay asleep, David's men joyfully con- for Oriental kings to remove by death all those
gratulated him  that his enemy was now whose claims to the throne might seem
completely in his power.  But they knew  superior or equal to their own, or whose
not what manner of spirit was in the son of presence might offer an alternative to the




298                            AN ILLUSTRATED
discontented: the intense horror with which swords in their hands, and obliged, as they
the Hebrews regarded the prospect or fear of were, to collect their subsistence in the best
genealogical extinction, also contributes to way they could.  Among those who were
explain the anxiety which both Saul and advantaged by this, none were more so than
Jonathan felt on this point more than on any the shepherds of Nabal, a man of large posother.  David took the oath required from  sessions in Carmel.  When Davidc returned
him: Saul then returned to Gibeah; and northward, he heard that Nabal was making
David, who had little confidence in the per- great preparations for the entertainment of
maneney of the impression he had made, his people during the shearing of his three
remained in his strongholds.               thousand sheep'; and being then greatly
Very soon after this, Samuel died, at the pressed for provisions, he sent some of his
advanced age of ninety-two years (B. C. young men to this person to salute him
1072), after he had judged Israel fifty years, respectfully in his name, and to request some
that is, twelve years alone, and thirty-eight small supply out of the abundance he had
years jointly with Saul; for there is no doubt provided.  Now in point of fact, according
that he retained his authority as civil judge to all usage, Nabal ought to have anticipated
to the end of his life.  The death of this this request, as soon as he learned that one
good man was lamented as a common calami- who had protected his property in the wilty by all true Israelites, who assembled in derness was then in his neighborhood.  But
great numbers to honor his funeral.  He was Nabal was " churlish and evil in all his
buried in the garden of his own house at manners, and irritable as a dog."   This
Ramah.                                     character, his insulting answer to the mesAs David immediately after removed much sage fully supported:-" Who is David?
further southward, even "into the wilder- and who is the son of Jesse?   Thlere be
ness of Paran," it would seem that, having many servants now-a-days that breale away,
no confidence in Saul's fits of right feeling, every man from his master.  Shall I then
he was fearful of the consequences of the take my bread, and my water, and my flesh,
absence of that degree of moral restraint which I have killed for my shearers, and give
upon  him  which  had  existed while  the it to men whom  I know not whence they
prophet lived.  The southern country offers, be?"  When this answer was brought back
in the proper season, excellent pastures, to David, he was highly enraged, and ordered
away to which those of Judah, who had his men to gird on their swords; and, with
" large possessions of cattle," were wont to four hundred of them (leaving two hundred
send their flocks during a part of the year. to protect the baggage), he set forth with the
The advantage offered by the free use of rash and cruel purpose of destroying the
these open pastures was, however, in some churl and all that belonged to him.  The
degree counterbalanced by the danger from  provocation, although very great, and not
the prowling Arab tribes with which they likely to be overlooked by a military man,
sometimes came in contact.  David probably was certainly not such as to justify this barsupported his men during the eight months barous design.  Its execution was, however,
of his stay in this region by acting against averted by Abigail, the wife of Nabal, who
those tribes, and making spoil of their cattle. is described as "a woman of good underAnd as their hand was against every man, it standing, and beautiful in form."   Those
was natural that every man's hand should be shepherds who had been in the wilderness
against them; the rather, as we may be sure, with the flocks, and were sensible of the
from their general conduct, that they lost no value of that protection which David's troop
occasions of oppressing or plundering the had rendered, greatly disapproved of their
people inhabiting, or pasturing their flocks, master's conduct.  They therefore reported
along or near the southern frontier.  Thus the whole  matter to  their mistress, who
the presence of David's troop was, for that appears to have had that real authority in the
reason, a great advantage to the shepherds, household which a woman of sense always
as he had by this time secured sufficient con- has had in the house of even a brutal fool.
trol over his men to oblige them  to respect She concurred in their apprehensions as to
the property of the Israelites. And this was, the probable consequences, and with a prompat least in the feelings of the people, no small titude which bears out the character given to
thing in a body of men living abroad with her, decided on the proper steps to avert




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                        299
hi\
T~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~il~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~fl
PRESENTS TO A BEDOUIN CHIEF.
them.  While Nabal was eating and drinking, even to drunkenness, at the feast, she
made up an elegant and liberal present, consisting of two hundred loaves of bread, two 
skin-bottles of wine, five measures of parched
corn, five sheep ready dressed, two hundred 
clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes
of figs; and, having placed all this on asses,
she set forth with suitable attendance to meet
the enraged hero.  She soon met him  and
his men, on full march to Carmel; and after  t.                                            JU,]
rendering him  her most respectful homage,                                                  i i
she spoke to him with such fine tact and
prudence, that his passion grew calm  under'
her hand; and she convinced him  that the
deed which he contemplated would cause the
weight of innocent blood to lie heavy on his  iif
conscience in after-days.  Beino thus made          I,
to feel that he had allowed the bitterness of "       
"a blockhead's insult' * to sink too deeply                                "
in his soul, he felt really thankful that his    i.
fell purpose had been interrupted:"Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel,"
he said, " who sent thee this day to meet
me; and blessed be thy advice, and blessed
be thou, who hast kept me this day from 
coming to shed blood, and from  avenging
myself with mine own hand."
Abigail returned to her husband, and the
next day acquainted him with the steps she
had taken, and the imminent danger into 
"Fate never wounds more deep the generous heart,
Thian when a bloclcheacl's insult points the dart." 
J 0H.NSON.




300                             AN ILLUSTRATED
which his churlishness had brought him and therefore checked the misdirected zeal of
his.  The view which was presented to his Abishai, and withdrew  with him, taking
mind of the evil which had hung over his away the spear which was planted at Saul's
head struck him with such intense dread and head, and the vessel of water which stood
horror, that in a few days he died of a broken there for his use.  David then went and staheart.  When  this came to the ears of tioned himself at the edge of an opposite
David, who had been much charmed by the cliff overlooking the camp of Saul, and
good sense and beauty of Abigail, he sentto calling by name to Abner, the cousin and
her, and she consented to become his wife. chief commander of the king, told him he
He had previously married Ahinoam of Jez- was worthy of death for the careless manner
reel, after Saul had given Michal to another. in which he guarded the royal person.  As
Polygamy was not expressly forbidden by the he went on reproaching Abner, Saul, as he
law; neither did it receive any sanction expected, recognized his voice, and guessing
therefrom.  It was a matter of existing that he had again been spared when in his
usage with which the law did not interfere; power, called out, " Is that thy voice, my
although it discouraged the formation, by the son David? " and was answered, " It is my
kings, of such extensive harems as the kings voice, my lord, 0 king! "  David then proof the East have been wont to possess; and ceeded with much energy, but in the most
both David and his son Solomon had ample respectful language, to remonstrate against
occasion to lament those besotting passions the treatment he received, and produced the
which led them to neglect this injunction, as evidence of the spear and water-jug, as
well as to learn that there is in this matter evincing the value of the king's life in his
an obvious social law  which cannot with eyes.  The result was the same as it had
impunity be transgressed.                  been on a similar occasion before: Saul's
Soon after this, David removed to his for- heart was touched.  He acknowledged that
rner place of shelter, in the wilderness of he had " acted foolishly, and erred exceedZiph.  While he remained there, Saul justi- ingly; " and after blessing David, returned
fled the doubts which the son of Jesse, who to Gibeah.
well knew his character, entertained of the    David had before this formed the intention
continuance of his good resolutions; for he of again withdrawing to the Philistines; for
again came to seek him at the head of three in his remonstrance with Saul he had laid the
thousand men.  But this only gave David responsibility of this measure upon his peranother opportunity of evincing the true and secutors: "If Jehovah had stirred thee up
generous loyalty of his own character.  For against me, let him accept an offering; but
one night, while the king lay asleep in the if they be the children of men, accursed be
midst of his men, with his spear stuck in the they before Jehovah, for they now drive me
ground at his head, to mark the station of out from abiding in the inheritance of Jehothe chief, David entered his camp, attended vah."  He must not be allowed, however,
by Abishai (brother to the subsequently thus easily to rid himself of the responsibilcelebrated Joab), and, without being noticed, ity of so ill-advised and desperate an expepenetrated to the very spot where the king dient, in which he neglected to ask counsel
lay.  Abishai thought this a fine opportu- of God, but followed the impulse of his own
nity of ending all their troubles with the life apprehensions; and from  the natural and
of their persecutor; and begged David to obvious consequences of which he could only
permit him to transfix the sleeping king with escape by acts of equivocation, hypocrisy,
his spear.   But, to the pious hero, "a and ingratitude, which do no honor to his
divinely appointed king, although his enemy, name.  However, we are to regard David,
was a sacred person.  To lay violent hands in all this portion of his life as a learner, as
on him, and to open a way to the throne one who was in the course of being trained
by regicide, was a crime which he justly to rule wisely, by various disciplines, disabhorred.  AWhat God had promised him he tresses, and errors; -  for even the errors of
was willing to wait for till He who had conduct into which men fall, by having
promised should deliver it to him in the placed themselves in a false position through
ordinary course of his providence." *  He too confident a reliance on their own judgment, are not among the least profitable
* Jahn, chap. iv. sect. 29.      experiences which they obtain, and which go




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                            301
toward the ripening of their minds.  But, Achish was much hurt at such suspicions
undoubtedly, it had been better for David, against one on whom he so perfectly relied,
and more becoming, had he remained in his but was reluctantly obliged to dismiss him
own country, relying upon the protection of from the expedition.
that good Providence by which he had hith-   On returning to Ziklag, David found the
erto been preserved.                     city pillaged and reduced to ashes.  The
On reaching Gath, with his six hundred Amalekites, Geshurites, and Gezrites, had
men, David was well received by the king, taken the opportunity of his absence in
who appears to have been the same Achish another direction thus to avenge themselves
in whose presence he had formerly played for his former inroads upon them.  They did
the madman.  The Hebrew chief soon took not, however, retaliate to the full extent; for
occasion to request the Philistine king to although "they took the men and women
assign him some town in which he might who were in it captive, they slew not any,
reside with his people; and the king, with either great or small, but carried them away."
generous and unsuspecting confidence, made David's two wives were among the captives.
over to him, to his full and exclusive posses- His men were frantic at the loss of their
sion, the small border town of Ziklag, which families and substance, and at first talked of
was situated not far from the brook Besor. stoning their leader whom they regarded as
Here he resided one year and four months, at least the remote cause of this calamity.
or until the death of Saul.  From this place But they were at last appeased, and set out
he undertook excursions against the ancient in pursuit of the spoilers, notwithstanding the
predatory enemies of Israel, the Amalekites, fatigue occasioned by their previous march.
the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, who roved Two hundred of the men were unable to proabout in Arabia Petriea, on the seacoast as ceed farther than the brook Besor; and
far as Pelusium, and on the southern frontier David, leaving them there, continued  the
of the tribe of Judah.  In all these excur- pursuit with the remaining four hundred.
sions he utterly destroyed man, woman, and On their way they fell in with a man half
child, and took possession of the cattle and dead  with  illness, hunger, and  thirst.
apparel, of which their wealth consisted. Having refreshed him with food and drink,
The exterminating character which he gave they learned that he was an Egyptian, a
to this warfare was to prevent the Philistines slave to one of the party they pursued; but
from learning that he had been acting against that having fallen ill three days before, his
their allies and friends; and he always pre- master had left him -to live or die, as might
tended to Achish that his expedition had happen —and that since then no bread or
been against the Israelites and their allies, water had passed his lips.  He gave an
by which he established himself firmly in account of the operations of the horde; and,
the confidence of that king.  For the cool when pressed, agreed to conduct the Hebrew
manner in which the son of Jesse poured party to the spot at which he knew that they
out innocent blood to cover a deliberate and intended to repose.  When that spot was
designing falsehood, we have no excuse to reached, the nomads were enjoying themoffer.  He must bear the blame forever.    selves in full security, as they supposed
In those days the Philistine states joined themselves beyond the reach of pursuit, and
theirforces for war against Israel; and David, could not know that David would have
having by his pretences impressed upon returned to Ziklag so soon.  They were thus
Achish the conviction that he now detested easily overthrown; and not only did the
his own people, and was detested by them, Hebrews recapture all that they had taken,
was driven to the dreadful alternative of but gained besides so considerable a booty,
either taking the field with the Philistines that David was enabled to send presents to
and fighting against his brethren, or else of all the rulers in Judah who were favorable
appearing ungrat eful to Achish, and perhaps to his cause.
of occasioning the destruction of his family   The four hundred men who had continued
and himself. But from this difficulty he was the pursuit were unwilling  to share the
extricated by the not unreasonable jealousy additional spoil with the two hundred who
of the other Philistine princes, who expected had tarried by the brook Besor, although
he might turn against them in the battle in willing to restore their own property to them.
order to reconcile himself to his master. But David took the opportunity of establish



302                             AN ILLUSTRATED
ing the useful principle that all the persons
engaged in an exp'edition should share
equally, whatever part they took in it;or,.
in other words, that those whose presence
protected the baggage should be  equally       i4 __
benefited by a victory with those who went'&t;','-) 
to the fight.
The present campaign of the Philistines                                    ~ K,,
against the Israelites was one of those large
operations which nations can in general only
undertake after long intervals of rest. There
seens, indeed, during the reign of Saul, to                    N' b  -'.,
have been always a sort of desultory and
partial warfare between the two nations; but'
it had produced no measure comparable to
this, which was intended -to be decisive, and  -
was calculated  to tax  to the utmost the
resources of the belligerents.  When Saul
surveyed, from  the heights of Gilboa, the
formidaTble army which the Philistines had
brought into the plain of Esdraelon   that
great battle-field of nations - his heart failed
him.  Presentimentes of coming events cast        
deep shadows over his troubled mind. He
sought council of God.  But God  had.
forsaken him -  left him  to his own devices      
-and answered him not, " either by dreams,     
or by urim, or by prophets."
The crimes of Saul arose from his disloyalty 
to Jehovah, in his reluctance to acknowlede 
him as the true king of Israel. But as his
God he worshipped hihm, and had no tendency
brought ino the plau of Esdralorz —th]
great battle-fizld of nations - his heart failed~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~~I:~ 




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                     303
toward those idolatries by which so many tidings the king fell down as one dead, for
subsequent kings were disgraced.  All idola- he had touched no food that night or the pretry and idolatrous acts were discouraged and ceding day, and was with difficulty restored
punished by him.  In obedience to the law  to his senses, and refreshed by the woman
(Deut. xviii. 10, 11), he banished from  the and his attendants.
land all the diviners and wizards he could    The next day all that had been foretold
find.  But now, in -his dismay, he directed  was accomplished.  Israel fled before the
his attendants to find out a woman skilful in  Philistine archers; and Saul and his sons,
necromancy, that he might seek through her unable to stem  the retreating torrent, find
the information which the Lord refused to also. The three sons of the king, JONATHAN,
give.  One was found at Endor, a town not Abinadab, and Melchi-shua, were slain. Saul
far from the camp in Gilboa; and to her he himself was grievously wounded by the archrepaired by night, disguised, with two attend- ers; and that he might not fall alive into the
ants, and desired her to evoke the spirit of hands of the Philistines, and be subjected to
Samuel, that, in this dread emergency, he their insults, he desired his armor-bearer to
might ask counsel of him.  Whatever might strike him through with his sword; and when
be the nature of the woman's art, and her that faithful follower refused, he fell upon
design in undertaking to fulfil his wish-   his own sword: and the example was folwhether she meant to impose on Saul by  lowed by the armor-bearer, when he beheld
getting some accomplice to personate Samuel, his lord lying dead before him.  "So Saul
who had only been  dead two years, and died, and his three sons, and his armorwhose person must have become well known  bearer, and all his men, that same day
to the Israelites during his long administration  together."
-or whether she  expected  a demoniacal    The next day, when the Philistines came
spirit to give him an answer, it appears from  to collect the spoils of the slain, they found
a close examination of the text, that, to the the bodies of Saul and his three sons.  The
great astonishment of the woman herself, and indignity with which  they treated the rebefore she had time to utter any of her incan- mains of these brave men has no previous
tations, the spirit of S-muel was permitted to  example.  They cut off their heads, and
appear, in a glorified form, and ominously hung  their bodies to the wall of the town
clad in that mantle in which was the rent of Bethshan, near the Jordan.  Their heads
that signified the rending of the kingdom  and armor they sent into Philistia, as trophies
from the family of Saul.*  When the figure  of their triumph, by the hand of the mnessenappeared, the king cknew that it was Samuel, gers who were despatched to publish it in
and bowed himself to the ground before him, their temples and their towns.   The bodies
From  that awful and passionless form  he of Saul and his sons were soon stolen away
heard that the doom declared long since was by night from the wall of Bethshan, by some
now to be accomplished; -  to-morrow Israel valiant men of Jabesh, on the opposite side
should be given up to the sword of the Phi- of the river, where a grateful remembrance
listines —  to-morrow Saul and his sons should  was cherished of the king's first military
be numbered with the dead.  At these heavy  exploit, whereby the people of that town
* The account of Saul's consulting the witch consult a prophet, and asks a witch to call up his
of Endor is the foremost place in Scripture of shade. Most of all, the vigor of the narrative,
those which refer to magic. The supernatural showing us the scene in a few words, proves its
terror with which it is full cannot however be antiquity and genuineness.  We can see no reason
proved to be due to this art, for it has alwavs been whatever for supposing that it is an interpolation.
held by sober critics that the appearing of Samuel From the beginning to the end of this strange hiswas permitted for the purpose of declaring the tory we have no warrant for attributing superdoom of Saul, and not that it was caused by the natural power to magicians. Viewed reasonably,
incantations of a sorceress. As, however, the nar- it refers to the question of apparitions of the dead
rative is allowed to be very difficult, we may look as to which other places in the Bible leave no
for a moment at the evidence of its authenticity. doubt.  The connection with magic seems purely
The details are strictly in accordance with the accidental. The witch is no more than a byage: there is a simplicity in the manners described stander after the first: she sees Samuel, and that
that is foreign to a later time. The circumstan- is all. The apparition may have been a terrible
ces are agreeable with the rest of the history, and fulfilment of Saul's desire; but this does not prove
especially with all we know of Saul's character. that the measures he used were of any power.
Here, as ever, he is seen resolved to gain his ends — Saith's Bib. Dictionary.     A. B.
without caring what wrong he does: he wishes to




304                             AN ILLUSTRATED
were delivered from the loss of their liberty bodies, the people burnt them, and buried
and their eyes.  To preclude any attempt at the collected bones and ashes under a tamathe recovery and continued insult of the risk-tree.
CHAPTER XVII.
DAVID'S REIGN.-  HIS CONQUESTS. — PURPOSE TO BUILD A TESMPLE.
ON  the third day of David's return to   Swifter than eagles, stronger than lions were
Ziklag a man arrived in haste, with his           they!
e daughters of Israel weep over Saul,
clothes rent, and earth upon his head, and   Who clothed you pleasantly in scarlet,
laid at the feet of David the crown and arm-  And put golden ornaments upon your robes.
let which Saul had worn.  He told, truly,  How are the mighty fallen in the midst of battle!
that Israel had fled before the Philistines,  O Joathan, slain on thy own mountains!
I am grieved for thee, O Jonathan, my brother!
and that Saul and his sons were slain; but   Very dear to me wast thou:
thinking to win royal rewards from the son   Wonderful was thy love to me,
of Jesse, he boasted that he had slain Saul  Surpassing the love of women.
with his own hand. The truth was probably     How are the mighty fallen 
And the weapons of war perished! "
that he had found the body of Saul in the   And the weapons of war perished!
night after the battle, and had taken from it                  BOOTHROYD'S VERSION.
the royal insignia which he  brought to    That he mourned even for Saul will only
David.  His expectations were grievously be attributed to hypocrisy by those who are
disappointed; for David, believing his state- themselves incapable of such magnanimity,
ment, caused him to be put to death, as one and are determined to forget that David,
who had not feared to slay the Lord's anoint- during the life of his persecutor, always
ed.  The man was an Amalekite.  David respected him as a king appointed by God,
mourned and fasted for the desolation of and twice spared him when he had his life
Israel, and he lamented the death of his completely in his power.
beloved Jonathan, and even of Saul, in a    With the approbation of the Lord, whom
most affecting and beautiful elegy, which we he consulted, David now removed, with his
may here introduce as a specimen of the family and friends, to Hebron, where the
poetical compositions of one whose rank rulers of the tribe of Judah, with views
among the poets of the Hebrews is fully  altogether theocratical, awarded the sceptre
equal to that which he occupies among their to him, as one whom God had already deskings: —                                  ignated as king.  David was at this time
thirty years of age.
" 0 antelope of Israel! pierced on thy high place! thirty years of age
How are the mighty fallen i'rell it not in Gath,                  in this important step.  On the contrary, all
Publish it not in the streets of Askelon,  the other tribes elected Saul's only surviving
Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,    son, Eshbaal, as he was originally named
Lest the daug'hters of the uncircumcised triumph..                            ed
Ye mountains of Gilboa, on you be no dew,
Ye mountains of Gilhoa, on you he no dew,   (1 Chron. xiii. 33, ix. 39), but nicknamed
Nor rain, nor fields of first-fruits;    Ishbosheth  (a man of shame) from his
Since there hath been vilely cast away,  weakness and incapacity, which, it would
The shield of the mighty, the shield of Saul,  ear saved his life  by precluding him
The armor of him anointed with oil.                         
From the blood of the slain,          from being present at the battle in which his
From the fat of the mighty.              brothers perished.  This measure was probThe bow of Jonathan was not held back,   ably promoted  by that radical jealousy
Nor did the sword of Saul return in vain,  between the tribes of Judah and Ephraim,
Saul and Jonathan!
In mutual love were they in life united,  which prevented the latter (which took the
And in their death they were not separated.    lead among the other tribes) from concur



35                                                  30
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31. Simeon,~ ~ ~~~~iion
9 I 1. 13 ej~~~~~j amim.      ITpDASICU
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Xi.  God. luu,                                       -11 C.tc
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~ta/   Arbt~a4?
X 1. G a-0.c~ss~ j~i-  1ah!Ijhi0/10t0)ii j//i
Pdllll. Xelllll  on.i4iiL' 116' 0Z]l~le~~~~t                       cl,i;  J~~~LL?7LNI L,0tLLL                 (
git Itt V. 4'
tcch/I,,         hutut
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ara  ~~~~~11            arsiu
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orop         a            ~:  Plutm —~- i/-   ~  -o/'<f
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As id i/I    ~-  ci/ilb<1~4'M'       _T"    I        s/? 1p;dwt
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HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                               305
ring in the appointing a king of the rival   For two years no hostile acts between the
tribe, or indeed from  heartily sympathizing two kingdoms took place.  But war was at
in any measure which that tribe originated. length provoked by Abner, who crossed the
But the prime agent in this schism was Ab- Jordan with the intention to subdue the tribe
ner, the commander of the army, who had of Judah to the authority of Ishbosheth.
drawn off the remnant of the defeated army David sent Joab to meet him; and the
to the other side the Jordan, and there, at opposing forces met near the pool of Gibeon.
Mahanaim,  proclaimed  Ishbosheth  king. But the men on each side felt that they
Abner was a bold and able, but unprincipled were all Israelites, and were reluctant to
man; and doubless expected to govern in fight against each other.  The two generals,
the name of his feeble nephew.  And he therefore, thought of a device which has
did so.                                    often been employed in the East, and elsewhere, to excite tribes or nations to battle was singled out bly Joab's brother Asahel,
when relationship or other causes made them      who was as swift of foot as any antelope
reluctant or wanting in zeal.  Twelve men  of the field;" and he pursued him, without
on each side were matched to fight against allowing himself to be drawn aside by other
each other between the two armies; and so objects.  He was close at the heels of Abwell were they matched that they no sooner ner, when the latter looked back. and findingo
came within reach of one another than each who it was, he became most anxious to avoid
man seized his antagonist by the head and such a blood-feud as would arise between
sheathed his sword in his body, so that they him and Joab, in case he slew his brother,
were all killed upon the spot.  This kindled even in his own defence.  He therefore enthe opposing forces, and a desperate and treated Asahel to turn back that he might
most sanguinary battle followed.  It ended not be compelled to smite him to the ground.
in the defeat of Abner, who was himself But finding that he was still pursued, and
obliged to flee for his life.  As he fled, he that it was impossible to outstrip his pursuer,
20




306                                  AN ILLUSTRATED
— i
ENNIS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE PURSUER SLAIN.
I~~~~~~~-_~~ ~ ~ ~            ~.~.:~:~-..,~ ~,~am~//~~   (,.
he struck at him with the hinder point of                                         /:
his spear, kanld with such force that the;                             /
behind.  The pu'sui  of Abner and the:<
other fugitives was continued by Joab and::
his othBer hrother Ahishai until sunset, hy
which time they were got as far as the hill;.5!
of Ammah.  Here the Benjamites (always   j             W
valiant, and jealously attached to the house            ~\\
of Saul) rallied again under Abner, and'I
C)
posting themselves on the rising of the hill,'
e'i-?  P'!
stood prepared to make a stout defence; but',.;-~~~i="L-of fi           -N,-,
their general, who was weary of  fighting,
called to Joab, and begged him  to put a
stop to the slaughter of his brethren. whose    ki         
destruction could not but cause bitterness:5,in the end.  Although Joahb had determined  
to continue the pursuit all night, he had the,    1 It  j
sense to hearken to his advice, and caused the
trumpet to sound  a retreat.   After this,
— ~~    ~       Ixx//lx! \,   ti//,.
Abner and his men took the way to Maeanaim, and Joab returned to Hebron.  Abncr lost three hundred and sixty men in this
action, while on David's side only nineteen         it     
were killed. The war havino thus cornmentced was conutinued for several years;
wes arf earke,  wi h nve came to any imorante         7                                   K)/
but it appears to have been a small irritating
war'fa re, w h ich n eve r came to, a ny i mp or tan t
or decisive engagement between the opposing0-                                                /
parties.  It was, however attended with this
result, that the causea of David was gather-' The spear is armed at the lower end with a
pointed  iron, whereby  it is stuck into the           /~ground when,  the owner is iu repose.
par~~~~~~~t~~~ies.   Tt was~~~~~~~~~~~~~~,              >~,~,:<.,dedwih hi
ground when the owner is in repose.                        " 




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    307
ing strength every day, while the house of duct, or to allow any of his proceedings to
Saul daily  became weaker  and weaker. be questioned by him.  Now Ishbosheth had
Indeed, it seems to have required all the heard that Abner carried on a criminal intergreat talents of Abner to keep the kingdom  course with one of Saul's concubines, named
of Ishbosheth together.                       Rizpah: and as, according to the usages of
Meanwhile David reigned prosperously in the East, the concubines of a deceased soveHebron.*  He increased the number of his reign became the property of the successor in
wives to six, by all of whom sons were born so strong and peculiar a sense, that such an
to him in that place.  In this smnall kingdom  act as that imputed to Abner might be interhis good and  prosperous  government, to- preted into a design upon the crown, t or at
gether with the knowledge that he had been least was an insulting encroachment upon
divinely appointed to reign over all Israel, the peculiar rights of royalty, even the timid
appears insensibly to have inclined the other Ishbosheth was roused to question Abner on
tribes toward him, by which, more even than  the subject.  It is not very clear whether the
by war, his cause gathered that strength  charge was true or false; but it is clear that
which that of Ishbosheth lost.  Abner was this overbearing  personage was astonished
fully sensible that without himself the king- and disgusted that the king should dare to
dom of his nephew would fall to pieces, or question any part of his conduct.  I-Ie rose
rather pass quietly into the hands of David. into a towering passion:  " Am  I, who,
He rated his services at their full value; and against Judah, have to this day shown kindalthough we do not ourselves see cause to ness to the house of Saul, thy father, and to
suspect, as some have done, that he contem- his brethren and to his friends, and have not
plated taking the crown to himself, it is delivered thee into the hands of David, such
certain that he was not disposed to consider a dog's head that thou chargest me to-day
himself responsible to the king for his con- wlth  a fault concerning this woman?  God
* HEBRON is an ancient city of Palestine, situ- been converted into a Turkish mosque. Accordated in the heart of the hill-country of Juduea, ing to Ali Bey, who visited it in 1807, the ascent
about twenty-seven miles south-west from Jerusa- to it is by a large and fine staircase leading to a
lem. Originally it was called Kirjath-Arba, or long gallery, the entrance to which is by a small
the city of Arba, " which Arba was a great man court. Toward the left is a portico, resting upon
among the Anakims." (Josh. xiv. 15.) In the square pillars. The vestibule of the temple convicinity of this place, Abraham. abode after he tains two rooms, one of which is called the tomb
parted with Lot (Gen. xiii. 18), and bought a field of Abraham, the other that of Sarah. In the body
with a cave in which to bury his dead. (Gen. xxiii. of the church, between two large pillars on the
3-20.)  Besides Abraham  and Sarah, his son right, is seen a small recess, in which is the sepulIsaac, his grandson Jacob, with their wives Re- chre of Isaac, and in a similar one upon the left
bekah and Leah, and his great grandson Joseph, is that of his wife. On the opposite side of the
were severally interred here. (Gen. xxiii. 19, court is another vestibule, which has also two
xxv. 10, xlix. 29-33, 1. 12, 13.)  When the He- rooms, respectively called the tombs of Jacob and
brews invaded Palestine, Hebron was tbie residence his wife. At the extremity of the portico, on the
of a king (Josh. xii. 10) named Hoham, who con- right hand, is a door leading to a sort of long galfederated  with four other Canaanitish  kings lery, which still serves for a mosque; and passing
against Israel; but they were all discomfited and thence, is observed another room, said to contain
destroyed by Joshua. (Josh. x. 3, 4, 22-27.) the ashes of Joseph. All the sepulchres of the
After which the city, being taken, was assigned patriarchs are covered with rich carpets of green
to Caleb (Josh. xix. 6-11) agreeably to a promise silk, magnificently embroidered with gold; those
given him by Moses.  (Num. xiii. 30-33, xix. 5, of their wives are red, embroidered in like man24.) Subsequently it was made a city of refuge, ner. The sultans of Constantinople furnish these
and given to the priests.  (Josh. xxi. 11, xx. 7.) carpets, which are renewed from time to time.
Afterward, when David succeeded Saul on the Ali Bey counted nine, one over the other, upon
throne of Israel, he selected Hebron for his royal the sepulchre of Abraham.  The rooms also
residence, and continued there until Jerusalem  which contain the tombs are covered with rich
was captured from the Jebusites.  (2 Sam. ii. 1, carpets: the entrance to them is guarded by iron
v. 4-9.; 1 Chron. xii., xiii.)  On the division of gates, and wooden doors plated with silver, havthe kingdom under Rehoboam, Hebron fell to the ilng bolts and padlocks of the same metal. More
share of the king of Judah.  (2. Chron. xi. 10.)  than a hundred persons are employed in the serHebrew, Habroun, or, according to the Arabic vice of this Mohammedan temple. The populaorthography followed by the moderns, El Hhalil, tion of Hebron is considerable: the inhabitants
is a flourishing town, the flat-roofed houses of manufacture glass lamps, which are exported to
which.are closely jammed together.  It contains Egypt. Provisions are abundant, and there is a
al)o0ut four hundred families of Arabs. A splen- considerable number of shops.
did church was erected over the graves of the    t See instances of this in the case of Absalom
patriarchs by the empress Helena: it has long (2 Sam. xx. 23) and Adonijah, 1 Kings, ii. 13-25.




308                            AN,ILLUSTRATED
do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Jehovah to make overtures to him  in behalf of the
hath sworn to David, I do not so to him, by tribes which had hitherto adhered to the
transferring the dominion of the house of house of Saul.
Saul, and to set up the throne of David over   Abner was received with great distinction
Israel and over Judah, from  Dan even to and royally feasted by David; and after the
Beersheba."  From this it seems that even business on which he really came had been
Abner knew that he had acted against a settled to his satisfaction, he departed with
higher duty, in setting up Ishbosheth in op. the intention of inducing the tribes to concur
position to David; but this cannot justify in giving David a public invitation to take
the grounds on which he now declared his in- the crown of Israel.
tention to act against him. What he had said   Joab had been absent from Hebron during
was no vain threat, although he was probably this visit of Abner; but he returned immrewilling afterward that the son of Saul should diately after Abner had departed, and was
take it for an unmeaning outbreak of passion. deeply displeased when he learned what had
He sent messengers to David to enter into a occurred.  Through the energy of his chartreaty with him, under which he would en- acter, his abilities and experience in the
gage to use his great influence in bringing  affairs of peace and war, his influence and
all Israel to acknowledge him as king; and popularity with the army which was under
after this he found a pretence for going him- his command, and his unquestioned devotion
self unsuspectedly to Hebron to complete to the interests of David, this man had great
the agreement and arrange the steps to be authority with the king.  His standing, intaken.  David had sent to Ishbosheth to deed, in the kingdom  of Judah, hlad much
desire him to restore to him his wife Michal, resemblance to that of Abner in the other
whom Saul had given to another.  He had kingdom; nor were their characters altogether
a perfect right to make this demand, if so unlike.  In the points of difference, the adinclined, - the rather as she had thus been vantage was on the side of Abner; for his
disposed of against her own wish; but we experience in military and public affairs was
may suppose that he was particularly induced larger, from which, together with his near
to reclaim her at this juncture, in considera- relationship to Saul and his son, and the
tion of the satisfaction the measure was like- high stations he had occupied under them,
ly to give to those attached to the family of his influence with the people was far greater
Saul.  As this claim was doubtless support- than that which Joab or any other man in
ed by Abner, it was granted; and having Israel could pretend to; and hence his greatobtained an order to demand her from  her er power at this time of rendering essential
present husband, that personage himself un- services to the king -of Judah.  Abner and
dertook to escort her to David.  From  this Joab also served very different masters; and
transaction it would seem  that the war had thus it happened that while Abner was, in
latterly been allowed to die away, although the public eye, the greatest man in the kingwithout any concession or treaty having been dom of Israel, Joab was in that of Judah
made on either side.  That he was escorting only the greatest man next to David.  Upon
the daughter of Saul to David proved to the whole, Abner was the only man in the
Abner a favorable opportunity, on his way, country of whom Joab had cause to be afraid,
of explaining his present sentiments to the and by whom it was likely that his own inelders of the tribes through which he passed; fluence would be superseded in case the two
especially to those of Benjamin, which was kingdoms were united through his instrumennaturally the most attached to the house of tality.  It was probably more from such conSaul, while his own influence in it was the siderations than any other that his displeasure
greatest. HIe dwelt strongly on the public at the intercourse between David and Abner
benefits which might be expected from the arose.  He went instantly to the king, and
government of one who had been expressly reproached him for allowing himself to be
nominated by Jehovah to the kingdom; and imposed upon by the able uncle of Ishbosheth,
such a presentation, coming from  such a declaring his belief that the true object of his
quarter, coupled with the favorable dispo- visit was to obtain such information concernsitions toward David which had grown up ing his state and resources as he might afterduring his reign in Hebron, was attended ward employ against him.  He then went
with such effect, that Abner was authorized out and sent a messenger after Abner to call




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              309
him back in the name of the king.  As he ernment; nor was he insensible to the insult
returned, Joab took care to meet him near offered to himself, in the present and other
the gate, and drew him  aside as if to speak instances, by " the sons of Zeruiah," Joab
to him privately, and while he was entirely and Abishai, and the high hand with which
unguarded and unsuspicious, gave him a they wrought their own will.  "I am this
treacherous  stab, of which  he  instantly day weak," he said, "though an anointed
died.  The  history  describes this as an king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah,
act of blood-revenge for the death of his are too  stubborn  for me.  Jehovah will
brother Asahel by the hand of Abner; and reward the evil-doer according to his evil
while allowing  him the full benefit of this deeds."  As it was of the highest impormotive, it is hard to believe that envy and tance to him that he should be clear of any
jealousy sharpened not the dagger of the suspicion of having had any part in the death
avenger.  It must be conceded, neverthe- of Abner, he publicly, " before Jehovah,"
less, that the existence of a blood-feud be- declared himself guiltless of the blood which
tween them  extenuated if it did not justify had been shed, and invoked the full burden
the act of Joab in the eyes of all Israel.  It of that blood on Joab and on his house.
was, in fact, according to the strict ideas of He ordered a public act of solemn mourning,
that barbarous institution, the  imperative in which he himself took a prominent part;
duty of Joab to shed the blood of Abner, and at the funeral he followed the body, as
who had slain his brother; and that Abner chief mourner, to the grave, where he stood
himself knew that the death of Asahel would  weeping, and where he lamented, in elegiac
be attended with this result, is evinced by his verse, over the prince and the great man who
anxiety to avoid the fatal necessity of slaying had that day fallen in Israel.
his pursuer; for if the man-slayer is known,   This conduct of David tended still further
the avenger is not bound to make any dis- to satisfy and conciliate the tribes attached to
tinction as to the circumstances under which the house of Saul; and by them the murder
his relative is slain; and at the present day, of Abner was never imputed to him. Indeed,
the one who slays another in battle is pur- the event must, at the time, have seemed to
sued by the avenger equally with the mnur- himself and others any thing but advantaderer.  The extent to which the law of geous for his cause.  But we, who have his
Moses had interfered with this custom  only whole history before us, can see that the
provided for the safety of the man-slayer manner in which he ultimately became king
while in a city of refuge.  Hebron was a over all Israel, by the free and unsolicited
city of refuge; and if Joab had slain Abner choice of the tribes, was more honorable and
within that city, the law would have allowed safe to hinm, and more becoming his divine
Dlvid to treat him  as a murdleler.  This appointment, than the same result brought
Joab knew; and hence his meeting Abner about through the exertions of Abner, whose
at the gate, and drawing him aside before be conduct, as between David and Ishbosheth,
entered the city.  These details we judge must have seemed very equivocal, and could,
necessary, to show that those who most suf- at the best, have been but " traitorously
fered from the death of Abner, and abhorred honest." >
the manner in which it was inflicted, knew    When Ishbosheth heard of Abner's death
that his offence was not punishable by the (without being aware of the plot in which ht,
king or by the law; and hence that it was not was engaged), he felt that the right arm of
merely the rank and influence of Joab which his kingdom's strength was broken.  Others
prevented David from callino him to account felt this also: and the conviction that the son
for this barbarous deed.  Perhaps he could of Saul could not govern the troubled king..
not have punished Joab in any case; but it dom without Abner, grew stronger every day
is important to know, that in the present case among the tribes, and directed their eyes to
the law, custom, and public opinion, did not David as the only person under whom they
require or permit him to do so.            could expect to realize the benefits the nation
The resentment of David was nevertheless had expected to enjoy under a regal governvery great.  Like other Eastern sovereigns, ment.  This feeling, this tendency of the
he must have been impressed with the evils nation toward David, was perceived, even in
of this custom of blood-revenge, and the
extent to which it interfered with good gov-e Bishop Hall.




310                             AN ILLUSTRATED
the court of Ishbosheth; and two of his the result of a unanimous decision in a great
officers, brothers, determined to anticipate council of the eleven tribes, that those tribes
the course which events were taking, by the sent an embassy to David in Hebron to
assassination of their master, expecting by invite him to assume the general government
this act to deserve high rewards and honors of the nation.  This they did on the grounds
from the king of Judah.  Accordingly, they of, 1, his military claim, as one who had often
stole into his chamber, while, according to led them to victory in the days of Saul; and,
the universal custom  of the East, he slept 2, of his theocratical claim, as one who had
there during the mid-day heat. They pierced
him as he slept, and then took off his head,
with which they escaped unperceived, as at                              1
that time of the day most of the people were
asleep.  The murderers sped to Hebron, and              alaid the head of Saul's son at the feet of  
David, with the words, " Behold the head of  
Ishbosheth, the son of Saul thine enemy, who
sought thy life.  Jehovah  hath this day
avenged my lord the king of Saul and of his
seed."  Astounding to them was the answer
-"  As Jehovah liveth, who hath redeemed            12                 10
my soul out of every distress! if, when one
told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, think-     H i
ing that he brought good tidings, I took hold
of him  and slew him at Ziklag, when he expected that I should have given him a reward
for his tidings; - how much more when
wicked men have slain a just person in his
own house, upon his own bed, shall I not now
require his blood from your hand, and destroy
you from the earth? " And with these words                   Crowns.
he commanded his attendants to remove them  1, 2, 3. Olive, Oak, and Laurel Crowns. 4, 5, 6. Mulral,
to an ignominious death.  The head of Ish-  fillets and  ilitary Crowns. frt ho se hich fol low are
bosheth he ordered to be deposited in the  Syrian kings.) 7.:I.Vips.Agrippe. 8.Antigonos. 9. Antiochus IV. 10. Antiochus VI. 11. Herod the Great.
sepulchre of Abner.:12. Antiochus VIII. 13, 14. Tigranes, king of Armenia.
~~~sepulct~hre of Abner.  ~15 Aretas, king of Arabia.
The kingdom  of Israel was now without
even the appearance of a head, nor was there been expressly nominated by God to govern
any remaining member of the family of Saul Israel.  By this we see that the people were
whom the most zealous adherents of that fallen on this occasion careful to recognize the
house could dream of supporting in opposition theocracy, since they rested their preference
to David. Saul had indeed left some sons by of him on his having been nominated to the
concubines, but they were living in obscurity, kingdom  by Jehovah, and having proved
and even their existence was scarcely known himself worthy of it during the reign of
to the people. Jonathan also had left one son, Saul.  The studious avoidance of all notice
but he was a mere boy and lame.  He was of the seven years in which the tribes had
five years old when Saul and his sons per- been separately ruled seems to intimate a
ished in the battle of Gilboa, and he became desire that this measure should be formally
lame from a fall which he received when his regarded as following the death of Saul.
nurse fled with him, as soon as the tidings David intimated his readiness to receive the
of that overthrow were brought to the house honor designed for him, and to accede to the
of Saul and  Jonathan.  His name was conditions on which the crown was to be
Mephibosheth.                              held.  The rulers of the eleven tribes, thereDavid had reigned seven years and a half fore, at the head of large bodies of the best
in Hebron, when, after the deaths of Abner trained men in the several tribes, described
and Ishbosheth, the crown of all Israel as " men that could keep rank," who were
seemed to devolve upon him, as naturally as chosen to represent the whole of their several
by an act of succession.  It was probably tribes in the great national act of inaugura



HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               311
tion, repaired to Hebron to make David them thirty-seven thousand men, armed with
king.  The number amounted to not less shield and spear.  Dan supplied twentythan three hundred and forty thousand, and eight thousand six hundred able warriors,
the enumeration in the book of Chronicles and Asher forty  thousand.   The tribes
(1 Chron. xii. 23, ad fin.) is accompanied beyond Jordan, Reuben, Gad, an d the halfwith several remarks, which the scantiness tribe of Manasseh, sent, collectively, one
of our information concerning the distinctive hundred and twenty thousand warlike mren.
character of the tribes makes interesting.  It One obvious remark, arising fiom the survey
appears that many members of the tribe of of these numbers, is the comparative large,
Judah had adhered to the house of Saul, ness of the proportions furnished by the
and abode within its dominions; for, on the remoter tribes, to the north and beyond Jorpresent occasion, six thousand eight hundred dan.  This is, perhaps, explained by the
men of that tribe, armed with shield and absence in those tribes of any pretensions
spear, came with the others to submit to for themselves, and of any strong attachDavid.  There were seven thousand one ment for the house of Saul, which could
hundred Simeonites of valor.  The Levites interfere with the heartiness of their recogsent four thousand six hundred; and there nition of the claims of David; together with
were three thousand seven hundred priests, the operation of the principles which gives
headed by Jehoiada, the son of Benaiah; to a prophet and a great man the least degree
besides whom came Zadok at the head of of honor in and near his own home.
twenty-two chiefs of his father's house.  This    With this vast body, the flower of the
Zadok, of the old pontificial line of Eleazar, Hebrew nation, and representing the whole
is the same who was long after made sole of it, "David made a league before the
high-priest by Solomon, to the final exclu- Lord," which can be construed to have no
sion of the house of Eli; but, on the present other meaning than that which has already
occasion, he is particularly noticed as " a been indicated in the case of Saul, that he
young man, mighty in valor," which shows bound himself by oath to observe the con-as indeed appears in the history -  that ditions on which he received the sceptre,
the pursuits of the Levites, and even of the which are now  unknown.  He was then
Aaronites,  were  not exclusively  of an anointed king, and received the honlage of
ecclesiastical and civil nature.  From Ben- his new subjects; and the whole was terjamin came three thousand men; but the minated by a feast to all the multitude asgreater part of this tribe held back, still sembled at Hebron, supplies for which were
cherishing a lingering and futile attachment liberally sent in by  all the neighboring
to the house of Saul, the rule of which had tribes, "on asses, on camels, on mules, and on
given to the tribe a flattering pre-emninence. oxen," and consisted of meat, meal, figs, raiswhich it was unwilling to relinquish.  The ins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep, in great abunhalf-tribe of Manasseh on this side the Jor- dance.  " For there was great joy in Israel."
dan sent eighteen thousand men; and the    The first act of David's reign was to
proud tribe of Ephraim  testified its concur- undertake the reduction of the fortress of
rence by sending twenty-eight thousand. Jebus, on Mount Zion, which had remained
iFrom Issachar came only two hundred men; in the hands of the natives ever since the
but these were the chief persons in the tribe, days of Joshua, and which, as Josephus rethe whole of which was at their beck, and ports,* had been, from its situation and its
would have been in attendance if required. fortifications, hitherto deemed impregnable.
To them  is given the marked character of The Jebusites, therefore, ridiculed the atbeing men of political prudence and sagacity, tempt, and appear to have placed the lame
who knew better than most men how Israel and the blind on the walls, in derision, as
ought to act under the present and other fully sufficient to keep him out.  But from
circumstances, and whose support was there- the lower city, which was already in the
fore of great value to David.  From Zebu- possession of the Israelites, there was "a
lun came not fewer than fifty thousand men, gutter," or subterraneous communication,
skilled in the use of all warlike weapons, with the fortress, by which David introdueed[
and " not double-hearted," with respect to a party of men and took " the stronghold of
the object for which they came. Naphtali
furnished one thousand captains, and with          * Antiq. v. 2. Josh. xv. Ge




312                             AN ILLUSTRATED
Zion."  In the operations of this siege such    The Philistines had good reason to dread
ability and conduct were displayed by Joab, the consequences of the consolidation of all
that he was appointed to the same chief cornm- the power of the Hebrew tribes in hands of
mand of the armies of Israel which he had such tried vigor as those of David. and they
previously held in the separate kingdom  of deemed it prudent to set upon him before he
Judah.  The fact that David's rule was like- had time to establish himself firmly in his
ly; under all circumstances, to find the most kingdom.   Their measures were so well
zealous supporters in his own tribe of Judah, planned, and so secretly executed, that they
probably disinclinedl himn to remove fiom  its appeared suddenly, in great force, in the
borders; and he determined to make his new  heart of Judma, and took the king's native
conquest the metropolis of his empire.  A  town of Bethlehem  before he was able to
more central situation, with respect to all make any resistance.  Indeed, the danger of
the tribes, would have placed him in the hands his position was so urgent, that he was
of the Ephraimites, whose cordiality toward a obliged to withdraw, for present safety, with
Judahite king might well be suspected, and some attached followers, to his old retreat in
in whom  little confidence could be placed the cave of Adullam.  It was here that he
in times of danger and difficulty.  Similar happened to express a longing desire for a
considerations have dictated the choice of a drink of water from that well of his native
very inconveniently situated capital to the town at which the thirst of his younger days
reigning dynasty of Persia.  But although had often been assuaged.  Hearing this,
better sites for a metropolitan city might have three of his most valiant and devoted men,
been found in the largest extent of Palestine, Joab, Jashobeam, and Eleazar, secretly dethere were not better within the limits to parted, and, breaking through the host of
which, for the reasons indicated, the choice the Philistines, which was encamped along
of David was confined.  That the site is the valley of Rephaim, brought him  the
overlooked from  the Mount of Olives, al- precious fluid for which they had perilled
though a great disadvantage in the eyes of their lives.  But when the king received it
modern military engineers, was of little con- he would not drink, but poured it out as a
sequence under the ancient systems of war- libation to Jehovah.
fare, and could not countervail the peculiar   Soon after this, David, encouraged by a
advantages which it offered in being en- favorable answer firom  God, fell upon the
closed on three sides by a natural fosse of Philistines, and so effectually discomfited
ravines and deep valleys, and terminating in them in two different onsets, that they were
an eminence, which, while strong  in its never after able to make head against him or
defenses from without, commanded the town any of his successors.  Thus was one of the
within, and was capable of being strongly most irritating thorns in the side of Israel
fortified.  The united influence of all these most effectually removed.
considerations appears to have determined the    And now, when David had a respite from
preference of David for a site which was open war, about the tenth year of his reign,* he
to the serious objection, among others, of thought of the ark of God, which had so
being so remote from the northern tribes as long remained in the house of Abinadab, at
to render the legal obligation of resort to it Kirjath-jearim, and contemplated its removal
three times every year a more burdensome to Jerusalem, that the place which had now
matter to them than it need have been had a become the capital of the human kingdom,
more central situation been chosen.         might also become the cap'tal of the invisiIt is supposed that David first gave the ble King.  The design being received with
name of Jerusalem  (" the possession of approbation by the elders and ch'efs of Israel
peace ") to the city; but this is not quite whom  he consulted, the king prepared for
certain.  On Mount Zion he fixed his resi- its execution, by despatching  messengers
dence, and erected a palace and other build- throughout all Israel, to summon all the
ings, and it was on this account called "the priests and Levites, and to invite as many of
city of David."  This strong part of the the people as were so disposed to attend the
whole metropolis ever after remained what solemnity.  He also prepared a tabernacle t
may be called the royal quarter of the town. to receive the ark on its arrival.  Accord* Counting from his first becoming king over    t The old tabernacle, made in the wilderness,
Judah only.                                 with the altar, and all the sacred utensils, were,




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              313
ingly, at the appointed time, the ark was when he came home, she could not refrain
removed from the house of Abinadab, upon from allowing vent to this feeling. The reply
a new cart, attended by David and his court, of David was spirited and proper, declaring
by a large body of priests and Levites, who that it was before Jehovah. the true king of
sang and played  on  various  instruments Israel, that he had laid aside the king, and
of music, and by a numerous concourse of made himself one with the people.  And if
people from all parts of the kingdom.  On this were to be vile, as she deemed, "I will
the irregularity of removing it on a cart, we yet be more vile than thus, and will be base
have already had occasion to remark.  This in mine own sight."
irregularity gave occasion to an accident,   David now instituted a regular and orderly
attended with such fatal consequences as attendance upon the ark and its tabernacle.
threw an effectual dclamp upon the joy of the But the regular services of religion were still
solemnity; for the cart being at one place performed at Gibeon, where the old tabernacle
much  shaken  by the oxen, the cfficious and altar remained, and which was still thereUzzah, the son or grandson of Abinadab, fore the place of concourse to the nation at
was s-truck dead upon the spot for putting their great festivals. IHere the priests rendered
forth his hand to stay the ark, none but the their services, under Zadok.  The solemn
priests being warranted to toueh it under removal of the ark, and its dignified repose
pain  of death.  (Num. iv. 15.)   This in the city of David, were well calculated to
event struck David and the people with such make an impression upon the multitudes who
consternation, that the intention of taking were present on that occasion, and awaken
the ark to Jerusalem  was relinquished, and their slumbering zeal for Jehovah.  These
it was left in the house of a Levite named favorable and becoming dispositions the king
Obed-edom, near which the  circumstance wished to confirm and strengthen, and for
occurred.  Bult about three months after, that end made suitable regulations in the
hearing that the blessing of Jehovah had services of the priests and Levites, and this
very evidently rested on the house in which especially  by  animating  and  instructive
the ark lay, the king hastened to complete psalms, which were composed partly by himhis design.  He perceived the former impro- self, and partly by other gifted persons. They
prieties, and directed that the priests should were sung not only by the Levites at all the
now bear the ark upon their shoulders; and sacrifices, but also by the people while on
the whole solemnity was placed under the their way to the national altar, to attend the
direction of Chenaniah, the chief of the feasts.  A  very precious collection of these
Levites, who was foundl to be best acquainted compositions has been preserved to our own
with the proper observances.  This was a day in the book of Psalms, which has in all
great day in Israel.  Nothing was omitted subsequent ages ministered much edification
by which the occasion could be honored.  In and comfort to a large portion of mankind.
the presence of that sacred symbol of the By such instructive means David, without
Divine King, David  laid aside his royal coercive measures, brought the whole nation
mantle, and appeared in such a garb as the to forget their idols, and to worship Jehovah
Levites wore, with and before whom he went, alone; and thus also their religion became
as one of them; and as they sang and played honorable, even in the eyes of foreigners, and
the triumphant song which he had composed acceptable to many of them.  The above is
for the occasion, he accompanied them with the first occasion on which Zadok is mentioned
his renowned harp, and danced to the joyful as high-priest. But after this, throughout the
sounds it gave forth.  3Michal, the daughter reign of David, he and Abiathar are often
of Saul, beheld this from  a window, when named separately or together, as both bearing
the procession was approaching its destina- that character -a singular innovation, resulttion; and she, imbued with some of the ing probably from circumstances over which
royal notions which had been fatal to her the king had little control.  It seems likely
father and his house, despised him in heart that after Saul had slain the priests of Ithafor acting so far beneath what she conceived mar's line at Nob he restored the pontificate
to be the dignity of the king of Israel; and to the line of Eleazar, in the person of Zadok;
as it appears, at Gibeon; why David erected a it was too large for the place within his new
new tabernacle, instead of removing the former, palace, which, for the present, he intended it to
does not clearly appear; but it is probable that occupy.




314                             AN ILLUSTRATED
while David and his people, during his wan- to the principles of the theocracy, so now the
dering and his reign in Judah, had been ac- arms of David prospered in whatever direction
customed to look to Abiathar, the escaped they were turned. Indeed, it is scarcely until
son of Ahimelech, as the high-priest; and his reign that the national character of the
that, on his accession to the throne of Israel, Hebrews can be deemed to have recovered
he found the people so accustomed to regard of the wounds wh~ch it had received in
Zadok  as high-priest, that he thought it Egypt; and we  find  among them  little
proper and prudent to recognize him in that military skill, and as little valor or fortitude.
character, without depriving Abiathar of the But from  this time forward, trained to war
consideration he had previously enjoyed.  If and victory by David, they may be recognized
this explanation be correct, Zadok would as a truly courageous  people, possessing
have had this advantage over Abiathar, that among them  as much military skill, science,
he had actually discharged the regular func- and discipline, as any other nation of the
tions of the high-priesthood at the tabernacle, same rank and age could claim.
which the other had never an opportunity of   The neighboring and rival nations had
doing.  It is probably on this account, that soon cause to learn that a new king  reigned
wherever the two names occur together, that in Israel.  The time was come for the old
of'Zadok is placed first.                  enemies, who had so often  inspired  the
About five years after this, and the fifteenth Israelites with dread, to be afraid in their
of David's reign, when the king had finished turn; and even the more distant foreign
and inhabited his palace of cedar, " and God princes, whose assistance they procured, had
had given him. rest from his enemies round cause to repent of provoking an enemy
about," he meditated a design of building a more puissant than themselves.  It was
temple to Jehovah, in place of the temporary now the turn of the Philistines to receive
tabernacle which he had provided.  Thbs the yoke to which they had accustomed
design he mentioned to the prophet Nathan, Israel.   Attacked in their own country,
to whom it seemed so obviously proper, that and beaten on all hands, they were brought
he gave it much commendation and encour- under tribute and subjection.  The Moabagement.  But the night following, a mes- ites were  more  heavily  dealt with: to
sage from  God to David was delivered to secure his conquest, David thought it neceshim.  This message declared it seemly that sary to act with a severity not usual with
the temple of God should be built by a man him; for he put to death one half of those who
of peace; but his life had been spent in war- were taken with arms in their hands: and
fare, and he had shed much blood.  He was although it was then, or had been not long
therefore directed to leave the accomplish- previously, usual for the nations to put all
ment of his plan to his son and successor, the arymed men to death, this deed strikes
whose reign should be one of peace. Never- us  as harsh, fiom  comparison with  the
theless it was well for David that this inten- milder general character of David's own
tion had been formed; for the Lord, to testify  warfare, and can only be explained by refhis approbation of this and other evidences erence to some peculiar circumstances with
of his zeal, and of his attachment to the prin- which we are unacquainted.
ciples of the theocracy, promised to make his   In the ancient promises to the Hebrews,
name "as great as the names of the great the limit to which, in their palmy state,
ones who are on the earth;." and, far beyond their victorious arms should  extend, had
this, the Lord promised "to build Iim  a been as clearly defined as the limit of their
house," by establishing the succession in his own proper territory.  And the distinction
house, and by granting to hbs posterity an here incidentally mentioned, between the limit
eternal kingdom.  The gratitude with which of the proper country destined for their own
this promise was received by David seems to occupation, and that of the subject territory
show he had some conception of its extensive which should be acquired, is of considerimport.  He went, and seating himself most able importance, and should not be overreverently on the ground before the ark, looked or confounded as it often has been.
poured forth the strong expression of his The limit of conquest was fully reached by
gratitude.                                 David.
As the Israelites were always victorious in    Eastward this limit was to extend to the
war while they were faithful to their God and  Euphrates.  Of the kings who reigned in




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              315
the intermediate country, one of the most self, in conformity with the scriptural acpowerful was Hadadezer, king of Zobah. count, relates that after David had reduced
This sovereign, whose dominion extended to his obedience Damascus and all Syria,
eastward to the Euphrates, was defeated by having strong garrisons in every place where
David in the first battle, and lost twenty they seemed necessary, he returned in trithousand infantry, seven thousand horsemen umph to Jerusalem, where he consecrated
with their horses, and one thousand chariots to God the golden shields which had been
of war.  Of the  chariots, the  king  of borne by the royal guard of Hladadezer,
Israel preserved a hundred, with horses for from  whose cities he also brought much
them; but, mindful that the law  of the spoil of brass for the service of the future
kingdom forbade the accumulation of horses, temple.
While David was engaged in these victories, the southern frontier of his conquests was,
according to ancient promises, extended south_o<  I ward to the Red Sea.  This was the work
of Joab's valiant brother, A.bishai, who defeated  the Edomites in "the  Valley of,~ j<       Salt," at the southern extremity of the
Dead Sea, and then carried his victorious
arms into the mountains, the enclosed valleys, and the rocky wildernesses of Mount
Seir, leaving garrisons to secure the advanAssyrian Chariot. (Nineveh marbles.)  tages he had gained.
all the others weire destroyed.  The Syrians   David was too well acquainted with the
of Damascus, who  were  allies (perhaps law to attempt to incorporate any of these
tributaries) of Hadadezer, and came to his conquests as integral parts of the Hebrew
assistance, shared his fate.  Hadad, their territory.   He appears in most cases to
king, was vanquished, with the loss  of have left the internal government of the
twenty-two  thousand  men,  and  David conquered states in the hands of the native
brought his territory under subjection to his princes, who were required to render ansceptre.  These two victories carried  the nually a certain amount of tribute, consisting,
eastern limit of his conquests to the Euphra- for the most part, of such articles as their
tes.  Josephus adcluces the testimony of a country afforded in the most abundalnce, or
which they had the best means of procuring
or producing.  The delivery of such tribute
from subject states, under the name of
presents, was anciently, as it is now, an
occasion  of great pomp  and  ceremony,
which, on another occasion, we shall more
particularly notice.  The obedience of the
more distant conquests was  secured by
garrisons, which do not seem to have been
judged necessary in those nearer countries
Persian Chariot. (KerPorter.)     which the mere vicinity of the conquering
power might sufficiently control.
native historian, Nicolaus of Damascus, in    Thus David literally became a "king of
confirmation  of the testimony which the kings," and his fame extended into  far
Hebrew  writers have left.  From  this it countries.  Some states which had been at
seems that the kingdom, of which Damascus hostilities with the states conquered by him
was the capital, had grown very powerful sent splendid  embassies, with  valuable
under this Hadad, who might, indeed, be gifts, to congratulate him on his successes.
considered as its actual founder; but after Among these, Toi, the king of Hamah, upon
various engagements with King David, was the Orontes, who had been at war with
finally overthrown in a great battle near Hadadezer, is particularly mentioned.  He
the Euphrates, in which he performed deeds sent his own son Joram "to salute and
worthy of his high name.  Josephus him- bless " King David, and to deliver costly




316                              AN ILLUSTRATED
gifts, such as vessels and utensils of gold, formed very soon after David had taken
silver, and fine brass.  All the surplus Jerusalem and defeated the Philistines, and
wealth thus acquired from the states he con- seems to have been sought by Hiram; for
quered, or fromn those which  sought his it will be remembered  that  David was
friendship and alliance, was treasured up by famous in the closely  neighboring  states
him for the great work which he had so much before he became king; and no doubt not
at heart, and which his son was destined to only his eminent public qualities, but his
execute.                                    remarkable  personal history, was familiar
But of all David's foreign alliances, the not less to the Phoenicians than  to the
earliest and most valuable was that with Philistines.  And although an enterprising
Hiram, king of Tyre.   This had  been commercial and skilful manufacturing nation,
ROCK VALLEY IN MOUNT SEIR. THE ENTRANCE TO A TOMB IS SHOWN ON THE LEFT, AND THE REMAINS OF AN
AMPHITHEATRE IN THE DISTANiCE.
like them, would be disposed to look down Tyre possessed but a narrow strip of maritime
upon, a people so inferior to themselves as territory, the produce of which, if sedulously
the Hebrews in the finer and larger arts of cultivated, would have been very inadequate
social life, military talents and success, and to the supply of its teeming population and
such heroic qualities as the character of numerous fleets.   But, besides this, the
David offered, have never yet failed to be absorbing devotion of the Phoenicians to
appreciated,  wherever  found.    Hiram  commerce and the arts rendered them averse
"was ever a lover of David,"  and  the to the  slow  pursuits of agriculture, the
offered alliance must have been the more products of which they could so much more
gratifying to him as it came before " David  easily  obtain  by  exchange  against the
acquired a name, and  [before] his fame products of their foreign -traffic and their
went out into all lands, and  the Lord  skill.  To them therefore it was a most inbrought the fear of him  upon all nations." valuable circumstance, that behind them lay
This alliance was one of mutual advantage. a country in the hands of a people who had




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                            317
none of the advantages which were so much by Nahash, the king of Ammon, with some
prized by themselves, but who had abun- kindness, of which he cherished a very gratedance of corn, wine, oil, and cattle, to barter ful remembrance. When, therefore, he heard
for them.  An alliance cemented by such of his death, he sent an embassy to condole
reciprocal benefits, and undisturbed by ter- with the new king, Hanun, upon the loss
ritorial designs or jealousies, was likely to of lhs father, and to congratulate him upon
be permanent; and we know that it tended his peaceable succession.  But this prince
much to advance the Hebrews in the arts was led by his courtiers to regard the ambaswhich belong to civilized life, and to promote sadors as spies, and dared to give them  such
the external splendor of this and the ensu- treatment as was then, and would be at this
ing reign.  In the present instance, Hiram  day in the East, regarded as the most ignllOsupplied the architects and mechanics, as minious which any men could receive.  He
well as the timber (hewn in Lebanon), caused their beards to be shaved, and their
whereby David was enabled to build his long garments to be cut short at their butpalace of cedar, and to undertake the other toeks, and in this condition sent them away.
works which united the upper and lower When David heard of this grievous insult to
cities, and rendered Jerusalem a strong and him! through his ambassadors, he was filled
comely metropolis.                        wvth indignation.  He sent messengers to
In the midst of his success and glory, the meet these personages, and to relieve them
memory of Jonathan was still very dear to fi'om the necessiky of appearing at his court
David.   He caused inquiry to be made in their present degraded condition, by diwhether any of his family remained, " to recling them to remain at Jericho until the
whom he might show kindness; " he then renewed growth of -their beards might enable
first heard of his lame son Mephiboshethl, theim to appear without shame.  As the inand caused him  to be conducted to Jeru- suit was too gross to be allowed to pass unsalem.  The afflicted young, man was re- punished, David ordered Joab to march with
ceived with great kindness by the king;  an imposing force against the Ammonites.
who restored to him  the lands which had Meanwhile that people had not been idle;
belonged to Saul for the support of his but, fully aware of the probable effect of
household, but desired that he would him- their ungenerous conduct, and not confiding
self be a constant guest at the royal table, in their own strength, they engaged the
even as one of the king's own sons.  This asisstance of some of the neighboring princes
generous treatment, with the  continued of Syria — in  fact,  "hired"  them   as
kindness which he afterward received, won mercenaries, being the first example of the
entirely the open heart of Jonathan's son. kind which history offers.  The force thus
Hle became strongly attached to the person obtained from four Syrian princes amounted
and  interests of  David, whose  higher to thirty-three thousand men, who came and
qualities he regarded with admiration and encamped before Medeba in the land of
reverence.                                Ammon. The force of the Anmmonites themIt was probably in the period of peace and selves marched out of the town when the
glory which followed the victories of David army of Israel appeared.  Joab with his
over all the enemies of Israel, that he em- usual address hastened to prevent the juneployed himself in the organization of the tion of the two armies, and himself turned
government. The very important part which against the Syrians, while his brother Abishai
he took in giving to all the departments of the kept the Anmmonites in check.  The Syrians
government the form and character which he were speedily put to flight by Joab; and
desired it to bear in future times, has, it seems when the Ainmmonites saw th's, they also fled
to us, been rather overlooked and under- before Abishai, and hastened into the cIty.
valued.  For, in truth, David was the real   In a second campaign, David  himself
founder of the Hebrew monarchy; and in marched against a powerful army, composed
that character his great abilities appear not not only of the Syrians, but of Assyrians
less prominently than in the various other fiom beyond the Euphrates, whose assistance
endowments by which he was so eminently had been procured by Hadadezer, who seems
distinguished from the mass of mankind.    now to have determined on a last and grand
During the days of his adversity, when effort to recover and secure his independence.
persecuted by Saul, David had been treated This formidable army was under the command




318                              AN ILLUSTRATED
of Shobach, the general of Hadadezer, and the Ammonites were henceforth left to their
were encamped at ielam, near the Euphrates, own resources.
where David found them.  In the terrible    The next campaign  against that nation
battle which  ensued, the  Israelites  were David left to the conduct of Joab, remaining
victorious; and that day they destroyed 700 himself at Jerusalem.  Joab marched into
chariots, 7,000 horses, and 40,000'foot, being the land of Ammon, and, after ravaging the
about half the force which the Syrians on country, laid siege to the metropolitan city
both sides the river had been able to bring of Rabbah, or Rabbath-Ammnon,* which for
into the field.  By this decisive victory the some time held out against him.
Syrian  natons were completely subuded, and    There was little in this war to occasion
The site of the ancient capital of the Am- original names of this town, which existed in the
monites was first indicatd by Seetzen, and has time of Moses, Ammon and Rabbath-Ammon,
since been visited by various travellers.  The were for a time obscured by that of Philadelphia,
RUINS OF AMO10N.
which it took firom  Ptolemy Philadelphus, by of hioh interest in themselves, are not such as the
whom it was rebuilt. That any portions of the purpose of the present work requires us to deruins are of earlier date than this rebuilding by scribe:hin, it would be absurd to expect; and most of    "The scenery waxed drearier and drearier, as,
them are obviously of later date, and may, for the at ten hours and a half from Jerash, we descended
most part, be referred to the period of the Roman  a precipitous stony slope into;he valley of Ammon,
domination in Syria. The present natives of the and crossed a beautiful stream called Moiet Amcountry now know nothing of the name of Phila- mon. It has its source in a pond a few hundred
delphia, but give to the site its original name paces from the south-west end of the town, and,
of Ammon.                                    after passing under ground several times, empties
The very precise manner in which the proph- itself into the Zerka (Jabbok).  The valley is
ecies applicable to the city have been fulfilled bordered at intervals by strips of stunted grass,
gives to the place more interest than it could his- often interrupted; no oleanders cheered the eye
torically claim, although even that is not incon- with their rich blossoms; the hills on both sides
siderable. The description which is the most were rocky and bare, and pierced with excavations
available for our purposes is that which Lord and natural caves. Here, at a turning in the narLindsay has given. In transcribing it, however, row valley, commence the antiquities of Ammon.
we omit the account of the ruins, which, although It was situated on both sides the stream. The




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    319
much anxiety in the king, who remained device by the proud honor or caution of
quiet at Jerusalem, where, in an evil and un- Uriah, the king concluded that the life of
guarded hour, his inordinate desires brought Bathsheba and his own character could only
him  very low, and entailed much anguish  be secured by his death.  This therefore he
and sorrow on his future reign.               contrived, in concert with the unprincipled
One afternoon the king  arose from his Joab, in such a manner as to make him
mid-day sleep, and walked on the terraced perish  by  the sword of the Ammonites,
roof of his palace, fiom  the commanding although this could not be effected without
height of which he unhappily caught a view  involving several other men in the slaughter.
of a woman bathing.  This was the beautiful David concluded his complicated crime by
Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, sending back to Joab, through the noessenwho wad then serving under Joab at the gers who brought this intelligence, a hyposiege of Rabbah.  The king sent for her, critical message of condolence:  "Let not
and she became with child by him.  Afflict- this trouble thee, for the sword devoureth
ed at this event, which was so calculated, by one as well as another."   And then, to fill
betraying the adulterous connection, to bring up the measure of his successful guilt, he
upon  the wotman the  ignominious death  openly took Bathsheba to  wife, after the
which the law  demlanded, if the husband (lays of her mourning were expired; and she
should think pl)oper to demand her ptnish- bore him a son.@
ment, David sent- to desire Joab to send hiim   But the deed which David had done with
to Jerusalum., as if with news of the war, so much privacy, thinking to escape human
hoping that his presence about this tiee  detection, " displeased  Jehovah; and he
would screen, or at least render doubtful, sent Nathan the prophet to reprove him."
the effects of his own crime.  But Uriah, This he did with much tact, in a well-known
either, as he professed, thinking the gratifi- and beautiful tale of oppression and distress,
cations of home incon;istent with the obliga- so framed that the king did not at the first
tions of his military service, or suspecting  perceive its application to himself, and which
the fidelity of his wife, avoided her during worked so powerfully upon his feelings that
his stay, and remained publicly among the his anger was kindled against the man " who
king's attendants.   Disappointed  in  this had no pity," and he declared not only that
dreariness of its present aspect is quite indescrib- Bedouins who water their flocks at its little river.
able.  It looks like the abode of death.  Tie We met sheep and goats by thousands, and camvalley stinks with dead camels.  One of them  els by hundreds, coming down to drink, all in
was rotting in the stream, and, although we saw  beautiful condition. How - let me again cite the
none among the ruins, they were absolutely coo- prophcecy- -how runs it?'Amrmon  shall be a
ered in every direction with their dung.  That desolation! —Rabbah   of the Ammonites...
morning's ride would have convinced a sceptic. shall be a desolate heap — I will make Rabbah a
Htow runs the prophecy?'I xvill mlake Rabblah  stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couching
a stable for camels, and the Ammlonites for flocks;  place for flocks; and ye shall know that I am the
and ye shall know that I am the Lord l'       Lord!'"
" Nothing  but the croaking of frogs and screams
of wild birds broke the silence, as we advanced up    x The group of incidents noticed in this part
this valley of desolation. Passing on the left an of the sacred inarrative contains the tragedy of
unopened tormb (for the singularity in these re- I)avid's life, which grew in all its parts out of the
gions is where the tomb has not been violated), sev- polygamy, with its evil consequences, into which
eral broken sarcophagi, and an aqueduct, in one  he had plungecl on becoming king. Underneath
spot full of human skulls, a bridge on the ligoht, a the splendor of his last glorious campaign against
ruin on the left, apparently the southern gate of the Ammonites was a dark story, known probably
the town, a high wall and lofty terrace, with one at that time only to a very few; the double crime
pillar still standing, the remains probably of a por- of adultery with Bathsheba, and of the virtual
tico, we halted under the square building supposed murder of Uriah. The crimes are undoubtedly
by Seetzen to have been a mausoleum, and, after those of a common Oriental despot. But the
a hasty glance at it, hurried up the glen in search rebuke of Nathan; the sudden revival of the king's
of the principal ruins, which we found much more conscience; his grief for the sickness of the child;
extensive and interesting than we expected, not the gathering of his uncles and elder brothers
certainly in such good preservation as those of around him; his return of hope and peace; are
Jerash, but designed on a much grander scale. characteristic of David, and of David only. But
Storks were perched in every direction on the tops the clouds from this time gathered over David's
of the different buildings; others soared at an fortunes, and henceforward "the sword never
immense height above us.                      departed from  his -house" (2 Sam. xii. 10)." Ammon is now quite deserted, except by the Bible Dictionary.                  A. B.




320                              AN ILLUSTRATED
he should, as the law required, make a four- denounced.  The remainder of his days were
fold restitution, but, with a severity beyond as disastrous as the beginning had been
the law of the case, pronounced a sentence prosperous.
of death upon him.  Instantly the prophet   These things happened about the eighretorted, " Thou art the man!"  In the teenth year of David's reign, and the fortyname of the Lord, he authoritatively up- eighth of his age.
braided him with his ingratitude and trans-   Soon after this, Joab, always zealous for
gression, and threatened him that the sword  the honor and credit of his master, though
which he had privily employed to cut off
Uriah should never depart fromn his own
house, and that his own wives should be
publiclydishonored byhisneighbor. 2 Sam.
xii. 1-14.
Convicted and confounded, David instantly confessed his guilt-" I have sinned                                   5
against JEHovAHa"    and for this speedy 
humiliation, without attempting to dissemble
or cloak his guilt, the Lord was pleased to
remit the seutence of death which he had pronounced on himlself, and to transfer it to the
fruit of his crime.  The child died; and the
Rabbins remnark that three more of David's             6
sons were cut off by violent deaths, thus
completing as it were the fourfold retaliation
for the murder of Uriah, which he had himself denounced.
The fall of David is one of the most instructive and alarming recorded in that most
faithful and impartial of all histories, the         Assyrian and Egyptian Crowns.
Holy Bible.  And thfe tansgressaion   of i ones h1. Crown of Upper Egypt. 2. Crown of Lower Egypt.
_Holy Bible.  And the transgression of one      r Crown of otpp, r and Lower Egypt united. 4. Crowns
idle and unguarded  moment pierced him   of a Prince. 5. Cr'owo of a Queen or Pril.cess. 6. Crown
from a Sassanian medal. 7. Crown from n ineveh marthrough with many sorrows and imbittered   bles.
the remainder of his life, and gave occasion not himself an unambitious man, sent to
for the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme on acquaint David that he had taken the royal
account of this crying offence of " the man  quarter of the city of  abbah; and as this
after God's own heart."  When he only cut contained the sources firom  which the rest
off the skirt of Saul's robe, his heart smote
him  for the indignity thus offered to his             2
master; but when he treacherously cut off a                                  1
faithful and gallant soldier, who was fighting                          q
his battles, after having defiled his bed, his                -        0
heart smote him not -at least we read not
of any compunction or remorse of conscience                 -
till Nathan was sent to reprove him. Then,
indeed, his sorrow  was extreme; and his
Psalms, composed on this occasion, express
in the most pathetic strains the anguish of
a wounded spirit, and the bitterness of his
penitence.   (See  Ps.  xxxi.,  li., ciii.)
Still the rising again of David holds forth no          Modern Asiatic Crowns.
encouragement to sinners who may wish to  1. Crown of Nadir Slah. 2. Crown of Feth All Shah.
shelter themselves under his example, or
flatter themselves with the hope of obtaining was supplied with water, it was not possible
his forgiveness; for though  his life was that it could much longer hold out.  He
spared, yet God inflicted upon him  those therefore desired that the king would come
temporal punishments which the prophet had with a suitable re-enforcement and carry the




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.
________________ — ~         ___________ /
use as~ King      If Io
j:
FLIGtT OF THE KING's SONS.
town, that his might be the glory of bring-   \
ini the war to a conclusion   David did so.
iThe spoil taken in this metropolis was immense; and among  it was the crown of the              d p,
king, of gold set round with jewels, and                 piw
worth a talent of gold, which may be reck-           fti
oned  at' nearly  thirty  thousand  dollars.                              a B    RU
This was " set upon David's  head;   but
whether as appropriating it to his own future
use as king of Israel, or as the act of a conqueror to denote the transferrence to himself                                     e'c      \
oft that sovereignty over Arnmon which the
native princes had hitherto enjoyed, is not to succeed him on the throne, and through
quite evident.  It is certain that such of this whom   his dynasty was to r eign in Israel.
cruel and arrogant people as were taken in    But the  commencement  of  the  evils
llabbah were treated with unusual severity  threatened upon the house of David was not
-  not, indeed, by their being put to tortur- lon   withheld   Amnon  the eldest of his
ing deaths, as the ambiguous terms of the sons, conceived  a violent passion for his
text have suggested, but by their being half-sister, Tamar, the full sister of Absalom.
reduced to personal servitude, and devoted to By a feigned  sickness, be  procured  her
the most laborious employments which exist- presence in his house, and delayed not to
ed among the Hebrews, being such as those declare to  her his criminal desires  and
of sawing and cleaving wood, of harrowing finding that he could not persuade her to
the ground, and of laboring in the brick- compliance, he by force effected her dishonfields.                                        or.  Then, passing suddenly from  a crimiThis was prosperity; as was, not long nal excess of love to an  equal excess of
after, the birth of another son from  Bath- hate, be expelled her ignominiously from his
sheba.  This son was SOLOMON, who, long house.  Tamar, in her grief, rent her virbefore his birth, and long before his mother ginal robe and threw dust upon her head,
was known to David, had been pointed out and sought the asylum of her brother Absaby name as "the man of peace," who was lom's house; for, according to the ideas of




322                            AN ILLUSTRATED
the East, the son of the same mother is, himself fled the country, and found refuge
more than even the father, the proper per- with his maternal grandfather, Talmai, the
son to protect a female and to redress her king of Geshur, with whom he remained for
wrongs.  No man could be more haughty three years.
and implacable than Absalom; but he was   During this time, the grief of David for
also deeply politic; and while he received the murder of Amnon was gradually asthe unhappy Tamar with tenderness, he de- suaged, and his heart insensibly turned with
sired her to conceal her grief, seeing that a kindness toward  Absalom, to whom  he
brother was the cause of it, and to spend always bad been much attached, and who
her remaining days in retirement in his was now his eldest son, and who might seem
house.  He made no complaint on the sub- to have the more claim on his indulgence
ject, and, young as he was, so well con- and sympathy on account of his exclusion
cealed his deep resentment, that even Amnon from the succession to the throne, to which
had not the least suspicion of it.  When the by birth he deemed himself entitled.  Joab
news of this villanous fact came to the ears was not slow to perceive the turn which the
of David, it troubled him greatly; but being king's feelings were taking, and was desirgreatly attached to Amnon, as being his ous of bringing about a reconciliation beeldest son and probable successor on the tween David and Absalom; but not daring
throne, he neglected to call him to account to speak openly to the king himself, in the
or to punish him for his transgression. This, first instance, he engaged a shrewd woman
we may be sure, increased the resentment of Tekoah to come before the king with a
of Absalom, and perhaps laid the foundation fictitious tale of distress, which, as in the
of his subsequent alienation from, and dis- case of Nathan's story, might be made inlike to, his father.                      structively applicable to the circumstances.
Absalom waited two years before he found The woman played her part to admiration;
an opportunity of giving effect to his long but when she began to make her application,
and deeply cherished purposes of vengeance. the king at once guessed that she had been
It seems that David allowed separate estab- prompted by Joab; and this being admitted
lishments to his sons very early.  We find by the woman, the king turned to that perbefore that both Amnon and Absalom  had sonage, who was present all the time; and,
separate houses, and now  we learn that glad that what was secretly his own desire
Absalom  (and doubtless his brothers) had was thus made to appear a concession to the
a distinct property to support his expenses. urgent request of that powerful servant, he
For at this time he was about to hold a said, " Behold, now, I grant this request;
grand sheep-shearing feast in Baal-hazor, to go, then, and bring back the young man
which he invited the king and all his sons. Absalom."  He accordingly came back to
As Absalom had hoped, David declined, on Jerusalem; but his father declined to see him
the ground of the expense which his pres- on his return; and he remained two years
ence would occasion to his son; but all the in Jerusalem  without appearing before the
princes went, and among them, and the king.
chief of them, was the eldest, Amnon.  Now    At the end of that time, Absalom  was
Absalom felt that the day of his vengeance again, through the interference of Joab,
was come; and while he received his com- admitted to the presence of his father, who
pany with distinction, and royally entertained embraced him and was reconciled to him.
them, he gave secret orders to his servants   It would seem that during his retirement
to fall upon Amnon, and slay him, even at Absalom  had formed those designs, for the
the table, on a given signal from  himself. ultimate execution of which he soon after
This was done.  Amnon was slain while his began to prepare the way: this was no less
heart was warm  with wine; on which the than to deprive his father of his crown.  As
other princes, expecting perhaps the same David  was already  old, Absalom  would
fate, made all haste to get to their mules, probably have been content to await his death,
and fled to Jerusalem.  Their arrival re- but for peculiar circumstances.  If David
lieved the king from the horror into which properly discharged his duty, he must have
he had been plunged by a rumor that all led his sons to understand, that although the
his sons had been slain; but still his indig- succession to the throne had been assured
nation and grief were very great.  Absalom  to his family, the ordinary rules of succession




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              323
were not to be considered obligatory or bind- the duty of an Oriental king to administer
ing, inasmuch as the Supreme King possessed justice in his own person, and that duty is
and would exercise the right of appointing not seldom among the heaviest of those which
the particular person who might be accept- devolve upon him.  This grew in time to
able to him.  In the absence of any contrary be so sensibly felt, that ultimately among the
intimation, the ordinary  rules might be Hebrews, as in some Oriental and more
observed; but, according to the principles European states, the king only undertook to
of the theocratical government, no such rules attend to appeals from the ordinary tribunals.
could be of force when a special appointment But under the former state of things, the
intervened.  It was already known to David, people will rather bring their causes before a
and could not but be known or suspected by just and popular king than to the ordinary
Absalom, that not only he but some other of judges; and he in consequence is so overthe king's sons were to be passed over by whelmed with judicial business, that there
such an appointment, in favor of Solomon, remain only two alternatives - either to give
to whom, by this time, the king probably up all his time to these matters, to the
began to pay attention as his successor.  The neglect of the general affairs of the nation, or
fact that even the ordinary law of primogeni- else to risk his popularity by fixing a certain
ture, as applied to the government, had not time every day for the hearing of causes,
yet been exemplified among the Hebrews, whereby some of the suitors must often wait
must have tended to increase Absalom's un- many days before their causes can be brought
certainty of his own succession to his father. under his notice.  This hinderance to bringBesides, in contending for the crown while ing a case immediately before the king is
his father lived, he had but one competitor, calculated to relieve him by inducing the
and that one fondly attached to him; whereas, people to resort to the inferior judges, from
if he waited until his father's death, he whom  prompt justice might be obtained;
might have many vigorous competitors in his but, on the other hand, it is well calculated
brothers.  These, or some of them, were toendanger his popularity with the unthinkprobably the considerations in which the ing multitude, who deem their own affairs of
designs of Absalom originated.  But these the highest importance, and attribute to his
designs were not merely culpable as against neglect or indolence the delay and difficulty
his own father, but as an act of rebellion against which they experience.  David made choice
the ordinations of the theocracy, since they in- of the latter alternative, and suffered the
volved an attempt to appropriate by force that inevitable consequences.
which God had otherwise destinated, or which    Absalom  was not slow to perceive the
at least was to be left for his firee appointment. advantage this was to him, or to neglect the
The ultimate success of Absalom  would, use which might be made of it.  He had
therefore, have utterly subverted the theo- other advantages: he was an exceedingly
cratical principle which still remained in the fine young man, admired by all Israel for
constitution of the Hebrew state.        his beauty, and particularly celebrated for
At the first view, such an enterprise, the richness and luxuriance of his hair.  This
against such a man as David, and by his own was no small matter among a people so open
son, must have seemed wild and hopeless. as were the Hebrews to receive impressions
But in the contest between youth and age -  from the beauty, or tallness, or strength of
between novelty and habit - between the their public men.  It was also, probably. a
dignity and authority of an old king, and great advantage  to Absalom, as against
the ease and freedom of one who has only David, and which would have availed him
popularity to seek, the advantages are not all against any of his brothers, had any of them
in favor of the old governor.  Besides, it been older than himself, that he was materseems that there was much latent discontent nally descendedfrom a race of kings.  When,
among the people, arising in a considerable even in our own day, we see the conventional
degree from that very confidence in the jus- rights of primogeniture set aside, in the East,
tice and wisdom  of the king by which his in favor of the son of a nobly-descended
throne ought to have been secured.  It is mother,* we cannot suppose this considera* In Persia, Abbas Meerza, the father of the on the throne, in preference to an elder son whose
king, was, on account of the noble descent of his mother was a merchant's daughter.
mother, nominated by his father to succeed him




324                           AN ILLUSTRATED
tion without weight among the Israelites in subjects was respected as that of an oracle,
the time of David.                       gave much strength to the cause of Absalom,
Soon after the reconciliation with his father, and attracted to Hebron numbers of influenAbsalom began to live with great ostentation, tial men from all quarters of the land.
taking upon him much more state than his   Alarmed at this formidable rebellion so
station as the eldest son of the crown required, close to him, David hastily took flight with
and more probably than his father exhibited his family and servants, leaving ten of his
as king.  He had chariots, and a guard of concubine-wives in charge of the palace. He
horsemen, and never appeared in public but paused outside the town to survey the faithattended by fifty men.  This, by contrast, the ful few who were prepared to follow his
more enhanced the condescension and affa- fortunes. Among them were the high-priests,
bility which his purposes required him to Zadok and Abiathar, with the priests and
exemplify.  It was his wont to make his ap- Levites bearing the ark. These David directed
pearance very early in the morning, in the to return with the ark into the city: "If I
way that led to the palace gate; and when shall find favor in the eyes of Jehovah, he
any man who had a lawsuit came to the king will bring me back, and show me both it and
for judgment, Absalom would call to him  his habitation. But if he thus say,' I have no
and inquire with much apparent interest from  delight in thee,' behold, here am I, let him
what town he came, and the nature of his do to me as seemeth good unto him." From
suit before the king; he would then condole this and other expressions, similarly humbled
with him on the state of affairs which made and resigned to the dispensations of Proviit so difficult to obtain redress and justice, deuce, it appears that he recognized in this
and would wind up with the passionate ex- unnatural conspiracy against him a portion of
clamation, " Oh that I were made judge in the judgments which the prophet had been
the land, that every man who hath any suit authorized to denounce against him for his
or cause might come unto me, and I would iniquities in the matter of Uriah and Bathdo him justice!"  And then when  any sheba.  David also pointed out to the highman passing by came to make his obeisance priests that they might render him much
to the king's son, Absalom would put forth service by remaining in the city, from which
his arms, and take hold of him, and embrace they might secretly transmit intelligence and
him like a brother.  " And after this man- advice to him  through their sons, Ahimaaz
ner," says the narrative, " did Absalom to and Jonathan.
all Israel who came to the king for judgment:   The whole of the two corps of body-guards
thus Absalom stole away the hearts of the (the Cherethites and Pelethites), as well as
men of Israel."  And it is important to the six hundred Gathites, were ready to
note, that the men whose hearts he thus attend  the king.  The  last-named  body
"stole away," were inhabitants of all the appear to have been native Philistines of
different parts of the land, who would after- Gath, whom David had attached to his service
ward carry to their several homes the impres- after the conquest of their country, and who
sions they had received.                 had perhaps become proselytes.
At last, four years after his reconciliation    The king attempted to dissuade Ittai, their
to his father, Absalom judged his plans ripe leader, from  attending him with his men,
for execution; he therefore obtained the apparently  feeling that, as foreigners and
king's permission to go to Hebron, under the mercenaries, they might be rather expected
pretence of offering there a sacrifice which he to attach themselves to the rising fortunes
had vowed during his residence at Geshur. of Absalom.  But the answer of Ittai was
At this place he had appointed the chiefs of decisive: "As Jehovah liveth, and as my
his party to meet him, while others, who were lord the king liveth, surely in what place my
dispersed through all the tribes, were ordered lord shall be, whether in death or life, there
to proclaim him king, as soon as they heard also will thy servant be."
the signal given by the sound ofthe trumpet. At   Having taken this melancholy review of
his arrival in Hebron, he sent for Ahithophel, his followers; the king went on, "by the
who readily came; and the defection of that ascent of Mount Olivet, and wept as he
great politician, who had been the chief of went up, barefoot, and with his head covered;
David's counsellors, and whose reputation for and all the people that were with him covered
wisdom was so great that his opinion on most every man his head, weeping as they went




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                           325
up," in token of extreme sorrow and humilia- find there Hushai; the old friend of his father,
tion. They had scarcely reached the summit and gave him a place in his council. In that
before David was joined by an old and council the voice of Ahithophel was still
attached friend named Hushai, who had been paramount and decisive.  Perceiving that
one of his council, and who came with his many held back or wavered from the appreclothes rent and dust upon his head, resolved hension that Absalom would hardly go to the
to share in the misfortunes of his king. But last extremities against his father, and that
David, well convinced of his attachment, did possibly they might become the victims of
not think it fit to take him with his train, but another reconciliation between David and hs
rather begged him to go and join himself to son, this wily and unprincepled statesman
Absalom, where he might render much better advised that Absalom  should not delay to
service by thwarting the counsels of Ahitho- remove this apprehension by such an act as
phel (of whose defection he had just heard), would, in the sight of all the people, commit
and by conveying to him, through the two him beyond all hope of a pardon oil reconciliahigh-priests, information of whatever resolu- tion to the bad cause in which he was engaged.
tions the revolters might take. Hushai readily This was, that he should rear a pavilion on
accepted this office, and acquitted himself in the top of the palace (to render it conspicuous
it with such consummate tact and zeal, as not from afar), into which he should, " in the
a little contributed to the final overthrow of sight of all Israel," enter to the concubinoAbsalom and his party.                   wives whom David had left in charge of the
In his further progress, David was joined palace.  This atrocious counsel was followed
by Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, who by Absalom, who thus unintentionally acbrought with him  some necessary refresl- complished Nathan's prophecy.
ments, and falsely and treacherously reported    The next advice of Ahithophel was that
that his master remained behind, in the esx- not a moment should be lost in crowning the
peetation that the turn which affairs were success of the rebellion by the death of the
taking might result in the restoration of the king, without allowing him time to bring his
house of Saul in his person. David, sensibly resources into action.  To this end he offered
hurt at this treatment from one who owed so himself to pursue him at the head of twelve
much to his kindness and gratitude, hastily thousand men: " And I shall come upon
told Ziba henceforth to regard as his own him while he is weary and weak-handed, and
property the lands he had hitherto managed terrify him; and while all the people who
for Mephibosheth.  Immediately after, an are with him flee, I will smite the king only.
incident occurred to confirm the impression. And I will bring back all the people unto
he had thus received; for near Bahurim, a thee, as a bride is brought to her husband
village not far on the eastern side of Olivet, (for only one man's life thou seekest); and
he was encountered by one of Saul's family, the whole people shall have peace."  This
named Shimei, who dared to throw at him  really sagacious advice was much approved
and his people volleys of stones, accompanied by Absalom, who per'haps considered that
by the grossest abuse and bitterest impreca- the guilt would rest upon Ahithophel; and
tions against David as the author of all the to the other counsellors it also seemed good.
wrongs and misfortunes of the house of Saul, Hushai was absent: and as a high opinion of
which he said were now in the course of being his prudence was entertained, Absalom sent
avenged.  All this unexpected insult David for him, and then told him what Ahithophel
bore with meekness and patience; for when had advised, and asked whether he thought
Abishai desired permission to punish the that advice good.  Hushai at once saw that
man on the spot, the king refiised:  "Be- David was lost, if this plan were not frushold," he said, "my son, that came forth out trated.  He therefore, with great presence
of mine own bowels, seeketh my life, how of mind, adduced several specious arguments
much more now this Benjamite?  Let him  against it, and in favor of delay; dwelling
alone, and let him curse; for Jehovah hath upon the known valor of David and his
bidden him.  It may be that Jehovah will friends, and the serious consequence of any
look upon mine affliction, and requite me check or failure in the first attack.  The
good for his cursing this day."          least repulse at such a juncture might be
Absalom  delayed not to march to Jeru- fatal to the cause of Absalom. The awe in
salem.  He was surprised and gratified to which they all stood of the military talents




326                              AN ILLUSTRATED
and courage of the old king gave such effect into the field.  He divided it into three
to these suggestions, that the counsel of battalions, the command of which he gave
Hushai was preferred to that of Ahithophel. to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai the Gathite, in,
Of all this Hushai apprised the high-priests, tending himself to command the whole in
and desired them to convey the information person.  But his people, aware that his
to David through their sons, together with valued life was principally sought, would
his advice that not a moment should be lost not hear of it, but insisted on his remaining
in passing to the country beyond Jordan. behind at Mahanaim, with a small reserved:This message was conveyed to David with force.  As the rest of his adherents marched
some danger and difficulty by Jonathan and out at the gate, David, who stood there,
Ahimaaz, who had remained in concealment failed not to charge the commanders, in the
at Ain Rogel, outside the city.  Neither hearing of the men, for his sake to respect
the information nor advice was lost upon the the life of Absalom.
king, who instantly marched to the Jordan,   A most sanguinary action was soon after
and passed over with all his people, so that fought in the forest of Ephraim, wherein the
by the morning light not one was left in the rebel army was defeated, with the loss of
plain of Jericho.                          twenty thousand men, slain in the battleThe far-seeing  Ahithophel deemed the field, besides a great number of others who
cause of Absalom  to be lost, when he knew  perished in the wood and in their flight.
that the counsel of Hushai was to be fol- Absalom  himself, mounted upon a mule, t
lowed.  His pride also could little brook the was obliged to flee from a party of David's
neglect of the advice which he had given, and men toward the wood, where the boughs of
which he had been used to see so reverently a thick oak having taken hold of his bushy
regarded.  On both accounts, he abandoned hair, in which he took so much pride, the
the cause.  He went to his own home; and mule continuing its speed, left him suspended
while he was still wise enough to set his in the air.  The pursuing soldiers, seeing
affairs in order, was mad enough to hang him in this state, respected the order of the
himself.                                   king, and forbore to smite him; but Joab,
David established himself at the town of who happened to learn what had occurred,
Mahanaim, which, it will be remembered, ran and struck three darts through his body.
had been the royal seat of Ishbosheth, and "Whatever were Joab's crimes, among them
which appears to have been chosen by him, disloyalty was not to be reckoned.  And
and now  by  David, on account of the now he gave the most unequivocal proof of
strength of its fortifications.  To that place.his unshaken fidelity, in knowingly incurring
several principal persons of the country, who the king's displeasure, to rid him  of an
were well affected to the cause of David, obstinate rebel against his own father, whom
brought a timely supply of provisions for no forgiveness could soften and no favors
himself and his men, together with tents, could bind, for whom Joab himself had so
beds, and other necessary utensils.  An successfully interceded, and was likely thereaged person of Gilead, named Barzillai, fore to have been otherwise well disposed
particularly distinguished himself by his lib- toward Absalom from the mere circumstance
erality on this occasion to the exiled king.   of having served him." T
When Absalom heard that his father was   As the death of Absalomn ended the cause
at Mahanaim, he crossed the Jordan with an of war, Joab caused the trumpet to sound a
army, and encamped in the land of Gilead. retreat, to stop the carnage.  The body of
His army was under the command of Amasa, Absalom  was taken down, and cast into a
his cousin.*                              large pit, and covered with a heap of stones.
David, on his part, reviewed his force, This was not the end  or the sepulchre
which was but a handful of men as compared expected by this ambitious man, when he
with the large host which Absalom brought reared for himself a fair monument " in the
* Zeruiah, the mother of Joab and Abishai, sons. See 1 Chron. ii. 16, 17. But 2 Sam. xvii.
was a sister of David; Abigail, the mother of 25, makes Abigail the grandmother of Amasa.
Amasa, was another sister. Whence Joab, Abi-   t As he had for civil state plenty of horses
shai, and Amasa, were all nephews of David, and and chariots, this shows that the Hebrews had not
cousins of Absalom; whence also it happened that yet come to use either in war.
commanders of the opposite armies were sisters'   $ Hales, ii. 349.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                     327
king's dale," supposed the valley of Jehosh- monument which now  appears in the valley
aphat, to keep his name in remembrance, of Jehoshaphat bearing his name, is a matter
because he had no sons, and therefore called  on which a few words may be said in a note
it by his own name.  In what manner we to this page.*
may venture to connect with Absalom  the    The partisans of Absalom were no sooner
X ABSALOM'S SEPULCHRE. —Of the monu- Wilde, whose description we shall here tranment represented in the engraving, a very good scribe: —
and satisfactory account has been given by Mr.   " Descendino to Gethsemane, we continued our
Z  -       _   _  ___                        _      _       __
0/;  ine
ABSALOI'S SEPULCHRE.
course through the valley of Jehoshaphat by those eastern side of Kedron, nearly opposite the southremarkable monuments denominated the sepal- ern angle of the present wall, and are some of the
chres of the patriarchs, which have been described, rarest and most extraordinary specimens of sepalas well as drawn with great accuracy by most chral architecture in existence. They are hewn
writers on Palestine.  They are placed on the out of the solid rock, with temple-like fronts.




~328                               AN ILLUSTRATED
acquainted with the death of their popular umphal songs, were  quite  confounded  to'
chief than they fled, every man to his own learn this conduct of the king, and slunk
home.                                          into the town like guilty people -  even like
Ahimaaz, the son  of Zadok  the high- defeated men rather than conquerors.  As
priest, besought Joab to be allowed to bear very serious consequences might arise from
the tidings of the victory to the king.  But this state of feeling, Joab  went in to the
as Joab knew that David would regard as king, and reproved him very sharply for his
evil any tidings that included the death of unkingly conduct and untimely wailing, so
his son, he, out of regard to Ahimaaz, re- calculated to discourage  his truest fiiends,
fused his permission, but sent Cushi with the and  insisted that he should go forth and
news.  The other, afterward persisting in  showhimself to the people, and speak kindly
his request, was allowed to go also; and he to them; "For," said he, " if thou go not
went with such speed that he outran Cushi, forth, not a man will remain with thee this
and was first to appear before the king, who night; and this will be worse to thee than
sat at the gate  of  MAlabanaim, anxiously  any evil that hath  befallen thee fiom  thy
awaiting tidings from the battle.  The king  youth until now."   The king could see the
and  the father had struggled hard within  prudence  of this counsel; and  therefore,
himl; the father conqueredl; and now  his curbing his strong emotion, he went down to
absorbing desi:re was to know  that Absalom  the gate and sat there; on hearing which the
was safe.   Aware of this feeling, Ahimaaz people hastened to present themselves before
contented himself with reporting the victory, him, and all was well.
leaving to Cushi the less pleasant news; and    It might seem  the obv'ous consequence
he, wlhen plainly fasked, " Is the young man  of his victory, that David should repass the
Absalonl safe? " answered, with much dis- Jordan at the head of his conquering arnmy,
cretion, " Thle enemies of my lord the king, and resume his throne at Jerusalem.  But
and all that rise against thee to do thee evil, the mass of the people had chosen another
be as tlhat young man is."  On bearing this, for their king, and by that act had virtually,'the king was much moved, and went up to the extent of their power, deposed hirnto the cham-rber over the gate; and as he  self; and in such a case it would appear that
went, thus he said,'0  my son Absalom! the  civil principles of the constitution remy son, my son Absalom! would to God I quired that he should, in a certain sense, be
had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my re-elected to the crown by the people, before
son!'"   And  thus he remained in  the he was entitled to regard himself as king
chamber over the gate, with his head covered over any but such as had continued to recoglike a mourner, wailing for his son, and  nize him in that character.  He therefore reooblivious to all things else.                  mained beyond Jordan until the tribes should
His faithful adherents, who, by venturing  decide to recall him.  It seems there was a
their lives for him against fearful odds, had  general disposition among the people to do
that dcly restored him to his throne, returning  this; they  blamed  one another  for their
weary to the city, where they deserved to be rebellion against the king, and their remiss
greeted with thanks and praises, and tri- ness in  recalling  himl; but all seemed to
Some of theme are enormous masses separated  the friieze is ornamented with triglyphs.  The
fiomn the rest of the rock, and left. standing like so upper part is composed of several pieces, and
many inonolitlic temples - monuments that re- surmounted by a small spire termninating in a
cord as well (if not more SO) the labor  and inge- elnch of leaves. The tradition is, that this pillar,
nuity of their constructors as those to whose of which we have an account in the book of Saminemnory they have been erected.   I he names uel, was erected by Absalom.'SNow A bsalom in
assigllned to these tombs are Jehoshaphat, James, his life-time had taken and reared up forl himself
Zechariah, ii nd i    Absalom.  This latter is the most a pillar, which is in the lcinsq's clale; for he said, t
elheclllt anl tasteful piece of architecture in Judeea,  have no son to keep my name in remembrance;
indeel, I might almost add, in the East, and and he called the pillar after his own name; and
viewed ftiom the valley beneath, it is one of the it is called unto this tlay Absalom's Place.' Josesmost beautiffil tombs that I have ever seen in any phus also inlforms us that'Absalom had erected
country. It consists of a mass of rock twenty- fob himself a stone marble pillar in the kiWg's drle,
ifur feet square, separated fiom  the rest, and  two furlongs distant from Jerusalem, which lie
stanlditnL.   in a small enclosure that surrounds named Absalorn's Stand, saying, that if his chilthrle of its sides: it has four pilasters with Ionic I dren wvre killed, his natme would remain by that
lapit:lls on each front, the two outer ones beinr  pillar.'"
flat, while those in the centre are setrincUilas r I




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              329
shrink from taking the first step in the mat- return. This state of affairs being underter. Judah, from its more intimate relations stood by David, he sent to the high-priests,
with David, might be expected to give the who were still in Jerusalem, charging them
example; but Judah had been the head- to remind the elders of Judah of the obligaquarters of the rebellion; and it appears tion which seemed peculiarly to devolve upon
that Jerusalem  was in the occupation of them, and also to gain over Amasa by the
Amasa, who, from the extent to which he had offer to make him captain of the host incommitted himself in Absalom's rebellion, the place of Joab. This was attended with the
might judge his case desperate, and hence desired result; and the elders of Judah sent
use all his influence to prevent the king's back the answer, "Return thou, and all thy' iILI'




330                             AN ILLUSTRATED
a powerful party, to promote his restoration. to his own tribe of Judah, inasmuch as his
In consideration of this circumstance, and, more intimate connection with that tribe, by
what was a greater merit and benefit - that birth and by having reigned over it separately
his party was from the tribe of Benjamin -  for seven years, required the most cautious
it would have been a most ungracious act policy on his side, to prevent his appearing
had the king been inexorable.  He therefore to the other tribes as the king of a party.
pardoned him freely, although some of his Now, when he had crossed the Jordan, peo.
officers were for putting him to death.  For ple from all the tribes flocked to him to join
the like reason, probably, - that is, for fear in the act of recall and restoration.  But
of disgusting the valuable party to which he when they came to consider of it, the other
belonged, and in which he had much infiu- tribes were not willing to forgive Judah for
ence, -the king dared not entirely recall having been beforehand with them; or, in
from Ziba the grant of Mephiboshleth's lands other words, that, instead of inviting them
which he had hastily made to him.  When to join with themselves in the act of recall,
the son of Jonathan came to the Jordan to the elders of Judah, by acting independently
meet the king, he made it clear to him that had enabled themselves to exhibit the appearhe had been slandered by his steward, who ance of more alacrity and zeal in the king's
had purposely neglected to provide him with behalf, putting the other tribes in an unfavorthe means of escape firom  Jerusalem when able position by comparison.  They alleged
-he purposed to join the.king in his exile; so also their claim to be considered, on the
that, in consequence of his lameness, he had ground that the ten tribes had tenfold the
been obliged to remain behind; but, during interest in the  kingdom  to  that which
his stay, had remained in retirement, and, as the single tribe of Judah could claim.  The
a mourner, had neither dressed his feet, answer of that tribe was the most impolite
trimamed his beard, nor changed his clothes. and provoking that could be made.  They
Under the circumstances, the king could only alleged that seeing the kiug was of their own
say, " Thou and Ziba divide the land;" to tribe, " their bone and their flesh," they had
which the reply of Mephiboshethl was worthy a right to take a peculiar and exclusive interof the son of the generous Jonathan, " Yea, est in his recall.  This quarrel grew  so hot,
let him  take all, since my lord the king is as to strengthen the natural disposition of
come again to his own house in peace."    the tribes to regard David as the king of the
The rich old man of Gilead, Barzillai, who Judahites; and but a slight impulse was
had so liberally ministered to the wants of wanting to induce them to leave him to his
David during his exile, came down to the own party.  This impulse was supplied by,Jordan to see him over.  The kino would one Sheba, of the discontented tribe of Benfain have persuaded him to accompany him  jamin, who, perceiving the state of feeling,
to Jerusalem, that he might have an oppor- blew the trumpet, and gave forth the HEIebrew
tunity of rewardinog his services; but Bar- watchword of revolt, " To your tents, 0
zillai returned the touching reply, " How  Israel! " and, in the name of the tribes,
long have I to live that I should go up with disclaimed all further interest in David, and
the kang to Jerusalem? I am this day eighty bade defiance to his adherents.  The effect
years old, and can I discern between good of this move, p1erhaps, exceeded his expecta,
and evil?  Can thy servant taste what I eat, tion.  On a sudden he saw himself at the
or what I drink?  Can I hear any more the head of all the tribes, except that of Judah,
voice of singing-men and singjng-women? which had occasioned this defection, and
Why then should thy servant be yet a burden which was left almost alone to conduct the
to my lord the king?  Let thy servant just king from the Jordan to Jerusalem.
go over Jordan with the king; and then let   This circumstance, perhaps, supplied to
thy servant, I pray thee, return, that I may David an additional motive for performing
die in my own city, near the grave of my his secret promise of making Amasa captain
father and my mother."  He, however, of the host; as that person appears to have
recommended the fortunes of his son Chim- been high in favor with the tribes.  But
ham to the care of the king, who accordingly most readers will feel displeased that Joab
took that person with him to Jerusalem.    should at this juncture - after the brilliant
From the result, we may doubt the wisdom  displays which he had so lately afforded of
of the separate appeal which David had made his loyalty, courage, and prudence - be dis



HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              331
placed in favor of the rebel leader; and even crushed the rebellion.  He then returned
if judged by the principles of the East, that triumphant to Jerusalem, self-reinstated in
every stroke of policy by which something his former station, of which David dared no
may be gained is a good stroke, whatever more to deprive him.
interests or honor it sacrifices,- even judged    About the thirty-fourth year of David's
by this rule, the policy of this operation may reign * commenced a grievous famine, which
very much be doubted, as, indeed, David continued for three successive years.  When
himself had soon occasion to suspect.  In the sacred oracle was consulted, it declared
fact, we agree with Hales, that in this David that this was on account of the unatoned
"seems to have acted rather ungratefully blood of the Gibeonites, whom Saul, in dcand unwisely, justifying Joab's reproach (on spite of the ancient treaty between that people
a former occasion),' thou lovest thine ene- and the Israelites, had cut off.  This circummies and hatest thy friends.'  But the old stance is not mentioned in the history of
grudge and jealousy which he entertainedl Saul; but, from the circumstances, it may
against'the sons of Zeruiah,' who were perhaps be collected that Saul, finding the
above his control, and too powerful to be difficulty, to which we have adverted more
punished, as in Abner's case, combined with than once, of forming a landed property for
Joab's disobedience  of orders in killing his family, where the land was already inAbsalom, which he could never forget, nor alienably parcelled out among the people, had,
forgive, to the day of his death, seem to under pretence of zeal for the interests of
have got the better of his usual temporizing his own people, formed the design of utterly
caution and political prudence."           destroying the Gibeonites, and, as far as he
Amasa, the new captain of the host, failed was able, executed that design, giving their
to assemble the forces of Judah, to act lands and wealth to his relatives, by the suragainst Sheba, within the time which the king vivors of whom they were still possessed.
had appointed.  Whether this arose from  As it therefore appeared that the calamity
want of zeal or ability in him, or from the which punished this breach of national faith
disgust of the Judahites at the removal of could only be averted through satisfaction
Joab from an office which he had filled with being rendered to the remnant of the Gibeongreat distinction for twenty-seven years, we ites, David sent to learn what satisfaction
know not.  The king was in consequence they required. They, actuated by the powerobliged to order Joab's brother, Abishai, to ful principles of revenge for blood, to which
take the command of the royal guards, and we had such frequent occasion to advert,
pursue Sheba without delay, before he could refused to take " silver or gold," that is, a
get into the fenced cities; for that otherwise blood-fine, from the house of Saul, but dehe might raise a rebellion more dangerous manded that execution should be performed
than Absalom's. On this occasion Joab went upon seven members of that house.  Seven
with Abishai as a volunteer, followed by the members of Saul's family were accordingly
company which formed his private command, sought out and given up to them.  These
for his zeal for his king and country rose were, two sons of Saul by his concubine
paramount above his sense of the disgrace Rizpah, and five grandsons by his eldest
which had recently been inflicted on him. daughter Merab; Mephibosheth (who appears
But when Amasa, with the force he had col- to have been the only other member of the
leeted, joined them at Gibeon to take the family) was held back by David, on account
command, Joab, under the pretext of salut- of the covenant between him and Jonathan.
ing him as his " brother," slew him, just as The Gibeonites took these persons, and, after
in a former time he had slain Abner.  He having slain them, hanged up their bodies
then took the command himself, causing proc- upon a hill.  This was against the law, which
lamaition to be made,- " He that favoreth forbids that a body should be kept hanging
Joab, and he that is for David, let him follow  after the going down of the sun on the first
Joab."  He then pursued Sheba, besieged day.  How long they thus remained, is not
him in a town to which he had  fled, de- stated; but the famine had been occasioned
manded his head from the inhabitants, and by drought, and they hung there until the
* So Hales; but some think that although And there are some very probable reasons for
the history relates the event in this place, it actu- his conclusion.
ally occurred in the early part of David's reign.




332                            AN ILLUSTRATED
rains of heaven fell upon them. It was then into the field.  In the first of these engagemade known to David that Rizpah, the ments, David himself, notwithstanding his
mother of two of them, had spread sackcloth years, shrunk not from the combat with the,
for herself upon the rock, and had there giant Izbi-benob; but he waxed faint, and
remained to protect the bodies from the birds was in danger of being slain, had not the
of the air and the  beasts of the field. brave and trusty Abishai hastened to his
Touched by this striking instance of the relief, and killed the gigantic Philistine.
tenderness of maternal affection, David not After this the people would no more allow
only directed the bodies of these persons to David to go forth in person to battle, " lest
be taken down, but he went (or sent) to Ja- he should quench the  light of Israel."
besh Gilead, to remove from  under the oak This war completely extinguished the gigantic
in that place, the bones of Saul and Jonathan, race to which Goliath had belonged.
and deposit them, with all respect, in the    The numbering of the people was one of
family sepulchre at Kelah  in Benjam'n, the last and most reprehensible acts of the
together with the remains of these unhappy reign of David.  In itself, an enumeration
members of their house.                    of the population might not be only inDavid has been censured by some writers nocent but useful; it was the motive by
for consenting to the demand of the Gibeon- which the deed was rendered evil.  This
ites; but the reader must perceive that the motive, so offensive to God, was obviously
demand of the Gibeonites was one which supplied by the design of forcing all the
the king could not refuse.  They might Israelites into military service, with a view
have accepted the blood-fine; but this was to foreign conquests; a design  not only
optional with them, and they were perfectly pitiable in so old a man, but in every way
entitled to refuse it, and to demand blood for repugnant to both the internal and external
blood.  That the persons who were slain had polity of the theocratical government.  That
thelnselves no hand in' the crimne for which the census was not, as in former times, taken
they were punished is more than we know; through the priests and magistrates, but by
it is more likely that they were active parties Joab, as commander-in-chief, assisted by the
in it, and still more that they reaped the other military chiefs, sufficiently indicates
profits of it.  But even  were this not the military object of the census; and if
the ease, it is a well-known principle of they  were  accompanied  by  the  regular
blood-avengement that the heirs and rela- troops under their command, as the mention
tives of the blood-shedder are responsible of their "encamping" leads one to susfor the blood in their own persons, in case pect, it may seemn -that the object was known
the avenger is not able to reach the actual to and disliked by the people, and that the
perpetrator.  That David had any interest census could only be taken in the presence
in getting rid of these persons is equally of a military force.  Indeed the measure
absurd and untrue, for they.made no pre- was repugnant to the wishes of the military
tensions to the crown themselves, nor did commanders themselves, and was in a peeuothers make  such  pretensions  for them. liar degree abhorrent to Joab, who saw the
Even when the cause of Saul's house was danger to the liberties of the people, and
most in want of a head, none of these per- gave it all the opposition in his power, and
sons appeared to advance their claims, nor undertook it reluctantly, when he found the
did the warmest partisans of the  cause king adhered to his purpose with the obstidream of producing any of them in opposi- nacy of age.
tion to David.                               At the end of nine months and twenty
Now that the Israelites had been weak- days, Joab brought to the king the return
ened by two rebellions and three years of of the adult male population, whllich was
famine, the Philistines deemed the opportu- 900,000 men in the ten tribes of Israel,
nity favorable for an attempt to shake off and 400,000, in round nurnmbers, in the
their yoke.  They therefore renewed the tribe of Judah  alone; being, together,
war about the thirty-seventh year of David's 1,300,000.   But the tribes of Levi and
reign, but were defeated in four engage- Benjamin were not included in this account;
ments, and finally subdued.  In all these for Joab did not finish the enumeration,
engagements the Philistines exhibited their probably in consequence of some indications
old passion for bringing gigantic champions of the divine displeasure in the course of




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    333
it.   According to usual proportions, the out signal punishment.  The choice of punentire  population  of Israel at this  time ishment was offered to him: seven years of
(without including these two tribes) could famine, three months to be pursued by his
not well have been  less than  5,200,000. enemies, or three days of pestilence.  The
The same marks of the divine displeasure  humbled  monarch  confessed the choice to
which  prevented  the  completion  of  the be hard, but fixed on the latter alternative,
census were probably those which awakened  as the more equal, punishment, and such
the slumbering conscience of David when the as seemed more immediately under the direturn was presented to him.  He confessed  rection of Heaven.  Accordingly, Jehovah
before God that he had sinned, and prayed  sent a pestilence, which in the course of two
to be forgiven.  The next morning it was days destroyed 70,000 men, from  Dan to
made known to him, through the prophet Beersheba.  It was then beginning to visit
Gad, that he had sinned indeed, and that Jerusalem, when God was pleased to put
his sin was not of such a nature as, with a a stop to it, at the earnest prayer of David.
due regard to the public principles of the He beheld the commissioned angel stand in
government, could be allowed to pass with- the  threshing-floor of  Araunah, a chief
MODERN IMODE OF THRESHING IN EGYPT WITH THE M3OWREJ.
person among the Jebusites, as one prepar- it free of cost) for fifty shekels of silver.i
ing to destroy.  And then he and the elders  I-e then hastened to erect an altar, and to
of Israel, all clad in sackcloth, fell upon  offer thereon burnt-offerings, and peace-offertheir faces, and the king cried -  " Is it not ings; and a miraculous fire which descended
I that commanded the people to be numbered?  Even I it is that have sinned and''
done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, 
what have they done? Let thy hand, I pray             /,
thee, 0 Jehovah, my God, be on me, and on
my father's house; but not on thy people
that they should be plagued."   This noble        Nq
prayer was  granted  as soon as uttered.
Through the prophet Gad, he was commanded           Slekel. (Ascribed to Simon Maccabes )
to erect an altar, andt offer sacrifices on that from the heavens and consumed the victims
spot of ground  where he  had  seen  the gave manifest proof of the  divine comdestroying angel stand.  The king accord- placency, and so sanctified the spot as to
ingly  bought  the  threshing-floor  from  point it out for the site of the future temple.
Araunah (who would willingly have given  The plague was stayed.
* As this was little more than thirty dollars tween the account in 2 Sam. xxiv. 24, and 1
of our money, and paid not only for the threshing- Chron. xxi. 25, which says that David gave Araufloor, but for all that was upon it —cattle and nah 600 shekels of gold by weight (which would
implements - it seems to show that the valhe of be no less than $6,000 of our monev); but this
the precious metals among the Hebrews at this may be removed by the very probable supposition
time was much higher than it is now with us. It that after David knew, by the acceptance of the
is, however, possible that Araunah merely set a altar erected on the spot, that the temple was to
nominal price to satisfy the delicacy of the king, be built in this place, he made a filrther purchase
who would not sacrifice to God at the cost of other of a sufficient site for the additional and much
people. There is an apparent contradiction be- larger sum just named.




334                           AN ILLUSTRATED
David was now advancing toward seventy conduct him, mounted on the king's own
years of age, and it appeared, from the mule, to the fountain of Gihon, and there to
declining state of his health, that his latter anoint and proclaim him king.  The cereend could  not be far off.   This made mony was thus attended with every circumAdonijah, his eldest surviving son, deter- stance which could give it authority in the
mine to take measures to secure the throne, eyes of the people, as indicating the intenwhich, had  it  been  hereditary, would tion of the king, which, it was now well
naturally have devolved to him.  He doubt- known, was according to the will of God.
less knew that the crown had been assigned There was the mule, which none but David
to his younger brother Solomon, and felt had ever been seen to ride, and which, he
having habitually ridden, none but a king
might ride; there was the prophet who could
only sanction that which he knew to be the
will of God; there was Zadok, with the holy
Sl89 h   u      f       f      @ }}AB&  anointing oil from the tabernacle; and there
VXtU6WW         were the guards, whom the people had been
-A~            accustomed to see in attendance only on the
Half-shekel. (Ascribed to Simon Maccabeas.)  king.  The whole ceremony was also directed to take place on one of the most public
that this was perhaps his only opportunity  and frequented roads leading from Jerusalem.
of asserting what he conceived to be his The people were adequately impressed by all
natural rights.  Adonijah was a very hand- these considerations and circumstances; they
some man, and he had not at any time been heartily shouted, " Long live King Solobalked or contradicted by his father, many mon! "  The earth was, as it were, rent with
of whose sorrows arose from his excessive the rejoicing clamor, mixed with the sounds
indulgence of his children.  He now, in of trumpets and of pipes.  The party of
apparent imitation of Absalom, set up a Adonijah  heard  the noise;  and  when
splendid  retinue, and  courted popularity informed of the cause, they were all so
among the people; and he succeeded in struck with consternation at the promptitude
drawing over to his party Joab, who now at and effect of this counter-move, that they
last forsook his old master, and Abiathar dispersed  immediately, and slunk  away
the high-priest, who had  shared  all his every man to his own house.  Adonijah,
fortunes.  One day, when matters seemed seeing himself thus forsaken, and dreading
ripe for the further development of his nothing less than immediate death, fled to
designs, he made a grand entertainment at the refuge of the altar (erected on the
Ain Rogel, the fountain  in  the king's threshing-floor of Araunah).  Solomon, begarden, to which he invited all the king's ing informed of this, sent to tell him that, if
sons, with  the  significant exception  of by his future conduct he proved himself a
Solomon, and the principal persons in the worthy man, he would not hurt a hair of his
state, with the exception of those who were head, but at the same time assured him
known to be in Solomon's interest.  There that any future instance of a disloyal intenhe was proclaimed king in the usual form -  tion would be fatal to him.  On leaving the
"Long live the king Adonijah! "- by altar, Adonijah  went and  rendered  his
the powerful party assembled.            homage to the new king; after which he
In this important emergency, Nathan the was ordered to retire to his own house.
prophet sent Bathsheba to inform the king,   The waning spark of David's life gleamed
of these proceedings, and afterward came up once again before it finally expired.  He
in himself and confirmed her account.  By availed himself of this to call a general
both he was reminded of his previous decla- assembly of the nation to ratify the coronarations that Solomon was to be his successor tion of Solomon, and to receive the declaraon the throne.  The old king was roused to tion of his views and designs.  The aged
his wonted energy by this intelligence.  He king was able to stand up on his feet as he
instantly appointed Nathan the  prophet, addressed  the  assembly  at  considerable
Zadok the priest, Benaiah, and his own length.  Perceiving from  the revolts of
guards the Cherithites and Pelethites, who Absalom and Adonijah, into which last some
continued faithful, to take Solomon, and of his own stanchest friends had been drawn,




I-ISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             335
that the principle of primogeniture was likely the one which was calculated to keep his
to interfere very seriously with the true doc- superiority present to the minds of the peotrine of the theocracy, he was careful to ple.  If this prerogative were allowed to be
point out how the sceptre had been assigned contemned by the high-priest, who should be
to Judah, not the first-born of Jacob; and its most strenuous supporter, the people
in the tribe of Judah, to the family of Jesse, would not be likely to hold it in much
not the first or most powerful of that tribe; respect.
and of the eight sons of Jesse, to David the    The enthusiasm  manifested by the king
youngest; and of the sons of David, to for the object which for many years past he
Solomon, at a time when there were living had so much at heart, kindled a correthree (if not four~) older than he.  He sponding zeal in the people, who presented
then proceeded to state the reasons which liberal offerings for the great work which
had prevented him  from  building to the Solomon was destined to execute.
Lord that temple which he had designed;    The following day was spent as a high
and since this great work had been reserved  festival.  Holocausts of numerous steers,
for the peaceable reign of his son, he solemnly  and rams, and lambs, were offered to Jehoexhorted him and the nation to erect that vah, and also abundant peace-offerings, on
temple according to the model which he had which the people feasted with great gladness,
himself supplied, and to contribute liberally  before they departed to their homes.  This
themselves toward it, in  addition  to the was, in fact, the coronation-feast of Solomon.
ample stores and materials which in  the He, being now twice anointed, and formally
course of his reign he had been enabled to recognized by the people, mounted the throne
provide.  He concluded with a most noble of his father, and administered the governand devout thanksgiving to the Lord for all  nent while David still lived.
the mercies which he had shown to himself   It was not, however, long before David
and to his people: and this, with the rest felt that his last hour approached.  IIe then
of his conduct on this occasion, shows that, sent for his son, to give to him his last counwhatever were now the bodily infirmities o'f sels.  He first of all recapitulated the grathe aged king, his better faculties were still cious promises which God had made to him
in their prime.                            and his posterity, and then reminded SoloSolomon was now again anointed king in nmon that these promises were only, in their
the presence, and with the sanction of the first and obvious sense, to be understood
assembly, by Zadok, who himself was now  as conditional, and depending upon their
declared and recognized as sole high-priest, observance of the divine law; so that they
Abiathar being deposed from his participa- might expect their prosperity to rise and fall
tion in that dignity on account of his having  in proportion to their obedience.  He then
gone over to Adonijah.  It is impossible not proceeded to advise him as to the course he
to see in all this a strenuous assertion by should take with reference to certain persons
David of the theocratical principles of the whom his own history has brought conspicuconstitution, which rendered conclusive and ously under the notice of the reader.  The
final any appointment which the Divine King  predominating influence of the sons of Zerhad made, or might make; and for this he uiab had, throughout his reign, been very
deserves the more honor, as there is good galling to himself, and he advised his son
reason to think, that for himself merely, as a not to incur the same grievance, or to subfather, he would quite as soon have seen mit to it.  As to Joab, he had, through
Absalom or Adonijah on the throne as Solo- policy, been pardoned for his part in Adonimon.  Of Abiathar it was quite necessary to jah's rebellion, as David himself had, frorm
make an example; for, as high-priest, he of like reasons, been compelled to overlook the
all men ought to have been sensible of the crimes of which he had been guilty —such
obligation of the divine appointment, the as the murders of Abner and Amasa; yet,
maintenance of which had now become one should he again offend, Solomon was advised
of the most marked and grand prerogatives to bring him  to condign punishment, by
of Jehovah as king of the Hebrews, and which he would strike terror into evil doers,
and, more than by any other act, evince the
* Chileab, the son of Abigail, is not histori- strength and firmness of his government
cally named. The probability is that he died early.   The  pardon which Shimei had asked,




336                            AN  ILLUSTRATED
beside the Jordan, with a thousand men at to have employed in the develbpment, for
his back, could not well have been refused, the benefit of his son, of those plans and
and David had no wish to annul it; but, regulations  which had long  before been
aware of the character of this disaffected formed and considered in his own mind,
and  dangerous Benjamite, he  cautioned and to which the due effect was afterward
HSolomon against hiln, and advised to keep given by his son.  These are fully stated in
him under his eye in Jerusalem, and watch the first five chapters of the second book of
him well that he might have no opportunity Chronicles.
of stirring up seditions among the tribes;   David was seventy years of age when
and should his conduct again offer occa- "he slept with his fathers."  At that time
sion, David counselled the young king not certainly the period of human life was reto spare him, but at once rid his kingdom  duced  to  the  present standard; for, in
of so suspicious and  malevolent a char- recording his death at this age, the historian
acter.                                    says, " He died in a good old age, full of
David appears to have survived the coro- days, riches, and honor."  He was buried
nation of Solomon about six months; for, in a stately tomb, which, according to a
although he reigned seven years and six touching custom, still prevalent in the East,
months over Judah, and thirty-three years he had prepared for himself, in that part
over all Israel, yet the whole duration is of the city (on Mount Zion) which be had
reckoned only forty years in 2 Sam. v. 4, 5; covered with buildings, and which was called
1 Chron. xxix. 27.  The interval he seems after him, "the city of David."
C HAPTER XVIII.
SOLOMON'S ACCESSION. -  BUILDS THE TEMPLE. -HIS COMMERCE.
ON the death of David, his son Solomon, its nearer and remoter bounds —firom  the
who had been declared by him king of Is- river of Egypt and the Elanitic Gulf to
rael, with the divine approbation, succeeded  Berytus, Hamath, and Thapsacus, all were
to the throne, to the universal satisfaction  subject to the dominion of Solomon, nor
of the people.  This event took place when  were the tribes which wander in northern
he was about twenty years of age, and in  Arabia, eastward to the Persian Gulf, unthe year 1030 B. C.  Never monarch as- conscious of his rule.  At home the Canaancended the throne with greater advantages, ites had not, as we have seen, been either
or knew better how to secure and improve  entirely expelled or annihilated; but they
them.  Under David the kingdom had been  had become obedient and peaceable subljects,
much extended, and brought under good  and, which was of importance to an Eastern
regulations.  The arms of the Hebrews had  king, liable to services which no king dared
for so many years been feared by all the to impose upon the Israelites themselves.
neighboring nations, so that the habit of re- Jahn calculates that their whole number
spect and obedience on their part offered to  may have been about four or five hundred
the new king the reasonable prospect, con- thousand, since  ultimately  one hundred
firmed by a divine promise, that his reign  fifty-three thousand were able to render socshould be one of peace.  Now, the predom- age to the king.  The warlike and civilized
inant tribe of Judah lay as a lion and as a Philistines, the  Edomites, Moabites, and
lioness, which no nation ventured to rouse  Ammonites, the Syrians of Damascus, and
up.  (Gen. xlix. 9; Num. xxiii. 24, xxiv. some tribes of the nomadic Arabians of the
9.)  The Hebrews were the ruling people, desert, were all tributary to him.  The revand their empire the principal monarchy of enues derived from the subject states were
Western  Asia.  From  the Mediterranean  large; and the wealth in the royal treasules
Sea and the Phoenicians to the Euphrates, in great beyond calculation: and the king had




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                             337
the enterprise and talent to open new sources David; Absalom would probably have disthrough which riches were poured into the puted this claim on the ground, first, that he
country from distant lands.  Nor were the was the first-born after David became a
prospects and  promises with which  this king; and, secondly, on the ground that his
reign opened frustrated in its continuance, mother was of a royal house: this claim
" Peace gave to all his subjects prosperity; could not have been disputed by Adonijah;
the trade which  he introduced  brought but he would have considered his own claim
wealth into the country, and promoted the good as against Amnon, on the one hand,
sciences and arts, which there found an ac- and as against Solomon on the other.  But
tive protector in the king, who was himself Solomon might have claimed on the sanme
distinguished for his learning.  The building ground as the others against Amnon; and
of the temple and of several palaces intro- against Absalom  and  Adonijah, on  the
duced foreign artists, by whom the Hebrews ground that their father was only king of
were instructed.  Many foreigners, and even Judah when they were born, but king of all
sovereign princes, were attracted to Jeru- Israel at the time of his own birth.  And
salem, in order to see and converse with the this claim would, in fact, have been but a
prosperous royal sage.  The regular prog- carrying-out of the principle on which Absaress of all business, the arrangements for loin and Adonijah are supposed to oppose
security from foreign and domestic enemies, Amnon; and in this claim there would have
the army, the cavalry, the armories, the seemed so much reason to an Oriental, that,
chariots, the palaces, the royal household, apart from all other considerations, we doubt
the good order in the administration, and not it would have found many adherents in
in the service of the court, excited as much Israel; and we have no doubt that it did
admiration as the wisdoni and learning of operate in producing a more cheerful acquithe viceroy of Jehovah.  So much was escence in the preference given to Solomon.
effected by the single influence of David,   Soon after the death of his father, Solomon
because he scrupulously conformed himself discovered  a new plot of Adonijah's, so
to the theocracy of the Hebrew state." *  deeply laid and carefully veiled, that he even
Such is the argument to the history of ventured to make the king's own mother,
Solomon's reign, to the details of which we Bathsheba, an acting though unconscious
now proceed.                             party in it.  And here it may be proper to
Although Solomon was not the first-born, observe, that in Eastern  countries, where
nor even the eldest living son of David, but polygamy is allowed, or not forbidden, by
succeeded to the throne through the special the law, and where the kings have numerous
appointment of the Supreme King Jehovah, wives and concubines, there is no dignity
there was one circunmstance which, from the analogous to that which the sole wife of a
usual notions of the Orientals, could not but sovereign occupies in Europe.  In fact, there
be highly favorable to him, even had all his is no queen, in the proper sense of the word,
elder brothers been alive.  Amnon had been as applied to the consort of a king.  But the
born  before his father became king, and mother of the king (and, next to her, or
Absalom and Adonijah while he was king of instead of her, the mother of the heir apparJudah only; while Solomon was born when ent) is the woman of the greatest influence
his father was king over all Israel, and lord and highest station in the state, and the one
over many neighboring states.  And in the whose condition is the most queenly of any
East there is a strong prejudice in favor of which the East affords.  According to this
him who is the son of the king and of the view, Bathsheba — during the latter part of
kingdomn, that is, who is born while his David's reign, as mother of the heir apparfather actually reigns over the states which ent, and during at least the early portion of
he leaves at his death.  Thus, therefore, if Solomon's reign, as mother of the king —
at the death of David, Amnnon and Absalom  was, in fact, queen of Israel; whence in both
had been alive, as well as Adonijah and periods we find her taking a part in public
Solomon, there might have been a contest affiirs, which, however slight, is such as none
among them  on these grounds: -Amnon but a woman so placed could have taken.
would have claimed as the eldest son of   The first manifestation  of Adonijah's
design was to endeavor to procure permission
* Jahn, chap. iv. sect. 33.    to espouse Abishag, one of the wives of his
22




338                           AN ILLUSTRATED]
father, whom he had taken in his last days suit of Adonijah.  Hie rose when he beheld
and had left a virgin.  He had the address her, and bowed to her; after which he caused
to interest Bathsheba in his object, and to get a seat to be brought and placed at his right
her to propose the subject to the king, hand for her.  She then made "the one
although part of what he said to her as an small petition" with which she was charged.
inducement was well calculated to awaken The king instantly saw through the whole;
her suspicions: " Thou knowest," said he, and knew enough of the several parties to
" that the kingdom was mine, and that all feel assured (or actually knew) that the
Israel set their faces on me, that I should measure had been prompted by Joab and
reign; howbeit, the kingdom is turned about, Abiathar, or that at least they were parties
and is become my brother's, for it was his to the ulterior design.  According to what
from the Lord."                          we have already stated respecting the widows
The king was seated on his throne when of a deceased king, it is obvious that Solomon
Bathsheba appeared before him to urge the recognized in this insidious demand a plan
GREAT MOGUL ON HIS THRONE.
formed to accredit the former pretensions of come forth.  This he refused, saying, "Nay,
Adonijah.  He therefore answered warmly, but I will die here! " either in the hope that
" And why dost thou  ask  Abishag, the Solomon would so far regard the altar as not
Shunamite, for Adonijah?  Ask for him  to slay him, or that he would die there in the
the kingdom  also; for he is mine elder hope that God, whose altar it was, would be
brother, even for him, and for Abiathar the gracious to him.  This being a new case, in
priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah." which Benaiah liked not to act on his own
By this he clearly intimated that he con- responsibility, he returned to report the matsidered Joab and Abiathar as parties in this ter to the king, who, with great firmness, and
new plot, and, as such, liable to the punish- with a freedom from superstition which shows
ments which he proceeded to inflict.  Adoni- how well he understood the letter and spirit
jah he ordered to be put to death, as one of the law, said, "Do as he hath said,
whom it was no longer safe to pardon.  On and slay him there, and bury him, that thou
receiving this news, Joab justified the sus- mayest take away the innocent blood, which
picions (if not more) of the king, by fleeing Joab shed, from me and from the house of
for refuge to the sanctuary of the altar — a my father."  So Joab was slain at the altar,
plain act of a guilty conscience.  When this and buried in the garden of his own house
was told to Solomon, he ordered Benaiah to in the wilderness.  Benaiah, who had been
go and put him to death.  Benaiah went, his executioner, was made commander-inand ordered him, in the king's name, to chief in his room.  It appears that in the




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                            339
Hebrew kingdom, as in some other ancient Eleazar completely restored in the person of
and in some modern states, it was the duty Zadok.
of the king's chief officer to execute his sen-   This affair reminded Solomon of the netence upon high offenders.               cessity of keeping watch over another disafAs to Abiathar, who had before joined fected person, Shimei, as counselled by David.
Adonijah, and was no stranger to the more He therefore ordered him to fix his residence
recent intrigue, he had shared the fate of in Jerusalem, which he engaged him by oath
Joab, if the king had not been mindful of not to leave, forewarning him that the breach
his early and long-continued attachment to of this engagement would be at the expense
David, and respected the sacred character he of his life.  Of this Shimei was properly
bore.  He was commanded to withdraw to mindful for two years; but then he was
his estate in Anathoth, and no longer pre- induced to leave the city, and went.as far as
sume to exercise his sacerdotal functions. Gath (a suspicious quarter) in pursuit of two
Thus was the house of Eli finally degraded runaway slaves.  He was therefore, on his
in the person of Abiathar, and the house of return, consigned to the sword of Benaiah.
HOWDAH OF AN INDIAN PRINCE.
By the removal of these dangerous per- ture blamed for this alliance, even in places
sons, Solomon felt his throne secured to him. where it seems unlikely that blame would
ie then sought an alliance worthy of the have been spared had he been considered
rank to which his kingdom  had attained. blameworthy; and as we know that the
The nearest power, from an alliance with Egyptians were idolaters, this absence of
which even he might derive honor, was that blame may intimate that Solomon stipulated
of Egypt.  He therefore demanded and re- that the Egyptian princess should abandon
ceived the daughter of the reigning Pharaoh the worship of her own gods, and conform to
in marriage.  His new spouse was received the Jewish law.  This at least was what
by the king  of Israel with great magnifi- would be required by the law of Moses,
cence, and was lodged in " the  city  of  which the king was not likely (at least, at
David," until the new and splendid palace, this time of his life) to neglect.  Nor need
which he had already commenced, should be we suppose that the royal family of Egypt
completed.  That Solomon shouldthus con- would make much difficulty in this; for,
tract an alliance, on equal terms, with the except among the Israelites, the religion
reigning family of that great nation which of a w oman has never in the East been conhad formerly held the Israelites in bondage, sidered of much consequence.
was, in the ordinary point of view, a great   Solomon, soon after, sought by his examthing  for him, and shows the relative impor- ple to restore  the  proper order of public
tance into which the Hebrew kingdom had worship.  At  Gibeon was the tabernacle and
now  risen.  The king is in no part of Scrip- altar of Moses, and there,  notwithstanding




340                            AN ILLUSTRATED
me absence of the ark, the symbol of the cial duties which engage so much of the at
divine presence, the Shechinah, still abode. tention of Eastern kings gave him an opporThis therefore was, according to the law, the tunity of displaying so much discernment as
only proper seat of public worship, and the satisfied the people of his uncommon endowplace to which the tribes should resort to ments, and his eminent qualifications for his
render homage to the Great King.  There- high place.  This was his celebrated judgfore, at one of the religious festivals, the king ment between the two  harlots who both
repaired to Gibeon, accompanied by all his claimed a living child, and both disclaimed
court, the officers of his army, and the chiefs one that had died; in which he discovered
and elders of his people, with a vast multi- the rightful owner of the living child by calltude of the people.  There, in the midst ing forth that self-denying tenderness which
of all the state and ceremony of the holy always reigns in a mother's heart   - Th's
solemnities, the king presented, to be offered. produced the very best effect among all the
on the brazen altar, a thousand beasts, as a people; for, generally, nothing is better
holocaust.  This solemn act of homage from  understood and appreciated, popularly, than
the young king was acceptable to God, who an acute and able judicial decision of some
in the following night manifested himself to difficult point in a ease easily understood,
him  in a dream, and promised to satisfy and by which the sympathies  are much
whatever wish he might then form.  Instead engaged.
of expressing the usual desires which animate    The preparations for the temple had from
kings, as well as others, for wealth, and glory, the first engaged the attention of Solomon.
and length of days, Solomon expressed his Among the first who sent to congratulate him
sense of the difficulties, to one so young, of cn his succession was Hi-iam, king of Tyre,
the high station to which he had been called; who has already been named as an attached
and, humbly conscious of his lack of the friend and ally of David.  The value of the
experience requited to conduct well the af- friendship offered by this monarch was fully
fairs of his large empire and numerous appreciated by Solomon, who returned the
people, he prayed for wisdom - nothing but crmbassy with a letter, in which he opened
wisdom: " I am but a youth: I know not the noble design he entertained, and solicited
how to go out or to come in. And thy servant the same sort of assistance in the furtherance
is in the midst of thy people, whom  thou of it, as the same tlng had rendered to his
hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be father David, when  building  his palace.
numbered nor counted for multitude. Give, Hirain assented with great willingness, and
therefore, thy servant an understanding heart performed the required services with such
to judge thy people, that I may discern be- fidelity and zeal, as laid the foundation of a
tween good and evil: for who is able to judge lasting friendship between the kings, and to
this thy so great a people?"  This request the formation of other mutually beneficial
which Solomon had made was highly pleasing connections between them.  The forests of
to God.  That which he had asked was the Lebanon mountains only could supply
promised to him in abounding measure —  the timber required for this great work. Such
wisdom such as none before him  had ever of these forests as lay nearest the sea were
possessed, or should possess in future times: in the possession of the Phoenicians; among
and since he had made so excellent a choice, whom  timber was in such constant demand
that which he had not asked should also be that they had acquired great and acknowlgiven to him - riches and honors beyond all edged skill in the felling and transportation
the kings of his time, and, beside this, thereof, and hence it was of much importance
length of days, if he continued in obedience. that Hiram consented to employ large bodies
Solomon awoke; and feeling within himself of men in Lebanon to hew timber, as well as
that illumination of mind and spirit which others to perform the service of bringing it
assured him that his dream had indeed been down to the seaside, whence it was to be
oracular and divine, he returned with great taken along the coast in floats to the port of
joy to Jerusalem.                         Joppa, from which place it could be easily
Soon after this, the discharge of those judi- taken across the country to Jerusalem. This
portion of the assistance rendered by Hiram
* See the original narrative in 1 Kings iii. was of the utmost value and importance. If
16-28.                                    he had declined Solomon's proposals, all else




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             341
that he wanted might have been obtained factory result has been obtained therefrom.
from Egypt.  But that country was so far This may arise from a mistaken reference to
from being able to supply timber, that it classical ideas and models, and from the scanty
wanted it more than almost any nation.    knowledge we possess of ancient and modern
Solomon also desired that Phoenician arti- Oriental architecture. Hence it is that modern
ficers of all descriptions should be sent to commentators and illustrators of Scripture
Jerusalem, particularly such as excelled in have generally shrunk from the subject; and
the arts of design, and in the working of hence the many conjectural plans which have
gold, silver, and other metals, as well as been exhibited as illustrative of this far-famed
precious stones; nor was he insensible of building must be looked uponas inconclusive.
the value and beauty of those scarlet, purple, The only safe ground we have to go upon
and other fine dyes, in the preparation and is Scripture, whence our account shall be
application of which the Tyrians excelled. derived, and, for the most part, in the sacred
Men skilled in all these branches of art were historian's own language.
largely supplied by Hiram.  He sent also a   We learn, from the history of David, that
person of his own name, a Tyrian by birth, when he was raised to the throne of Israel,
who seems to have been a second Bezaleel; he piously resolved to erect a temple to the
for his abilities were so great, and his attain- honor of Jehovah.  Thus, in one of his
ments so extensive and various, that he was beautiful psalms, he says: " Lord, remember
skilled not only in the working of metals, David, and all his afflictions; how he sware
but in all kinds of works in wood and stone, unto the Lord, and vowed unto the mighty
and even in embroidery, in tapestry, in dyes, God of Jacob; surely I will not come into
and the manufacture of all sorts of fine cloth. the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into
And not only this, but his general attain- my bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes,
ments in art, and his inventive powers, or slumber to mine eyelids, until I find out
enabled him to devise the means of execut- a place for the Lord, a habitation for the
ing, and to execute, whatever work in art mighty God of Jacob," Ps. cxxxii. 1-5.
might be proposed to him.  This man was a Because, however, David was a man of war,
treasure to Solomon, who made him overseer God, by his prophet Nathan, intimated to
not only of the men whom the king of Tyre him that while he approved of his design, he
now sent, but of his own workmen, and nevertheless should not be permitted to build
those whom David had formerly engaged and him a house; but, at the same time, he gave
retained in his employment.               him  a promise that his son and successor
In return for all these advantages, Solomon should fulfil his pious intention: see 1 Chron.
engaged on his part to furnish the king of xvii.
Tyre yearly with 2,500 quarters of wheat,   The good monarch acquiesced in the divine
and 150,000 gallons of pure olive oil, for will; and, to enable his son to perform  so
his own use, beside furnishing the men em- glorious a work, he  himself commenced
ployed in Lebanon with the same corn quan- preparations, and we find him, in his last
tities, respectively, of wheat and barley, and moments, instructing  Solomon  in  God's
the same liquid quantities of wine and oil.  promises, and in his duty in building the
Josephus informs us that the correspond- temple, at the conclusion of which he states
ence on this subject between Solomon and what material he had prepared for the underHiram, copies of which are given by him as taking: " Now, behold, in my trouble I have
well as in the books of Kings and Chron- prepared for the house of the Lord a hundred
idcles, were in his time still preserved in the thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thouarchives of Tyre.                          sand talents of silver; and of brass and iron
Three years were spent in preparation; without weight, for it is in abundance: timber
but at last all was ready, and the foundation also and stone have I prepared; and thou
of this famous temple was laid in the fourth mayest add thereto.  Moreover there are
year of Solomon's reign (1012 B. C.), in workmen with thee in abundance, hewers
the second month, and finished in the eleventh and workers of stone and timber, and. all
year and eighth month; being a space of manner of cunning men for every manner of
seven years and six months.                work. Of the gold, the silver, and the brass,
Many elaborate treatises have been written and the iron, there is no number.  Arise,
on this magnificent structure, but no satis- therefore, and be doing, and the: Lord be




342                            AN ILLUSTRATED
with thee." —1 Chron. xxii. 14-16. David, he seated peaceably on his throne, than we
moreover, gave to Solomon " the pattern of find him addressing Hiram king of Tyre in
the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of these words: " Thou knowest how that David
the treasuries thereof, and of the upper my father could not build a house unto the
chambers  thereof, and of the inner. parlors name of the Lord his God for the wars which
thereof, and of the place of the mercy- were about him on every side, until the Lord
seat, and the pattern of all that he had put them under the soles of his feet. But now
by the spirit, of the courts of the house the Lord my God hath given me rest on every
of the Lord, and of all the chambers round side, so that there is neither adversary nor
about, of the treasuries of the house of God, evil occurrent.  And, behold, I purpose to
and of the treasuries of the dedicated things; build a house unto the name of the Lord my
also for the courses of the priests and the God, as the Lord spake unto David my
Levites, and for all the work of the service of father, saying, Thy son whom I will set upon
the house of the Lord, and for all the vessels thy throne in thy room, he shall build a house
of service in the house of the Lord. He gave unto my name. Now therefore command thou
of gold by weight for things of gold, for all that they hew me cedar-trees out of Lebanon;
instruments of all manner of service; silver and my servants shall be with thy servants:
also for all instruments of silver by weight, and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants
for all instruments of every kind of service: according to all that thou shalt appoint: for
even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, thou knowest that there is not among us any
and for their lamps of gold, by weight for that can skill to hew timber like unto the
every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: Sidonians."  1 Kings v. 3-6.
and for the candlesticks of silver by weight,   In this request, as we have already stated,
both for the candlestick, and also for the Hiram, who was the friend of Solomon, comlamps thereof, according to the use of every plied, and the building was commenced, in
candlestick.  And by weight.he gave gold the four hundred and eightieth year after
for the tables of showbread, for every table; the children of Israel were come out of the
and likewise silver for the tables of silver: land of Egypt.  There were employed in the
also pure gold for the flesh-hooks, and the construction of this building one hundred and
bowls, and the cups; and for the golden eighty-three thousand men, including Hebrews
basins he gave gold by weight for every and  Canaanites;  and  every  thing  was
basin; and likewise silver by weight for made ready ere it came to the spot, so that,
every basin of silver: and for the altar of in the language of Holy Writ, " there was
incense refined gold by weight; and gold for neither hammer nor axe nor tool of iron
the pattern of the chariot of the cherubim, heard in the house while it was in building."
that spread out their wings, and covered the 1 Kings vi. 7.
ark of the covenant of the Lord.  All this,   The site on which the temple was built
said David, the Lord made me to understand was Mount Moriah, " where the Lord apin writing by his hand upon me, even all the peared unto David his father, in the place
works of this pattern.  And David said to that David had prepared in the threshingSolomon his son, Be strong and of good floor of Ornan the Jebusite." 2 Chron. ii. 1.
courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dis-   The description which the sacred historian
mayed, for the Lord God, even my God, gives of the building is as follows: " And
will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor the house which King Solomon built for
forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the the Lord, the length thereof was threescore
worl for the service of the house of the Lord. cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits,
And, behold, the courses of the priests and and the height thereof thirty cubits.  And
the Levites, even they shall be with thee for the porch before the temple of the house,
all the service of the house of God: and twenty cubits was the length thereof, acthere shall be with thee for all manner of cording to the breadth of the house; and
workmanship every willing skilful man, for ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the
any manner of service: also the princes and house.  And for the house he made windows
all the people will be wholly at thy command- of narrow lights " (or windows broad within
ment."  1 Chron. xxviii. 11-21.           and narrow  without).  "And against the
The youthful monarch was not unmindful wall of the house he built chambers round
of his royal parent's charge.  No sooner was about, against the walls of the house round




i~_ __
~~    ~~~~~// ~~~~~j                            t~~~~- ~L
~~~~~~
CUTTJ~~c~ CEDARS FOR ~IREC~RUFO    O   ~E  IML








HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                            343
about, both of the temple and of the oracle: and they stretched forth the wings of the
and he made chambers round about: the cherubim, so that the wing of the one touched
nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub
and the middle was six cubits broad, and the touched the other wall; and  their wings
third was seven cubits broad: for without in touched one another in the midst of the
the wall of the house he made narrowed rests house.  And he overlaid the cherubim with
round about, that the beams should not be gold.  And he carved all the walls of the
fastened in the walls of the house.  The house round about with carved figures of
door for the middle chamber was in the right cherubim and palm-trees and open flowers
side of the house; and they went up with within and without.  And the floor of the
winding stairs into the middle chamber, and house he overlaid with gold, within and
out of the middle into the third.  So he without.  And for the entering of the
built the house and finished it; and covered oracle he made  doors of olive-tree: the
the house with beams and boards of cedar. lintel and side-posts were a fifth part of
And then he built chambers against all the the wall.  The two doors also were of olivehouse, five cubits high; and they rested on tree; and he carved upon them carvings of
the house with timber of cedar.  And he cherubim and palm-trees and open flowers,
built thewalls of the house within with boards and overlaid them  with gold, and spread
of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the gold upon the cherubim, and upon the palmwalls of the ceiling; and he covered them on trees.  So also made he for the door of the
the inside with wood, and covered the floor temple posts of olive-tree, a fourth part of
of the house with planks of fir.  And he the wall.  And the two doors were of firbuilt twenty cubits on the sides of the house, tree: the two leaves of the one door were
both the floor and the walls with boards of folding, and the two leaves of the other door
cedar: he even built them  for it within, were folding.  And he carved thereon chereven for the oracle, even for the most holy ubim and palm-trees, and open flowers: and
place.  And the house, that is the temple be- covered them with gold fitted upon the carved
fore it, was forty cubits long.  And the cedar work.  And he built the inner court with
of the house within was carved with knops three rows of hewed stone, and a row of
[gourcls] and open flowers: all was cedar; cedar beams."  1 Kings vi.
there was no stone seen.  And the oracle he   In the next chapter we read of two reprepared in the house within, to set there the markable pillars connected with the porch.
ark of the covenant of the Lord.  And the Speaking of Hiram, whom  Solomon had
oracle in the fore part was twenty cubits in caused to be fetched from Tyre, to aid in the
length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and erection of the temple, the sacred historian
twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he says: " He was a widow's son of the tribe
overlaid it with pure gold, and so covered of Naphtali, and his father was a man of
the altar which was of cedar.  So Solomon Tyre, a worker in brass; and he was filled
overlaid the house within with pure gold: with wisdom, and understanding, and cunand he made a partition by the chains of ning, to work all works in brass.  And
gold before the oracle; and he overlaid it he came to King Solomon, and wrought all
with gold.  And the whole house he over- his work.  For he cast two pillars of brass,
laid with gold, until he had finished all the of eighteen cubits high apiece; and a line of
house; also the whole altar that was by the twelve cubits did compass either of them
oracle he overlaid with gold.  And within about.  And he made two chapiters of molthe oracle he made two cherubim  of olive- ten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars:
tree, each ten cubits high.  And five cubits the height of the one chapiter was five
was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits, and the height of the other chapiter
cubits the other wing of the cherub: from  was five cubits: and' nets of checkerwork and
the uttermost part of the one wing unto the wreaths of chainwork, for the chapiters which
uttermost part of the other were ten cubits. were upon the top of the pillars; seven for
And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the the one chapiter, and seven for the other
cherubim were of one measure and one size. chapiter.  And he made the pillars, and two
The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, rows round about upon the one network, to
and so was it of the other cherub.  And he cover the chapiters that were upon the top,
set the cherubin within the inner house: with pomegranates: and so did he for the




344                             AN ILLUSTRATED
other chapiter.  And the chapiters that were I have assuredly built for thee a house to
upon the top of the pillars were of lily-work in dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in
the porch four cubits. And the chapiters upon forever!"  The king stood on  a brazen
the two pillars had pomegranates also above, platform which had been erected in front of
over against the belly which was by the net- the altar; and now, turning to the people, he
work: and the pomegranates were two hun- explained the origin and object of this builddred in rows round about upon the other ing.  After which "he spread forth his hands
chapiter.  And he set up the pillars in the toward the heavens " to address himself to
porch of the temple: and he set up the God.  The prayer lie offered on this occasion
right pillar, and called the name thereof is one of the noblest and most sublime comJachin"  (which  may be read, " it shall positions in the Bible.  It exhibits the most
stand"); " and he set up the left pillar, and exalted conceptions of the omnipresence of
called the name thereof Boaz " (which maybe God, and of his superintending providence;
read, " in strength," thus forming a kind of and dwells more especially on his peculiar
sentence, "It shall stand in strength"). protection of the Hebrew nation, from  the
1 Kings vii. 14-21.  The reader will find time  of its departure from  Egypt, and
other interesting details concerning the temple imploring pardon and forgiveness for all their
in the concluding verses of this chapter, and sins and transgressions in the land, and
in the parallel chapters, 2 Chron. iii.-vi; 1 during those ensuing captivities which, in
Chron. xxii.-xxix.; and 1 Kings vii., viii.  the same prophetic spirit that animated the
The temple, with all things destined for last address of Moses, he appears to have
its service, and every arrangement connected foreseen.  Nothing can be finer than that
with it, being completed, its dedication was part of his long and beautiful address, in
celebrated the year after, with a magnificence  which, recurring to the idea of inhabitance
worthy of the object and the occasion.  All which had been so forcibly brought before
the chief men in Israel were present —the his mind, he cries, "But will God indeed
heads of tribes, and paternal chiefs, together dwell on the earth?  Behold the heaven,
with multitudes of people from  all parts of and the heaven of heavens cannot contain
the land.  The priests, if not the Levites, thee; how much less this house that I have
also attended in full force, the succession of builded! "
the courses being cfterward to commence.    The king had no sooner concluded his
God himself was pleased to manifest his prayer than a fire from  the heavens descendpresence and his conaplacency by two striking  ed upon the altar and consumed the burntmiracles:-                                 offerings.  All the Israelites beheld  this
At the moment when the ark of the  prodigy, and bent their faces toward the
covenant, having been brought in high pro- earth in adoration, and repeated with one
cession from its former place in " the city of voice the praise which was the most acceptDavid," was deposited in the holy of holies, able to himn: "He is good; his mercy
the  numerous Levitical choirs  thundered  endureth forever!"
forth their well-known song, — sent to the    By these two signs the sanctuary and
heavens by their united voices, and by the the  altar received  the  same  acceptance
harmonious concord of a thousand instru- and consecration which had been granted in
ments, — " Praise Jehovah! for he is good; the wilderness to the tabernacle and the
for his mercy endureth forever! "  Sudden- altar there.
ly, as at the consecration of the first taber-    After this the sacrifices were resumed, and
nacle, the house of God was covered with a countless victims were offered.  During two
thick cloud, which  filled  it, and  which consecutive weeks the people celebrated this
enveloped all the assistants in such profound great solemnity with unabated zeal.  It was
obscurity that the priests were unable to the year of jubilee, which had probably been
continue their services.  This was a manifest chosen as a season of general joy and leisure;
symbol that God had accepted this as his and hence the unusually great concourse to
house, his palace; and that his Presence had Jerusalem.  In this year the jubilee feast
entered to inhabit there.  It was so under- was followed by that of tabernacles, which
stood by Solomon, whose voice rose amidst explains the duration of this great festival
the silence which ensued.  "Jehovah said beyond the seven days in which public festivals
that he would dwell in the thick darkness. usually terminated.  On the last day of the




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  345
second feast, the king blessed the people, the dignity of his great kingdom.  All that
and dismissed them to their homes, to which  can be said with reference to these will be
they repaired, "joyful and glad of heart for little more than an amplification of his own
all the good which Jehovah had done for statement on the subject:" I raisedmagnifi-,David his servant, and for Israelhispeople."  cent works; I built for myself houses; I
Solomon having thus worthily accomplished planted for myself vineyards; I made for
the obligation imposed upon him  by his myself gardens and groves, and planted in
father, felt himself at liberty to build various them fiuit-trees of every kincl; I made also
sumptuous structures, and undertake various pools of water,* to water therewith the
works suited to the honor of his crown and growing plantations. I bought men-servants
* SOLOMON'S POOLS (see Enqraving).- The themn the king of Israel is supposed to refer in
pools of Solomon are situated about one hour's Eccles. ii. 4-6, whelre, among other magnificent
distance to the south of Bethlehem; and to works executed by him, he enumerates vineyards,.... -=~                            --       =               -— ~~_THE POOLS OF SOLOMION.
gardens, orchards, and pools. These pools are [ water, which they dischiafre into a small aquethree in number, of an oblong quadrangular form, duct that conveys it to Jerusalem. This aqueduct
cut out of the native rock, and are covered with a was constructed all along on the surface of the
thick coat of plaster in the inside, and supported ground, and framed of perforated stones let one
by abutments: the workmanship  throumhout, into another, with a fillet round the cavity, so
like every thing Jewish, is more remarkable for framed as to prevent leakage, and united to each
strength than beauty. They are situated in a other with so firm a cement that they will somemost secluded situation, at the south end of a times sooner break than endure a separation.
small valley, in the midst of mountains; and are These pipes were covered, for greater security,
so disposed on the sloping hill, that the water in with a case or layer of smaller stones, which were
the uppermost pool flows into the second, and laid over them in a very strong mortar. "The
thence into the third. That on the west is nearest whole work," says Maundrell, "sseems to be ento the source of the spring which supplies it with dued with such absolute firmness, as if it had
water, and is stated by Dr. Richardson to be 480 been designed for eternity. But the Turks have
feet long; the second is about 600 feet, and the demonstrated, in this instance, that nothing can
third about 660 feet in length. The breadth of he so well wroug'ht but they are able to destroy it.
them all is nearly the same; but no traveller, For of this strong aqueduct, which was carried
ancient or modern, has ascertained their depth. formerly five or six leagues with so vast expense
The pools communicate freely with each other, and labor, you now see only here and there a
and are capable of containing a great quantity of fragment remaining."




346                             AN ILLUSTRATED
and women-servants, and had servants born palace of residence, and that on the left was
in my house; I possessed also herds and flocks the palace of the Egyptian princess.  The
in abundance, more than any had before me only point on which we are in doubt, is,
in Jerusalem; I collected also silver and whether the three quadrangles were on a line
gold, and precious treasure from kings and with each other, or that the one which conprovinces; I procured men-singers and wo- tained the public halls was in advance of the
men-singers, and the sweetest instruments others; for in this way, equally with the
of music, the delight of the children of men. other, the palaces of the king and queen
Thus I became great, and possessed more might be respectively described  as to the
than any who had been before me in Jeru- right and left of the public building.  There
salem."' (Eccles. ii. 3-9.)                 are some who think that "the house of the
Of the royal buildings to which allusion forest of Lebanon "' was the same as this
has been made, our more particular infor- front or public portion of the whole pile;
mation is respecting the palace which the nor should we like absolutely to deny this,
king built for himself, another for " Pha- although it seems more probable that it was
raoh's daughter," and " the house of the a royal residence in the neighborhood of
forest of Lebanon."  It is difficult, from  Jerusalem, deriving its name either from the
the brief intimations which the scriptural number of cedar pillars which supported its
history offers, to form a clear or connected galleries and halls, or from the plantations by
idea of these buildings.  The description of which it was surrounded.  These structures
Josephus, although more precise, does not were, for the most part, built with immense
supply this deficiency; but by its assistance blocks of squared stones, and the whole was
we may make out that the two palaces, for fitted up with cedar; while the nobler rooms
himself and the princess of Egypt, were not and galleries were lined with slabs of costly
separate  buildings, but, as the existing polished marble to the floor, and were above
arrangements in Oriental palaces would sug- enriched with sculptures (on the wall), and
gest, a distinct part, or wing, of the same apparently with paintings (on the plaster),
building.   It may assist the matter to especially toward the ceiling, all of which
understand that an Oriental palace consists, we may conclude to have been very much in
for the most part, of a series of open quad- the style of similar things among the Egyprangles, with  distinct appropriations, and tians, whose palaces were decorated after the
each surrounded with buildings suitable to same style.  And if we have rightly interits appropriation.  In fact, they are distinct preted Josephus to intimate that there were
buildings, connected only by communicating  three ranges of ornaments in the principal
doors, similar in their general plan to each rooms -  polished slabs at the bottom, sculpother, but differing much in size and work- ture above, and painting toward the top,
manship.  The quadrangle into which the it would be very easy to show how the same
gate of entrance  opens usually contains ideas and distributions are retained in the
the state apartments and offices, principally the palaces of the modern East, where, above
hall in which the sovereign gives audience, basement slabs of looking-glass, are wrought
sits in judgment, and transacts all public recesses, and carvings, and arabesques, and
business.   Hence the court is very often ornaments of stucco (sculpture being intercalled  "the  gate,"  of which we have a dicted);  while  toward the ceiling much
familiar instance in the Ottoman Porte, and highly-colored painting is displayed.  If we
of which examples are found in scripture may credit Josephus, " barbaric pearl and
with reference to the courts of the Hebrew, gold " were not wanting among the materials
Babylonian, and Persian  kings.    Now, which contributed to the decoration of the
from  the description of Josephus, it -would more splendid apartments.  The historian is
appear that the palace, as a whole, consisted at a loss for words to express the full concepof three quadrangles, of which that in the tion, which the traditions of his fathers had
centre contained the hall of audience and conveyed to his mind, of the splendors of
justice, and other state apartments, while Solomon's palatial buildings: "It would be
that on the right hand formed the king's an endless task," he says, "to give a partic* 2 Sam. xv. 2; Est. ii. 19, 21, iii. 2, 3; Dan. ular survey of this mighty mass of building;
ii. 49. Compare Matt. xvi. 18; see also Xenop. so many courts and other contrivances; such
Cyrop. i. 3, viii. 3.                       a variety of chambers and offices, great and




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             347
small; long and large galleries; vast rooms ites, were wealthy.  All the tribes seem to
of state, and others for feasting and enter- have worn a great deal of gold and silver in
tainment, set out as richly as could be with their ornaments and their armor; their idols
costly furniture and gildings; besides, that were often of gold, and the treasuries of their
all the service for the king's table were of temples  perhaps  contained  considerable
pure gold.  In a word, the whole palace wealth.  But during the reign of Solomon,
was in a manner made up, from the base to almost the whole commerce of the world
the coping, of white marble, cedar, gold and passed into his territories.  The treaty with
silver, with precious stones here and there Tyre was of the utmost importance; nor is
intermingled upon the walls and ceilings."   there any instance in which two neighboring
The descriptions in the Greek writers of nations so clearly saw, and so steadily purthe Persian courts in Susa and Ecbatana; sued, without jealousy or mistrust, their
the tales of the early travellers in the East mutual and inseparable interests.  On one
about the kings of Samarcand or Cathay; occasion only, when Solomon presented to
and even the imagination of the Oriental Hiram  twenty inland cities which he had
romancers and poets, have scarcely conceived conquered, Hiram expressed great dissatisfaca more splendid  pageant than  Solomon, tion, and called the territory by the opproseated on his throne of ivory, receiving the brious name of Cabul.  The Tyrian had
homage of distant princes who came to perhaps cast a wistful eye on the noble bay
admire his magnificence, and put to the test and harbor of Acco, or Ptolemais, which
his noted wisdom.  This throne was of pure the prudent Hebrew  either would not or
ivory, covered with gold; six steps led up could  not -  since  it was  part of  the
to the seat, and on each side of the steps promised land - dissever from  his dominwere twelve lions carved.  All the vessels ions.  So strict was the confederacy, that
of his palace were of pure gold - silver was Tyre may be considered the port of Palesthought too mean: his armory was furnished tine, Palestine the granary of Tyre.  Tyre
with gold; two hundred targets and three -furnished the ship-builders and mariners;
hundred shields of beaten gold were sus- the fruitful plains of Palestine victualled
pended in the house of Lebanon.  Josephus the fleets, and supplied the manufacturers
mentions a body of archers who escorted and merchants of the Phoenician  league
him from the city to his country palace, clad with all the necessaries of life.
in dresses of Tyrian purple, and their hair   This league comprehended Tyre, Aradus,
powdered with gold dust.  But, enormous Sidon, perhaps Tripolis, Byblus, and Beas this wealth appears, the statement of his rytus; the narrow  slip of territory which
expenditure on the temple, and  of his belonged to these states was barren, rocky,
annual revenue, so passes all credibility, that and unproductive.   The first branch of
any attempt at forming a calculation on the commerce  into  which  this  enterprising
uncertain data we possess, may at once be people either admitted the Jews as regular
abandoned as a hopeless task.  No better partners, or at least permitted them to share
proof can be given of the uncertainty of our its  advantages, was the  traffic  of the
authorities, of our imperfect knowledge of Mediterranean.  To every part of that sea
the Hebrew  weights of money, and, above the Phoenicians had pursued their discoveries;
all, of our total ignorance of the relative they had planted colonies, and worked the
value which the precious metals bore to the mines.   This was the trade to Tarshish,
commodities of life, than the estimate, made so celebrated, that ships of Tarshish seem
by Dr. Prideaux, of the treasures left by to have become the common name for large
David, amounting to eight hundred millions merchant-vessels.  Tarshish  was probably
-  nearly the capital of the national debt of a name as indefinite as the West Indies in
England.                                  early European navigation; properly speakOur inquiry into the sources of the vast ing, it was the south of Spain, then rich in
wealth which  Solomon  undoubtedly pos- mines of gold and  silver, the Peru of
sessed  may  lead  to  more  satisfactory, Tyrian adventure.  Whether or not as early
though still imperfect results.  The treas- as the days of Solomon,-  without doubt
ures of David were accumulated rather by in the more flourishing period of Phoenicia;
conquest than  by traffic.  Some  of the before the city on the mainland was destroyed
nations he subdued, particularly the Edom- by Nebuchadnezzar, and insular Tyre be



348                            AN ILLUSTRATED
came the emporium -the Phoenician navies which that country possessed a very excel.
extended their voyages beyond the pillars lent and superior breed, if we may judge
of Hercules, where they founded Cadiz. from the numerous fine examples which the
Northward they sailed along the coast of paintings and sculptures offer.   All this
France to the British isles: southward along trade Solomon appears to have intercepted
the African shore, where the boundaries and monopolized.   He was supplied by
of their navigation are quite uncertain, yet contract, at a fixed price, with certain quanprobably extended to the gold coast.  The tities adequate to the supply of the Syrian
second branch of commerce was the inland market, which, after retaining what he retrade with Egypt.   This was carried on quired for himself, his factors sold, doubtentirely  by  the  Jews.   Egypt supplied less at a high profit, to the different kings
horses in vast numbers, and linen yarn. of Syria.  The price was doubtless arbitrary,
The valleys of the Nile produced flax in and dependent on times and circumstances;
abundance; and the yarn, according to the but the contract price at which the chariots
description of the prudent housewife in and horses were supplied by the Egyptians
the Proverbs, was spun and woven by the to the Hebrew factors happens to be named,
females in Palestine.  The third, and more -- six hundred silver shekels for a chariot,
important branch, was the maritime trade and one-fourth of that sum, or one hundred
by the Red Sea.  The conquests of David and fifty shekels, for a horse.
had already made the Jews masters of the    This was not the only land traffic which
eastern branch of this gulf.  Solomon built engaged the notice of Solomon,  His attenor improved the towns and ports of Elath tion was attracted to  the extensive  and
and Ezion-geber.  Hence a fleet, manned by valuable caravan trade which, from  very
Tyrians, sailed for Ophir, their East Indies, remote ages, coming from  the farther east,
as Tarshish was their West.  They sailed and the Persian Gulf, proceeded to Egypt,
along the eastern coast of Africa, in some Tyre, and other points on the Mediterranean,
part of which the real Ophir was probably by the Euphrates  and  across the great
situated.   When  the  Egyptians  under Syrian Desert.  The habitable points of
Necho, after the declension of the Israelitish that desert, even to the great river, were
kingdom, took possession of this branch of now  under the dominion of the Hebrew
commerce, there seems little reason to doubt king, and even the Bedouin tribes by whom
the plain and consistent account of Herodotus, it was chiefly inhabited were brought under
that the Tyrians sailed round the continent tribute to him, and were kept in order by
of Africa.  The whole maritime commerce, the dread of his great name.  Under these
with Eastern Asia, the southern shores of circumstances, Solomon was in  nearly as
the Arabian Peninsula, the coasts of the favorable a position for taking a part in this
Persian Gulf, and without doubt some parts trade as in the land traffic between Egypt
of India, entered, in the same manner, the and Syria.   But the measures which he
Red Sea, and was brought to Elath and took were different, and  more  specially
Ezion-geber.                              adapted to the circumstances of the case.
Besides this maritime traffic the caravan They were less coercive, and dealt more in
trade by land  engaged a full share  of the offer of inducements and advantages.
Solomon's attention.   By the possession And the reason is obvious; for although the
of a southern frontier stretching across from  ordinary track of the great caravans lay
the Elanitic Gulf to the Mediterranean, the through his territories, it was in the power
land traffic between Egypt and Syria lay of its conductors to alter that track so as
completely at his mercy.  He felt this, and to pass northward beyond the limits of his
through some arrangement with his father- dominion; but this would have produced
in-law the king of Egypt, he contrived to such  expense, trouble, and delay, that it
monopolize it entirely in his own hands.  It would have been preferable to maintain the
appears that what Syria chiefly required old route even at the expense of some check
from  Egypt were linen fabrics and yarn, and inconvenience.  Whether the measures
for the manufacture of which that country of Solomon were felt to be such, we do not
had long been celebrated; also chariots, know; they were possibly deem.ed by the
the extensive use of which in Egypt has caravan merchants and by the Hebrews, as
already been pointed out; and horses, of mutually advantageous, although  the ul



HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                            349
timate purchasers, who could be no parties tree), whence its Greek name of Palmyra.
in this arrangement, possibly regarded them But Greek and Roman names never fixed
in a different light.  The plan of Solomon themselves in the soil of Syria, and the ruins
was to erect in the very heart of the desert of the city bear, to this day, among the
an emporium for this important trade.  The natives, the primitive name of Tacdsnor.
route of a caravan is so directed as to in- Here the caravans not only found water as
clude as many as possible of the places at before, but every advantage of shelter and
which water may be found. At the most rest, while by this establishment Solomon
important of these stations, where water, was enabled more effectively to overawe the
and by consequence palmn-trees, was found tribes, and to afford protection to the caravans
in the most abundance, the Hebrew king from the predatory attempts and exactions
built a city and called it Tadmor * (a palm-  of the Bedouins.  Here the caravan mert.=
_______ — ~                               r                             _____
~ ~,
TADMOR (PALMYRA).
chants would soon find it convenient to here meeting and dealing with the Eastern
dispose of their commodities, and leave the merchants; but from the general —and
further distribution of them to the nations with our present lights, we must say shortwest of the desert, either to the factors of sighted- policy of Solomon's commercial
Solomon, or to private merchants, - for we doings, it may be inferred that he monopodo not know to what extent the king found lized such advantages in this trade as he
it advisable to have this trade free to his deemed safe or prudent. At the least, it
own subjects. It may be that private per- must be presumed that he derived a considsons among his subjects, or even foreigners erable revenue, in the way of customs,
from the West, were not prevented from from such merchandise as did not pass into
* In the Ketib of 1 Kings ix. 18 it is put Ta- that Tadmor has the same meaning, and probably
mar, the proper word for a palm-tree, showing that the d is merely introduced for euphony.




350                             AN ILLUSTRATED
the hands of his own factors; and this, how- East, where  the king is the state, and
ever advantageous to the king, may have becomes himself the centre of most public
been felt by the caravan merchants but as a acts, he is seldom  found to take interest in
reasonable equivalent for the protection they commerce, but from regarding it as a source
enjoyed, and their freedom  from the exac- of emolument to the state, by his direct
tions of the Bedouins.  Much of this, which and personal concern therein.  The king
we have stated as probably connected with himself is a trader, with such advantages
the foundation of this city of the desert, is resulting from  his position, as inevitably
not stated in scripture: but it is deducible exclude the private merchant from the field
from the improbability that without strong in- in which he appears.  He is inevitably a
ducements a city would have been founded monopolist; and a sovereign monopoly is, if
in such a situation, and from  the detection not an evil, at least not a benefit to the
of these inducements in the  commercial people, whatever wealth it may seem  to
enterprises of Solomon, with the illustration bring into the country.  The river, however
applied to the particular instance, which is noble, gives fertility only to the banks which
derivable from the fact that the wealth and hem it in; and it is only when its waters are
glory in which the Palmyra of a later day drawn off in their course, and exhausted into
appears, was due entirely to the circum- a thousand channels, that they bless and
stance that its position made it an emporium  glorify the wide country around.  Solomon,
for the caravan trade of the desert.  In  in his book of Ecclesiastes, acquaints us
fact, that it was such at a long subsequent with many "vanities " and " sore evils"
date, and that its very existence depended which he saw "under the sun;" but from
on its being such, illustrates and justifies this statement we do not learn that he ever
that intention in its foundation which, on became conscious of the very great vanity
the strongest circumstantial evidence, we and most sore evil of a rich king over a poor
have ventured to ascribe to Solomon.        people, or of the system which makes the
Besides these branches of commerce, " the king rich while the people remain comparatraffic of the spice merchants " is mentioned tively poor.
among the sources from which wealth accrued    Large revenues were derived from  the
to Solomon.   In what form  this profit was annual tributes of the foreign states, which
derived is not distinctly intimated.  From  were now subject to the Hebrew sceptre, or
the analogy of his other operations, we might over which it exercised a more or less strinconclude that he bought up the costly spices gent influence.  The kings and princes of
and aromatics brought by the spice caravans such states appear to have sent their tribute
of southernmost Arabia, which must needs in the form  of quantities of the principal
pass through his territories; and that after articles which their country produced, or
deducting what sufficed for the large con- was able to procure; as did also the governsumption of his own nation, he sold the resi- ors  of the provinces not left under the
due at an enhanced price to the neighbor- native princes.  Besides the regular tax or
ing nations.  As it is certain that, from  his tribute derived from  countries more or less
own wants merely, an act of trade must have closely annexed to the Hebrew  kingdom,
taken place between him and these caravans, there were more distant states which found
this seems the more obvious  conclusion, it good policy to conciliate the favor of
although, without this, he may have derived  Solomon, or to avert his hostility by annual
an important item  of profit from this trade offerings, which, under the soft name of
by levying customs upon it in its passage  " presents," formed no contemptible item of
through his dominions.                      the royal revenue.  Of that revenue one
Such, as far as they can be traced, were item is mentioned in rather singular terms:
the commercial operations of Solomon.  It is " All the earth sought to Solomon to hear
quite easy now, and in a commercial country his wisdom, which  God had put in  his
like our own, to see that these operations heart.  And they brought every man his
were, for the most part, based on wrong present, utensils of silver, and utensils of
views and principles, inasmuch as however gold, and garments, and armor, and spices,
they might tend to the aggrandizement of the horses and mules, a rate year by year."
king, they could confer little solid and en- Here the terms " presents," and " a rate
during benefit on the nation.  But in the year by year," have a degree of opposition




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i~~~
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SOLOMON RECEIVING THE QUEEN OF SHEBA.
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SOLOMON RECE~~~IVlillllINGll THE   QUEEN          O F          S HEBA.ll








HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             351
at the first view, which seems to require us nexed engraving, although in this attempt to
to suppose either that those great men who embody the ideas which it offers, it has been
had once resorted to Jerusalem  to hear the necessary to omit many of the details which
wisdom of Solomon, and to behold the mani- are included in the extensive original subject.
festation of it in the ordering of his court and It is remarkable that the classes of articles
kingdom, not only brought with them the brought by the foreigners are all such as
presents which the usages of the East ren- would be included in the classes of products
dered the necessary accompaniments of such rendered to Solomon.   The articles vary
visits, but that they continued to send from  with the country and costume of the nation
their several lands yearly gifts of compliment by which they are brought.  We see princito him.  Or else, that the desire of thus pally gold and silver money in rings; vases
complimenting the monarch whom God had and other utensils of the same metal, of very
so  eminently  gifted, furnished  a decent various and often truly elegant shapes;
pretence to those who had other reasons for baskets containing sealed bags, probably of
rendering a real tribute to him.  The latter jewels; baskets of fruits, carefully packed
interpretation is that which we prefer. And and covered with leaves to preserve their
it is certain that in the case of the only royal freshness; growing plants,- in one instance
visit which is particularly described - that we see a shrub transported in a growing
of the queen of Sheba - only such presents state: it is enclosed with the mould in which
as she brought with her are named, and no it grows, in a kind of open case, which is
" rate year by year" is intimated. Ethiopia carried between two men suspended from a
was too remote to be within reach of the pole, the ends of which rest on their shoulinfluences which may have determined the ders.  Then there are elephants' teeth, and
monarchs of nearer nations to make their beams of ebony and other valuable woods;
"presents" to Solomon a yearly payment.  and, besides the skins of various animals,
The articles mentioned in the extract just particularly leopards, there is a most interestgiven, together with those named in other ing exhibition of various living animals conplaces, enable us to form some idea of the dis- ducted to the king.   Among  these are
play which these annual or occasional render- giraffes, various well-distinguished species
ings of tributes and of traffics must have of apes and monkeys, leopards, and even
offered.  It has been the fashion of the East bears.  There were also oxen, of a different
to make a show of such offerings by their breed to that common in the country, as
being taken in procession to the palace of the were probably the horses, which also figure
king by the persons, arrayed in their varied in the procession, and which, with chariots,
costumes, by whom they were brought to the form perhaps the most remarkable objects
country.  To this custom we have more than of the whole, as being brought to a country
once had occasion to allude in the course of which itself abounded in horses and chariots;
the present work.  Many were the spectacles but the horses were probably desirable to the
of this sort which must have delighted the Egyptians as of a foreign breed, and the
eyes of the Israelites during the splendid chariots as a curious foreign manufacture.
reign of Solomon.  There are paintings of Upon the whole, a more striking and apEgypt, and  sculptures of Persia, which propriate illustration of this part of Solomon's
enable us to form some idea of these impos- glory cannot well be imagined.
ing exhibitions, which indeed are in strict   The wealth which flowed into the royal
correspondence with those which the courts treasury from these various sources appears
of the East have still preserved.  Of the to have been freely disbursed by Solomon in
representations to which we allude, the former enriching his buildings, in extending their
is no less interesting and instructive from the number, and in the ordering of his court and
details which it offers, than venerable from  kingdom. Besides the buildings which have
its high antiquity.  It is at Thebes; and already been pointed out, various public
represents the ambassadors of four nations structures were built by him  in Jerusalem,
bringing their tributes to Thothmes III., which city he also enclosed by new walls,
whose reign Sir J. G. Wilkinson ascribes to fortified with strong towers.  Other importhe time of the departure of the Israelites tant towns (as Gaza) were fortified, and new
from  Egypt.  The general effect of this ones built in different parts of the country.
curious scene may be estimated from the an- Besides Tadmor, which has already engaged




352                             AN ILLUSTRATED.~,. r~_,~.~our notice, Baalath is named among the
towns built by him; and this is supposed
iCC.W4Wj~            a -by many to be no other than the afterward
hi || &' -'  7    (O fN       celebrated city of Baalbee, in the great
valleyof Coee-Syria.   i  t   gr
It was from  these various sources of
wealth,thatthe precious metals and all other
valuable commodities were in such abundance
-  that, in the figurative language of the
sacred historian, silver was in Jerusalem
~,~,i~(        / i,!,l:              as stones, and cedar-trees as sycamores.
Solomon  was not less celebrated  for
I> to 1^\g  i -  t g           h~is wisdom  than his magnificence.   The
larly that of the queen of Sheba (a part
one, as much as the other.  Hebrewtradition, perhaps the superstitious wonder of his
own age, ascribed to Solomon the highest
V  g~~tlJ)          slill in magical arts, and even unbounded
dominion over all the invisible world. More
sober history  recognizes in Solomon the
great poet, naturalist, and moral philosopher....,               of his time.  His poetry, consisting of one
thousand and five songs, except his epitha\.    lamium, and perhaps some of the Psalms,
(-~~ ~  <M/~  \~-'~f.-, has entirely perished.  His natural history
of plants and animals has suffered the same
fate.  But the great part of the book of
Proverbs and Ecclesiastes (pevhaps more
properly reckoned as a poem) have preserved the conclusions of his moral wisdom.
The latter book, or poem, derives new
interest, when considered as coming from
L  I~ ~    ~       ~      ~      ~k"'I'
TRIBUTE-BEARERSB




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                               353
the most voluptuous, magnificent, and in- human grandeur.  Solomon, in his old age,
structed of monarchs, who sums up the esti- was about to bequeath to his heir, an inmate of human life in the melancholy sentence secure throne, a discontented people, formid-Vanity qf vanities! vanity of vanities! able enemies on the frontiers, and perhaps a
It is a sad commentary on the termination contested succession.  He could not even
of the splendid life and reign of the great take refuge in the sanctuary of conscious
Hebrew sovereign.  For even had not this innocence, and assume the dignity of sufferdesponding confession heen extorted by the ing unmerited degradation; for he had set
satiety of passion, and tihe weariness of a at defiance every principle of the Hebrew
spirit, over-excited by all the gratifications constitution.  He had formed a connection
this world can bestow -  had no higher wis- with Egypt -  he had multiplied a great
dom suggested this humiliating conclusion -  force of cavalry -  he had accumulated gold
the state of his own powerful kingdom', dur- and silver — he had married niany foreign
ing his declining years, might have furnished wives.  His seraglio was on as vast a scale
a melancholy lesson on the instability of as the rest of his expenditure -he had seven
BAALBEC.
hundred wives and three hundred concubines. reignty, thus endangering the communicaThe influence of these women, not merely tion from Tadmor.  A domestic enemy, still
led him to permit an idolatrous worship with- more dangerous, appeared in the person of
in his dominions, but even Solomon had Jeroboanm, a man of great valor, supported
been so infatuated, as to consecrate to the by the prophet Ahijah, who foretold his
obscene and barbarous deities of the neigh- future rule over the ten tribes.  Though
boring nations, a part of one of the hills, forced to fly, Jeroboam  found an asylum
which overlooked Jerusalem- a spot almost with Shishak, or Sesac, the Sesonchosis of
fronting the splendid temple, which he him- Manetho, who was raising the kingdom  of
self had built to the one Almighty God Egypt to its former alarming grandeur; and
of the universe.  Hence clouds on all sides notwithstanding his alliance with Solomon,
gathered about his declining day.  Hadad, made no scruple against harboring his reone of the blood-royal of the Edomite princes, bellious subject. Above all, the people were
began to organize a revolt in that province, oppressed and dissatisfied; either because
on which so much of the Jewish commerce the enormous revenues of the kingdom were
depended.  An adventurer seized on Da- more than absorbed by the vast expenditure
mascus, and set up an independent sove- of the sovereign; or because the more pro23




354                             AN ILLUSTRATED
ductive branches of commerce were inter- people had suffered deeply from the arbitrary
rupted by the rebellions of the Edomites and exactions of the king, who, with the state
Damascenes.  At this period likewise, Solo- and splendor, had assumed the despotism of
mon departed from  the  national, though an Oriental monarch.  Hence the decline of
iniquitous policy of his earlier reign, during the Jewish kingdom, supported rather by the
which he had laid all the burdens of labor fame of its sovereign, than by its inherent
and taxation on the strangers, and exempted strength, was as rapid as its rise.  Solomon
the Israelites from every claim  but that of died after a reign of forty years, and with
military service.   The  language held to him expired the glory and the power of the
Rehoboam, on his accession, shows that the Jewish empire.
CHAPTER XIX.
REVOLT OF TEN TRIBES. -  JEROBOAM. -  REHOBOAM. -  AHAB.
THE effects of the arbitrary policy and chose rather to adopt the advice of the young
inordinate expense which had prevailed in and headstrong courtiers, - warm  advocates
the court of Solomon during the last years of of the royal prerogative, - who exhorted
his reign began to appear as soon as his him to overawe the remonstrants by his madeath was announced.  The rulers of the jesty, and to drive them back like yelping
tribes assembled at the city of Shechem, in dogs to their kennels.  Accordingly when the
the tribe of Ephraim, - which tribe, it will three days had expired, his fatal and foolish
be remembered, was always disposed to re- answer was, that his little finger should be
gard with strong jealousy the superiority of heavier upon the nation than his father's loins;
Judah.  Here they wished to enter into a
new stipulation with the heir to the throne
-a precaution which had been neglected
under the excitement and extraordinary circumstances which attended the accession of
Solomon.  If Rehoboam had been wise, the
place which had been chosen for this congress,
and the presence of Jeroboam, -  who had
hastened from Egypt when he heard of Solomon's death, and took a prominent part in
the present matter,- were circumstances,
which among others, might have apprised
him that the occasion was one of no ordinary
moment, and required the most careful and
skilful management.  Rehoboam  was not
equal to this crisis; for when the rulers
demanded, as the condition of their submis- Rehoboam (?). (From sculpture, at Karnak, commemo
rating Shishak's successes. The inscription has been
sion, that he should abrogate a portion of the  interpreted "Kingdom of Judah.")
burdens which his father had imposed upon
them, he failed to discern what might be and that whereas his father had only chastised
gained by a ready and cheerful concession, them  with whips, he would chastise them
and required three days on which to deliber- with scorpions.  Nothing could more clearly
ate on their demand.  In this time he decided than this answer evince the unfitness of
to reject the counsel of the older and more Rehoboam  for the crisis which had now ocprudent counsellors, who enforced the neces- curred, and his utter ignorance of the spirit
sity of compliance with this demand, and which was in Israel; while it at the same




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             3;5
time indicates the arbitrary notions of the that when thus reminded of it he became
royal prerogative which he found occasion to sensible of the propriety of the requisition.
imbibe during the later years of his father's No definite treaty of peace was, however,
reign.                                    concluded, and the frontiers of the two kingOn receiving this answer ten of the tribes doms continued to present a hostile aspect.
instantly renounced their allegiance to the   In the preceding history we have seen
house of David, and chose Jeroboam for their that Jehovah, from the time of Moses to the
king.  Two of the tribes, Judah and Benja- death of Solomon, always governed the Hemin, alone adhered to Rehoboam,   Judah brews according to the promises and threathatl the good reason that the family of enings which he delivered  from  Mount
David was of their tribe; and both these IHoreb.  If they deviated from the principle
tribes were  advantaged by the presence of worshipping Jehovah as the only true
of the metropolis on their respective bor- God, that is, if they revolted from  their
ders, and -had necessarily derived peculiar lawful king, he brought them by suitable
benefits from  that profuse expenditure  of chastisements, to reflect on their obligations,
the late king of which the other tribes had  to return to Jehovah, and again to keep
cause to complain.                        sacred the fundamental law of their church
Thus was the great and powerful empire  and state.  The same course we shall find
which David had erected, and which Solomon  pursued in the government of the two kinghad ruled, already divided into two very  doms.  If the monarchs of both had viewed
unequal parts.  Jeroboatn  had ten of the the late great revolution, the sundering of
tribes, and his dominion extended over the the empire, as a consequence of the idolatributary nations eastward, toward the Eu- trous and unlawful practices of Solomon's
phrates; while iRehoboam only retained the court, as a warning (for such it really was)
tribes of Judah and Banjamin, which are to them not to break the fundamental law
henceforth, fi'om their strict identity of inter- of the state, but to govern their subjects
est, to be regarded as one tribe, under the according to the law, and to treat them  as
name of Judah.  To this division belonged  the subjects of Jehovah; then both kingalso the subject territories of Phlilistia and  doms might have  enjoyed  uninterrupted
Edom.  But notwithstanding the m: re than  prosperity.   Even  Jeroboam, though hb
equal figure which this kingotln makes in  had received no promise of an eternal kingthe further history of the Hebrew nation, it dom, as David had, yet the assurance was
may be well to bear in mind that what is given him  that if he obeyed the law as
henceforth to be called the kinlgtom  of David did, the throne should long continue
Judah, ruled by the house of David, formed in his family. (1 Kings xi. 37, 38, xii.'I1not above a fourth part of the dominions 24; 2 Chron. xi. 1-4, xii. 15.)  But a.s the
of Solomon.                               kings of both kingdoms often disregarded the
Rehoboam  was not disposed to submit fundamental laws of the commonwealth
quietly to this proceeding.  At first, affect- by idolatry rebelled  against their divine
ing to suppose that his authority over the sovereign, carried their disorders so far, and
ten tribes would still be recognized, he sent, treated their subjects in such a manner, that
at the usual season, the officer who was " over they are aptly described by Isaiah and Ezethe tribute " to collect the taxes which had kiel (Isa. lvi. 9; Ezek. xxxiv.) under the
been exacted in the last years of his father's image of wicked shepherds - there arose a
reign.  But the people rose, and testified succession of prophets, who, by impressive
their indignation and defiance by stoning declarations and symbolic actions, reminded
this obnoxious personage to death.  On this both rulers and subjects of their duties to
Rehoboam resolved to attempt to reduce the Jehovah, and threatened them with punishrevolted tribes to his obedience by force of mentin case of disobedience.
arms, and collected a large'army for that   Even the rebellious backslidings from
purpose.  But when the prophet Shemaiah God which more particularly distinguished
announced to him the Lord's command to the kingdom  of Israel, did not prevent
relinquish this enterprise, he manifested some Jehovah from governing the kingdom accordsense of his true position by disbanding his inog to his law.  We shall see in the sequel
army.  This, it must be allowed, was a sig- how he exterminated, one after another,
nal example of submission, and may intimate I those royal families who not only retained




35f6                             AN ILLUSTRATED
the arbitrary institutions of Jeroboam, and    The following account of the two king
tolerated and patronized idolatry, with its doms, therefore, should be viewed as that of
concomitant vices, but even introduced and a real theocracy; and thus, as a continued
protected it by their royal authority.  The execution of the determination of God, that
extermination of the  reigning  family he the true religion should be preserved on the
announced beforehand by a prophet, and earth.  In this view it certainly deserves our
appointed his successor.  We shall see that most attentive study.*
the higher their corruptions rose, so much    Shechem being one of the most important
the more decisive and  striking were the towns in his own tribe of Ephraim was made
declarations and signs made to show  the by Jeroboam  the metropolis of the new
Israelites that the Lord of the universe was kingdom.  He had also a summer residence
their Lord and King, and that all idols at Tirzah, t in the tribe of Manasseh, which,
were  as nothing when opposed to  him. therefore, seems in the history to share the
Even Naaman, the Syrian, acknowledged, metropolitan dignity with Shechem.
and the Syrians generally found to their    The new king, little regarding the unconsorrow, that the God of the Hebrews was ditional promises which had been made to
not a mere national god, but that his him, applied himself to such operations of
power extended over all nations.  The his- human pqlicy as might tend to establish his
tory represents a contest between Jehovah, kingdom, and confirm its separation from that
who ought to be acknowledged as God, and  of Judah.  Viewing them  as measures of
the idolatrous Israelites; and every thing is policy in the abstract, the praise of much
ordered to preserve the authority of Jehovah  political sagacity and foresight need not be
in their minds.  At last, after all milder denied to their author; and it is certain that
punishments had  proved  fruitless, these they were successful in promoting the object. rebellions were followed by the destruction he had in view.  But they were, in his pecuof the kingdom, and the captivity of the liar position, as a king in Israel - that is, a
people, which had been predicted by Moses, vicegerent of Jehovah, not only improper,
and afterward by Ahijah, Hosea, Amos, and but in the highest degree criminal; for they
other prophets.   (Deut. xxviii. 36; 1 involved an interference with matters far
Kings xiv. 15; Hosea ix; Amos v.)          above the prerogative of Jehovah's vassal,
We shall also find that the divine Provi- and the abrogation of institutions which the
dence was favorable or adverse to the king- Supreme King had established as essential to
dom of Judah, according as the people obeyed  the good government and subordination of
or transgressed the law; only here the royal his kingdom, with the introduction of other
familyremained unchanged, according to the institutions of a nature abhorrent to the
promise given to David.  We shall here Mosaic law, and of a tendency against which
meet indeed with many idolatrous and rebel- that law  had most jealously guarded the
lioeus kings, but they were always succeeded  people. Jeroboam is therefore to be regarded,
by those of purer mind, who put a stop to  not as gratuitously and from abstract preferidolatry, re-established  theocracy  in  the  ence of evil, leading the people into wrong
hearts of their subjects, and by the aid of  courses; but as being careless whether the
prophets, priests, and Levites, and the serv- course he took were good or evil, so that it
ices of the temple, restored the knowledge tended, in his judgment, to the security of
and worship of God.  Judah, therefore, his kingdom; for he had failed to learn that
although much smaller than Israel, continued hard truth -  that implicit obedience to the
her national existence one hundred and behests of his Almighty superior, not tortuthirty-four years longer; but at last, as no ous courses of political expediency, offered
durable reformation was produced, she ex- the true security of his peculiar kingdom.
perienced the same fate as her sister king-   Jeroboam was much annoyed at the oblidom, in fulfilment of the predictions of gation which the law imposed, of the resort
Moses and several other prophets.          of all the Israelites three times a year to
* The above is adopted, with some abridg- and have made a fair appearance; but even its site
ment, from Jahn, book v. sect. 35.         is not now known, and that it was in Manassel
is little more than a conjecture. It had been one
t From the manner in which it is mentioned, of the royal cities of the Canaanites (Josh.
Tirzah must have enjoyed a very fine situation, xii. 24).




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             357
Jerusalem.  He clearly perceived that this siderable portion of its wealth for the support
concourse and frequent meeting of all the of a service which was exclusively confined
tribes at the same place, and for the same to the now adverse metropolis, and for the
object, was a strong un ting circumstance maintenance of priests and Levites whose
among them; and he feared that the contin- services wefre rendered at Jerusalem, in the
uance of this usage might ultimately tend to presence and under the authority of the rival
the re-union of the several kingdloms under sovereign.  This was a state of things for
the house of David.  Undoubtedly it was an which, it must be allowed, Jeroboam  was
awkward circumstance that the subjects of under strong and natural inducements to seek
one king should be obliged thus often to a remedy.  His duty was to have trusted
resort to the metropolis of a neighboring and that God, who had promised to continue his
unfriendly monarch; and still more, that his kingdom if he were obedient, and who had,
own kingdom should be drained of a con- indeed, already interposed his authority to
IENT EGPTIAN WORSHI
ANOIENT EGYPTIANI WORSHIP.
prevent Rehoboam from warring against him, them, or re-establish the authority of the
would provide a remedy for these difficulties, fundamental law.
or take measures to prevent the consequences    Under the pretence that Jerusalem  was
which  he apprehended.   But Jeroboam  too distant for the resort of his subjects, he
wanted that trust in God which it behooved established two places of resort at the oppothe vassal of Jehovah to exhibit; and he site extremities of his kingdom, the one in
applied himself to devise measures of his own the north, at Dan, and the other in the south,
to meet these exigencies.  The measures at Bethel.  Both of these places, it will be
which he took were so bold and decisive, that remembered, had been previously places of
they at once took root, and became in their public resort, — Bethel as a place of sacred
development so interwoven with the political stones, and Dan on account of the ephod and
constitution of the country, that even the teraphim which the Danites had reft from
more pious successors of this king in the Micah and established at that place.  Then,
throne of Israel did not venture to abolish to give this resort an object, he established




358                            AN  ILLUSTRATED    -
at these places golden or gilded calves, in became burdened with the whole  charge
un:luestionable imitation of the Apis and which had  hitherto  been  shared  among
Mnevis of the Egyptians, amono whom  he twelve tribes.  This fact is very valuable,
had spent the years of his exile.  We are as showing that the Levitical tribe had connot at all to suppose that he intended to ciliated, and was entitled to, the esteem and
introduce the worship of other gods.  These respect of the people.  In the end many
images were doubtless intended as symbols persons belonging to the other tribes, who
of Jehovah; and the worship rendered before disapproved of Jeroboam's innovations, and
them was held to be in his honor.  But on were disposed to maintain their own fidelity
account of the danger of idolatry, the use of to the spirit of the Mosaical institutions, folall such symbols had been interdicted by the lowed the example of the Levites, and withfundamental law of the state; and the use drew into the kingdom of Judah.  It is not
in particular of this very symbol of a golden necessary to point out how seriously these
calf, to which, from Egyptian contaminations, migrations lessened the true strength of
the Israelites were (as Jeroboam  must have Jeroboam's  kingdom, and  increased that
known) more attached than to any other, of his rival.
had in former times brought signal punish-   Jeroboam was thus left to establish a new
ment upon the Hebrews in the wilderness. priesthood for his new  worship.  Priests
It was, then, not the worship of other gods, were accordingly appointed  fiom  all the
but the worship of the true God in an irregu- tribes indiscriminately; but as to the imporlar, dangerous, and interdicted manner, which tant office of high-priest, his prudence and
constituted the crime  of Jeroboam, who ambition  suggested  its annexation to the
"sinned and made Israel to sin."           crown, as was the case in Egypt and some
Nor did  the  irregularities  end  here. other heathen countries.
Jeroboam  made his system a complete one.   Jehovah was not slow in manifesting his
He not only changed the place of concourse displeasure at these proceedings.  At one
to the people, but also altered the time, direct- of the periodical feasts (that of tabernacles)
ing that all the festivals should be observeld the time for which had been altered by him,
a month later than the law commanded, an Jeroboam  was discharging the priestly act
alteration by which considerable confusion of offering incense on the altar at Bethel,
must have been at first produced, as the law  when a prophet of God- from Judah appeared
had appointed these festivals with a reference on the spot, and denounced destruction upon
to the seasons of the year.  For this new  this altar, to be executed by a future king
worship, temples and altars were erected at of Judah, Josiah by name: and, in proof
Dan and Bethel, and to its support the tithes of his mission, announced that'it should even
and other sacerdotal dues accruing within now  receive such a crack that its ashes
the ten tribes were directed; thus at once should be scattered abroad.  Hearing this,
cutting off the greater part of the income of the king stretched forth his hand to seize the
the establishment of Jerusalem. It is proba- prophet, when his arm stiffened in the act,
ble that this wealth might still have been and could not be again drawn back, untlil
retained by the Levites whose cities were the prophet himself interceded with God for
within the limits of the kingdom, and by him.  At the same time the altar was rent,
such of the Aaronic priests as might have and the ashes strewed abroad, as the prophet
chosen to conform to the new order of things. had said.
But to the eternal honor of this much-calumn-   This message seems to have produced no
niated body, they all refused to sanction good effect either on the king or the people:
these proceedings, or to take any part in and this may have been partly owing to the
such violation of the divine law; in conse- misconduct of the prophet himself; for after
quence of which they not only forfeited the having publicly declared that he was forbiddues which had afforded them subsistence in den to eat or drink in Bethel, or to mnake
the ten tribes, but found it prudent and any stay there, he allowed himself, after
necessary to abandon also the cities which having departed, to be imposed upon ancl
belonged to them in those tribes, and with- brought back, and to be feasted in Betllel,
draw into the kingdom  of Judah.  There by a sort of Balaamite prophet; for which
they were cheerfully received, although the he was slain by a lion on his return home,
two  tribes forming  that kingdom, thus and his body was brought back and buried




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              359
in Bethel.  As the prophet had thus acted seven miles to the north of Jerusalem, which
against his own avowed orders, and had in he began to rebuild and fortify, with the view
consequence been destroyed with manifest of leaving a garrison in it to check the commarks of the divine displeasure, the occasion munication with Jerusalem, and to become a
was doubtless taken to diminish the credit point from which excursions might be made
and effect of the mission with which he had into the kingdom of Judah.  This bold probeen charged.                              ceeding occasioned much alarm in Judah;
Jeroboam  lived to see three kings upon but instead of opposing it by force of aims,
the throne of Judah.  There arose a skir- King Asa collected all the gold he could find
mishing warfare between the two kingdoms in his own treasury, and that of the temple,
in the latter years of Rehoboam; and in the and sent it to Ben-Hadad, the king of Syria,
reign of his successor the war was brought to induce him to make a diversion in his favor.
to a great pitched battle, the result of which Accordingly the Syrians fell upon the north
was adverse to Jeroboam.  In the latter of Israel, and took all the fenced cities of
years of his reign, the prophet Ahijah, who Naphtali; which obliged Baasha to relinquish
had  originally  communicated  the divine his enterprise in the south, and march to the
appointment to him, was commissioned to defence of his own territories.
denounce the death of his most hopeful son,   Time only confirmed Baasha in the evil
Abijah, about whose sickness the wife of courses which had proved the ruin of the
Jeroboam went to consult him in disguise. house of Jeroboaml; in consequence of wh'ch
The prophet, though blind with agfe, knew  a prophet, named Jehu, the son of another
her by the prophetie impulse which came prophet called Hanani, was sent to declare
upon him; and he not only told her this, for his house the same doom which he had
but declared the approaching  destruction  h'mself been the agent of inflicting upon that
of Jeroboam's race by a succeeding king of of (Jeroboam.
Israel, and  also announced the ultimate    B3aasha dced in 966, B. C., after a reign
captivity of the tribes of Israel beyond the of twenty-tl:hree years.
Euphrates for their manifold iniquities.     After the death of Baasha, Israel became
Jeroboam himself died in the year 968, the prey of a series of sanguinary revolutions.
B. C, after a reign of twenty-two years.    His son Elah remained only two years on the
His son Nadab ascended the throne in the throne, at the expiration of which he was
second year of Asa, king of Judah.  He assassinated during a feast by one of his
reigned two years, during which he adhered generals, of the name of Zimri, who then
to the system  of his father, and at the end assumed the crown.  Zimri, during the few
Gf which an intimate of his own, named  days of his reign, found time to extirpate the
Baasha, of the tribe of Issachar, conspired  whole family of his predecessor, thus accomnagainst him and slew him as he was laying  plishing upon the house of Baasha the doom
siege to Gibbethon, a fortress which the which the prophet had declared.
Philistines retained in their possession. Ac-   The army, which was engaged against the
cording to the policy of the East, Baasha Philistines, no sooner heard of the murder of
having slain the head of the house of Jero- their king than they declared in favor of Omri,
beam, hastened to destroy all its other mem- their own commander, and proclaimed him
bers, who might prove disturbers of his king. This new  king immediately marched
safety in the throne.  Thus was the denun- with all his forces against his rival, and
ciation of the prophet Ahijah against the used such diligence that he shut him  up
house of Jeroboam speedily accomplished.   in the summer capital of Tirzah. Zimri made
The government of Baasha proved not no resistance, but fled to his harem, which he
only offensive to God, but oppressive to the set on fire, and perished in the flames.  He
people, on both which grounds great num- had reigned only seven days; and this signal
bers of the subjects of this kingdom  sought and speedy end gave occasion to the proverb
repose in that of Judah.  It was probably in Israel, "Had Zimri peace, who slew his
partly in consequence of the alarm which this master? " Omri had another competitor: for
ronstant migration of his people produced, while the army had elected him, a portion of
that Baasha entered into a skirmishing war- the people, equally disgusted at the deed of
fare with Asa, king of Judah, and ultimately Zimri, had made Tibni king.  The kingdom
laid siege to, and. took the town of Raamah, was thus split into factions, and it was only




360                               AN ILLUSTRATED
after a civil war of six years that the faction a metropolis, Omri purchased a hill of a per,
of Omniprevailed, and'ibniwas put to death. son called Samar for two talents of silver
Omri reigned above five years atier this. He  ($3,750), and built thereon a city, which,
was more guilty before God than any of h's after the name of the previous owner of the
predecessors, for he appears to have taken  site, he ealled SAMARIA,* and made it the
measures to turn into actual idolatry that capital of his dominion. So well was
which under the former kings had only been the situation chosen, that the city remaincd
an irregular and interdicted form  of worship the  metropolis  of the kingdom  while the
and service.  Fincld ng some disadvantages in k'ngdom  endured, and was still a place of
the situation of Tirzalh, however pleasant, for importance when the  Hebrews ceased the
X SAMaRA. -- The text to wlhicll this note is the ruin of that kingdomn by the Assyrians, after
appended sufficiently indicates the origin of Sa- which it became the chief seat of the people whom
maria.  It retmained the capital of Israel until the king of Assyria planted ill tilhe desolated coun-.________ _ _________                         I'
SAMARIA.
try, and who are hence, in the subsequent history, site forms a mean and miserably poor village,
known by the name of Samaritans. Between named Subusta, containing not more than thirty
them and the restored Jews there was always a dwellings.
bitter and not always bloodless enmity, which    "The situation," says Dr. Richardson, "is
subsisted down to the extinction of the Hebrew exceedingly beautiful, and strong by naturecommonwealth. The town was utterly destroyed more so, I think, than Jerusalem. It stands on
by Hyrcanus, the king-priest of the Jews, in the  a fine large insulated hill, compassed all round by
year 129 B. C.; and in this state it remained un- a broad deep valley; and when fortified, as it is
til the time of Herod the Great, who, being much stated to have been, by Herod, one would have
pleased with its situation, rebuilt it in a very imagined that in the ancient system of warfare
beautiful manner, and gave it the name of Sebast;, nothing but famine could have reduced such a
a Greek word equivalent to the Latin Auqnsta, in  place. The valley is surrounded by four hills, one
honor of the Emperor Augustus. Under this  on each side, which are cultivated in terraces to
name it continued to flourish until the Jews were the top, sown with grain, and planted with fig and
finally expelled from Palestine by the Emperor  olive trees, as is also the valley.  The hill of SaAdrian, after which the place vent gradually to maria itself, likewise, rises in terraces to a height
decay; and at present the inhabited part of the equal to any of the adjoining mountains."




HISTORY  OF TEIE BIBLE.                             381
second time to be a nation.  There are some nor, as it respects his separate kingdom, une
respects in which its site is deemed by prosperous.  In those days the wealth and
travellers preferable to that of Jerusalem.    welfare of a state were deemed to consist in
After his reign of eleven completed years, a numerous population; and of this kincl of
counted as twelve in the Scriptures, because  strength the  kingdom  of Judah received
he had entered on the twelfth, Onmri died in large additions by migration fiom  that of
the year 931 B. C., being the thirty-ninth Israel, through the defection of the Levitical
year of Asa king of Juclah.               body, and the discontent with which a large
and valuable portion of the population reJIJDAI, FROMi B. a. 990 TO B. C. 929.    garded the arbitrary innovations of Jeroboam.
Except in its first act, the commencement It may indeed be, in a great degree, imputed
of Rehoboam's reign was not blameworthy, to this cause, that, although so much inferior
~~~~ I~~~~~~
TIlE WALLS OF JERUSALEM, AND PART OF THE VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT. —2 Sam. xv. 23-30; 2 Kings, xviii. 17, 18.
in territorial extent, the kingdom of Judah! theocracy, and received a full measure of the
appears throughout the history of the two prosperity which had been promised to such
kingdoms to be at least equal to that of obedience.  But when he beheld himself, as
Israel.                                   he deemed, secure and prosperous in his
Rehoboam, seeing that he had an adverse king-dom, his rectitude, which appears never
kingdom so near at hand, employed the first to hlave been founded on very strong prinyears of his reign in putting his doenin ons ciples, gave way.  It was not long before
in a condition of defence. He built and i the aIcts which stained the later years of his
fortified a cons;derable number of places in father were more than equalled by him   Not
Judah and Benjam n, which he stored well only was idolatry openly tolerated and pracwith arms and victuals, and in which he tised, but also the abominable acts, outrageous
placed strong garrisons.  For three years he even to the mere instincts of morality, which
remained faithful to the principles of the some of these idolatries sanctioned or re



362                             AN ILLUSTRATED
quired.  Thus the abominations of Judah system between the true rel'gron and idolatry,
very soon exceeded those of Israel.  And we with enough of elementary truth to preserve
shall, throughout the historical period on some show  of fidelity to the system, and
which we have entered, observe one very enough of idolatry and human invention to
important distinction in the religious (which, satisfy the corrupt tendencies of the age and
according to the spirit of the Hebrew institu- country.  Hence, while on the one hand it
tions, means also the political) condition of never, under its best kings, reached that
the two kingdoms. Israel rested with tolera- purity of adherence to the Mosaical system
ble uniformity in a sort of intermediate which was sometimes exemplified in the sister
Egyptian Chariot. (Rosellini.)
kingdom, so, on the other, it never, or very a foreign and consequently idolatrous mother,
rarely, fell to those depths of iniquity to who did not fall into idolatry; a circumstance
which Judah, sometimes sunmk under its more which is sufficient alone to explain and justify
wicked and weak kings.  For Judah, rest- the policy by wh ch such connections were
in, on no such intermediate point as had forbidden.
been found in Israel, was in a state of con-    The chastisement of Rehoboam  and his
stant oscillation between the extremes of good people was not long delayed.  It was inand evil.                                  fliceted by the Egyptians, who, in the fifth
In the case of Rehoboam, the loose prin- year of Rehobolam, invaded the land under
ciples which prevailed at the latter end of Shishak their king, in such strong force as
his father's reign, together with the fact that intimated the expectation of a more formi0C)3~~~~~~3
>1.I
1, 2, 3. Egyptian Swords. (Rosellili and Champollion..)
dable resistance than was encounteredcl; or
rather, perhaps, was designed to shorten the
war by overawing opposition.  There were
twelve  hundred  chariots, sixty  thousand
Egyptian Spearman. (Rosellini.)   horsemen, and a vast body of infantry, the
latter composed chiefly from  the  subject
the mother, from whom his first ideas had nationsof Lybiaand Ethiopia.  Shishak took
been imbibed, was an  Ammonitess, may with ease the fenced cities on which Rehopartly account for the extreme facility of his boam  had placed so much reliance; and
fall.  Indeed, with reference to the latter when he appeared  before Jerusalem, that
fact, it may be observed that among the kings city appears to have opened its gates to him.
there is scarcely one known to be the son of Here he reaped the first-fruits of that rich




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               363
spoil, from the gold of the temple and of greater probability, that the expedition was
the palace, which  supplied so many sub- undertaken at the suggestion of Jeroboam,
sequent demands.   In  the  extremity  of who had much cause to be alarmed at the dedistress, while  the  city was in the hands fection of his subjects to Rehoboam, and at
of an  insulting  conqueror, who stripped the diligence which that king employed in
the most sacred places of their costly orna- strengthening his kingdom.  The rich plun
ments and wealth, the king of Judah and der which was to be obtained would, when
his people turned repentingly to God, and pointed out, be an adequate inducement to
implored deliverance from  his hand.  He the enterprise.
heard them, and inclined Shishak to withdraw   The severe lesson administered by this
with the rich spoil he had gained, without invasion to Rehoboam  and his people was
attempting to retain permanent possession  not in vain, for we read no more of idolatrous
of his conquest.  Astonished himself at the abominations during the eleven remaining
facility with which that conquest had been years of this reign.  In consequence, these
made, this king despised the people who had  were rather prosperous years for the kingsubmitted so unresistingly to his arms, and, dom; and, save a few skirmishes with the
according to the testimony of Herodotus,* king of Israel, we learn of no troubles lby
cited by Josephus himself, he erected, at which it was, during these years, disturbed.
different points on his march home, triumphal But, like his father, Rehoboam  " desired
columns, charged with emblems very little many wives."  His harem contained eighteen
to the honor of the nation which had not wives and sixty concub ines, -a  number
opposed him.                                which, we cannot doubt, was much opposed
Although it is difficult to assign a specific to the notions of the Hebrew people, although
reason, beyond a conqueror's thirst for spoil, it seems rather moderate as compared with
for this invasion of the dominions of the son the establishment of Solomon, or those which
by a power which had been so friendly to we still find among the kings of the East.
the father, it does not strike us, as it does Of all his wives, the one Rlehoboamn loved
some writers, that the difficulty is increased the most was Maaehah, a  daughter (or
by the fact of the matrimonial alliance which grand-daughter t) of Absalom.  Her son,
Solomon had formed with the.royal family  Abijah, he designed for his successor in the
of Egypt.  Rehoboam was born before that throne: to insure wh'ch object, he made
alliance was contracted, and  he and  his adequate provision for his other sons while
mother were not likely to be regarded with he lived, and prudently separated  them
much favor by the Egyptian princess or her from each other, by dispersing them through
family.  Indeed it would seem that she had his dominions as governors of the principal
died, or her influence had declined, or her towns.   This policy was  successful; for
friends deemed her wrong, before the latter although this king had twenty-eight sons,
end of Solomon's reign; for it is evident besides threescore daughters, his settlement
that the king of, Egypt, this very Shishak, of the crown was not disputed at his death.
was not on the most friendly terms with  This event took place in the year 973 B. C.,
Solomon, since he granted his favor and in the eighteenth year of his reign.
protection to the fugitive Jeroboam, whose    Abijah, otherwise called Abijamn, succeedprospective pretensions to divide the king- ed his father, and the first public act of his
domn with the son of Solomon forms the only short reign appears to justify the preference
apparent  ground  of the  distinction  with which had been given to him.  Jeroboam,
which he was treated.  This circumstance may whose policy it was to harass and weaken the
dGrect attention to what appears to us the house of David, and to render the two kingHerodotus i. 105.                        that Maachah was the daugthter of Tamar, the
t This woman is mentioned in three places, daughter of Absalom; in which case, the cornand in all of them the name of her father is dif- parison of texts will intimate that Uriel married
ferently given. In I Kings xv. 2, it is " Maachah, Tamrnar, and Maachah was their daughter, which
the daughter of Abishalom;" in 2 Chron. xi. 20, consequently makes her the grand-daughter of
" Maachah, the dauglhter of Absalom;" and in 2 Absalom and daughter of Uriel. This, upon the
Chron. xiii., " Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel of whole, seems more probable than that the several
Gibeah." The Jews believe that Ahbsalom the son names, Abishalom, Absalom, and Uriel, all point
of David is intended. This does not appear quite to the same person as the father of Maachah.
certain; but if so, we may take their explanation




364                             AN ILLUSTRATED
dotns as inimical to each other as possible, a dynastic and party view  of this great
thought the succession of the new  king, question: and that such, necessarily, was
young and inexperienced, a favorable oppor- the view of Abijah is what we have desired
tunity for an aggressive movement.  He to explain, as the generally good spirit of
seems therefore to have made a general his harangue has disposed hasty thinkers to
military levy, which amounted to the pro- take the impression which he intended to
digious number of eight hundred thousand convey.
men.  Abijah when he heard of this for-   With more justice, Abijah proceeded to
midable muster was not discouraged, but, animadvert on the measures —the corruptions
although he could raise only half the num- and arbitrary changes -  by which Jeroboam
ber of men, took the  field against his had endeavored to secure his kingdom; and,
opponent.  They met near Mount Zemnarim, with becoming pride, contrasted this with the
on the borders of Ephraim.  The armies beautiful order in which, according to the
were drawn out in battle array, when Abijah, law of Moses, and the institutions of David
who was posted on an elevated spot, finding and Solomon, the worship of Jehovah was
the opportunity favorable, beckoned with his conducted by the Levitical priesthood in that
hand, and. began to harangue Jeroboam and  " holy and beautiful house " which the Great
the hostile army.  His speech was good, and King honored with the visible symbol of his
to the purpose; but it does not seem to us inhabitance.  He concluded:  " We keep
entitled to the unqualified praise which it the charge of Jehovah our God; but ye
has generally received.   He began with have forsaken him.   And, behold  God
affirming the divine right of the house of himself is with us for our captain, a~hd his
David to reign over all Israel, by virtue of priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm
the immutable covenant by which Jehovah  against you.  0 children of Israel, fight not
had promised to David that his posterity  against Jehovah the God of your fathers;
should reign  forever.   Consequently  he for ye shall not prosper."  (2 Chron. xiii.
treated the secession of the ten tribes as an  11, 12.)
unprincipled act of rebellion against the    By Jeroboam  this harangue was only
royal dynasty of David, and against God -   viewed as an opportunity for executing a
an act whereby the crafty Jeroboam, with a really clever military operation.  He secretly
number of vain and lawless associates, had  ordered a body of men to file round the hill,
availed  themselves of the weakness and and attack the Judiahites in the rear, while
inexperience of Rehoboam  to deprive the he assailed them  in fiont.  This manoeuvre
chosen house of its just rights.  This state- was so well executed, that Abijah, by the
ment doubtless embodies the view which the time he had finished his speech, perceived
house of David, and the party attached to that he was surrounded by the enemy.  The
its interests, took of the recent event.  They  army of Judah raised a cry of astonishment
regarded as a rebellion what was truly a and alarm, and a universal panic would in
revolution; and which, although, like other all likelihood have ensued.  But the priests
revolutions, it had its secret springs (as in at that instant sounded their silver trumpets,
the jealousy between the tribes of Ephraim  at which well-known and inspiriting signal
and Judah), was not only justifiable in its the more stout-hearted raised a cry for help
abstract principles, but on the peculiar theory to Jehovah, and rushed upon the enemy;
of the Hebrew constitutioi: for it had the and their spirited example raised the courage
previous sanction and appointment of Jeho- and faith of the more timid and wavering.
vah, as declared to both parties; and, in its The host of Israel could not withstand the
immediate cause, sprung from a most in- force which this divine impulse gave to the
sulting refusal of the representative of the arm  of Judah.   Their dense mass was
dynasty to concede that redress of grievances broken and fled, and of the whole number it
which  ten-twelfths  of the whole  nation is said not fewer than five hundred thousand
demanded, and which it had a right to were  slain, —a  slaughter,  as Josephus
demand and obtain before it recognized him  (Antiq. viii. 2, 3) remarks, such as never
as king.  However, a king of Judah could occurred in any other war, whether it were
not well be expected to take any other than of the Greeks or the barbarians.*  This
* With reference to the high numlers which in this wonderful battle are probably corrupt, and
occur here, Dr. Hales observes: "The numbers I should be reduced to forty thousand, eighty thou



HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                                865
would still be true if the number had been in the first rank of the kings of Judah.
much smaller.  "In numbers so large," He enjoys the high character that " his heart
Jahn (book v., sect. 36) remarks, " there was perfect with Jehovah all his days: and
may be some error of the transcribers; but he did that which was right with Jehovah,
it is certain that after this defeat the kingdom  as did his father David."  His first cares
of Israel was considerably weakened, while were directed toward the utter uprooting of
that of Judah made constant progress in the idolatries and abominations which had
power and  importance.   We  must here been suffered to creep in during the preceedmention, once for all, that, owing to the ing reigns.  He drove from  his states the
mistakes of transcribers in copying numerals, corrupters of youth, and with an unsparing
we cannot answer for the correctness of the hand he purged Jerusalem  of the infamies
great numbers of men which are mentioned which had long harbored there.  Thle idols
here and in the sequel.   When there are no were overthrown and broken in pieces, and
means of rectifying these num!bers we set the groves which had sheltered the dark
them  down as they occur in the books." abominations of idolatry  were cut down:
Such also is our own practice.              even his grandmother, Maachah, he deprived
This great victory was pursued by Abijah, of the authority -  removing her from being
in the retaking and annexation to his domin- queen -  which  she  had  abused to  the
ion of some border towns and districts, some encouragement of idolatry; and the idols
of which had originally belonged to Judah which she had set up he utterly destroyed.
and Benjamin, but which the Israelites had By thius clearing them from defiling admixfound means to include in their portion of tures, the pure and grand doctrines and
the divided kingdom.  Among these towns practices of the Mosaical system shone forth
was Bethel; and this being the seat of one with a lustre that seemed new in that corrupt
of the golden calves, the loss of it must age.  A gain the priests of Jehovah were
have been a matter of peculiar mortification held in honor by the people; and again the
to Jeroboam, and of triumph to Abijah.    temple, its past losses being in part repaired
The reign of Abijah was not by any by the royal munificence, was provided with
means answerable to the expectations which all that suited the dignity of the splendid
his speech and his victory are calculated to ritual service there rendered to God; for
excite.  We are told that " he walked in Asa was enabled to replace with silver and
all the sins of his father," and that " his gold a portion of the precious things which
heart was not  perfect with  Jehovah  his S-iishak had taken from  the temple, and
God;" by which it would appear that he did which Rehoboam had supplied with brass.
not take sufficient heed to avoid and remove    Ten years of prosperity and peace rethe idolatries and abominations which Solo- warded the pious zeal of the king of Judah.
mon  and  Rehoboam  had  introduced  or In these years much was done by him  to
tolerated.  He died in 970 B. C., after a strengthen and improve his kingdom, espereign of three years, leaving behind him  cially in repairing and strengthening the
twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters, whom  fortified  towns, and in  surrounding with
he had by fourteen wives.                   strong walls and towers many which had
The son who succeeded him was named not previously been fortified.  We are also
Asa.  He was still very young, and the informed that " Asa had an army of three
affairs of the kingdom  appear for some time hundred thousand out of Judah, who bore
to have been administered by his grand- shields and spears; and of two hundred and
mother, Maachah, whose name has already eighty thousand out of Benjamin, who bore
been mentioned.  Asa, for his virtues, his shields and spears: all these were men of
fidelity to the principles of the theocracy, valor."  This and  other passages of the
and the prosperity and victory with which same nature, describing the immense milihe was in consequence favored, takes place tary force of the small kingdoms of Judah
sand, and fifty thousand (slain), as in the Latin against Josephus of having made Jeroboam's
Vulgate of Sixtus Quintus, and many earlier loss no more than fifty thousand men, contrary to
editions, and in the old Latin translation of Jose- I the Hebrew tert."'  See Kennicott's "Dissertaphus; and that such were the readings in the tions," vol. i., p. 533, and vol. ii., p. 201, &c., 564.
Greek text of that author originally, Vignoles To this we may add the remark of Jahn, in
judiciously collects from  Abarbanel's charge which we more entirely concur.




366                               AN ILLUSTRATED
and Israel (even setting aside those which of probability, from  the state of Egypt at
labor under the suspicion of having been this time, in the reign of Osorkon I.,t who
altered by the copyists), appear to intimate succeeded  Sheshonk  (or Shishak), that an
that the general enrolment for military ser- army under Zerah  should  have marched
vice which  David  contemplated, but was through Egypt from the Ethiopia south of
prevented from  completely executing, was the cataracts of the Nile.  It must thereaccomplished by later kings.  It is always fore be concluded that the army was composed of the Cushites (or Ethiopians) of
Arabia, the original seat of all the Cushites;
and as the army was partly composed of
Lybians, who, if this supposition be correct,
could  not well have  passed from  Africa
through the breadth of Egypt on this occasion, it may, with very sufficient probability,
be conjectured that they formed a portion
of the Libyan auxiliaries in the army with
which Shishak invaded  Palestine, twentyfive years before, and who, instead of returning to their own deserts, deemed it quite
as well to remain in those of Arabia PetrTa,
and in the country between Egypt and Palestine.  And this explanation seems to be
confirmed by the fact, which appears in the
sequel, that they held some border towns
(such as Gerar) in this district.  The flocks
Assyrian Spearman. (Nineveh Marbles.)  and herds, and the tents (f the invading
host, sufficiently intimate the nomad charimportant to remember, however, that the acter of the invasion.
modern European sense of the word army,    This emergency was met by Asa in the
as applied to a body of men exclusively  true spirit of the theocracy.  Fully conscious
devoted to a military profession, is unknown  of the physical inadequacy of his force to
to the history of this period; and in the meet the enemy, he nevertheless went forth
statement before us we are to see no more boldly to give them  battle, trusting in Jehothan  that the men thus numbered  were vah, who had so often given his people the
provided with weapons (or that the king victory against far greater odds, and to whom
had weapons to arm  them), and were, the he made the public and becoming appeal: —
whole or any part of them, bound to obey "0  Jehovah, it is nothing with thee to help,
any call from the king into actual service.   whether with many or with them  that have
An occasion for such a call occurred to no power: HIelp us, O  Jehovah, our God;
Asa after ten years of prosperity and peace. for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go
His dominions were then exposed to a most against this multitude.  0  Jehovah, thou
formidable invasion from "Zerah the Cush- art our God; let not man prevail against
ite,"  with a million  of  men and  three thee."   The  consequence  of this proper
hundred chariots.*  It is beyond the range manifestation of reliance upoin their Omnipo* Josephus gives nine hundred thousand infan- number together. There must always be a vast
try and one hundred thousand cavalry, which difference in numbers between the army that must
some would redte by striking off a cipher from  be kept and paid permanently, and that which
each number. A merely conjectural emendation may be raised by a general call upon the adult
is, however, so difficult and hazardous, that it is male population to a warlike enterprise, and only
better to retain the original numbers, even when for the time of that enterprise.  The army of
doubtful. In the present instance we may refer Tamerlane (as we  call him) is said to have
to what has just been said as to the distinction amounted to one million six hundred thousand
between the armies of that time and our own. men, and that of his antagonist Bajazet to one
And if Asa in his contracted territory was able million four hundred thousand. - Laoninc. C/talcoto call out above five hundred thousand men, cond. de rebus Turc, 1. iii. p. 98, 102.
there is no solid reason why it should be impossible to the Cushite nomads, among whom every    t His name is so given in the monuments, but
man was able to use arms, to bring double that in ancient writers it is Osorthon.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              367
tent King was a very splendid victory over Baasha, the following year, prevented him
the Cushlites.  They were defeated in the from  resuming his designs.   Asa availed
great battle of MIareshah,* in the valley of himself of the materials which Baasha had
Zephathah, and fled before the army of brought together for the  fortification of
Judah, which commenced a vigorous pur- Ramnah, to fortify the towns of Geba and
suit, attended with great slaughter.  The Mizpeh.  This advantage  was, however,
Ethiopians and Lybians fled toward their dearly purchased by the treasure of the
tents and to Gerar and other towns, which  temple and the pieace which he was obliged
some of them (we have supposed the Lybi- to squander, to secure the assistance of the
ans) occupied on the border land toward Syrians; and still more, by the displeasure
Philistia.  Here  the conquerors found a of God, who denounced this proceeding as
rich spoil of cattle from  the camps of the not only wrong in itself, but as indicating a
nomads, and of goods from the towns.  On want of that confidence in him through which
their triumphal return, they were met by he had been enabled to overthrow  the vast
the prophet Obed, who excited the piety host which the Cushites brought against him.
and gratitude of the king and his army by This intimation of the divine displeasure was
reminding them  to whom  the victory was conveyed to the king by the prophet Hanani,
really due, even to Jehovah; and he called and was received by Asa with such resentto their remembrance the privilege they en- ment that he put the messenger in prison.
joyed, as contrasted with the kingdom  of Indeed, he appears to have grown increasIsrael, in the marked and beneficent protec- ingly irritable in the later years of his reign,
tion and care of their Great King, and in consequence of which he was led to comhinted at the duties which resulted from the mit many acts of severity and  injustice.
enjoyment of such  privileges.  This was But for this some allowance may be made in
attended  with  very good effects; and in consideration of his sufferings fiom a disease in
the warmth of his gratitude for the deliver- his feet, which appears to have been the gout.
ance with which he had been favored, Asa With reference to this disease, Asa incurs
prosecuted his reforms with new vigor.  He some blame in the Scriptural narrative for
rooted out every remnant of idolatry, and his resort to'" the physicians instead of relyencgaged the whole people to renew their ing upon God; " the cause of which rather
covenant with Jehovah.                     extraordinary censure is probably to  be
It appears that the effect of the manifest found in the fact that those physicians who
tokens of the divine favor which Asa re- were not priests or Levites (in whose hands
ceived, especially in the great victory over the medical science of the Hebrews chiefly
Zecah, was felt in the neighboring kingdom, rested) were foreigners and idolaters, who
and induced large numbers of the subjects trusted more to superstitious rites and incanof Baasha to miograte into his dominions. tations than to the simple remedies which
A  constant and large accession of men, nature offered.  With all these defects, for
induced by  such  considerations, and  by which much allowance may be made, Asa
revived attachment to the theocracy, was bears a good character in the Scriptural
calculated to give, and did give, a vast narrative on account of the general rectitude
superiority of moral character to the king- of his conduct, and of his zealous services
dom of Judah.  It was probably, as inti- in upholding the great principles of the
mated in the last chapter, this tendency of theocracy.
his most valuable subjects to migrate into    Asa died in the year 929 B. C., in the
Judah, which induced Baasha to take the second year of Ahab, king of Israel, and
town of Ramah, and fortify it for a frontier after a long and, upon the whole, prosperbarrier.  The measure which Asa took on ous reign of forty-one years.  He was sinthis occasion, of hiring the king of Syria to cerely lamented by all his subjects, who,
forego his previous alliance with Baasha, and according to their mode of testifying their
cause a diversion in his own favor by invad- final approbation, honored his remains with
ing the kingdom of Israel, was effectual as to a magnificent funeral.  His body, laid on a
the recovery of Ramah; for the death of bed of state, was burned with vast quantities
* This was a town fortified by Rehoboam (2 of aromatic substances: and the ashes, colChron. xi. 8).  It was the birthplace of the lected with care, were afterward deposited
prophet Micah.                             in the sepulchre which he had prepared for




~3G8~~ SAN  ILLUSTRATED
himself on Mount Zion.  The burning of more striking were the prophecies and mirthe dead, as a rite of sepulture, had origi- acles which directed the attention of the
nally been  regarded with dislike by the Israelites to Jehovah, and brought disgrace
Hebrews.  But a change of feeling ia this upon the idols, and confusion on their wormatter had by this time taken place; for the shippers.  The history of this great and
practice is not now  mentioned as a new  memorable struggle gives to the narrative of
thing, and had probably been some time Ahab's reign an unusual prominence and
previously introduced.  Afterward burning extent in the Hebrew annals; and although
was considered the most distinguished honor a writer studious of brevity might at the first
which could be rendered to the dead, and view might be disposed to omnit, as episodical,
the omission of it, in the case of royal per- much of the history of Elijah the Tishbite,*
sonages, a disgrace.  (See 2 Chron. xvi. 14, a little reflection will render it manifest that
xxi. 19; Jer. xxxiv. 5; Amos vi. 10.) the prominence given to the history of this
But in later days the Jews conceived a dis- illustrious champion  for the truth, was a
like to this rite; and their doctors endeav- designed and necessary result firom  the fact
ored, in consequence, to pervertthe passages that the history of the Hebrew nation is the
of Scripture which refer to it, so as to induce history of a church; and that although the
a belief that the aromatic substances alone, history of this great controversy might be
and not the body, were burnt,              omitted or overlooked by those who erroneously regard the history of the Hebrews
ISRAEL, FROM B. c. 931 TO B. C. 895.    merely as a political history, in the other
Ahab, the son of Omri, mounted the  point of view  it becomes of the most vital
throne of Israel in the year 931  B. C., importance.
being the thirty-eighth year of Asa, king of   The first appearance of Elijah is with great
Jucdabh.   This king was, throughout his abruptness to announce a drought, and conreign of twenty-two  years, entirely under sequent famine, for the punishment of the
the influence of his idolatrous and unprinci- idolatry into which the nation bad fallen;
pled wife, Jezebel, a daughter of Ethbaal, and that this calamity should only be reor Ithobalus, king of Tyre.  Hitherto the  moved at his own intercession.  He appreirregularities connected with the service be- hended that the iniquities of the land would
fore the golden calves, as symbols of Jeho- bring down upon it destruction from God;
vah, had formed the chief offence of Israel. and he therefore prayed for this lesser visitaB!At now  Ahab and Jezebel united their tion, which might possibly bring the king and
authority to introduce the gods of other people to repentance.
nations.  The king built a temple in Sama-    After such a denunciation, it was necesria, erected an image, and consecrated a sary that the prophet should withdraw himgrove to Baal, the god of the Sidonians. self from the presence and solicitations of
Jezebel, earnest in promoting the worship the king, when the drought should comof her own god, maintained a multitude of mence, which it did, probably about the s-xth
priests and prophets of Baal.  In a few  year of Ahab.   Accordingly, obeying the
years idolatry became the predominant re- directions of the divine oracle, he withdrew
ligion of the land; and Jehovah, and the to his native district beyond Jordan, and hid
golden calves as representations of him, himself in a cave by the brook Cherith;
were viewed with no more reverence than where the providence of God secured his
Baal and his image.  It now appeared as if support by puttinf it into the hearts of the
the knowledge of the true God was forever Arabs encamped in the neighborhood, to
lost to the Israelites; but Elijah the prophet send him bread and meat evelry morn:ng and
boldly stood up, and opposed himself to the evening; and the brook furnished him with
authority of the king, and succeeded in drink, until "the end of the year," or beretaining many of his countrymen in the ginning of spring, when it was dried up from
worship of Jehovah.  The greater the power the continued drought.t
was which supported idolatry, so much the    It was probably under the irritation pro,
* He is introduced as " Elijah the Tishbite, of some town in Gilead, which cannot now be clearly
the inhabitants of Gilead." It is probable there- ascertained.
fore that the designation of "Tishbite" is from    t The subject of Elijah's sustenance at Che



HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                   369
duced by the first pressure of the calamity, was returning from  Sarepta, met him, and
that Jezebel induced the king to issue orders commissioned him to announce his arrival to
for the destruction  of all the prophets of Ahab.  The king, when he saw the prophet,
Jehovah   Many of them  perished; but a reproached him as the cause of the national
good and devout man, even in the palace of calamities —" Art thou he that troubleth
Ahab, -  Obadiah, the steward of his house- Israel? "  But the prophet boldly retorted
hold, -  managed to save a hundred of the the charge upon himself and his father's
number by sheltering them in caverns, where house, because they had forsaken Jehovah
he provided  for their maintenance until, and followed Baal.  He then secured the
probably, an opportunity was found for their attention of the king by intimating an intenescape into the kingdom of Judah.           tion of interceding for rain; and required
When the brook of Cherith was dried up, him  to call a general assembly of all the
the prophet was then directed by the Divine people at Mount Carmel, and also to bring
Voice to proceed westward to Sarepta, a town all the prophets or priests of Baal,* and of
of Sidon, under the dominion of Jezebel's the groves.
father; where he lodged with a poor widow,   There, in the audience of that vast assemand was miraculously supported with her and bly, Elijah reproached the people with the
her family for a considerable time, according  destruction of the prophets of Jehovah, of
to his own prediction -  "that her single whom, he alleged, that he alone remailed,
barrel of meal should not waste, nor her while the prophets of Baal alone were four
single cruse of oil fail, until that day when hundred and fifty, fed at the table of JezeJehovah should send rain upon the earth." bel; and then he called them to account for
While he remained at this place, the prophet, their divided worship -" How long halt ye
by his prayers to God, restored to life the between two opinions?  If JEHOVAni be the
son of the widow  with whom  he lodged. God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow
Here he'staid until the end of three years him."   The people intimated their uncerfrom  the commencement of the drought, tainty by their silence to this appeal; on
when he was commanded to go and show  which the prophet, fully conscious of his unhimself to Ahab.  That king had meanwhile limited commission, proposed a solemn sacricaused the most diligent search to be made flee to each, and " the God that answereth
for him  in every quarter, doubtless with the by fire (to consume his sacrifice) let him be
view of inducing him to offer up those inter- the God."  As this was a fair trial of Baal's
cessions through which alone the present supposed power in his own element, the most
grievous calamity could terminate.  But at zealous of his worshippers could make no
this time, having probably relinquished this objection to it, and the proposal was approved
search as hopeless, the attention of the king by all the people.  Accordingly, when Baal
was directed to the discovery of any remain- answered not the earnest and ultimately mading supplies of water which might still exist denecl invocations of his prophets -  but Jein the land.  He had, therefore, for the pur- hovah instantly answered the prayer of Elijah,
poses of this exploration, divided the country by sending fire (as on former occasions) to
between himself and Obadiah; and both consume the victim  on the altar, although it
proceeded personally to visit all the brooks had previously been inundated with water by
and fountains of the land.  Obadiah was the direction of the prophet -  then the peojourneying on this mission, when Elijah, who pie, yielding to one mighty impulse of conrith by means of ravens has given occasion to necessity for departing from the literal meaning
much fanciful speculation. It has been attempted of the account of Elijah's sustenance, as given
to show that the'ordbint ("ravens") were the 1 Kings xvii. 6. - A. B.
people of Orbo, a small town near Cherith. Others have found in the ravens merely merchants;    * BAAL was the supreme male divinity of the
while Michaelis has attempted to show that Elijah Phcenician and Canaanitish nations. The plural,
merely plundered the ravens' nests of hares and BAALIM, is frequently found in the Old Testaother game! To the faict of the raven being a ment.  The word in  Hebrew means Master,
common bird in Palestine, and to its habit of fly- Owner, Possessor. The worship of' this idol was
ing restlessly about in constant search for food practised from a very remote antiquity among the
to satisfy Its voracious appetite, may perhaps be Moabites and Midianites, and through the influtraced the reason for its being selected by our ence of these nations the Israelites were seduced
Lord and the inspired writers as the especial to the worship of this god, which became extenobject of God's providing care.  There is no sively prevalent in the times of the kings.- A. B.
24t




370                             AN ILLUSTRATED
viction, fell upon their faces, and cried, he saw the glory of Jehovah in "the cleft
" JEHOVAH, HE IS THE GOD!  JEHOVAH, of the rock."
HE IS THEI GOD! " -  thus also expressing    There he heard the voice of Jehovah
that Baal was not the God, and rejecting him. calling to him, " What doest thou here,
To ratify this abjuration of Baal, Elijah cornm- Elijah  "   The prophet, evidently recog,
manded them to destroy his priests; and this, nizing that voice, said, " I have been very
in the enthusiasm  of their rekindled zeal for zealous for Jehovah, the God of Hosts,
Jehovah, they immediately did, at the brook for the children of Israel have forsaken thy
Kishon, which had been the scene of Barak's covenant, thrown down thy altars, and slain
victory over the Canaanites.              thy prophets with the sword, and I only am
Immediately after this sublime national left; and they seek my life to take it away."
act of acknowledgment of Jehovah  and Then  the voice commanded  him  to go
rejection of Baal, the prophet went up to forth, for Jehovah was about to pass by.
the top of Carmel, and prayed fervently for The first harbinger of the divine presence
rain seven times; the promise of which was a great and strong wind, which rent
(speedily followed by fulfilment) at last the mountain and brake the rock in pieces;
appeared in the form of " a little cloud like but Jehovah was not in that wind.  Then
a man's hand," rising out of the Mediter- followed an earthquake; but Jehovah was
ranean Sea -  a phenomenon which, in warm  not in the earthquake.  This was succeeded
maritime climates, is not the unusual har- by a fire; but Jehovah was not in the
binger of rain.                            fire.  After this, came  "a still, small
This remarkable transaction may be as- Voice;" and when the prophet heard it,
cribed to the tenth year of Ahab's reign.    he knew the voice of God, and, reverently
Elijah was now compelled to fly for his hiding his face in his mantle, he stood forth
life, to avoid the threatened vengeance of in the entrance of the cave.  The Voice
Jezebel for the destruction of her prophets. repeated the former question, " What doest
He fled southward, and when he had travel- thou here, Elijah? " to which the same
led nearly 100  miles, fiom  Salnaria to answer as before was returned.  The Voice,
Beersheba, he left his servant and went in reply, gently rebuked the prophet for
alone a day's journey into the wilderness. his crimination of the whole  people  of
There as he sat, for rest and shelter, under Israel, and his discouraging representation
the scanty shade which a broom-tree offered, of himself as the only prophet left.  " I
the mighty spirit by which he had hitherto have yet left to me seven thousand men,
been sustained, gave way, and he prayed in Israel, who have not bowed the knee to
for death to end his troubles.   " It is Baal.".I-e was further instructed to return
enough:"  he cried, " now, O  Jehovah, by a different route, by the way of Damastake.away my life; for I am not better than  cus; and, by the way to anoint or appoint
my fathers! "  To strengthen his now sink- Elisha to be his own successor, and (either
ing faith, and reward his sufferings in the by himself or Elisha), Hazael to be king
cause of the God of Israel, whose honor he of Damascene-Syria, and Jehu to be king of
had so zealously vindicated, the prophet Israel —as the chosen ministers of divine
was encouraged by an angel to undertake vengeance upon the house and people of
along journey to the "mount of God," Ahab.
Horeb, where the divine presence had been    Of the three, Elisha was the only one
manifested to Moses, the founder of the to whom  Elijah himself made known this
law, and of which a further manifestation appointment.   Elisha  was  the  son  of
was now probably promised to this great Shaphat, an opulent man of Abel-maholah,
champion and restorer of the same law. in the half-tribe of Manasseh, west of the
On  this mysterious  occasion the angel Jordan.  The prophet found him ploughing
touched him  twice, to rouse him  from  his with twelve yoke of oxen, when, by a
sleep, and twice made  him  eat of food significant action, still well understood in
which he found prepared for him.  In the the East, that of throwing his own mantle
strength which that food gave, the prophet upon him, he conveyed the intimation of
journeyed (doubtless by a circuitous route) his prophetic call.  That call was underforty days, until he came, it is supposed, stood and obeyed by  Elisha; and after
to the cave where Moses was stationed, when having, with the prophet's permission, taken




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HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              371
leave of his parents, he hastened to follow    The confidence of the Syrians was so
Elijah, to whom  he ever after remained great that they led a careless and jovial life,
attached.                                  thinking of little but of indulgence in wine
It is singular that the first formal al- and good cheer, of which the king hillself
liance between the kingdoms of Israel and set the example.  In the midst of these
Judah took place during the reigns of two feasts, a body of two hundred and thirty-tw'o
princes of such opposite characters as Ahab men was seen to leave the city, and advance
in Israel, and Jehoshaphat in Judah.  But toward the camp.   Ben-hadlad. when he
it was so; and in forming it, and in cement- heard of it, quietly ordered them to be taken
ing it by the marriage of his eldest son alive, whether they came for peace or for
Jehoram to Athaliah the daughter of Ahab war.  But suddenly these men fell upon the
and Jezebel, he doubtless acted from very advanced sentinels, and upon all who were
ill-considered policy, and laid in a great near them; and the cries and confusion of so
store of disasters for himself and his house. many persons, taken as it were by surprise,
It is unfortunate that we are unacquainted  were instrumental in creating a generall pm-nic
with the motives which led to this most un- among the vast Syrian host.  Drawn himnhappy connection.  A  close and intimate self by the irresistible movement, Benl-hadad
union between the two kingdoms could not fled on horseback with all his army; andc the
but be, in itself, a political good; and the troops of Israel (7,000 in number), whilch
error of Jehoshaphat probably considering attended the motions and watched the effect
this fact by itself, without taking due ac- of the sally of the brave two hundred and
count of that evil character of Ahab and thirty-two, closely pursued the flying Syrians,
his house, and that alienation of his people and rendered the victory complete.
from   Godl,  which  were  calculated  to   The prophet who foretold this victory
neutralize, and actually did far more than now apprised Ahab that Ben-hadad would
neutralize, the natural advantages of such renew his attempt the ensuing year.  Tllis
alliance.  The marriaoge took place in the took place accordingly.  The Syrians camne
fifteenth year of Ahab's, and the thirteenth in equal force as before, and, as theythou:~ght,
of Jehoshaphat's reign.                   with wiser counsels.  The kingdoml of DamNot long after this, Ahab had cause to be ascene-Syria was mostly a plain; whereas
alarmed at the designs of Ben-hadad, the the kingdom  of Israel, and the site of
king of Damascene-Syria, which kingdom  Samaria  in  particular, was mountainous,
had been gathering such strength, while Rightly attributing their defeat, to the God
that of the Hebrews had been weakened by (or, as they chose in their idolatrous' ignodivisions and by misconduct, that even the rance, to say the gods) of Israel, they reasoned
subjugation of Israel did not seem to Ben- that he was a god of the hills, and therefore
hadad an enterprise to which his ambition among the hills nore powerful than their
might not aspire.  To this end he made gods, who were gods of the valleys and the
immense preparations: he claimed the united plains.  Instead therefore of going among
aid of all his tributary princes, thirty-two in the hills as before, they would now fighllt in
number, and ultimately appeared with all the plains, where they could not doubt of
his forces before Sarnaria, to which he laid success.  This reasoning, however abcurd it
siege.  He first summoned Ahab to deliver now seems to us and did then seem (such
up all his most precious things; and, com- were their privileges) to all enlightened
pelled by dire necessity, the king of Israel Israelites, was in strict and philosophical
consented.  But Ben-hadad was only in- accordance with the first principles of idoladuced by this readiness of yielding, to try, and the general system of national and
enhance his terms, and sent further de- local deities.  But such a view being take.l
mands, which were so very hard and insulting, by them, it became necessary to Jehovah to
that the spirit of Ahab was at last roused, vindicate his own honor and assert his ornandl, supported by the advice of his council, nipotence  by their overthrow.   For this
he determined to act on the defensive. Soon reason he delivered this  vast host that
after a prophet came with the promise of covered the land into the hands of the
victory over the vast host of the Syrians, by comparatively  small and  feeble host of
means of a mere handful of spirited young Israel.  The Syrians were cut in pieces;
men who were particularly indicated.       100,000 of their number were left dead upon




372                           AN ILLUSTRATED
the field of battle, and the rest were entirely blasphemer and enemy of his Great Name.
dispersed. Ben-hadad, with a large number For this he was, in the name of Jehovah,
of the fugitives, sought refuge in Aphek; but severely rebuked and threatened by one of
by the sudden fall of the wall of that fortified "the sons of the prophets," by the waytown, 27,000 of his men were crushed to side; in consequence he withdrew to his
death, and the place was rendered clefence- palace "heavy and displeased."
less.  Nothing was now left to himn but to   The history of Ahab affords one more, and
yield himself up to Ahab.   That monarch, the last, interview between him and Elijah.
weak and criminal by turns, received the This was about nine years after the grand
Syrian king into his friendship,  and formed  solemnity at Mount Carmel, and the ninean impious alliance with him, regardless not teenth of Ahab's reign.
only of the law, but of the honor of God,   At that time the king took a fancy to
who had given him the victory, and had enlarge his own garden by taking into it an
delivered for punishment into his hands this adjoining vineyard which formed part of the
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ —~~~~ --
TERRACE CULTIVATION.
patrimonial estate of a person named Naboth. now govern the kingdom of Israel; Arise, eat
He made him the fair offer of its-value in food, and let thine heart be cheerful; the
money, or to give him some other piece of vineyard of Naboth, the Jezreelite, I will
land of equal value. v But Naboth, consider- give to thee."  Accordingly, she procured
ing it a religious duty to preserve "the in- Naboth to be put to death under the form of
heritance of his fathers," declined on any law.  At a public feast he was accused by
terms to alienate it. The reason was good, suborned witnesses of blasphemy, for which
and ought to have satisfied the king.  But he was stoned to death, and his estates conhe received the refusal like a spoiled child; fiseated to the king. Jezebel then went to
he lay down upon his bed, and turned away Ahab, apprised him of what had happened,
his face to the wall, and refused to take his and told him to go down and take possession
food.  When his wife heard this she came of the vineyard.  It is clear that if he did
to him, and having learned the cause of his not suggest, he approved of the crime, and
grief, she said indignantly, "Dost thou not proceeded with joy to reap the fruits of it.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE..3 73
But in the vineyard of Naboth, the unex-   Israel was now at peace with Syria. but
pected and unwelcome sight of Elijah the it had not recovered possession of all the
prophet met his view.  Struck by his own places which had at different times been lost
conscience, he cried, " Hast thou found me, to that power.  Of these, Ramoth Gilead,
O mine enemy?"  To which Elijah replied, beyond Jordan, was one, which, from  its
" I have found thee, because thou hast sold proximity and importance, Ahab was particthyself to work evil in the eyes of Jehovah." ularly anxious to regain possession.  He
He then proceeded to denounce the doom of therefore resolved to expel the Syrian garutter extermination upon himself and his rison from that place; and as he was aware
house for his manifold iniquities; and then, that the attempt would be opposed by the
with reference to the immediate offence, he whole power of the Syrian kingdom, he
said, " Hast thou slain and also taken pos- claimed the assistance of Jehoshaphat, the
session? Thus saith Jehovah, In whatsoever king of Judah, which that prince, with the
place the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, facility of disposition which formed the chief
shall dogs lick up thy blood, even thine. defect of his excellent character, very
And  concerning  Jezebel, *Jehovah  hath readily granted.  Nevertheless, when  the
also spoken, saying, The dogs shall eat preparations were completed, Jehoshaphat,
Jezebel under the wall of Jezreel.  Him  unsatisfied by the assurances of success which
who dieth of Ahab in the city shall the dogs Ahab's own " prophets" had given, desired
eat; and him that dieth in the fields shall that some other prophet of Jehovah should
the fowls of the air eat."  We are imme- be consulted.  This request was more disdiately reminded, however, that this terrible tasteful to Ahab than he liked to avow.
doom, although now denounced as followingl " There is yet one man," he said, " Micaiahb.
this crowning deed of guilt, was really a con- the son of Imlah, but him I hate, because
sequence of this and all the other iniquities he prophesieth not good concerning me, but
of Ahab's reign; for it is added, " Now  evil."  He was, however, sent for; and
there had been none like to Ahab, who, although the messenger had strongly inculstirred up by Jezebel his wife, sold himself cated upon him the necessity of making his
to work wickedness in the eyes of Jehovah. counsel conformable to the wishes of the
And he committed great abominations by king  and  the  predictions of his  own
going after vile idols, according to all that prophets, the undaunted  Micaiah  boldly
the Amnorites did, whom Jehovah cast out foretold the fatal result of the expedition.
before the Israelites."                   At this the king was so much enraged, that
When Ahab heard the heavy doom pro- he ordered him to be kept in confinement,
nouneed against hinm by the prophet, "he and fed with the bread and the water of
rent his clothes (in token of extreme grief), affliction until he returned in peace.  "If
and  put sackcloth  upon  his flesh, and thou return at all in peace," rejoined the
fasted, and lay in  sackcloth, and  went faithful prophet, "then Jehovah hath not
mournfully."   This conduct found some spoken by me."
acceptance with God, who said to Elijah,   Ben-hadad, the king  of Syria, repaid
Seest thou  how  Ahab humbleth  himself the misplaced kindness of Ahab by the
before me?  Because he humbleth himself most bitter enmity against his person; and
before me, I will not bring the evil in his days, he gave strict orders to his troops that their
but in his son's days will I bring this evil principal object should be his destruction.
upon his house." From the judicial sentence Ahab seems to have had some private inforspecially applicable to the case of Naboth, mation of this; for he went, himself, disthere was, however, no dispensation; as it guised to the battle, and treacherously perbehooved the Divine king to demonstrate suaded Jehoshaphat to appear in all the
that he still possessed and exercised the ensigns of his high rank.t  In consequence
authority of supreme civil governor, and of this the king of Judah was nearly slain,
that the kings were responsible to him and being  surrounded  by  the  Syrians, who
punishable  by  him.  This was signally pressed  toward  the point in which one
shown in the sequel.                     royally arrayed appeared.  But they disx Josephus and other ancient Jews understood    t Josephus, supported by the Septuagint, says
that this Micaiah was the-same prophet who had he wore the royal robes of Ahab.
rebuked Ahab for his alliance with Ben-hadad.




'374                            AN  ILLUSTRATED
covered their mistake in time, and turned the prophet Elijah, who sent them  back t,
their attention in another direction.  Ahab, the king with a denunciation of death, for
with all his contrivance, could not avoid his his impiety in forsaking the God of Israel
doom.  A  Syrian archer* sent forth from  and resorting to strange gods.  The messenhis bow an arrow  at random.  Guided by gers knew not the prophet; but when they
the unseen Power which had numbered the described him to the king as a man clad with a
days of Ahab, that arrow found the dis- hairy garment, and with aleathern girdle about
guised king, penetrated between the -joints his loins, he recognized Elijah, and sent an
of his strong armor, and gave him his death- officer with fifty men to apprehend him.  But
wound.  He directed his charioteer to drive the prophet, whom  they found sitting upon
him out of the battle; but perceiving that a a hill, called down fire from heaven, which
general action was coming on, he remained,  consumed this party, and also a second; but
and was held up in his chariot until the even- he went voluntarily with the third, the officer
ing, animating his friends by his voice and in  command  of which humbled  himself
presence. After the fall of night had termi- before him, and besought him.  The prophet
nated the combat, the king died, and the army confirmed to the king himself his former denunwas directed to disperse. The body of Ahab  ciation of speedy death; and, accordingly,
was taken to Samaria, to be deposited in  Ahaziah died, after a short reign of two years,
the family sepulchre; and to mark  the  leaving no son to succeed him.  This king
literal fulfilment of Elijah's prophecy, the  maintained the alliance which his father had
historian acquaints us that his chariot was established with King Jehosbaphat, and even
washed, and his armor rinsed in the pool persuaded that monarch to admit him to
of Samaria, where the dogs licked up the  share in his contemplated maritime expeblood that he had lost.  Thus signally, in  dition to the regions of Ophir, of which there
the mysterious dispensations of Divine'Prov- will be occasion to speak in the next chapidence, were reconciled the seemingly dis- ter.
cordant declarations of the two prophets, one    Ahaziah was succeeded by his brother
of whom had foretold his death at Ramoth  JEHORAM.  This king, like his predecessors,
Gilead, and the other that dogs should  " did evil in the sight of Jehovah," yet not
claim his blood in Sarnaria.               to the same extent of enormity as they; for
The history of Ahab is almost exclusively  although the loose and irregular service of
occupied with' the record of his guilt, and  the golden calves was maintained by him, he
we are referred for information concerning  overthrew the imagesof Baal, and discouraged
his other public acts to a chronicle which the grosser idolatries which his father and
no longer exists.  But it transpires that he brother had introduced.
built several cities in Israel, and also a    The first and most urgent care of the new
palace, which, from the quantities of ivory  ling was to reduce to obedience the MIoabites,
with which it was ornamented, was distin- who, as just mentioned, had revolted on the
guished as " the ivory palace."            death of Ahab.  As the king of Judah had
Ahab's death took place in the year 909: himself been troubled by the 3Joabites, he
B. C., after a reign of twenty-two years.  readily undertook to take a very prominent
He was succeeded in his throne and in his part in this enterprise, to which he also
sin by his son AIAZIAII.  The chief event brought the support of his own tributary, the
of:his short reign was the revolt of the king of Edom.  The plan of the campaign
Moabites, who, since their subjection by was, that the allied army should invade the
David, had continued to supply Israel with land of Moab in its least defensible quarter,
a rich tribute of flocks and fleeces.t  Aha- by going round by " the wilderness of Edom,"
ziah himself having received serious injuries southward of the Dead  Sea; which also
-by a'fall through  a lattice in an upper offered the advantage that the forces of the
chanmber of his palace, sent messengers into king of Israel could be successively joined
the land of the Philistines, to consult Baal- by those of the kings of Judah and Edom,zebub, the fly-god of Ekron, whether he should on the march.  This circuitous march occurrecover.  But they were met on the way by pied seven days; and toward the end of it
* Josephus says this was Naaman, who will hbad been 100,000 lambs and 100,000 wethers,.soon come again before us.                with their wool.
t The annual tribute rendered by the Moabites




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              375
the army and the horses suffered greatly be but the prelude of a signal victory over
from thirst, probably occasioned by the fail- and complete ruin of the enemy.
ure of the wells and brooks, from which an    All things happened as he had said.  In
adequate supply of water had been expected. the morning, at the time of offering sacrifice,
Much loss had already been incurred through the waters descended in such full-flood from
this unexpected drought, and nothing less the heights of Edom, that the camp would
than utter ruin seemed to impend over the have been submerged, had not the army, by
allies when they lay on the borders of Moab, the direction of the prophet, previously dug
within view  of the enemy, which had ad- large ditches to receive the redundant waters.
vanced to meet them.  In this emergency  All this was unknown to the Moabites, who,
the very proper course occurred to Jehosha- when they arose in the morning, and, on
phat of consulting a prophet of Jehovah.  On looking toward the camp of the allies, beheld
inquiry it was discovered that Elisha, "who the lurid rays of the rising sun reflected
had poured water on the hands of Elijah " -  from the waters, which now covered the arid
a proverbial expression from the most con- sands of yesterday, doubted not that it was
spiclous act of service in a personal attendant blood which they saw, and formed the not
-  was the only prophet to be found in that by any means improbable conclusion that the
neighborhood.  Full of the faith of his illus- armnies of Israel and Judah had quarrelled
trious master, this faithful disciple of Elijah  with and destroyed each other.  They therebad beheld the Jordan divide before that fore rushed without the least care or order to
prophet, and had been with himn when, up- the pillage of the camp; but so far from
borne by the whirlwind, he was taken glo- finding it deserted, they were surrounded
riously away foml the earth, in the chariot andc and cut in pieces by the armed and now inhorses which glowed like fire, and who had vigorated allies.  The remnant of the army
substituted himself in his -mission to work was pursued into the interior of the country
marvels and reprove kings in the name of by the conquerors, whose course was blackJehovah.  Already  had  the " spirit and ened by the fire and crimsoned by the sword.
power. of Elias," -which abode in him, been Ultimately they invested the metropolitan
manifested to all Israel by the prodigies he city of Kir-haraseth,* in which the king,
had wrought.  Th e waters of the Jor-.dal  had Mesha, had taken refuge.  One part of the
divided before him, the second time, when walls had already been destroyed, and the
sinote by the fallen mantle of Elijah; — the king, seeing he could no longer defend
bad waters of Jericho had become permanent- the place, attempted to break through the
ly wholesome at his word;- and to evince besieging host at the head of seven hundred
the power of his curse, bears firope the woods swordsmen.  But failing in this desperate
had destroyed forty-two young men belonging effort, he sought to propitiate his cruel gods
to idolatrous Bethel, who, joining unbelief by offering up the frightful sacrifice of his
to insult, had bade him, in terms of mockery eldest son, the heir of his throne, in the
and derision,-' Go up, thou baldl head! breach. Seized with horror at this spectacle,
Go up, thou bald lhead! " — ascend after his the conquering kings abandoned the siege,
master.                                    withdrew from the country, and returned to
The prophet, thus already distinguished, their own states.  In taking this step they
was sought in his retreat by the three kings.  did not consider, or, perhaps, not care, that
His greeting of Jehoralm waS severe, " What they gave to the horrible act of the MIoabite
have I to do with thee?  Get thee to the the very effect which he desired, and enabled
prophets of thy father and to the prophets of him  to delude himself with the persuasion
thy mother."   Nevertheless, but avowedly that his sacrifice had been successful, and
on the sole account of the good Jehoshaphat, well-pleasing to the powers of Heaven.
he interested himself for the salvation of the    In the remaining history of Jehoram's
army, which was in such imminent danger: reign, the prophet Elisha occupies nearly as
and, having consulted the Lord, he promised conspicuous a place as Elijah did in that of
that on the morrow there should be such an Ahab.  The wonders wrought by his hands
abundance of water, that the bed of the were numerous; but they were less signal,
-torrent, near which the army was encamped, and less attended with public and important
should not be able to contain it; and, more    * The same place which is oherwise called
than this, he also indicated that this should Rabbath-Moab, and, classically, Areopolis.




376                            AN ILLUSTRATED
results - less designed to effect public ob- lic history of the nation,; yet his more private
jects, than those of his master.  Indeed his acts may be also briefly indicated for the
national acts were less considerable than those sake of the illustration which they afford of
of Elijah; and although he possessed great the spirit and manners of the time.
influence, and was undoubtedly the foremost   The first of his operations which we read
man of his age, he wanted those energies of of, after that which connected him with the
character, and that consuming zeal which his deliverance of Israel and the defeat of the
predecessor manifested; or, perhaps more Moabites, was an act of benevolence toward
correctly, the exigencies of the times were the widow  of one of those' sons of the
not such as to call for the exercise of such prophets" who had now come under his
endowments as had been possessed by Elijah. supervision.  He had died without having
But although those of his successor were the means of satisfying a debt he had
different in their kind, we know not that, incurred,* in consequence  of which  the
with regard to the differing time, they were creditor was disposed to indemnify himself
less useful or eminent.  In this, and in a by making bondsmen of her two sons; but
thousand other historical examples,- more on her complaint to Elisha, he multiplied a
especially in the history of the Hebrews, -   small quantity of oil which she possessed,
we see men raised up for, and proportioned until the price it brought more than sufficed
to, the times in which they live, and the to pay the implacable creditor.
occasions which call for them.  The most   The occasions of the prophet frequently
eminent of the prophets, since Moses, was led him to visit the city of Shunem, which
given to the most corrupt time; in which being observed by a benevolent woman, she
only a man of his indomitable, ardent, and suggested to her husband that they should
almost fierce spirit, could have been equal to prepare a small separate apartment,t and
the fiery and almost single-handed struggle furnish it with a bed, a table, a seat, and a
for God against principalities and powers. lamp; and that this should be reserved for
Elisha fell in milder times, and was corre- his use when he visited Shunem.  This was
spondingly of a milder character, although he accordingly done, and the prophet accepted
was not found unequal to any of the more the hospitalities of these good Shunamites.
trying circumstances which arose during the Elisha was very sensible of their kind attenperiod of his prophetic administration.  In- tion, and wished to repay it by some substandeed his conduct on such occasions was such tial benefit.  He sent for the woman, and
as to suggest that it was only the milder offered to speak to the king or to the captain
spirit of the time on which he fell, precluding  of the host on her behalf. This she declined;
occasion for their exercise, that prevented and the prophet felt at a loss what to do for
the manifestation in him  of that grander them, until it was suggested by his servant
class of endowments which his predecessor Gehazi that the woman had long been childdisplayed.  As it was, Elisha, instead of less, on which Elisha again sent for her, and
being like his master, driven by persecution as she stood respectfully at the door, he confrom  the haunts of men to the deserts and veyed to her the astonishing intimation that,
the mountains, and reduced to a state of de- nine months thence, her arms should embrace
pendence on the special providence of God, a son.  Accordingly, the child was born, and
for the bread he ate, and the water he drank, had grown up, when one day he received a
-  enjoyed a sufficiency of all things, and stroke of the sun on his head, and died very
lived in honor and esteem among his country- soon.  The mother laid him on the prophet's
men; and even among the purple and fine bed, and actuated by an  undefinable, but
linen of kings' courts, the rough mantle of intelligible impulse, sought and obtained the
the prophet was regarded with respect.     permission of her husband to go to Elisha,
In such a history as the present it is only who was known to be then at Carmel.  Acnecessary to report those of his acts which cordingly an ass was saddled, on which,
were connected with, or bore upon, the pub- driven by a servant on foot,? she sped to that
* The Jews think the person was Obadiah, call by the same name (Oleah), which is a small
and that his debt was contracted on account of building, generally at some distance from the
the expense of maintaining the hundred prophets house, like a summer-house in our gardens.
whom he concealed in caverns.                f It is still the usual practice in the East for
t Called in our version " a little chamber in the a man on foot to lead or drive the ass on which a
wall." It denotes doubtless what the Arabs still woman rides.




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                             377
place.  Elisha saw her afar off, and said to leprosy! " she was eagerly questioned on the
Gehazi, " Behold, yonder is the Shunamite! matter, and the result was that the king of
Run now, I pray thee, and say to her,- Is Syria sent Naaman, with a splendid retinue
it well with thee? well with thy husband? and camels laden with presents * to Samaria,
well with the child? " The bereaved mother with a sufficiently laconic letter to the King
answered, "Well," but pressed on toward Jehoram.  " When this letter cometh to thee,
the man of God.  On approaching him  she thou must recover from his leprosy Naaman,
alighted from her beast, and threw herself at my servant.  Behold, I have sent him with
his feet, on which she laid hold.  The offi- it."   The king of Israel was utterly concious Gehazi drew nigh to thrust her away, founded when he read this epistle.  He rent
but Elisha checked him, -  " Let her alone; his clothes, and cried, " Am I a god, to kill
for her soul is troubled within her; although and to make alive, that this man sendeth to
Jehovah hath hidden from me the cause, and me to recover a man of his leprosy?  Conhath not told me of it."  When, in a few sider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh an
broken exclamations, she had made known occasion of qcuarrelling with me."  Intellithe cause of her grief, the prophet gave his gence of this affair, and of the king's vexastaff to Gehazi, with instructions to go and tion, was brought to Elisha, who desired that
lay it on the face of the child.  But the the Syrian stranger might be sent to him.
mother refused to leave the prophet, and he Accordingly Naaman came with his chariot
was induced to rise and return with her. and horses and imposing retinue, and stood
They met Gehazi on his way back, who told before the door of Elisha's house.  The
them, " The child is not awaked! "  They prophet did not make his appearance; but
hasted on, and the prophet shut himself up sent out a message directing him to go and
with the child.  It was not long before he bathe seven times in the river Jordan.  The
directed the mother to be called, and pre- self-esteem  of the distinguished leper was
sented to her the living boy.            much hurt at this treatment.  He expected
Another time, when there was a dearth in that Elisha would have paid him  personal
the land, Elisha was at the school of the attention and respect, and would have healed
prophets at Gilgal; and at the proper time, him by an appeal to his God, Jehovah, and
gave the order to the servants, " Set on the by the stroking of his hand.  He therefore
great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of turned and went away in a rage, exclaiming,
the prophets."  When this was dressed, it " Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of
was found that a wild and bitter gourd had Damascus, better than all the waters of
been gathered and shred into the pot by Israel?  May I not wash in them  and be
mistake.  " O man of God! there is death clean? " His attendants, however, succeeded
in the pot  " cried the sons of the prophets, in soothing him, and persuaded him to follow
when they began to eat. But Elisha directed the prophet's directions; and when he rose,
a handful of meal to be cast into the pot, and perfectly cleansed, from the Jordan, his feelit was found that all the poisonous qualities ings turned to conviction and gratitude; he
of the pottage had disappeared.          returned to Samaria, and presented himself
In the kingdom  of Damascene-Syria, the to the prophet, declaring his belief that Jehochief captain of the host, high in the favor vah was the true and only God, and that
and confidence of the king, was a person henceforth he would offer burnt-offerings and
called Naaman, who had the misfortune of sacrifices to no other.  He would also have
being a leper.  This, which would have been pressed upon his acceptance a valuable presa disqualification for all employment and uent, but this was firmly declined by Elisha;
society in Israel, could not but be a great and when his covetous servant Gehazi, comannoyance and distress to a public man in promised the honor of God and of his own
Syria.  When therefore a little Hebrew girl, master, by following the Syrian, to ask a gift
who in a former war had been taken captive, in the name of the prophet, the leprosy from
and was now a slave in the household of this which Naaman had been cleansed was depersonage, was heard to say, " Would to dared by the prophet to be the abiding porGod my lord were with the prophet, that is tion of him and of his race.
in Samaria, for he would recover him of his   These and other miracles wrought by this
* The presents included ten talents of silver, shekels of gold, equal to sixty thousand dollars,
equal to fifteen thousand dollars, six thousand and ten dresses of honor.




378                            AN ILLUSTRATED
prophet, fixed upon him personally the regard eyes were opened, and he dismissed them
and veneration of the people; and while in  peace, after inducing Jehoram  to give
there is reason to think that the state of them refreshment, instead of slaying them,
manners and of religion was not altogether as was his own wish.  This generous conso bad as it had been under Ahab, the prac- duct seems to have had such  good effect
tices and ideas of their corrupt system  of that the  Syrian  hordes for the present
religion was now too closely interwoven with abandoned  their enterprise, and returned
their habits of life and mind to be easily to their own country.
shaken off.  They rested on their interme-   After this came on a severe famine, of
diate system.  Habit had reconciled even seven years' continuance, and the evils of it
their consciences to it; and in general, to were aggravated by war, for the Syrian king
fall back upon it, after having strayed into deemed this season of weakness and exforeign idolatries, was in their sight a corn- haustion too favorable for his designs to be
plete and perfect reformation.  And as to neglected. He marched directly to Samaria,
the race of Ahab, that was hastening with and formally invested  that strong  place,
rapid strides to its doom.  The famine which which, seemingly, he hoped less to gain by
about this time desolated the land, and the force of arms than by so blockading it as
new war with the Syrians, which was carried ultimately to starve it into a surrender;
on under the very walls of the capital, was which work, he knew, was already more
met by the king without any fixed faith, or than half accomplished to his hands.  The
any determinate rule of conduct; sometimes siege was protracted until the inhabitants
he attributed his calamities to Elisha, and were driven to the most horrible shifs to
vowed his destruction; and at otllers he re- prolong their miserable existence.   We are
sorted to that same prophet as to his only told that an ass's head was sold for eighty
friend and deliverer,                      silver shekels, equal to thirty dollars of our
In this war the Syrians had laid an am- money, and the fourth part of a cab   of
buseadle, in which the kinog would undoubt- vetches for five shekels, equal to three dollars
edly have perished had not Elisha insured of our money. In this case the extremity of
his safety by discoverinFg tWh  plan of the the famine is shown not merely bey the cost
enemy to him.  This happened more than of the articles, but by the fact that the flesh
once; and the Syrian kingo at first suspected of an ass, for which such an enormous price
treachery in his own camp;  but being assured was now paid, was forbidden by the law,  anid
that it was owing to Elhsha, " who could tell could not be touched by a Hebrew under
the king of Israel the words he spoke in ordinary circumstances.
his bed-chaimber,"  he was much irritated,   One day as the king was passing along
and, with singular infatuation, despatched the ramparts, two women importunately dea column of his best troops to invest the manded justice at his hands.  They had
town of Dothan, where the prophet then between them  slain, boiled, and eaten the
abode, in such a manner that his escape son of one of them, with the understanding
seemed  impossible  to  his  own  terrified that the son of the other was next to be
servant.  "Fear not," said Elisha, "for sacrificed to satisfy their wants.  But the
they that are with us are more than they mother of the living son relented, and rethan are with them;" and then, praying fused to yield him to so horrible a fate. This
that his eyes might be opened to the view  was' the injustice of which the mother of the
of " things invisible to mortal sighlt," he slaughtered child complained, and for which
beheld the mountain full of chariots and she clamored for redress.  When the king
horses, glowing like fire, round about the heard this shocking case, he rent his clothes,
prophet.  At his request, the Syrian troop which gave the people present occas:on to
was then smitten with blindness, and in observe that his inner dress was the sackcloth
that condition  he went among them. and of a mourner.  He might have remembered
conducted them  to the very gates of the that such calamities had been threatened,
hostile  metropolis, Samaria, where  their ages back, by Moses, as the suitable punish* The fourth part of a cab was less than a ass does neither; and was therefore for food more
pint of our measure.                       unclean than even the hogr, which does divide the
t No animal food was allowed but that of ani- hoof although it does not ruminate.
mals which ruminate and divide the hoof. The




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              3 79
ment of such iniquities as those into which observations.  The report with which they
Israel had actually fallen  (Deut. xxviii. returned was quite conformable tothat of the
52-57).  His indignation, however, turned lepers.  The people then left the city, and
against Elisha (who had, perhaps, encouraged hastened to pillage the camp of the Syrians,
him to hold out by promises of deliverance), in which provisions were found in  such
and he swore that he should lose his head abundance that a market was established at
that day, and instantly despatched an officer the gate of Samaria,t where, as the prophet
to execute an intention so worthy of the son had predicted, a seah of wheat was sold for
of Jezebel.  But the messenger was no a shekel, and two seahs of barley for the
sooner gone than he relented, and went same.  The officer who refused to believe
hastily after him, to revoke the order, and this prediction was placed by the king to
to excuse himself to Elisha.  This moment preserve order at the gate; but so great was
of right feeling was the moment in which the press of the famishing multitude  to
deliverance was announced.  "Thus saith  obtain corn, that he was thrown down and
Jehovah'," said the prophet, when the king trodden to death.  Thus was accomplished
stood in his presence, " to-morrow about this the other prediction, that he should see the
time shall a seahb  of fine flour be sold for a truth of the first prophecy without enjoying
shekel, and two seabs of barley for a shekel, its benefits.
in the gate of Samaria."  This appeared so   We know not precisely how long after this
utterly incredible to the courtier " on whose the seven years of famine terminated.  Of
arm  the king leaned," that he said, " Be- these years the hospitable Shunamite had been
hold, were Jehovah to open windows in warned by Elisha, and had withdrawn to a
heaven, then this thing night be."   To neighboring country; on which the state aswhich the prophet severely retorted, " Be- sumed the possession of her lands. After the
hold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but famine was over, she returned, and came
shalt not eat thereof."                    before the king to petition for the restoration
In fact, during the following night, Jeho- of the property.  At that time the servant
vah caused the Syrians to hear a great noise of Elisha was engaged in giving the king an
of chariots and horses, which led them  to account of the various miracles wrought by
conclude that Jehoram  had  contrived to his master, and when the woman appeared,
obtain assistance from the king of Egypt and he was relating how her son had been reother neighboring princes; and this infused stored to life.  The relater then said, " My
into them such a panic terror, that they pre- lord, this is the woman, and this is her son
cipitately raised the siege; and, in the belief whom  Elisha restored to life."  The king
that they were pursued by a puissant army was struck by this coincidence, and proceeded
come to the relief of Israel, they abandoned to question her on the subject, and ended
the camp with all their baggage  and provis- with directing that not only should the lands
ions.  Toward the morning, some lepers, be restored to her, but the value of their
who, as such, abode without the town, made produce during the years of her absence.
up their minds to go to the camp of the This was a very becoming act, and, like sevSyrians seeking food: for they concluded eral other recorded acts of Jehoram, worthy
that it was better to risk death by the Syrian of commendation; but it is not by partieu.
sword than to die of famine where they were. lar acts, however laudable, that the sins of
On reachingthe camp they found itdeserted; a criminal life can be covered: and the
and after satisfying their present wants, and fulfilment of the doom pronounced upon the
appropriating to their own use some good house of Ahab was now near at hand.
things firom the spoil, they proceeded to bear   Jehoram  was desirous of pursuing his
their glad tidings to the city.  The king was recent advantage over the Syrians to the
slow  to believe them, and suspected the extent of taking from them the city of Rawhole to be a stratagem of the Syrians. Men moth in Gilead, which still remained in their!were therefore mounted on two of the five possession.  Fortified by an alliance with
only horses now remaining, and sent to make his nephew  Ahaziah, king of Judah, he
* Somewhat more than a peck.            at the gates of towns. Manufactured goods are
t It is still not unusual in the East for the sold and fruits retailed in the bazaars within the
wholesale market for country produce and cattle towns.
to be held (for a short time in the early morning)




380                            AN ILLUSTRATED
therefore declared war against Hazael, whom  watchman having in the mean time asceri
a revolution, predicted by Elisha, had placed tained, from  his manner of driving  his
upon the throne of Dainascene-Syria, in the chariot, that the principal person was Jehu,
room of Ben-hadad.  Ramoth was invested the two kings went forth themselves to meet
by the two kings; and before that place, him.  They met in the fatal field of Naboth.
where Ahab had received his death-wound, "Is it peace, Jehu?" the king inquired of
Jehoram was also wounded by an arrow - not the general; who answered, "What peace
mortally, but so seriously that he withdrew  as long as the idolatries of thy mother
to Jezreel to be healed, leaving the conduct Jezebel and her sorceries are so many?"
of the siege to Jehu, the son of Nimshi. On hearing which, Jehoram  cried to the
The king of Judah also returned to Jerusa- king of Judah, " There is treachery, O
lem, but afterward proceeded to Jezreel to Ahaziah! " and turned his chariot to escape.
visit his wounded relative.               But Jehu drew his bow with all his force,
At this juncture Elisha sent one of the and the arrow which he discharged smote
sons of the prophet to execute the commis- the king between the shoulders, and went
sion, long  since intrusted. to Elijah, of through his heart.  Jehu directed the body
anointing  Jehu as king of Israel.  He to be taken from the chariot and left on that
arrived at the time when the chief officers ground, reminding Bidkar, his captain, to
of the army besieging Ramoth were together. whom he gave this order, that they were toHe called out Jehu, and anointed him in gether in attendance upon Ahab in that very
an inner chamber, delivering at the same place, when the prophet Elijah appeared and
time the announcement of his call to the denounced that doom upon his house, and
throne  of Israel, and  to be  Jehovah's the bloody requital in that spot, which was
avenger upon  the house of Ahab.  No now being accomplished.
sooner had he done this than he opened the    Ahaziah also attempted to escape; but
door and fled.  Jehu returned to his com- Jehu  directed  some of his followers to
panions, as if nothing had happened.  But pursue and smite him in his chariot.  They
they had noticed the prophetic garb of the did so, and wounded him; but he continued
person who had called him  out, and, it his flight till he reached Megiddo, where
being the fashion of those days to speak  he died of his wounds.  His body was
contemptuously of the prophetic calling, they removed to Jerusalem for sepulture.*
asked, " On what business came this mad    Jehu entered Jezreel.   The news of
fellow to thee? "  Jehu affected some reluc  what had happened preceded  him; and
tance to tell them; but this made them the Jezebel tired her head and painted her eyes,
more urgent; and when he made the fact and looked out of a window; and this she
known to them, it was so agreeable to their did, we should imagine, not with any view
own wishes, that they instantly tendered him  of trying the power of her allurements upon
their homage, and proclaimed him king by Jehu -for she was.by this time an aged
sound of trumpet, and with cries of " Jehu  woman -  but for state, and to manifest to
is king!"  At his desire, measures were the last the pride and royalty of her spirit.
taken to prevent this intelligence from spread- As Jehu -drew  nigh, she called to him,
ing for the present; in  consequence of " Had Zimri peace, who slew his master? "
which, King Jehoram  and King Ahaziah But this was the day of vengeance and of
remained at Jezreel, quite unsuspicious of punishment,  and not of relentinogs; and
what had occurred.  But one day the watch- Jehu looked up and cried, " Who is on my
man announced the distant approach of a side, who?"    On which  two or three
large party; and the king of Israel sent, eunuchs of the harem  looked out to him.
successively, two messengers to ascertain "Throw  her down!" was the unflinching
whether it came with peaceable designs or command of Jehu.   So they threw  her
not.  But as they did not return, and the down, and some of her blood was sprinkled
* This is the account given in the Book of might be reconciled. But as we do not know
Kings (2 Kings ix. 27-29); but another account with certainty how to reconcile them, we have
(2 Chron. xxii. 9) says he hid himself in Samaria, given one of the accounts only in the text, and
where he was discovered and put to death. From  have preferred that in Kings, solely because it is
this difference it may seem that some circum- that which Josephus has followed.
stances are omitted, by which the two accounts




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    381
upon the wall, and upon the horses that body, except the skull, the feet, and the palms
trod upon her.  After this, Jehu went into of her hands, had been devoured by such
the palace, and ate and drank; and he then ravenous dogs as those by which  Eastern
said, " Go, look after this accursed woman, cities are still infested.  " This," said Jehu,
and bury her; for she was a king's daugh- " is the word of Jehovah, which he spake
ter."  But it was then found that all the by the mouth of Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
= -I —,   _ -- ----, -.-.
i i'
DEFILE IN IDUMEA (MOUNT SEIR), IN THE ROAD FROM3 PALESTINE TO EGYPT.
In the district of Jezreel shall dogs eat the    Ahab had left not fewer than  seventy
flesh of Jezebel; and the carcass of Jezebel sons, and these were all in Samaria,* which
shall be as dung upon the face of the field  was not only the metropolis, but one of the
in the district of Jezreel; so that they shall strongest places in the kingdom; and Jehu,
not say, This is Jezebel."                   reflecting, probably, on what happened after
From the expression that they were "with the infer that, as is still usual in some Eastern c oungreat men of the city, who brought them up," we tries, the king relieved himself from the charge




382                             AN ILLUSTRATED
the  death of Zimri, — when  two  kings master, and slew him: but who bath slain
reigned, one like himself, a military leader all these'?  Now know, that nothing of the
upheld by the army, whom a portion of the word of Jehovah, which he spoke concernnation refused to acknowledge, and adhered ing the house of Ahab, shall fall to the
to another, -  apprehended that something ground; for Jehovah will do what he spoke
similar might again occur.  He therefore by his servant Elijah."
wrote to the chief persons of Samaria, and    Jehu delayed not to go to Samaria, and
to those who had the charge of Ahab's chil- in his way encountered some of the brothers
dren, to sound their intentions.  He told of Ahaziah, the king of Judah, who, ignothem  that they  were in  a well-fortified rant of the late occurrence, were on their
city, with troops, chariots, and arms; and  way to visit the sons of Ahab.  Regalding
that, being thus circumstanced, they had their connection by blood and friendship
better set up one of Ahab's sons for king, and with the house of Ahab, Jehu considered
fightt for him, letting the crown be the prize them  included in his commission to exterof the conqueror.  And  this, really, was rminate that house root and branch.  He
the only course which  men  faithful and  therefore commanded them  to be arrested
attached to the dynasty of Omri could have and slain.  Their number was forty-two.
taken.  This the chief persons and guardians    In his further progress, Jehu met with
of the princes in Sainaria were not, — or Jonadab, the son of Rechab, a pastoral
not to the extent of risking the consequences religionist held in high esteem by the people,
of civil war, and of opposition to Jehu.  In  and whose influence with them  was very
fact, they were intimidated by his promp- great-  Jebu, with his usual tact, at once
titude in action, and at the manner in which felt the advantage which the countenance
the two kings and Jezebel bad been disposed  of this per on mlight be to his cause.  tie
of, and there was something calculated to therefore accosted him:'Is thy heart as
damp their spirits (if they had any) in a right with my heart, as nly heart is with
message which showed that Jehu was pre- thine? "   Jonadab answered, "It is." -
pared for the most resolute course they  " If it be," said Jehu, "give to me thy
could take.  They replied, " We are thy hand."  And he gave him  his hand, and
servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid Jebu took him  up into his chariot, saying,
us; we will not make any man king: do  " Come and see ny  zeal for Jehovah!"
thou what is good in thine eyes."  Jehu's They thus entered Samaria together, where
reply was prompt and  horribly  decisive: Jehu  comp!eted  the  destruction  of the
" If ye be for me, and will hearken to my loluse of Allab by cutting off all its remainvoice, take off the heads of your master's Iincg members.
sons, and come to me to Jezreel by this    In Sacmaria, Ahab had erected a celebrated
time to-morrow."  When this letter arrived, temple  to tl:e idol Baal.   On entering
the seventy princes were instantly decapi- the town, Jehu  declared  an intention to
tated, and their heads sent in baskets to  agglandiete the worship' of that god, and renJezreel.   When Jehu heard of their ar- der to him higher honors than he had yet
rival, he, according to a barbarous Eastern  received in Israel.  IHe was therefore detercustom  not yet extinct, directed them  to mined to celebrate a great feast in honor
be piled up in two heaps at the entrance of Baal, to which he  convoked  all the
of the city-gate until the morning.  In the priests, prophets, and votaries of that idol.
morning  he went out to the  assembled  The concourse was so great that the temple
people, and  with  the  evident design  of was filled from  one end to another; and
pointing out the extent to which the house while  they were in the  nlidst of their
of Ahab wanted any hearty adherents, even idolatrous worship, Jehu sent in a body of
amoncg those who might be supposed most armed men who put them  all to the sword.
attached to its interests, he said, " Ye are The idols, and the implements and ornarighteous.  Behold, I conspired against my ments of idol worship,  were  then  overof their maintenance, by consigning one young mate benefit; bhut on account of the great expense
prince to this great person, and another to another, and inconvenience, it is often received with disto be maintained and educated as became their satisfaction, and many would decline it if they
station.  This charge is to be received as an dared.
honor and distinction, and is sometimes of ulti



HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              383
thrown, broken, or reduced to ashes; and wherever it was found.  His conduct in
the temple itself was demolished and turned this matter was so well pleasing to God, that
into a common jakes.   But the worship the throne of Israel was, by  a  special
of Baal was far from  being confined  to promise, assured to his posterity unto the
Samaria, and  Jehu  sought for it in all fourth generation.
quarters of the land, and rooted it out
CHAPTER XX.
KINGDOM  OF JUDAH FROM  B. C. 929 TO B. C. 725.
JEHOSHAPIIHAT, the son of Asa, began to all the towns of the country - thus bearing
reign over Judah in the year 929 B. C., instruction  to the very doors of a people
being the second year of Ahab in Israel. who had become too indolent or too indifferThe alliance which he formed with Ahab ent themselves to seek for it.  So earnest
has brought him forward, in the preceding was the king in this object, that he went
chapter, sufficiently to intimate to the reader himself throughout the land to see that his
the excellent character which he bore.  He orders were duly executed.
indeed takes rank among the most faithful,    The attention of this able king was also
and thereJfre most illustrious and wise of directed to the reform  of abuses in other
the Hebrew  kings.  Direct idolatry had departments of the state, and to the cultivabeen put down by his father, and the first tion of the financial and military resources
acts of his own reign were to root out the of his kingdom.  The  people, rendered
remoter incentives thereto and instruments happy by his cares, grew  prosperous, and
thereof.  He destroyed the high places and increased in numbers; in the same degree
the  groves which his father had spared. the  real power of the  government was
Other kings before him  had been satisfied  strengthened, and was such as inspired the
with external operations; but to his enlight- people with confidence, and their enemies
ened mind it appeared that effects more with  fear.  Edomn  continued firm  in its
deep and permanent might be secured by  obedience, Philistia regularly remitted its
acting upon the inner sense of the people, presents andl tribute-silver, and several of
by instructing them  fully in the principles the Arabian tribes sought his favor, or acand distinguishing privileges of their theo- knowledged his power, by large yearly tribcratical system, and  by rendering  those utes of sheep and goats from  their flocks.
principles operative, as the standards of The men enrolled as fit to bear arms, and
public and judicial action, throughout the liable to be called into action, was not less
land.  The land had already been purged, than 1,160,000, which is not far short of
as by fire, fromn the noxious weeds by which the number in the united kingdom  in the
it had been overgrown; and now the king time of David.  Of these a certain propormade it his business to occupy the cleared tion were kept in service.  The best of the
soil with corn - the staff of life - and with troops were stationed at Jerusalem, and the
fruits "pleasant to the eye, and good for remainder distributed into the fortresses and
food."                                     walled towns; and a strong force was conTo these ends the king sent out a number centrated on the northern frontier, especially
of " princes," whose rank  and influence in those lands of Ephraim  which Asa had
secured attention and respect to the priests taken from  Baasha.  New fortresses were
and Levites who were with them to instruct the constructed in different parts of the country,
people.  They had with  them  copies of and were well garrisoned and supplied with
the law: and, in their several bands, visited all the munitions of war.




384                             AN ILLUSTRATED
The capital error of this monarch, the I the tribe of Judah -an interesting indicaalliance he contracted with Ahab in the tion that the forms of the patriarchal were
thlrteenth year of his reign, has already been not, even yet, entirely lost in those of the
noticed in the preceding chapter, as well as regal government.
the part he took in the battle of iRamoth    About the same time the king  made
Gilead, in which Ahab was slain, but his another tour through his dominions, fiom
own life was preserved, notwithstanding the Beersheba in the south, to Mount Ephraim
very imminent danger into which he had in the north, seeking to bring back the people
fallen.  On his return to Jerusalem  after more entirely " to Jehovah the God of their
this escape, the divine dissatisfaction at his fathers."  In the northern districts which
conduct was announced  to  him  by the had been recovered or taken from Israel, the
prophet Jehu.                              high places of the Ephraimites were not
After this he engaged himself in his for- taken away, because they had not as yet
mer peaceful and honorable undertakings, " prepared their hearts unto the God of their
and gave particular attention to the admin- fathers," as had the Judahites, whose high
istration of justice in his do-minions.  He places had been taken away at the beginning
established a supreme tribunal (of appeal of this reign.
probably) at Jerusalem, and placed judges    The unfortunate expedition with Ahab
in all the principal cities of the country. against Ramoth Gilead being unsuccessful,
This great improvement relieved the king tended much to lower Jehoshaphat in the
from the fatigue and great attention which  estimation of the neighboring nations; land
the exercise of the judicial functions of thus the alliance with the king of Israel
royalty had exacted from  the earlier kings, brought its own punishment.  Tile Anmonwhile it secured to the suitors more prompt ites and Moabites, who had been brought
attention than they could by any other means into a state of subjection by David, now
receive.  The king was very sensible of began to conceive hopes of deliverance fiom
the importance of this step; and, in his the yoke under which they lay.  It was their
anxiety that it should work well, gave an policy, however, not in the first instance to
admirable charge to the judges; the force I revolt from the kingdom to which they were
of which can only be well appreciated by immediately subject - that of Israel, but first
those who perceive that the counteracting  to try their strength against the lesser kingevils which he feared were precisely those dom of Judah. They therefore invaded that
by which the administration of justice in the country from  the south, by the way of
East is at this day corrupted and disgraced. Edom, supported by some Arabian holrdes,
"Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not which they had engaged in their cause, alnd
for man, but for Jehovah, who was with who indeed are seldom  loath to engage in
you in the judgment.  Wherefore now, let any cause by which good prospects of spoil
the fear of Jehovah be upon you; take are offered.  The expedition assumed the
heed and act uprightly; for with Jehovah  character of an Arabian invasion, and, as
our God there is no injustice, no respect of such, was so expeditious that the invaders
persons, no taking of bribes."  This was had rounded the southern extremity of the
addressed to the judges appointed to the Dead Sea, and came to a halt in the famous
cities.  In the address to the judges of the valley of Engedi, before Jehoshaphat hlad
supreme tribunal at Jerusalem, it is not the least intimation of their design.  Taklen
supposed, by any implication, that they thus by surprise, he was much alarmed in the
could be partial or corrupt; and they are first instance; but by throwing himself unonly reminded of the duty  of judging reservedly upon the protection and help of
according to the divine law, the causes that the divine king, he insured the safety of his
came before them.  This tribunal was com- kingdom, and took the most becoming step
posed of the most distinguished men among which it was possible that a king of the
the priests, the Levites, and the family chosen nation could take.  He proclaimed a
chiefs.  In matters pertaining to religion, general fast throughout Judah, and  the
this tribunal was presided over by the high- people gathered together from all quarters to
priest Amariah, but in civil matters, or those Jerusalem, and stood there in and around
in which the crown was interested, by Zeba- the temple, to cry to God for help. And he
diah, "the ruler," or hereditary chief, of heard them: for the spirit of prophecy fell




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                               385
upon one of the Levites, named Jahaziel, sented to allow Ahaziah, the king of Israel,
and in the name of Jehovah he directed that to take part in the enterprise, in consequence
they should march to meet the enemy, whose of which, as a prophet forewarned him, his
station he indicated, not to fight, but to wit- ships were wrecked soon after they left the
ness their extirpation and to seize the spoil. port.  Another expedition was proposed by
As they went forth early in the morning the king of Israel: but Jehoshaphat declined,
toward the wilderness of Tekoah, Jehosha- and appears to have relinquished all further
phat exerted himself to keep up the con- designs of this nature.  Josephus informs us
fidence of the people in the sufficiency of that the ships which had been built were too
the divine protection, and as they proceeded, large and unwieldy; and we may infer that
he directed that the Levitical singers should Jehoshaphat discovered that he could not
march in front, and " in the beauty of holi- accomplish an enterprise of this nature in the
ness" (or in the same habits, and after the want of such skilful shipwrights and able
same manner as in  the  temple-service), mariners as those with which the Pfhoenicians
should sing the praises of God, saying, had constructed and manned the ships of
"Praise Jehovah! for he is good; for his Solomon.
mercy endureth forever."   Surely never,    One of thelast public acts of Jehosbaphat's
from the beginning of the world, was there  reign was that of taking part with Jehoram,
such a march as this against an army of kingf of Israel, in an expedition against the
hostile invaders.  The event was such as the Moabites, who had revolted after the death of
prophet had foreshown.  It seems that the Ahab.  Jehoshaphat was probably the more
children of Lot had quarrelled and fought induced to lend his assistance by the considwith their Arabian allies; and when they eration of the recent invasion of his own
had succeeded in  destroying  them, they dominions by the same people.  The citcumturned their arms against each other, and stances and result of this expedition have
fought with unextinguishable fury until none been related in the preceding chapter.  The
remained alive on the battle-field.  So that success which was granted to it is entirely
when the Hebrews arrived at the place which ascribed to the divine favor toward the king
the prophet had indicated, many a beating of Judah.
heart among them was relieved, and all were   Soon after this Jehoshaphat " slept with
inconceivably astonished, to see the wilder- his fathers," after he had lived sixty years,
ness covered with the bodies of the slain -   and reigned twenty-five.
not one had escaped.  The Judahites were   HIis eldest son, JEHORAM, ascended the
three days in collecting an immense spoil of throne of Judah in the year 904 B. C., in the
precious metals and stones, and valuable thirty-second year of his own age, and in the
arms and raiment; and in the end it was third year of the reign of his namesake and
found that more was collected than could be relative, Jeboram, the son of Ahab, in Israel.
taken  away.   On  the fourth  day they  This, it will be remembered, was the princ'('
returned home to Jerusalem, before enterinog  who was married to Athaliah, the daughter of
which they held a solemn thanksgiving in  Ahab and Jezebel.  The evil effects of this
the valley of Shaveh, or the King's dale, connection began now very manifestly to aphence called the valley of Berachah (bless- pear, and preponderated over the good example
ing), and also the valley of Jehoshaphat. which the reign of Jehoshaphat had offered.
After this they entered the city in triumphal In fact, Athaliah proved her descent by
procession, with music and with singing. rivalling her mother, Jezebel, in idolatry, in
The neighboring nations rightly ascribed this pride, and in the part she took in public
signal deliverance  to  the  God  of  the affairs after the death of Jehoshaphat.  And,
Hebrews; and were for some time inspired to complete the resemblance, she appears to
with a salutary fear of molesting a people so have rendered her husband, as the mere
highly favored.                           instrument of her Will and purposes, quite
The next undertaking of Jehoshaphat was as effectual as Jezebel rendered Ahab.
an attempt to revive the ancient traffic of   It was undoubtedly through her influence
Solomon, by the Red Sea, to the region that the first act of Jehoram's reign was to
of gold.  For this purpose he built a navy destroy his six brothers, whom Jehoshaphat
at his port of Ezion-geber, at the head of the had amply provided for, and stationed (as
Elanitic Gulf.  But, in an evil day, he con- governors, probably) in as many fenced cities
25




386                             AN ILLUSTRATED
of Judah.  With them perished several of still had his father's army under his command,
the first persons in the state, who had enjoyed the Edomites succeeded in throwing the yoke
the confidence of the late king, and had been of Judah from off their necks, according to
active in promoting his laudable designs. the prophecy of Isaac to the founder of that
This evidence of her power redoubled the
audacity of the proud queen; and soon after,
idolatry, which had been  banished  from
Judah during the two preceding reigns, was
restored, by public authority, to honor; and
the sedulous endeavors made in the two
former reigns to reform  the religion and
morals of the people gave place to the efforts
of new men to corrupt and ruin all.  High
places, similar to those in  Israel, again
appeared upon the hills of Judah; and the
people were seduced and urged into idolatry
and its concomitant abominations.
For these things heavy calamities were
denounced against Jehoram, early in his
reign, by the prophet Elisha * in a letter:
and thus did that great prophet take cognizance of the affairs of Judah also.  The
evils that he threatened followed soon.
The king of Edom, who assisted the kings      Philistine. (From an Egyptian painting.)
of Judah and Israel in the war against Moab, nation.t  Emboldened by this, the Philishad, according to Josephus, been slain by tines also rebelled, and, assisted by the Arabs
his revolted subjects, and the new sovereign who bordered on the Cushites, they invaded
desired to signalize his accession, and to pro- Judah, plundered and ravaged the whole
Vitiate his subjects, by freeing them from the country, and even Jerusalem and the royal
palace. They led away into slavery all the
women of the king's harem, except Athaliah,
who was spared in anger, and made captive
all the royal princes, except Abaziah, otherwise called Jehoahaz, the youngest of them
all.  To consummate all, the king himself was
smitten with an incurable disease in the
bowels, from which he suffered for two years
the most horrible torments, and at last, after
a reign of eight years, died without being
regretted.  The voice of the people denied
to his remains the honors of a royal burial,
and a place in the sepulchre of the kings.
Ahaziah, his youngest son, was twentytwo years old when he succeeded his father.
He reigned only one year; for following the
evil counsels of his mother and the house of
Ahab, he foolishly joined Jehoram of Israel
Philistine. (From an Egyptian painting.)  in the war against Hazael king of Syria, the
result of which, with his death, inflicted by
tribute to which his father had submitted. Jehu, has been recorded in the preceding
This essay was not at first successful; but chapter.
although once defeated by Jehoram, who    Not Jehu in Israel thirsted more after
* The Masorete text here reads Elbjah (2    t To Esau, Isaac said, —" Thou shalt serve
Chron. xxi. 12) instead of Elisha: for Elijah had thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou
been translated in the time of Jehoshaphat.  2 shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his
Kings iii. 11.                            yoke from off thy neck."  Gen. xxvii. 40.




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                              387
the blood of Ahab's house, than did Atha- to the temple of Baal, and his high-priest,
liah, in Judah, for the blood of her own chil- Mattan, was upheld by her as of equal rank
dren.  She had long been the virtual pos- and  importance with  the  high-priest of
sessor of the supreme power in Judah; Jehovah.
but now she disdained an authority so preca-   Now although the Judahites were but
rious and indirect, and would reign alone. too prone to fall into idolatry, the good
As even the most wicked persons seldom  effects of the reforms of Asa and Jehosbashed blood from  absolute wantonness of phat, and of the principles which the latter
cruelty, it may be considered that her spirit had been so careful to inculcate, did not so
may have. been rendered unusually savage soon evaporate as to dispose the people genat this time by the sanguinary proceedings erally to approve or concur in the rapid and
of Jehu in Israel against the house to which decisive measures which Athaliah had taken
she herself belonged, and in which she had in establishing the worship of Baal; and
lost, at one fell swoop, a mother, a brother, when to this was added their natural abhorand a son, with many other of her near rela- rence  of the barbarous massacre which
tives.  It must also have appeared to her rooted her throne in blood, and their dislike,
that the sort of authority she had hitherto in common with all Orientals, at the public
exercised, first as queen-consort and then rule of a woman, we have a sufficient explaas queen-mother, was now in very great nation of the fact that the public feeling
danger; as it might be expected that which- was not with queen Athaliah, and that,
ever of her grandsons succeeded to  the indeed, her rule was regarded with such disthrone, he would prefer the counsels and gust as disposed the people to hail with joy
guidance of his mother to her own.  Here the advent of their hidden king.
then were two powerful motives,- dread of   Joash remained six years concealed in
losing her power, and  jealousy of being the secret chanmbers of the temple, his
superseded by another woman, — bringing existence  even, much more his presence
her to the atrocious resolution of destroying there, being unknown and unsuspected by
all the children of her own son Ahaziah. Athaliah and others, as it was supposed he
She little considered that by this she was had perished in the slaughter of his father's
fulfilling a part of the mission against the sons.  In the seventh year the high-priest
house of Ahab which Jehu himself could Jehoiada judged that the fit time had arnot execute; for through herself the taint rived for the disclosure.  He therefore made
of Ahab's blood had been given to the known the secret to some of the chiefs and
house of David.  Her fell purpose was military commanders on whom  he could
promptly  executed.  All her grandsons depend, and received from them the promise
were slain in one day, with the exception of to concur in the bold act of proclaiming and
Joash, an infant, who was stolen away by crowning the rightful king.  Joash was now
his aunt Jehoshebad, the wife of the high- only seven years of age; but good reason
priest Jehoiada and daughter of the late was seen to prefer the regency of such a
king Ahaziah, and hidden with his nurse man as Jehoiada to the reign of such a woin one of the chambers of the  temple. man as Athaliah.  The persons whom JeThus, in the providence of God, the royal hoiada had admitted to his confidence went
line of the house of David was preserved about the country gaining over the paternal
from utter extinction.  No retreat could chiefs, and inducing them, as well as the
have been more secure than  that which Levites not on duty, to repair to Jerusalem.
was chosen for the infant prince  for not When all the adherents thus acquired had
only were the ap'artments of the temple come to the metropolis, the high-priest conunder the sole direction of the priests, and certed with them  the plan of operations.
to the innermost of which no others had According to this it was determined that the
access; but Athaliah had put herself out partisans of the young prince should be
of the way of obtaining  information  of divided into three bodies, one of which
the  fact by  her entire  neglect of the was to guard the prince in  the temple,
temple and the institutions connected with the second to keep all the avenues, and the
it.  And although  she  did  not, indeed third was placed at the gate leading to
could not, actually put down the temple- the royal palace.  The people were to be
worship, her preference and favor was given admitted  as usual to  the outer courts.




388                            AN ILLUSTRATED
Then the  armories of the  temple were tries of Baal.  They hastened to his temple,
opened, and  the  spears, bucklers, and where  they  slew  the  high-priest Mattan
shields of King David were distributed to before the altars, and then pulled the whole
these parties, as well as to the Levites, who fabric to the ground.  And not only at
were to form an impenetrable barrier around Jerusalem, but everywhere throughout the
the king during the ceremony.  When all land, the temples, altars, and monuments of
was disposed in this order, the high-priest Baal were utterly destroyed.
appeared, leading by the hand the last scion   Jehoiada, being now at the head of affairs,
of the royal house of David.  He placed both religious and civil, applied himself with
him  by the pillar where the kings were great diligence in bringing into an orderly
usually stationed, and having anointed him  and efficient condition the administrations of
with the sacred oil, he placed the crown both the court and temple.  Those who had
upon his head, arrayed him in royal robes, signalized their zeal in the restoration of the
and gave into his hands the book of the king, or were otherwise distinguished for
law, on which the usual oaths were adminis- their abilities, were appointed to high posts
tered to him.  He was then seated on a in the state, while the services of the temple
throne which had been provided, in doing were brought back to the models of David
which he was hailed and recognized by the and Solomon.  The glory of restoring the
acclanmations of " Long live the king."    fabric of the temple he reserved for the king,
By this time Athaliah had observed some who accordingly, in the twenty-third year of
indications of an extraordinary movement in his reign, thoroughly repaired that famous
the temple; and when these rejoicing clamors structure, after it had been built nearly one
broke upon her ear, she hastened thither, and hundred and sixty years; and made numerpenetrated even to the court of the priests, ous vessels of gold and silver for the sacred
where the sight met her view of the enthroned services, and presented burnt-offerings conboy, crowned, and royally arrayed, while the tinually during the lifetime of Jehoiada, who
hereditary chiefs, the military commanders died at the great age of one hundred and
and the Levites, stood at their several stations thirty-seven years.  He was honored with a
as in attendance on their king, - the latter, sepulchre anlong the kings of the family
as was their wont in the temple, blowing their of David, "because he had done good in
trumpets, and playing on their various instru- Israel."
ments of music.  No sooner did Athaliah    We may estimate the merits of Jehoiada's
behold this, than she rent her clothes, cry- administration from  the evil consequences
ing, "Treason! treason!"  Jehoiada fear- that followed his death.  It then appeared
ing that the guards would kill her on the that the good qualities which the king had
spot, and thus pollute the holy place with seemed to manifest were the effects rather of
human blood, which was most abhorrent to the right counsels under which he had acted,
God, directed them  to take her outside the than of any solid principles of good. As we
temple courts, and there she was put to have before seen stronger and older men
death.  The king was then conducted with than Joash yielding to the witcheries of
great pomp to the palace, escorted by all his idolatry, which seem  so strange to us, we
guard, and there took possession of the throne are the less surprised at the fall of this king.
of his fathers.                            It now appeared what deep root idolatry had
Jehoiada, without any formal appointment, taken in the land during the years of its
appears to have been recognized, with one predominance under Jehoram, Ahaziah, and
consent, as the guardian of the king and Athaliah: and the men of station who had
recent of the kingdom.  He availed himself imbibed or had been brought up in its prinof the favorable dispositions which now existed, ciples, now reared themselves on high, as
to induce the people to renew their ancient soon as the repressive power of God's highcovenant with  Jehovah.  This precaution priest was withdrawn.  They repaired to the
had become necessary from  the long con- royal court, and by their attentions and flattinuance of an idolatrous government.  Actu- teries so won upon the king that be was at
ated by the impulse thus received and the length induced to give first his tolerance,
enthusiasm  thus excited, and led by the and then his sanction, to the rank idolatries by
priests and Levites of Jehovah, the people which the two kingdoms had often been
proceeded once more to extirpate the idola- brought verylow. Againstthis, Zechariah, the




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              389
son of the late high-priest and a near relation cliffs of their native mountains, and dashed
to the king, raised his voice, and predicted the in pieces.jt
national calamnities which would too surely    This victory was the ruin of Amaziah,
follow; on which the people rose upon him, whose conduct had been  hitherto praiseand, having received a consenting intimation worthy.   The idols of Edom, which he
from the king, stoned him  to death in the brought home among the spoil, proved a
very court of the temple.  Thus did Joash snare to him; and, in the end, he fell to
repay the deep obligations, for his life and the worship of " the gods who could not
throne, which he owed to the  house  of deliver their own people:" for which he
Jehoiada.  "The Lord look upon it and was, without effect, upbraided by a  prorequire it!" * was the prayer of the dying phet, and threatened with destructions from
martyr.  And HE  did require  it.  That God.
very year, Hazael of Syria, who was then in    The Israelites whom the king of Judah
possession of Gilead, advanced against Jeru- had dismissed from  his army were filled
salem, and, although his force was but small, with resentment at the indignity cast upon
defeated a large army which opposed him, them, and probably disappointed in their
and entered the city, from which he returned  hope of a share in the spoils of Edom.  To
with abundant plunder to his own country. testify their resentment, and to obtain comThe chiefs who had seduced Joash were  pensation, they smote and plundered several
slain in the battle; and the king himself, of the towns of Judah, on their homeward
who had been grievously wounded, was soon march, and destroyed many of the inhabitafter murdered by his own servants, and the ants.  It was probably on this account that
public voice refused the honors of a royal Amaziah, elated by his victory over the
burial to his remains.  He reigned forty Edomites, determined to make war upon
years.                                     Israel.  It is singular that, instead of comJoash was succeeded on the throne by his mencing, as usual, by some aggressive moveson AMiAZIAH, then twenty-five years of age. ment or overt act of warfare, Amaziab sent
The first act of his reign was to punish the a formal challenge to the king of Israel,
murderers of his father; but it is mentioned  inviting a pitched battle, in the phrase,
that he respected the law of Moses by not' Come, and let us look one another in the
including their children in their doom; and  face:"  The truly Oriental answer of Joash
this seems to show that a contrary practice seemed designed to dissuade him from this
had previously prevailed.                  undertakingf, but was conceived in terms
About the twelfth year of his reign, Amaziah  not well calculated to accomplish the object:
took measures for reducinog to their former " A thistle that was in Lebanon, sent to
subjection the E-loumites, who had revolted in  the cedar of Lebanon, saying,' Give thy
the time of Jehoram.  Not satisaied with the daughter to my son to wife:' and a wild
strength he could raise in his own kingdom, beast of Lebanon passed by and trod down
the king of Judah hired a hundred thousand the thistle. Thou sayest,' Lo! I have smitauxiliaries out of Israel for a hundred talents ten the Edomites,' and thy heart is lifted up.
of silver.  But these were tainted with Abide now at home: why shouldst thou
idolatry: on which account a prophet was meddle to thy hurt, so that thou shouldst
commissioned to exhort Amaziah to forego fall, and Judah with thee'? "
their assistance, and dismiss them.  By a   But Amaziah was not to be thus deterred.
memorable act of faith, the king at once yield- The two kings met in battle.  Amaziah was
ed to this hard demand, and sent home the defeated and taken prisoner, and his army
Israelites, for whose services he had already routed at Beth-shemesh. Joash then pursued
paid. He then gained a decisive victory over his triumphant march to Jerusalem, which
the Edomites in the Salt Valley, at the he plundered, and spared not to lay his hands
southern extremity of the Dead Sea.  Ten upon the sacred things of the temple.  He
thousand of the Edomites fell; and ten also broke down four hundred cubits of the
thousand more were cast down from  the city wall.  He howeverrestored Amaziah to
* 1May not one of the essential differences of circumstances? "Lord, lay not this sin to their
the Jewish and Christian dispensations be illus- charge!" was the last cry of the dying Stephen.
trated by the last words of two men respectively    t This was probably at or in the neighborhood
eminent in each, and dying under very similar of Petra, of Mount Seir.




390                             AN ILLUSTRATED
his throne,, but took hostages with him  on "he had ground-tillers and vine-dressers $ in
his return to Samaria.                      the mountains and in Carmel."  These were
The life of Amaziah ended in a conspiracy, laudable things; for the people could not but
which may have been induced by the disgrace be benefited by them, even though their
which he had brought upon the nation.  This benefit were less the immediate intention
conspiracy was discovered by him, and he than the indirect effect.
hastened to the fortified town of Lachish.    The same may even less doubtfully be
But he was pursued and slain by the con- said of this king's military organizations and
spirators, who brought back his body " upon improvements.  New fortifications were built
horses to Jerusalem," where a place in the and the old repaired.  At Jerusalem  not
sepulchres of his fathers was not denied only were the injuries which the walls had
him.  He reigned twenty-nine years.-  B. sustained repaired, but the gates and angles
C. 809.                                     were strengthened with towers; and on these
Uzziah, otherwise called Azariah, was only were mounted engines invented by skilful
five years old when his father was slain.  The men, and made under the king's encourageJudahites were in no haste to tender their ment and direction, for the purpose  of
allegiance to an infant.  They waited until discharging arrows and great stones.  It may
he was sixteen years of age, and he was then  be doubtful whether these  engines were
formally called to the throne.+  Much favor- inventedby Hebrew engineers, or successfully
able influence upon the character of Uzziah  copied by them  from  foreigners.  We have
is attributed to the early instruction  and  certainly no opinion that the Hebrews had
subsequent influence of the wise and holy  much genius for mechanical invention; but
Zechariah.t  His adhesion to the principles we are bound to say the antiquities of Egypt,
of the theocracy secured him prosperity and  in the numerous warlike scenes which they
honor.  He paid equal attention to the arts represent, do not, as far as we know, contain
of peace and of war; and he throve in all any examples of projectile engines: and it
the undertakings, whether of war or peace, to must be admitted that in the art of war
which he put his hand.  In the arts which  many ingenious devices originate with nations
belong to both, he encouraged and promoted  not otherwise distinguished for their inventive
various improvements; and it may be pardoned faculties.
in an Oriental king, if, in his improvements    Uzziah provided ample stores of weapons
and undertakings, his own interest and glory and armor - spears, shields, helmets, breastwas the inciting motive.  It is rare, and in plates, bows, and  stone-slings-  for the
fact difficult, for an Oriental monarch (con- numerous body which he had enrolled as
sidering the institutions by which he is sur- ready to be called into action, and which
rounded, and the ideas which press upon  consisted of not less than  307,500  men
him) to contemplate the interests of his under 2,600 paternal chiefs.  This formed a
people otherwise than as a contingent effect sort of militia, divided into bands, liable to
of undertakings in which his own interests be called into actual service by rotation,
and glory are the primary  motives.  So according to the number required.
Uzziah performed the good deed of building    With this force, and under these arrangetowers and digging wells in the desert; but ments, Uzziah was enabled to establish and
the reason immediately follows: " For he extend his power.  He recovered possession
had many cattle both in the valleys and in of the port of Elath on the Red Sea; he got
the plains."  He also "loved husbandry," possession of the principal Philistine towns,
and planted vineyards; and, accordingly, Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod.  The Arab
* "This naturally accounts for the length of    t No one will, of course, confound this person
the interregnum. (2 Kings xv. 1, 2; 2 Chron. with the prophet of the same name, who lived
xxvi. 1.) Amaziah was slain fifteen years current long after. It is not, in fact, known who he was.
after the death of Jehoash, king of Israel (2 Kings Some conjecture that he was the son of the
xiv. 17), or fourteen years complete from  the Zechariah who was slain in the time of Joash.
accession of Jeroboam II., his son: and Azariah, But we know of no other foundation for this but
or Uzziah, did not begin to reign till the twenty- the name. The distance of time does not favor
fifth of Jeroboam  (according to the foregoing the conjecture which identifies him with the Zechcorrection, instead of the twenty-seventh year, 2 ariah of Isaiah viii. 2.
Kings xv. 1), which gives the length of the inter-    $ See page 392.
regnum eleven years complete." - Hales.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                     391
hordes on the borders were subdued; and the  probably exercised —- that of officiating on
Ammonites were reduced to tribute.            particular occasions at the incense-altar, as
Elated by all this prosperity, the king of hbigh-priest.  He  made the  attempt.  He
Judah saw not why he should be precluded  went into the holy place, which none but the
priests might lawfully enter, to offer incense on
the altar there; but was followed by the highpriest, Azariah, and by eighty other priests,
who opposed his design, and warned him of
his trespass.  The king, made wrathful by
this opposition, seized the censer to offer
incense; but in that moment he was smitten
with leprosy, the marks of which appeared
visibly on his forehead.  On perceiving this,
the priests thrust him  forth as a pollution;
nay, confounded and conscience-smitten, he
hastened to leave the place.   From  that
day he was obliged to live apart as a leper,'   )~,         and his son Jotham  administered the affairs
z   > 3 ~-;I~ —   of the government in his father's name.  The
year in which this happened is not well
determined; but the whole duration of his
reign was fifty-two years.  This is the longest
reign  of any king of Judah, with the sole
exception of Manasseh.  Isaiah received his
appointment to the proplhetic offbice in the
year that King Uzziah died (13. C. 757);
and Amos, IIoshea, and probably Joel, began. 6                       to prophesy in his reign.
The death of Uzz'ah left the  ingdlom
under the same actual ruler, but exchanged
his regency for the sovereignty.   Jothamn
was twenty-five years old when he began to
reign. He was a good and prosperous prince,
and during the sixteen years of his separate
reign continued the improvements and plans
of his father.  He built several fortresses,
and confirmed the subjection of the Ammonites to his sceptre. It was in this reignt that
the city of Rome was founded, with the destinies of which the Hebrews were in the end
to be so intimately connected.  Jotham died
& 8              in the year B. C. 741.
Ahaz succeeded  Jotham  when he was
twenty years of age. He proved the most
1 and,. Assyrian Helmets, from the iron originals. (Brit. corrupt monarch that the house of David had
bIus.)
3. Sassanian, from the iron original. (Brit. Mus.)  as yet produced.   He respected neither Je4. Assyrian forms of Helmet. (Nineveh marbles.)
5. Efgyptian Helmets, from paintings and sculpture.  hovah, the law, nor the prophets; he broke
(Ro:sellini and Champollion.) 
6. IIelmets of Allies. (Egvptiai ditto.)     through all the salutary restraints which law
7. Poereepolitan Helmet. (Ker Porter.)       an
8 Early Greek Helmets, from coins.              d usage imposed upon the Hebrew kings,
and regarded nothing but his own depraved
from  a distinction  which other  monarchs inclinations.  He introduced the Syrian idolenjoyed, and which his neighbor of Israel atry into Jerusalem, erected  altars to the
* To this prodigy Josephus adds an earth- salem fell, or rather slipped, into the valley below,
quake, which, he says, shook the earth with such  covering the royal gardens.
violence that the roof of the temple was rent;    t B.C. 748, or according to others, 750 or 752,
and one half of a mountain on the west of Jeru-  all which dates fell in this reign.




392                                 AN ILLUSTRATED
~~~~~~~51,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I.IMIlJ LO.~SI~NGGo
EGYPTIAN'VINTAGE AND VI'NE-DRESSERS.   il     f
Syrian  gods, altered the temple in
n~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
many respects, according to the Syr_an model, and finally caused it to bo  J1'1i
entirely shut up.  For these thingo-,  II 
adversities and punishments came soon
upon  ~him.
-Pekah kinog of Israel, and Rezin''h  i:~~~~~
king of Syria, had formod an allianee
against Judah  in the last year of
Jotham, which began to take effect as
seon  as Ahaz had evinced the uinworthiness of his  character.   The
object of this alliance appears to have'
been no  less than  to dethrone the
house of Divid, and to make "the
son of Tabeal" king in the room   of
Ahaz.*',,
In this war, Elath was taken from
Judah hy thre king of Syria, who restored it to the E~lomite~,s.  He also'
defeated Ahaz in battle, and carried
away large numbers of his subjects as
captives to  Damnascus.   Pekab  on                         /_____
-— ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~- ---— ~-;     [    7,
Isa. vii. 5,  6.  Of  thi "son   of-:-',,;'
Tabeal"  nothing  is known, althou-h
much has been conjectured. Some mIke
it to be Pekah himself, but the interpre- 
tation on which it is founded is not very
sound, although the thing  itself might not
be unlikely.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              393
his part was equally successful.  He slew in by the chiefs, who positively declared to the
one day 120,000 men of Judah, and carried troops,  " Ye shall not bring in hither these
away captives not fewer than 200,000 women captives to increase our guilt before Jehovah.
and children, together with much spoil, to Intend ye to add to our sin and to our tresSamaria.  But o',is arrival there he was pass? for our trespass is great, and fierce is
met by the prophet xeoed, and by some of the wrath of Jehovah against Israel."  On
the chiefs of Ephraim. The former awakened hearing this the warriors abandoned their
the king's apprehensions for the consequences captives, and left them in the hands of the
of the divine anger on account of the evil chiefs, who, with the concurrence and help
already committed against the house of Ju- of the people, " took the captives, and firom
dah, and exhorted him not to add to this evil the spoil clothed all that were naked among
and to their danger, by reducng the women them, and arrayed and shod them, and gave
and children of that kindred state to bond- them to eat and drink, and anointed them,
age.  The prophet was vigorously seconded and carried all the feeble of them upon asses,
PUL. (FROMI THE NINEVEH BIARBLES.)
and brought them to Jericho, the city of was to induce Tiglath-P;leser, the king of
palm-trees, to their brethren."  This beauti- Assyria, to make a diversion in his favor by
ful incident comes over our sense as might invading the kingdoms of Syria and Israel.
some strain of soft and happy music amid    Pul, the father of this king, was the first
the bray of trumpets and the alarms of war. Assyrian monarch who took part in the affairs
It also proves that, even in the worst of of the West.  By invading Israel, he had
times, a righteous few were fiund, even in made known the power of that monarchy to
Israel, who honored the God of their fathers Syria and Palestine.  Tiglath-Pileser, for his
and stood in dread of his judgments.       own objects, lent a willing ear to the suit of
The narrative in Isaiah records an unsuc- Ahaz, who professed himself his vassal, and
cessful attempt of the confederates against sent him a subsidy of all the sacred and royal
Jerusalem, the proper place of which in the treasures.  He marched an army westward,
history is not easily found, but which may defeated and slew Rezin the king of Syria,
appear to have been posterior to the occur- took Damascus, and sent the inhabitants away
rences which have been related.   At the into Assyria — thus putting an ecnd to that
same time, the Edlomites and Philistines monarchy of Damascene-Syria, which has so
invaded the south of Judah, and took pos- often come unler our notice.  At the same
session of several cities of the low country, time he carried away the tribes beyond Jorwith their villages, and occupied them. Thus dan -Reuben, Gad, and half Manassehharassed on every hand, the besotted king captives to Media, where they were planted
rejected a token of deliverance which Isaiah in Halah, Habor, and on the River Gozan;
was commissioned to offer him from  God, and to them  he added the other half of the
under the pretext that he " would not tempt tribe of Manasseh which was seated in Galilee.
Jehovah," but in reality, because he had    Syria, with the countries of Gilead and
already chosen another alternative.   This Bashan, were thus annexed to the dominions




.394                            AN  ILLUSTRATED
of the Assyrian king, who remained some visit Tiglath-Pileser at Damascus, to contime at Damascus, settling his conquests. gratulate him on his victories, and to tender
Ahaz had small cause to rejoice in this altera- his homage.  This visit only taught him new
tion, for although he was delivered from his fashions of idolatry and sin; which on his
immediate fears, the formidable Assyrian had return home he continued to practise apparnow become his near neighbor, and was not ently until his death, which  took place in
likely to treat him with much consideration; B. C. 725, after a disgraceful reign of sixteen
and in fact the result was that " he distressed years. He was allowed a grave in Jerusalem;
Ahaz, and strengthened him  not."   The but no place in the sepulchre of the kingv
king of Judah, however, found it prudent to was granted to him.
CHAPTER XXI.
ISRAEL FROM  B. C. 895 TO B. C. 719. -  HEZEKIAH. - JERUSALEM  BURNT.
JEHIIU, having executed his avenging mis-   He was succeeded by his son Jehoahaz,
sion upon the house of Ahab, and overthrown who reigned  seventeen  inglorious  years.
the idolatries of Baal, ascended the throne He followed the latter course of his father,
of Israel in the year B. C. 895.          and the people followed their own course.
There was a point beyond which Jehu The same kind of punishment was therefore
was not prepared to go in his boasted zeal continued.  The Syrians were still permitted
for Jehovah.  He was ready to punish and to prevail over Israel, until, at length, Jediscountenance all foreign worship; but it hoahaz had only left, of all his forces, ten
was no part of his policy to heal the schism  chariots, fifty horsemen, and ten thousand
between Judah and Isratl, by abolishing infantry; for " the king of Syria had dethe separate and highly irregular establish- stroyed the rest, and trampled on them  like
ment, for the worship of Jehovah, before dust."  By these calamities the king was at
the symbolic golden calves, which Jeroboam  last awakened to a sense of his position and
had established, and which all his successors his danger: he made supplication to Jehohad maintained.  The vital root therefore vah with tears; and therefore his latter
remained  in  the  ground,  although  the days were favored with peace.  He died in
branches had been lopped off.  It also ap- 85) B. C.
peared, ere long, that the foreign idolatries   Joash, his son, began to reign in the
of Ahab and Jezebel had acquired too much thirty-seventh year of his namesake, Joash
prevalence to be entirely extirpated by any king of Judah.  Josephus gives this king a
coercive reformation.  As soon as the heat good character, which the sacred historian
of that reformation had cooled, such idola- does not confirm.  From looking at the few
tries again gradually stole into use, although incidents of his life which it has been deemed
no longer with the sanction or favor of the worth while to preserve, we may reconcile
government.                               these statements by discovering that he was
For these things the kingdom  of Israel in his private  character a well-disposed,
was in the latter days of Jehu allowed to be although weak man; while as a king he
shorn of the provinces beyond  Jordan. made no efforts to discourage idolatry or
That fair country was ravaged, and its fort- heal the schism which the establishment of
resses seized by Hazael, king of Syria, who, the golden calves had produced.  In his days
without any recorded opposition from  the Elisha the prophet fell sick of that illness of
king of Israel, appears to have annexed it which he died.  When the king heard of
to his own dominions.                     his danger, he went to visit his dying bed,
Jehu died in B. C. 867, after a reign of and wept over him, crying, " 0 my father!
twenty-eight years.                       my father! - the chariot of Israel, and the




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                     395
horsemen  thereof!"   As  the  idolatrous    The prophet Jonah, named in the pregeneration was now  becoming extinct, and ceding paragraph, is the same whose reluctant
the good dispositions of Joash himself were mission to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian
recognized, the dying prophet was enabled empire, is related in the book which bears his
to assure him, by a significant symbol, of name.   "The king  of Nineveh,"  whose
three victories over the Syrians.  Accord- humiliation with that of his people averted
ingly, Joash was enabled to keep them  in the doom  impending over "that exceeding
check, and in the end to gain the ascendency  great city," is supposed to have been the
over them, so as to recover from  Ben-hadad predecessor of Pul, whom  the history will
the possessions of which his own father had  speedily bring before us.  Jonah's remarkbeen deprived by the father of that Syrian  able  mission appears to have taken place
king.                                         about the year 800 B. C., at the latter end'
Joash reigned seventeen years.              of the reign of Jeroboam, who died in 793.
In the year 834 B. C., Jeroboam  II. suc- B. C., after a reign of forty-one years.
ceeded his father, whom he appears to have    There was a delay  in  calling  his son
much resembled in character and proceedings. Zechariah to the throne. Jeroboam II. began
He began badly;- and Josephus says that he to reign in the fifteenth year of Amaziah king
engaged in  various absurd foreign  under- of Judah, and reigned forty-one years (2
takings which proved very injurious to the  Kings xiv. 43); he died, therefore, in the
nation. He was probably improved by ripen- sixteenth year of Uzziah king of Judah; but
ing years; for the prophet Jonah * was com- his son Zechariah did not succeed him until
missioned to promise him  the complete re- the thirty-eighth of Uzziah (2 Kings xv. 8),
covery of the former dominions of the state. which produces an interregnumn of not less
A great victory over the Syrians accordingly  than twenty-two years.  During this period
restored to him  all the ancient divisions of great internal commotions prevailed, which
Israel, from  Hamath to the borders of the  more than compensated the absence of foreign
Dead Sea. His signal success over Amaziah  war.   Kings were suddenly raised to the
the king of Judah  has been recorded in the  throne, and as suddenly removed, agreeably
preceding  chapter.   Upon the whole, the to  the  representation which the  prophet
reign of Jeroboam II. may be regarded as a  Hoshea gives of the state of the kingdom.
brilliant one, considering the evil days on  The same representation also proves that at
which the history has now fallen.  In fact, this period very gross corruptions of religion
it would not be easy to point to any king of and of morals prevailed.  Even the ultimate
the separate kingdom of Israel whose reign  call of Zechariah to the throne had scarcely
was more prosperous.                          any effect in allaying these disturbances, and
* The personal history of Jonah is brief, and  city. He attempted therefore to escape to Tarwell-known; but is of such an exceptional and  shish. The providence of God, however, watched
extraordinary character as to have been set down  over him, first in a storm, and then in his being
by many German critics to fiction, either in whole  swallowed by a large fish for the space of three
or in part.  The supposed improbabilities are  days and three nights.  After his deliverance,
accounted for by them in a variety of ways; e. g. Jonah executed his commission; and the king,
as merely fabulous or fanciful ornaments to a "believing him to be a minister from the supreme
true history, or allegorical, or parabolical and  deity of the nation," and having heard of his
moral, both in their origin and design.  We feel miraculous deliverance, ordered a  general fast,
ourselves precluded from any doubt of the reality  and averted the threatened judgment.  But the
of the transactions recorded in this book, by the  prophet. not from personal but national feelinos,
simplicity of the language itself; by the accord- garudged the mercy shown to a heathen nation.
ance with other authorities of the historical and He was therefore tall ht, by the significant lesson
geographical notices; above all, by the explicit of the " gourd," whose growth and decay brought
words and teaching of our blessed Lord himself the truth at once home to him, that he was sent
(Matt. xii. 39, 41, xvi. 4; Luke xi. 29). We to testify by deed, as other prophets would aftershall derive additional arlguments for the same wards by word, the capacity of Gentiles for salconclusion from  the history and meaning of the vation, and the design of God to make them
prophet's mission.  Having already, as it seems, partakers of it.  This was "the sign of the
prophesied to Israel, he was sent to Nineveh. prophet Jonas" (Luke xi. 29, 30). But the resurThe time was one of political revival in Israel; rection of Christ itself was also shadowed forth
but ere long the Assyrians were to be employed in the history of the prophet. The mission of
by God as a scourge upon them. The prophet Jonah was highly symbolical. The facts conshrank from  a commission which he felt sure tained a concealed prophecy. - Smith's Bib. Dicwould result (iv. 2) in the sparing of a hostile tioasry..A. B.




396                             AN ILLUSTRATED
he was himself slain by Shallum in the sixth Pekahiah, who, after a short and undistinmonth of his reign.  He was the last king guished reign of two years, was slain by
of the house of Jehu: and thus was fulfilled Pekah, the commander of the forces, who
the prediction that the family of Jehu should placed himself on the throne.
only retain the throne to the fourth genera-   The alliance of Pekah with Rezin the
tion.                                       king of Syria, against the house of David,
Shallum, whose deed in slaying Zechariah has been recorded in the preceding chapter,
was performed with the sanction and in the as well as the consequences which resulted
presence of the people, ascended the vacant from  the resort of Ahaz king of Judah to
throne in the year 771 B. C.  But on re- the protection of Tiglath-pileser, the new
ceiving intelligence of this event, Menahem, king of Assyria, who overran Gilead and
the general of the army, marched against the Galilee, and removed  the  inhabitants to
new king, and having defeated and slain him  Assyria and Media.   After a  reign of
in battle, after a reign of but thirty days, twenty years, Pekah received from  Hoshea
mounted the throne himself: and through his the satne doom which he had himself inflicted
influence with the army, he was enabled not upon his predecessor.   This was in 738
only to retain his post, but to subdue the dis- B. C., being in the third year of the reign
turbances by which the country had of late of Ahaz in Judah.
years been distracted.  In doing th's he pro-   It appears that although Hoshea is counted
ceedede  with a degree of barbarity which  as the next king, he was not immediately
would have been scarcely excusable in even  able to establish himself on the throne, but
a foreign conqueror (Joseph. Antiq. ix. 11, that an interregnum, or period of anarchy,
sect. 1).                                   of ten years' duration, followed the murder
It was in the time of Menahem that the  of Pekah.t  Thus, although the kingdom of
Assyrians under Pul made their fitst ap- Israel was now enclosed within very narrow
pearance in Syria.  Their formidable  olrce boundaries, and surrounded on the north and
precluded even the show of opposition fionm  east by the powerful Assyrians, it could not
the king of Israel, who deemed it the wiser r main quiet, but was continually exhausting
course to purchase peace from the Assyrian  its strength in domestic conspiracies and
king at the price of a thousand talents of broils.
silver.@  This sum  he raised by the un-    From  this struggle the regicide IToshea
popular measure of a poll tax of fifty shekels emerged as king.  He proved a bettei ruler
each upon sixty thousand of his wealthiest tan monest of his predecessors.  He allowed
subjects.  This is the firs:t instance in either the king of Judlah (Hezelkiab) to send rmeskingdom  of money raised by taxation for a sengers through the country inviting the
puble object.  In the kingdom  of Judah  people to a great passover which he intended
such exigencies were met from the treasury  to celebrate at Jerusalem, nor did he throw
of the temple, or of the crown; and probably  any obstacles in the way of the persons disthere were, in  ordinary times, analogous posed to accept the invitation.  He had a
resources in Israel, but which we may readily  spirit which might have enabled him  to adconclude  to have been  exhausted in the vance the power and interests of the country
recent troubles and confusions in that king- under ordinary  circumstances; but now,
dom.  Professor Jahn considers that the doomed of God, the kingdom was too inmuch
government of Israel had by this time be- weakened to make the least eflbrt against the
come wholly military, in which conclusion we Assyrian power.  When therefore Shallmaare disposed to acquiesce, although from other neser, the new Assyrian king, invaded the
intimations than those to which he adverts.   country, he bowed his neck to receive the
After a reign of ten years, Menahem died yoke of a tributary.  This yoke, however,
in 760 B. C., and was succeeded by his son he found so galling that ere long he took
* Almost one million eight hundred thousand year of the reign of Ahaz king of Judah (2 Kings
dollars, by the present value of this quantity of xvi. 1); but Hoshea did not begin to reign until
silver.                                     the twelfth year of Ahaz (xvii. 1), or the thirt "Pekah, kinc of Israel, began to reign in the teenth current (2 Kings xvi. 10); consequently
fifty second year of Uzziah (2 Kings xv. 27; 2 the second interregnum in Israel lasted 13 -3
Chron. xxvi. 3); and in the twentieth year of his = 10 years." -lailes.
reign was slain by Hoshea (xv. 30) in the third




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                   397
measures for shaking it off.  He made a from  the city of Samaria.  At first all of
treaty with  "So,"  or Sabaco *  king  of them were worshippers of idols; but as wild
Egypt, and on the strength of it ventured to beasts increased in their depopulated country,
seize and imprison the Assyrian officer ap- they were much disturbed by lions. Accordpointed to collect the tribute.  Upon this, ing to the notions respecting national and
Shalmaneser laid siege to Samaria, and after local gods which then prevailed in the world,
three years gained possession of that city it is not strange that they attributed this
and destroyed it.  During all this time the calamity to the anger of the god of the country on account of their neglect of his worship. Accordingly, an Israelitish priest was
recalled from exile, in order to instruct these
idolaters in the worship of Jehovah  as a
national Deity. He settled at Bethel, where
one of the golden calves had formerly stood;
and afterward  the Samaritans united the
worship of Jehovah with the worship of their
Impression of a seal of Sabaco the Ethiopian, 25th dynasty.owgds
(From original, in clay.)         We will follow the expatriated Israelites
into the places of their captivity; but, first,
king of Egypt made no attempt to come to it is necessary that our attention should be
the assistance of Israel, as Isaiah had from  turned to the affairs of Judah, which the
the beginning predicted, in  language  of mercy and long-suffering of God still constrong reprehension  against this  alliance tinue to spare.
(Isaiah xxx. 1-7).   The fall of Samaria
consummated the conquest of the country         JUDAH, FROM B. c. 725, TO B. C. 586.
by the  Assyrians.   Hoshea was himself   Hezekiah was twenty-five years of age
among the captives, and was sent in chains when he succeeded his father, Ahaz, in the
to Nineveh; but what afterward became of kingdomn of Judah.  He was a most pious
him  is not known.  Considerable numbers prince, and thoroughly  imbued with  the
of the principal Israelites, during the war, principles of the theocracy.  He testified the
and at its disastrous conclusion, fled the most lively zeal for the service and honor of
country, some to Egypt, but more into Jehovah; while, as a king, he was disposed
Judaea, where they settled down as subjects to manifest the most unreserved reliance on
of Hezekiah, whose kingdom must have been him, and subservience to him, as Sovereign
considerably strengthened by this means.    Lord of the Hebrew people.  He therefore
According to a piece of Oriental policy of won the high eulogium that " there was none
which- modern examples have been offered, like him among all the kings of Judah after
Shalmaneser removed from  the land the him, nor any that were before him." t
principal inhabitants, the soldiers, and the    He began his reign by the restoration
artisans to Halab, to the River Habor (Che- of the true religion and the abolishment of
bar in Ezekiel), to Gozan, and to the cities idolatry throughout his dominions.  In the
of the Medes.  On the other hand, colonists very first month he opened the doors of
were brought from  Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, the temple, which his father had closed,
Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and seated in and restored the worship and service of God
Samaria. It appears also that other colonists in proper order and beauty.  In extirpatwere afterward sent into the country by ing idolatry he was not content with the
Esarhaddon.   These people mingled with abolition of its grosser forms, but sought
the Israelites, who still abode in the land, out the more native  and intimate superand were all comprehended under the gener- stitions which were incentives thereto.  The
al name of SAMARITANS, which was derived altars illegally erected to  Jehovah, which
* This So or Sabaco of profane authors, -  his monuments by his successors may be considSabakoph on the monuments, -was an E thio- ered to imply that his reign was not a wrongful
pian who ruled in Egypt, and whose right to the usurpation.
crown of which may have been (in part, at least)    t 2 Kings xviii. 1-5. Such, however, must
derived from marriage, although HIerodotus rep- be understood as popular forms of describing
resents him solely as an intrusive conqueror. His superior character; for the same is said, in the
name occurs at Abydus; and the respect paid to same terms, of his own great grandson, Josiah.




398                            AN ILLUSTRATED
former kings had spared, were by him over- public singing of the Psalms in the temple,
thrown.  The brazen serpent, which Moses and by a new collection of the moral maxims
had made in the wilderness, and which was of Solomon.
preserved in the temple, came in time to   For his righteous doings the Lord was
be regarded as a holy relic, to  which with Hezekiah, and prospered him  in all
at last a sort of superstitious worship was his reasonable undertakings.  He extended
paid, and incense burned before it.  This the fortifications and magazines throughout
was not unnatural, considering the history the country; he supplied Jerusalem more
of this relic, combined with the fact that plentifully with water by means of a new
ophiolatry was then, and before and after, aqueduct; and the Philistines, who had
a very common superstition in Egypt and penetrated into the southern parts of Judeea
other countries.  It nobly illustrates the in the reign of his father, were conquered
vigor of Hezekiah's character, and of an by his arms.
entire freedom  from  superstition, of which    The possession of the kingdom  of Damit is difficult now  to appreciate the full ascene-Syria, and the entire conquest of
merit, that he spared not even this certainly Israel, rendered the kings of Assyria allinteresting relic, but broke it in pieces, powerful in those countries.  Phoenicia was
and instead of nahash, " a serpent," called the next to experience the force of their
it contemptuously nehushtan, " a brazen arms.  The Tyrians only (according to the
bauble."                                   citation which Josephus adduces from  their
Much attention was also paid by Hezekiah own historian Menander) refused to receive
to the dignified and orderly celebration of  the Assyrian yoke.  They fought and disthe festivals, which formed so conspicuous persed the fleet which the subjugated Phoea feature in the ritual system  of the He- nicians had furnished for the ulterior objects
brews.  The passover in particular, which and remoter  enterprises  of Shalmaneser.
had fallen into neglect, was revived with To avenge this act, the Assyrian king left
great splendor, and, as noticed in the last his troops for five years in the Tyrian terchapter, Hezekiali sent couriers through ritory, where they grievously distressed the
the kingdom of Israel to invite the attend- citizens of Tyre, by cutting off all access to
ance of the Israelites.   His object was the river and aqueduct from which the town
so obviously religious only, without any obtained its water.  It was the death of
political motives, that the last king of Israel Shalmaneser, apparently, which induced the
offered no opposition: and indeed a king- Assyrians to abandon the siege.
dom so nearly on the point of being absorbed    It was probably the same occasion, tointo the great Assyrian empire, had small gether with an undue reliance upon his
occasion to concern itself respecting any fortifications, and  too  much  confidence
possible designs of Hezekiah.  The Israel- derived firom the success which had attended
ites were therefore left to act as their own the small wars in which he had been endispositions might determine.  The couriers gaged, which led Hezekiah into the same
went on from city to city proclaiming the temerity which had been the ruin of Hoshea.
message, and delivering the  letters with He discontinued the tribute to the Assyrians
which they were charged.  In these the which had been imposed upon his father,
king of Judah manifested great anxiety and by that act threw  off the yoke which
to induce the Israelites -  " the remnant Ahaz had voluntarily taken on himself.
who had escaped out of the hands of the    In the fourteenth year of Hezekiah, the
kings of Assyria " -to return to Jehovah, new king of Assyria, named Sennacherib,
and by that return avert that utter destruc- came with a large army to reduce the kingdom
tion which seemed to impend over them. of Judah to obedience, as well as to invade
The great body of the Israelites received Egypt, on account of the encouragement
the invitation with laughter and derision; which " So," the king of that. country, had
but in Zebulun and Asher some were found given to Hoshea to revolt, by promises of
"4 who humbled themselves and  came to assistance, which he proved unable to renJerusalem."                               der.  Such promises appear to have been
Like David, his great model, Hezekiah  renewed to Hezekiah, to induce him to give
made provision  for the  instruction  and trouble and employment to a power of
moral improvement of the people, by the which the Egyptians had good cause to




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             399
be jealous.   But the  new  king  Sethos but after he had taken Ashdod, one of the
(Se-pthah, priest of Pthah), who had been keys of Egypt, he began to think it would
a priest, considering the services of the sol- be unsafe in his invasion of that country to
diers unnecessary to the security of a king- leave the kingdom  of Judah unsubdued in
dom intrusted to the protection of the gods, his rear.  He therefore determined to comtreated the military caste with much in- plete the subjugation of Judah in the first
dignity, and much abridged their privileges, place, — the rather as his recent observations, and the humble submission of Hezekiah, left him little reason to expect much
delay or difficulty in this enterprise.  He
soon reduced all the cities to his power except Libnah and Lachish, to which he laid
siege, and Jerusalem, to which he sent his
general Rabshakeh with a very haughty
luglII)( ~  2      1A] 1llll  2Assyrian seal or cylinder of Sennacherib.
summons to surrender.  Many blasphemous,__._A    S       i  lsand disparaging  expressions were applied to
Jehovah by the heathen general.  By this
he was, as it were, bound to vindicate his
own honor and power; and, accordingly,
Sennacherib. (From Nineveh marbles.)  the prophet Isaiah was commissioned  to
promise the king deliverance, and to foretell
in consequence of which they refused, when the destruction of the Assyrian host:  "Lo!
required, to march against the Assyrians.    I will send a blast upon him, and he shall
Hlezekiah, disappointed of the assistance hear a rumor, and shall return to his own
which he had expected from  Egypt,* and land, and I will cause him  to fall by the
observing the overwhelming nature of the sword in his own land."  2 Kings xix. 7.
force put in action, delayed not to make    The rumor by which Sennacherib was
his submissions to  Sennacherib, humbly alarmed and interrupted was no other than
acknowledging his offence, and offering to the report which was spread abroad that Tirsubmit to any tribute which the king might hakah the Ethiopian, king of Upper Egypt,
impose upon  him.  The  desire  of  the was marching with an immense army to cut
Assyrian not to delay his more  important off his retreat.  He  then determined to
operations against Egypt seems to have in- withdraw; but first sent a boasting letter
dined him to listen favorably to this overture. to Hezekiah, defying the God of Israel, and
He demanded  three  hundred  talents of threatening what destructions he would exsilver, and thirty talents of gold; and this ecute upon the nation on his return.  But
was paid by Hezekiah, although to raise it that very night an immense proportion of
he was compelled to exhaust the royal and the Assyrian host, even one hundred and
sacred treasures, and even to strip off the eighty thousand men, were struck dead by
gold with which the doors and pillars of "the BLAST " which the prophet had prethe temple were overlaid.                  dieted, and which has, with great probability,
Sennacherib received the silver and gold; been ascribed to the agency of the simoom,
* That he had expectations from that quarter, -"Not to trust upon the staff of that bruised
and that such expectations were known to the reed, Egypt (upon which if a man lean it will
Syrians, appears from Rabshakeh's advice to him, break and pierce his hand)." 2 Kings xviii. 17-35.




400                           AN  ILLUSTRATED
or hot pestilential south wind, which we may est to a scientific people like the Babyloni,
have another occasion to notice.         ans. Hezekiah appears to have been highly
Sennacherib returned to Nineveh, and in flattered by this embassy from so distant a
the exasperation of defeat he behaved with quarter.  The ambassadors were treated with
great severity to the captive Israelites.  But much attention and respect, and the king
his career was soon closed.  Fifty-two days himself took pleasure in showing them the
after his return he was slain, while worship- curiosities and treasures of his kingdom.
ping in the temple of the god Nisroc, by his That he had treasures to show seems to sigtwo  eldest sons.  Thus the prophecy of nify that he had recovered his wealth friom
Isaiah was in every point accomplished. the Assyrians, or had enriched himself by
The parricides fled into Armenia, leaving their spoil.
the steps of the throne clear for the ascent   The sacred historian attributes HIezekiah's
of the third son, whose name was Esarhad- conduct on this occasion to " his pride of
don.  This great blow  so weakened  the heart," involving an appropriation to himself
Assyrian monarchy as not only to free the of that glory which belonged only to Jehovah.
king of Judah from his apprehensions, but Although, therefore, his conduct did not
enabled the Medes and Babylonians to assert occasion the  doom, it gave the prophet
their independence.                      Isaiah occasion to make known to him that
The same year Hezekiah fell sick — ap- the treasures of his kingdom were the desparently of the plague, - and he was warned tined spoil, and his posterity the destined
by the prophet Isaiah to prepare for death. captives of the very nation  whose presThe king was afflicted at these tidings; and ent embassage had produced in him  so
turning his face to the wall (as he lay in much unseemly pride.  This was in every
his bed), to be unnoticed by his attendants, way a most remarkable  prediction;  for
he besought the Lord, with tears, to remer- Babylon was then an inconsiderable kingber him with favor. His prayer was heard; dom, and the people almost unknown by
and the prophet, who had not yet left the whom  the prediction was to be fulfilled.
palace, was charged to return and acquaint Hezekiah received this announcement with
Hezekiah that, on the third following day, true  Oriental submission - satisfied,  he
he should resume his customary attendance said, if there were but peace and truth in
at the temple; and not only that, but that his own days.
fifteen years should be added to his life.    The  remainder of Hezekiah's reign,
In confirmation of this extraordinary com- through the years of prolonged life which
munication, the king desired some miraculous had been granted to him, appears to have
sign; and accordingly the shadow of the style been prosperous and happy.  To no other
upon the dial of Ahaz went backward ten man was it ever granted to view the approach
degrees.  The event corresponded to these of death with certain knowledge, through
intimations.  The prolongation of life was the long, but constantly shortening, vista of
the more important and desirable to Heze- years that lay before him.  At the time long
kiah, as at that time there was no direct heir before appointed, Hezekiah died, after a
to the crown. These circumstances, together reign of twenty-nine years, B. C. 725.
with the signal deliverance from Sennacherib,   MANASSEH was but twelve years of age
not only cured the people of the idolatry when he lost his father, and began to reign.
which Ahaz had introduced, and retained The temptations which surrounded him, and
them for some time in their fidelity to Jeho- the evil counsels which were pressed upon
vah, but excited the curiosity and admira- him, were too strong for his youth.  He
tion of the neighboring nations.  Merodach- was corrupted; and it seemed the special
Baladan, the king of Babylon, sent an object of his reign to overthrow all the good
embassy to congratulate the king on his his father had wrought in Judah.  The
deliverance from  the Assyrians (through crimes of all former kings seem light in
which Merodach himself had been enabled comparison with those which disgraced his
to establish his independence in Babylon), reign.  He upheld idolatry with all the
and upon his recovery from  his illness, as influence of the regal power, and that with
well as to make particular inquiries respect- such inconceivable boldness, that the pure
ing the miracle by which it was accompanied, and holy ceremonies of the temple service
and which must have been of peculiar inter- were superseded by obscene rites of an idol




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    401
image set up in the very sanctuary; while probably on the same occasion that he rethe courts of God's house were occupied by moved the principal remaining inhabitants
altars to  " the host of heaven," or the of Israel, and replaced them  by more coloheavenly bodies.   He maintained herds of nists from the East.
necromancers, astrologers, and soothsayers   In the solitude of his prison at Babylon,
of various kinds.  The practice which was, Manasseh became an altered and a better
of all others, the most abhorrent to Jehovah, man.  The sins of his  past life, and the
the king sanctioned  by his own atrocious grievous  errors of his  governmnent were
example; for he devoted his own children, brought vividly before him; and humbling
by fire, to strange gods, in the blood-stained  himself before the God of his fathers, he
valley of Ben-Hinnom.  Wickedness now  cried earnestly for pardon, and besought an
reigned on high, and as usual persecuted opportunity of evincing the sincerity of his
righteousness and truth; so that, by a strong repentance.  The histi ry makes mention of
but significant hyperbole, we are told that his prayer, as having been preserved; and
innocent blood flowed in the streets of Jeru- the  Apocrypha contains a prayer  which
salem like water.                             purports to be that which he used on this
While these things were transacting in  occasion.  This it would be difficult to prove;
Judah, Esarhaddon, the king of Assyria, but the prayer itself is a good one, and
was consolidating his power, and endeavoring  suitable to the occasion.
to re-unite the  broken fragments of his    His prayer was heard, and the opportunity
father's  empire.   It  was not until  the  which he sought was granted to him.  Esarthirtieth year of his reign that he recovered  haddon gave way to the suggestions of a
Babylon, the affairs of which appear to have  more generous policy than that by which he
fallen into great disorder after the death of had been at first actuated.  He released the
AMerodach-Baladan, if we may judge from  captive from his prison, and after having, we
the occurrence of five reigns and two inter- may presume, won him over to the interests
regnumrs of ten years, all in the course of of Assyria, and weaned him from the national
the twenty-nine years which preceded its re- bias in favor of an Egyptian alliance, sent hin
duction afain under the Assyrian yoke.        home with honor.  Unquestionably, he reWhen Esarhaddon had sufficiently re-es- mained tributary to the Assyrian monarch,
tablished his authority, and settled his affairs and his territory was probably considered as
in the east, he turned his attention westward, forming a useful barrier between the terriand determined to restore his authority  in  tories of Assyria and of Egypt.  On his rethat quarter, and to avenge the disgrace and  turn, Manasseh applied himself with great
loss which the Assyrians had sustained in  diligence to the correction of the abuses of his
Palestine.  This intention  constituted him  former reign.  He also fortified the city of
Jehovah's avenger upon the king and nation  Zion on the west side by a second high wall
of Judah, for the manifold  iniquities into  (or, perhaps, he only rebuilt and carried to a
which they had by this time fallen.          greater height the wall which the Assyrians
Esarhaddon entered Judah in great force, had thrown down), and endeavored as far as
defeated Manasseh in battle, took him alive, possible to restore the weakened kingdom
and sent him in chains to Babylon, together to a better state.  He died in B. C. 696,
with many of his nobles and of the people. after a protracted reign of fifty-five years;
They were sent to Babylon probably because  and, mindful of the first iniquities of his
Esarhaddon, to prevent another defection, reign, a place in the Sepulchre of the Kings
made that city his chief residence during the was denied him, but he was buried in his
last thirteen  years of his reign.  It was own garden.*
The neighborhood of Jerusalem  is thickly fifteen high. It was originally ornamented with
studded with tombs, of which the most celebrated grapes, garlands, and festoons, beautifully wrought
are called " Tombs of the Kings." These tombs, on the cornice; and the columns in the centre, and
says the veteran missionary Dr. W. M. Thomr- the pilasters at the corners, appear to have resemson, are in the olive-grove, about half a mile bled the Corinthian order. A very low door in the
north of the Damascus Gate, and a few rods east of south end of the portico opens into the ante-chamthe road to Nabllis. A court is sunk in the solid her nineteen feet square and seven or eight high.
rock about ninety feet square and twenty feet From  this, three passages conduct into other
deep. On the west side of this court is a sort of' rooms, two of them, to the south, having five or
portico, thirty-nine feet long, seventeen deep, and six crypts. A passage also leads from the west




402                               AN ILLUSTRATED
AMON the son of Manasseh was twenty-    Josiah  was but eight years old at the
five years of age when he ascended the throne death of his father; and during his minority
of Judah.  He had been born after the re- the affairs of the government were adminispentance and restoration of his father, yet tered by the high-priest Joachim and a counthe first ways of Manasseh, and not the last, cil of elders at Jerusalem.  The young king
were those which he chose to follow.  He profited well by the excellent education he
revived the idolatries which had been sup- received  under the tutelage of the highpressed; but the full development of his priest.  After a minority of e&ght years, he
plans and character was interrupted by a assumed the government, and proceeded to
conspiracy, in which he perished after a short act with far greater vigor against the idolreign of twoyears.  B. C. 639.               atries of the land than  the  regent had
SEPULCHRE OF THE KINGS.
ventured to exercise.  He not only destroyed  which were conducted by. the king in person,
every form of idolatry which he was able to he came to Bethel, and theie (according to
detect, but overthrew  the altars  illegally  the prediction  macice nearly four centuries
erected to Jehovah, and corrected the other before, which had mentioned him by name)
irregularities which had in previous times been he defiled the altar which  Jeroboam  had
tolerated.  In the course of these purgations, erected before the golden calf in that place,
room down several steps into a large vault run- alty and the leisure of years  but by whom and
ning north, where are crypts parallel to the sides. for whom they were made is a mere matter of
These rooms are all cut in rock intensely hard; conjecture. I know no good reason for ascribing
and the entrances were originally closed with them  to Helena or Adiabenoe.  Most travellers
stone doors, wrought with panels, a tnd hung on and writers are inclined to make them thte sepulstone hinges, which are now all broken. The chres of the Asmonsean kings. -The Land and
whole series of tombs indicates the hand of roy- the Book, vol. ii. pp. 487, 488.  A. B.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  403
by burning thereon the disinterred bones of the temple, the people, the king: — but
dead men —the bones of the worshippers. adding, for the king himself, that because
And it was thus that the idolatrous altars of the righteousness which had been found
were defiled by him throughout the land.   in him, he should be gathered to his grave
The zeal of the king tool him beyond the before those evil days arrived.
limits of his own kingdom  into the land of   By these disclosures new zeal for the Law
Israel, which he traversed even to its remoter was kindled in the heart of Josiah.  The
parts, uprooting idolatry and all its adjuncts very same year, he caused the passover to be
wherever he came.  For thisrather remarka- celebrated with great solemnity, in which
ble  proceeding out of his own  kingdom  not only the people of Judah, but the reinmthere are different ways of accounting.  The nant of the Hebrew race which the Assyrians
most probable seems to be that in restoring had left in the land of Israel, joined.  There
Manasseh to his throne, the king of Assyria had been no such passover since the founhad extended his authority (for the purpose dation of the kingdom.
of internal government) over the neighboring   To understand the circumstances which led
territory.  His favor and confidence, con- to the death of King Josiah, it is necessary
tinued to Josiah, agrees with and helps to to view correctly the position of his kingdom,
explain some other circumstances.           as a frontier barrier between the two great
When these operations were completed, kingdoms  of Assyria  and Egypt, whose
measures were taken for a thorough repair of borders, by the conquests of the former power
the temple.  While this was in progress, the were, and had for some time been, in close
high-priest, Hilkiah discovered the autograph  and dangerous approximation.  It is obvious
copy of the Law, written by the hand of that, from  the first, the political game of
Moses, which had been deposited in or beside Western Asia in that age lay between Egypt
the ark of the covenant in the sanctuary.  By  and Assyria, the former power being the
his direction Shaphan, the chief scribe, read only power west of the Euphrates which could
therefrom  in the audience of the king, who for an instant be expected to resist or retalino sooner heard that part which contains the ate the aggressive movements of the latter.
prophecies of Moses against the nation, fore- There was little question that the rich and
tellinog the captivities and destructions which  fertile valley of the Nile might tempt tile
should befall it for its iniquities, than Josiah cupidity or the ambition of the Assyrians.
knew by signs not to be mistaken, that the It was therefore the obvious policy of the
predicted calamities were imminent, for the kings of Egypt to maintain the kingdomns of
iniquities had been rife, and the doom  could Israel and Judah, as a barrier between their
not but soon follow; already, indeed, by the country and the Assyrians, and it was the
captivity of Israel, it had been half accom- equally obvious policy of the latter to break
plished.  It was for this that the king rent that barrier down.  Hence Hoshea in Israel
his garments.*  He delayed not to send to had been encouraged by Sabaco to assert his
Hulclah the prophetess, " who dwelt in the independence, with a promise of support,
college at Jerusalem," to learn from  her which there is reason to believe that the
the real intentions of Jehovah, and the sense Egyptian king was less unwilling than unable
in which these alarming denunciations were to render.  The fall of Israel, as it weakto be understood.   She confirmed the ob- ened the barrier,'could not but be a matter
vious interpretation - that the unquenchable of regret to the Egyptians, and it would still
wrath of God would ere long be poured out be their desire to strengthen the hands of
upon Judah and Jerusalem, consuming, or the kings of Judah.  In  this position it
bringing into bondage, the land, the city, became a question at Jerusalem, as it had
* It is quite evident that the king had never matters of positive law, omitting the promises and
before read or heard these denunciations of the threatenings. The king being impatient to know
law, which seems hard to account for, when'we the contents, the scribe begins to read immediconsider that copies of the law do not appear to ately; and as the books of the times were written
have been scarce, the rather as, no great while upon long scrolls, and rolled upon a stick, the
before, many copies had been made under the latter part of Deuteronomy would come first in
direction of Hezekiah.  It has been suggested course; and there the scribe would find those
that the book in common use, and even that used terrible threatenings whereby the king was so
by kings and priests, was some abstract, like our strongly affected. See Deut. xxviii.
abridgment of the statutes, which contained only




404                            AN  ILLUSTRATED
been in Samaria, whether the forbearance of in defence of the country.  But when Tir.
the Assyrians should be purchased by sub- hakah, the Ethiopian, who ruled in Upper
mission, or that reliance should be reposed Egypt, heard of the threatened invasion by
on the support of Egypt in opposition to that Sennacherib, he'marched against him; and
great power.  The kings and people seem to  the Scriptural account would imply that the
have been generally well disposed " to lean mere rumor of his approach sufficed to induce
upon Egypt," not more friom  habit and the Assyrians to contemplate a retreat, which
ancient intercourse, than from the perception
that it was clearly the interest of that country
to support them against the Assyrians.  But
when it had happened more than once that
Egypt, after having encouraged them to shake
off the Assyrian yoke, was unable (we cannot believe unwilling) to render the stipu- 
lated assistance at the time it was most
needed, and left them exposed to the tender
mercies of the provoked  Assyrians, the
prophets raised their voice against a confidence and an alliance by which nothing but
calamity had been produced, and encouraged
unreserved and  quiet submission  to the                              i
Assyrian yoke. Even Hezekiah however, as   Assyrian lady. (From an ivory carving, Brit. MnIs.)
we have seen, was induced by the prospect
of support from  Egypt, to throw  off his was hastened by the singular destruction in
dependence on Assyria.  The consequent his army by the pestilential simoom.  This
invasion of Judah by Sennacherib was so solitary example of assistance from Egypt,
obviously threatening to Egypt, that Sethos although firom an unexpected quarter, may
(the king who then reigned in Lower Egypt) be supposed to have strengthened the predilection of the king and people of Judah
toward the Egyptian alliance; and it was
almost certainly with the concurrence of
Egypt that Manasseh allowed himself to
(   g  A_   <     ~~  incur the wrath of the Assyrians.  But
during his imprisonment at Babylon he would
seem to have acquired the conviction that it
was his best policy to adhere to his Assyrian
vassalage; and we may conclude he was not
[ -~ "., released without such oaths and covenants as
his  awakened  conscience bound  him  to
"Y:~'ie 3@@26                  observe.  He was probably restored to his
0~o  l 0X   i                  throne as a sworn tributary, or as being bound
~'~;~ ~..~ ~-         to keep the country as a frontier against,o           S            $~0 X ~~Egypt.  The conduct of Josiah renders this
the most probable conclusion.
The Assyrian power got involved in wars
with the Medes and Chaldmeans, by which its
Assyrian king. (Nineveh Marbles.)  attention was fully engaged and its energies
weakened. Egypt, on the other hand, united
could only have been prevented by the state under one king, had been consolidating its
of affairs in his own dominion from rendering strength.  Pharaoh-Necho, the king of that
the assistance which he had led the king of country, thought the opportunity favorable to
Judah to expect.  But, as already stated, act aggressively against the Assyrians, and
this very unwarlike person — a priest by to that end resolved to march and attack this
education and habit -had so offended the old enemy on his old frontier   Carchemish,
powerful military caste by abridgments of an important post on the Euphrates, and the
their privileges, that they refused to act, even key of Assyria on the western side, was the




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              405
point to which his march was directed.  He paused not to avenge himself upon the Judapassed along the seacoast of Palestine, north- hites for the oppositon he had encountered,
ward, the route usually followed by the but continued his march to the Euphrates.
Egyptian kings when they entered Asia.   Three months had scarcely elapsed, when,
Josiah being apprised of this, and mndful returning  victorious from  the capture of
of his relation to Assyria, and of his obliga- Carchemish and the defeat of the Assyrians,
tion to defend the frontier against the Egyp- he learned that the people had called a
tians, assembled his forces and determined to younger son of Josiah, named  JEHOA1HAZ
impede, if he could not prevent, the march or Shallum, twenty-three years old, to the
of Neeho through his territories.  When the throne, overlooking his elder brother.  DisEgyptian king heard that Josiah had posted pleased that such a step had been taken
himself on the skirts of the plain of Esdrae- without any reference to the will of their
Ion-that great battle-field of nations-to now paramount lord and conqueror, he sent
oppose his progress, he sent messengers to and summoned Jehoahaz to attend on him
engage him to desist from  his interference, at Riblah, in the land of Hamath; and
alleging that he had no hostile intentions having deposed  him  and condemned the
against Judah, but against an' enemy with land to pay in tribute a hundred talents of
whom he was at war, and warning Josiah silver and a talent of gold, he took him as a
that his imprudent interference might prove prisoner to Jerusalem.  On arriving there,
fatal to himself anal his people.  But these Neeho made Eliakim, the eldest son of Josiah,
conscldrations htad no weight with  Josiah, king in the room of his father, changing his
against what appeared to him a clear case of name to Jehoiakim, acco:ding to a custom
duty.  He resistel the progress of the Efgyp- frequently practised by lords pa'amount and
tian army with great spirit, consdtering the masters toward subject princes and slaves.
disproportion of numbers. He himself fought The altered name was a mark of subjection.
in disguise; but a commiss'oned arrow found Then taking the silver and gold wh'ch he had
him out, and inflicted a mortal wound in the levied upon the people, Neeho departed for
neck.  He directed h's attendants to remove Egypt, tak'ng wIth h m the captive Jehoahaz,
him from the ba-tle-field.  Escap'no     from  who there terminated his short and inglorithe heavy shower of arrows with  which ous career, according to the prophecy of
their broken ranks were overwhelmed, they Jeremiah. —Jer. xxi. 10-12.
removed him  fromn the chariot in which he    JEHOIAKIM, the eldest son of Josiah, was
was wounded, and placngo him in " a second twenty-five years old when he began to reign.
one that he hal," they conveyed him to lIe re:gned eleven yeamrs, and by his idola.
Jerusalem, where he died.   Thus prema- tries  and  misgovernment proved himself
turely perished, at the, age of th'rty-nine, worthy oL the throne of Ahaz and Manasseh.
one of tihe best an l most zealous k'ngei who Early in his reign he was called to repentever sat upon the throne of David. His zeal ance by the prophet Jeremiah, who publicly,
in his vocation, as the overturner of idlolatry, at the feast of tabernacles, in the ears of the
must have been much stimulated by the assembled nation, denounced, in the name
knowledge that he had been pre-ordalinmd, by of Jehovah, the severe;it judgments against
name, to this service, many centuries before king and people, including the destruction
his birth.  We know not why the last act of of the city and the temple.  For this he was
his lie should be deemed blameworthy by seized as a seod tious person, worthy of death;
m:any who in other respects think highly of I but he was acquitted lIy the nobles, and on
his chracter and reign.  Was it not rather this and other occasions screened by some
noble and heroic in him to oppose the vast persons of influence, who had been in power
host of Neeho, in obedience to the obligation in the good times of Josiah.
which his family had incurred to the Assyrian    Meanwhile the war in the east approached
kings, and in consideration of which his its termination. The allied Medes and Babygrandfather, his father, and himself, had lonians —the former under Cyaxares, and
been permitted to exercise  the sovereign the latter under Nabopolassar - besieged the
authority in the land?  The death of Josiah last Assyrian king in Nineveh.  The siege
was lamented by the prophet Jeremiah in an was turned into a blockade; and Nabopoelegiac ode, which has not been preserved.  lassar, already assuming the government of
Intent upon  his original design, Necho the empire which had fallen from the enfee



406                              AN ILLUSTRATED
bled hands of the Assyrians, despatched his mercy of the hero whose anger he had so
son Nebuchadnezzar westward, with an ade- unadvisedly provoked. Nebuchadnezzar laid
quate force, to chastise the Egyptians for siege to Jerusalem, and took it.  He corntheir late proceedings, and to restore the mitted no destructions but such as were the
revolted  Syrians and Phoenicians to their direct effect of his military operations: and,
obedience.  In  these different objects he with a leniency very rare in those days, he
completely succeeded.*   Carchemish (Jer. refrained from displacing Jehoiakim from his
xlvii. 2) he recovered from  the Egyptians, throne.  He was content to indemnify himand Jehoiakim was compelled to transfer his self by the spoils of the temple, part of the
allegiance from  Necho to the Babylonian. golden ornaments and vessels of which he
This was in the first year of his reign; in took away; and with removing to Babylon
the second Nineveh was taken and destroyed  some members of the royal family, and sons
by the allies.  The conquering Medes were of the principal nobles.  These would serve
content to have secured their independence as hostages, and at the same time help to
and avenged their wrongs, and left to the swell the pomp and ostentation of the Babyconcqlering Chaldseans the lion's share of the lonian court.  Among the persons thus respoil.  Babylon now  became the imperial moved were Daniel and his three friends,
capital;  but  Nabopolassar  himself, the whose  condition  and  conduct will  soon
founder of the  great Chaldea-Babylonian  engage our notice, as part of the history
empire, died almost immediately after the of the captivity.  It must be evident that
fall of Nineveh, and the young hero in the the leniency exhibited on this occasion by
west was called to fill the glorious throne Nebuchadnezzar may  be ascribed to his
which his father had set up.                desire to maintain the kingdom  of Judah
The absence of Nebuchadnezzar in another as a barrier between his Syrian dominions
quarter seemed to the king of Egypt a and Egypt; for since Egypt had become
favorable  opportunity  of recovering  his aggressive, it was no longer his interest that
foreign conquests.  He therefore undertook this barrier should be destroyed.
another expedition against Carehemish (Jer.    The court at Jerusalem  soon again fell
xlvi. 2);  and as Jehoiakim, in Judaea, into much disorder.  The king turned  a
renounced, about the same time, his sworn deaf ear to all wise counsel and all truth, as
allegianece to Nebuchadnezzar, there is much  delivered by the  prophet Jeremiah, and
reason to conclude that he was encouraged  listened only to the false prophets, who won
to this step by the Egyptian king.  This his favor by the flattering prospects which
measure  was  earnestly  but ineffectually they drew, and by the chimerical hopes
reprobated by the prophet Jeremiah, who which they created.  The final result was,
foretold  the  consequences which actually that this prince again had the temerity to
followed.                                   renounce his allegiance to the Babylonian,
Nebuchadnezzar, who was certainly the to whose clemency he owed his life and
greatest general of that age, did not allow  throne.
the Egyptian king to surprise him. He met    This occurred  in the fourth  year of
and defeated him at Carchemish, and then, Jehoiakim, B. C. G04, which it is important
pursuing his victory, stripped the Egyptian  to note, as it is from  this date that the
of all his northern  possessions, from  the  " seventy years " of the Babylonish captivRiver Euphrates to the Nile, and this by'so ity is with the greatest apparent propriety
strong an act of repression that he dared dated.  (Jer. xxv. 11; 2 Chron. xxxvi.
"come no more out of his own land."         21-23.)  This period of seventy years of
The  king of Judah now  lay at the exile was foretold by Jeremiah; t and it is
* Berosus in Egypt. Antiq. x. 11, 12.    Babylon," &c. (Ant. xi. 1, 1); for from  B. C.
t Dated from this point, the seventy years 605 to B. C. 536 was sixty-nine years complete,
expired in B. C. 536, the year that Cyrus took or seventy years current.  Hales, to whom we
Babylon, and issued a decree for the return of are indebted for this conclusion, thinks that it
such of the Jews as chose, throughout his affords a satisfactory adjustment of the chronoldominions, to their own land (Ezra iii. 1, v. 13); ogy of this most intricate and disputed period of
and this agrees with the account of Josephus, the captivity, and that in it "all the varying
"'in the first year of Cyrus, which was the reports of sacred and profane chronology are
seventieth (To e0Cdot 0orrrov) from the day of the reconciled and brought into harmony with each
removal of our people from their native land to other."




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    407
most remarkable, that, from  whichever of people assembled there.  He afterward, at
the more marked points these seventy years their request, read it more privately to the
be commenced,we are brought at the termi- princes.  They heard it with consternation,
nation to some one equally mnarked point in and determined to make its contents known
the history of the restoration and resettle- to the king.  Baruch was directed to go
ment of the nation.                           and conceal himself, and the roll was taken
Jehoiakim was not at all reformed by the and read to the king, who was then sitting
calamity which had befallen his house and in his winter apartment, with a brazier of
country.   It only served  to increase the burning     charcoal before him.  When he
ferocity of his spirit.  This reign, therefore, had heaird three or four sections, the king
continued to be cruel, tyrannical, and op- kindled into rage, and taking the roll from
pressive, and, still more and more, " his the reader, he cut it with the scribe's knife,
eyes and his heart were intent on covetous- and threw it into the fire, where it was conness, oppression, and the shedding of innocent sumned.  He also ordered the prophet and
blood."  Of this an instance is found in his friend to be put to death; but this was
the ease of the prophet Urijah, " whom  he averted  by  the kind  providence  of the
slew with the sword, and cast his dead body  Alhniglhty Master whom they served.
into the graves of the common people,"    The undaunted prophet directed Baruch
because he prophesied of the impending  to rew rite  the prophecy which  had been
calamities of Judah and Jerusalem.  (Jer. burnt, with additional matters of the same
xxii. 13-16, xxvi.  20-2I.)   For these puriport; while to Jehoiakim  himself the
things the personal doom  of Jehoiakim was terrible message was sent:thus pronounced by Jeremiah  -                          "Thus saith JEHOvAH,
Concerning Jehoiakim, kilg of' Judah, -
"  Thls saith JEHOVATH,        IHe shall have none to sit upon the throne of
Concerning Jehoiakitn, son of Josiah, king of    David;
Israel, -                                 And his dead body shall be cast out,
They shall not lament for him, saying,       In the day to the heat, and in the night to the
Ah, my brother i nor [for the queene, Ah, sister!  frost." - Jer. xxxvi. 30.
They shall not lament for him, saying,
Ah, Lord! nor [fo, herl], Ah, har glory!        The encl of this miserable man doubtless
With the burial of an ass shall he be buried,  corresponded with these predictions, although
Drawn forth and cast beyond the gates of Jeru- the historical narrative of that event is in
salem."'- (Jer. xxii. 18, 19.)           the historical narrative of that event is involved in some obscurity and apparent conFor this prophecy the prophet was cast tradiction.  The  statement we shall now
into prison, in the fourth year of Jehoia- give appears to be the only one by which,
kirn.  The following year, acted upon by as it appears to us, all these difficulties can
that strong constraint to deliver the wo)rd be reconciled.  It is evident that if Jehoiaintrusted to him, which he himself so forci- kim  did not again revolt, his conduct was
bly describes,* Jeremiah  dictated  to his at least so unsatisfactory to the king of Babyfriends and  follower, the scribe Baruch, Ion, that he sent an army against Jerusaanother prophecy, to the same effect as the lem, containing some Chaldaan troops, but
former, but couched in stronger language, composed  chiefly  from   the  surrounding
declaring the ruin which impended, through  subject nations, as the  Syrians, Moabites,
the Babylonian  king, unless speedy and and Ammonites.  In what manner they
strong repentance intervened  to avert the performed their mission we know  not, but
doom.  The roll, thus written, Baruch was according to the figurative description which
sent to read publicly to the people assembled  Ezekiel (ix. 5-9) gives of Jehoiakim  as a
from all the country on account of a solemn rapacious " lion's whelp," we learn that
fast for which  public opinion had called. "the nations from  the provinces set about
Baruch  accordingly  read  it in the court him on every side, and spread their net over
of the temple, in the audience of all the him, and he was taken  in their pit; and
* "Thou didst persuade me JEHOVAH, and I was    Into reproach and disgrace continually.
persuaded;                                But when I say, I will not make mention of it,
Thou wast stronger than I, and didst prevail.  Neither Till I speak any more in his name;
I am every day time object of laughter;       Then it becomes in my heart as a burning fire,
Every one of them holdeth me in derision.    Being pent up in my bones:
For whensoever I speak, -                     I am weary with refraining, and CANNOT [be
If I cry out of violence, and proelaim devastation,  silent]."- Jer. xx. 7-9.
The word of Jehovah is turned against me,




408                             AN ILLUSTRATED
they secured him with chains, and brought forfeited.  Even the captives in Mesopotamia
him to the king of Babylon."  Nebuchad- and Chaldvea were looking forward to a speedy
nezzar was then probably at iRiblah, at return to their own land.  These extravagalnt
which place the Eastern conquerors appear to expectations were strongly discouraged by
have usually held their court when in Syria. Jeremiah in Jerusalem, and by Ezekiel in
He bound the captive king " with fetters Mesopotamia; but their reproofs were not
[intending] to carry him  to Babylon" (2 heeded, nor their prophecies believed.  AcChron.  xxxvi. 6); but took him  first to cordingly, Zedekiah, who seems not to have
Jerusalem, where he appears to have died been ill-disposed, otherwise than as influenced
before this intention could be executed; by evil counsellors, was led openly to renounce
and the prophecies require us to conclude his allegiance, in the ninth year of his reign.
that his body was cast forth with indignity, The temerity of this act would be astonishing
and lay exposed to the elements and beasts and unaccountable, were it not that, as usual,
of prey, which is what is intended by " the the renunciation was attended by an alliance
burial of an ass."                         with the king of Egypt, Pharaoh-HophraThe preceding invaders appear to have the Apries and Vaphres of profane authors
been contented with securing the person of - who indeed had acquired a prominence in
Jehoiakim, and taking him to Nebuchadnez- this quarter which might make the preference
zar; for when they had departed with their roy- of his alliance seem  a comparatively safe
al captive, the people made his son JECONIAII  speculation.  Apries, in the early part of
(otherwise Jehoiachim and Coniah) king in I his reign, was a very prosperous king.  He
the room of his father.  He was then (B  C. sent an expedition against the Isle of Cyprus;
597) eighteen years of age, and had barely besieged and took Gaza (Jer. xlvii. 1) and
time to manifest his bad disposition, when the city of Sidon; engaged and vanquished
Nebuchadnezzar himself, who was displeased I the king of Tyre; and, being uniformly
at this appointment, appeared before Jeru- successful, he made himself master of Phoesalem.  It would seem that he was admitted nicia, and part of Palestine; thus recovering
without opposition, but Jeconiah was, never- much of that influence in Syria which had
theless, held a close prisoner.  The money been taken from Egypt by the Assyrians and
which remained in the royal treasury, and Babylonians.
the golden utensils of the  temple, were    From  the result it is evident that, on
collected and sent as spoil to Babylon; and  receiving the news of this revolt of one who
the deposed king, and his whole court, seven  owed his throne to himn, and whose fidelity to
thousand soldiers, one thousand artisans, and him  had been pledged by the most solemn
two thousand nobles and men of wealth, vows, Nebuchadnezzar resolved no longer to
altogether, with wives and children, amount- attempt to maintain the separate existence of
ing probably to 40,000 persons, were sent Judah as a royal state, but to incorporate it
away into captivity to the river Chebar (Cha- absolutely, as a province, with his empire.
boras) in Mesopotamia.  Thus only the An army was, with little delay, marched into
lower class of citizens and peasantry were Judeea, and laid immediate siege to Jerusaleft behind.  The future prophet, Ezekiel, lem.  Jeremiah continued to counsel the
was among the captives; and Mattaniah, the king to save the city and temple by unreremaining son of Josiah, and brother of served submission to the Chaldeans,and abainJehoiakim, was made king of the impov- donment of the Egyptian alliance; but his
erished land by Nebuchadnezzar, who, accord- auditors, trusting that the Egyptians would
ing to the custom in such cases, changed march to the relief of the place, determined
his name to ZEDEKIAH, and bound him by to protract the defence of the city to the
strong and solemn oaths of allegiance.     utmost.  The Egyptians did, in fact, march
The Hebrews who remained in Judah con- to their assistance; but when Nebuchadtinnued however to cherish dreams of inde- nezzar raised the siege of Jerusalem  and
pendence from the Chaldveans - impossible advanced to meet them, they retreated before
under the circumstances in which Western him into Egypt, without hazarding a battle.
Asia was then placed, or possible only through    The withdrawal of the Chaldvean forces
such special interventions of Providence as from  Jerusalem, with the  confident exhad glorified their early history, but all pectation that they would be defeated by
further claim to which they had long since the Egyptians, filled the inhabitants with the




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              409
most extravagant joy, and quite reversed -  ordered that the last throes of his murdered
and so evinced the hollowness of - the slight children should be his last sight in this
acts of repentance and reformation which the world.  His eyes were put out -  a barbarous
apparent urgency of danger had produced. mode of disqualifying a man for political
Their short-lived joy was terminated by the good or evil, with which the governments of
re-appearance of the Cbhaldeans before the the East still continue to visit those whose
city.  They prepared, however, to make a offences excite displeasure, or whose pretenvigorous, or at least a protracted defence, for sions create fear.  The blind king wa then
they well knew that, after so many provocations, little mercy was to be expected firom
Nebuchadnezzar, and they were probably
acquainted with the fell purpose which that
great monarch appears to have formed.
In the account of this siege much notice
is taken of the respective works, the forts,
the towers, &c, of the besiegers and the
besieged.  This may throw some light on the                               )
state to which the art of attacking  and
defending towns had then attained.                                     I
The siege was continued until the eleventh'1
year of Zedekiah  (B. C. 586), eighteen
months from the beginning, when the Chaldeans stormed the city about midnight, and
put the inhabitants to the sword, young andineleh marbles.)
old, many of them in the very courts of the
temple.  The king himnself, with his sons, led in fetters of brass to Babylon, where he
his officers, and the remnant of the army, died.  Thus were fulfilled two prophecies,
escaped from the city, but were pursued by by different and distant prophets, which by
the Chaldmans, and overtaken in the plain of their apparent dissonance had created mirth
Jericho, and carried as prisoners to Nebu- and derision in Jerusalem.  Jeremiah bad
chadnezzar, who was then at Iiblah in the told the king, after the return of the Chaldaean
army to the siege, that he should surely be
taken prisoner; that his eyes should  see
the king of Babylon, and that he should./  ___-_                   be carried captive to Babylon, and that
1s ~f,t/~1  lnJ            he should die there, not by the sword, but in
peace, and with the same honorable " burn-;  l rI        linugs"   with which his fathers had  been
interred * while Ezekiel had predicted that
he should be brought captive to Babylon,
Dt-_ _            W0=Adyet should never see that city, although he
should die therein.t
Nebuchadnezzar appears to have been dissatisfied at the only partial manner in which
Battering-ram aril moving twers. (Froi Nineveh   Lis purposes against Judwah bad been executed.  He therefore sent Nebuzaradan, the
province of Hanmab.  The Babylonian king  captain of his guard, with an army of Chalupbraided Zedekiah for his ingratitude anld dclans to Jerusalem.  The temple and the
breach of faith, and  ordered  a terrible icity were then burnt to the ground, and all
punishment to be inflicted on him.  To cut the walls demolished, while all the vessels of
off all future hope of reimning in his race, he brass, silver, and gold, which had been left
ordered his sons to be slain before his eyes; I before, and all the treasures of the temple,
and then, to exclude him  from all hope of the palace, and the houses of the nobles,
ever again reigning in his own person, he were taken for spoil; and of the people
e Jer. xxxii; 4, 5, xxxiv. 3, 5.                  Ezek. xii. 13.




410                             AN ILLUSTRATED
none were left but the poor of the land to murdered, with all the Hebrews and Chal.
be vine-dressers and husbandmen.   This dieans at Mizpeh who were attached to him;,
was about a month after the city was first by that bad man and his dependants.  The
taken.                                     vengeance of the Chaldeans was now to be
Thus was the land made desolate, that dreaded, and therefore Ishmael and all his
"she might enjoy her sabbaths," or the ar- followers fled toward  the country of the
rearage of sabbati6 years, of which she had Ammonites (who had promoted the designs
been defrauded by the avarice and disobe- of Ishmael).  They attempted to take with
dience of the people.  That these sabbatic them the king's daughter and the residue
years, being the celebration of every seventh of the people; but these were recovered by
year as a season of rest, even to the soil Johanan  and other officers, who pursued
which then lay fallow, amounted to not less them, so that Ishmael escaped with only
than seventy, shows how soon, and how long, eight men to the Ammonites.  Johanan and
that important and faith-testing institution the others were fearful of the effects of the
had been neglected by the nation. The early resentment of the Chaldveans for the massacre
predictions of Moses,* and the later one of of which Ishmael had been guilty.  They
Jeremiah,t that the land should enjoy the therefore determined to take refuge in Egypt
rest of which it had been defrauded, is very with all the people.  This intention was
remarkable, when we consider that, as exem- earnestly opposed by Jeremiah, who, in the
plified in Israel, it was not the general policy name of Jehovah, promised them  peace and
of the conquerors to leave the conquered safety if they remained; but threatened
country in desolation, but to replenish it death by pestilence, famine, and sword, if
by foreign colonists, by whom it might be they went down to Egypt. They went, howcultivated.                                ever, and compelled Jeremiah himself to go
Nebuchadnezzar made Gedaliah, a Hebrew  with them; and it is alleged by tradition
of distinction, governor of the poor remnant that they put him to death in that country
which was left in the land.  Gedaliah was a for the ominous prophecies he continued to
well-disposed man, of a generous and unsus- utter there.
pecting nature, who was anxious to promote    Nebuzaradan soon after arrived in the
the well-being of the people by reconciling country with the view of avenging the murthem  to the Babylonian government.  In  der of Gedaliah and the massacre of the
this design he was assisted by Jeremiah, who Chaldmans who were uwith him; but the
had been released from prison when the city country was so thin of inhabitants, in consewas taken, and was treated with much con- quence of the secession to Egypt, that he
sideration by the Babylonian general, to could find no more than seven hundred and
whose care he had been recommended by forty-five persons in the land, whom he sent
Nebuchadnezzar himself.  Nebuzaradan in- into captivity beyond the Euphrates.  Thus
deed offered to take him to Babylon and signally was the long-predicted depopulation
provide for him there; but the prophet chose of the land completed; and although nomadic
rather to remain with his fiiend Gedaliah, tribes wandered through the country, and
who fixed his residence at Mizpeh beyond  the Edomites settled in some of its southern
Jordan.                                    parts, yet the land remained, on the whole,
As soon as the Babylonian army had uninhabited, and ready for the Hebrews,
withdrawn, those nobles and warriors returned whose return'had as much been the subject
who had saved themselves by flight in the of prophecy as their captivity had been.
first instance.  Among these'was Ishmael, a    For the clearer apprehension of the filets
prince of the royal family, who, jealous of which have been stated, it will be desirable
the possession by Gedaliah of the govern- to trace the further operations of the Babyment to which he considered that his birth lonians in those quarters.
gave him the best right, formed a conspiracy    The year after the conquest of Judrea,
to take away his life.  This was intimated Nebuchadnezzar resolved  to take a severe
to the governor, but he treated it as an revenge upon all the surrounding nations
infamous calumny upon Ishmael, which gen- which had solicited the Judahites to a conerous confidence was rewarded by his being federacy against him, or had encouraged
eLev. xxvi. 34.                        t 2 Chron. xxxvi. 21.




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                              411
them  to rebel, although they now, for the found but little spoil to reward their long
most part, rejoiced  in their  destruction. toil and patience in the siege.  This had
These  were  the  Ammonites,  Moabites, been foretold by the prophet Ezekiel (Ezek.
Edomites, Arabians, the Sidonians, Tyrians, xxix. 18-20), but although Nebuchadnezzar
and Philistines; nor did he forget the Egyp- and his army were to obtain " no wages for
tians, who had taken a foremost part in the great service they had served against
action or intrigue against him.  This had Tyre," in the' long course of which " every
been foretold by the prophets.  It had been head was made bald and every shoulder
foretold that all these nations were to be peeled," yet as a compensation they were
subdued  by  Nebuchadnezzar, and  were promised  the  plunder of "the   land of
assigned to share with the Hebrews the Egypt, her multitude, her spoil, and her
bondage of seventy years to that power. prey."  Accordingly, in the spring of the
Some of them  were conquered sooner and year B. C. 570, after the war with Tyre
some later; but the end of this period was was finished, Nebuchadnezzar invaded Egypt,
the common term for the deliverance of them  and, from a concurrence of weakening cirall from their bondage to Babylon.        cumstances in that country, was enabled to
After Nebuchadnezzar had subdued the overrun the whole country firom Migdol, its
eastern and western states in his first cam- northern extremity, near the Red Sea, to
paign, he commenced the sieoe of the strong Syene, the southern, bordering upon Ethiocity of old Tyre, on the continent, in the pia.  This he also subdued, together with
year B. C. 584, being two years after the the other auxiliaries of the Egyptians.  The
destruction of Jerusalem.  This siege oc- reigning king was the same Pharaoh-Hophra,
cupied thirteen years, a fact which illustrates, or Apries, who was on the throne at the
perhaps, not so much the strength of the time Jerusalem  was besieged, and whose
place as the vitality of a commercial state. faint and abortive motion to relieve his allies
This is, however, only to intimate that has been recorded.  This proud and haughty
during this period the city was invested by tyrant was reduced to vassalage; and so
a Chaldman army; for many other important wasted and depopulated was the land by the
enterprises were  undertaken and  accom- invaders, that it lay comparatively desolate
plished during the same period.  It was for forty years.  The king was himself soon
during the siege that Nebuzaradan marched after defeated and captured by his disconinto Judma to avenge the murder of Gedaliah tented and revolted subjects, under Amasis,
and the Chaldveans, as was just related.  who was made king, and' who was reluctantly
Before Tyre was taken, the inhabitants, compelled by the clamors of the soldiers to
having the command of the sea, fled with inflict death upon his predecessor.  Amasis
all their effects to the insular Tyre in its was confirmed in the throne by the Assyrian
neighborhood;  so that the Chaldxan army king.
CHAPTER XXII.
THE CAPTIVITY. -  DANIEL. -  BELSHAZZAR.   DARIUS.
BEFORE  we enter  upon the historical   In the commencement of the work, we
details of the period which now opens, it is have stated, in general terms, the leading
proper to take a rapid survey of the princi- design of the selection of the Hebrew race,
ples developed in the history through which and of their settlement in the  land of
we have passed, and to indicate the conse- Canaan'as a distinct and peculiar people,
quenees which are exhibited in the portion and separated from all other nations by the,
that lies before us.                      peculiar institutions which were given to




412                               AN ILLUSTRATED
them.  That they were appointed  to be promises and designs of God of no effect'
" stewards of the mysteries of God," is the Nay, much otherwise; but rather tended to
substance of the considerations stated there illustrate the more strongly his Almightiness,
and enforced in subsequent passages.  The by the accomplishment of all his designs, in
history itself shows under what forms and spite of, and even through, the reluctance,
obligations the stewardship was imposed, and the imnprobity, and the treachery of the inhow unfaithfully its duties were discharged; strumerts lie employed.   They might have
and we are conime to the punishments which worked his high will wiih great happinecs
that unfaithfulness incurred.                and honor to themselves; but since they (lid
And did that unfaithfulness render the not choose this, they were compelled to work
_  ___      _______                     /
0 W LAN')
COLLECTIN'G DUNG FOR FUEL.
that will even by their misery and dishonor. notwithstanding their misdoings, is Py no
It was not in the power of the instruments means of difficult detection.   Politically
to frustrate the intentions of Jehovah; they considered, it ma:y be resolved into what
only had power to determine whether that has been in all ages and coluntries the lcadwill should be accomplished with happiness ing  cause of calamity and  misearriageor with misery to themselves, and, in conse- a reliance upon men  and upon individual
quence, somewhat to  vary the  mode  in character, which at best is but temporary
which those designs were exhibited and ful- and fluctuating, rather than upon institutions
filled.                                      which are permanent and unchanging.  In
The  main cause of the personal and these, every needful amelioration is an abiding
national failure of the Israelites, as instru- good; whereas the existence of a good king,
ments of a design which was accomplished or judge, or priest, is at the most but "a




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              413
fortunate accident," contingent on that most idolatry and its concomitant vices), done all
feeble thing, the breath of man.  Nothing that in them lay to frustrate the very objects
had been wanting to fortify their peculiar for the promotion of which existence had
position by institutions admirably suited to been given to them, they made it necessary
their destined object, and made more irn- that God should accomplish his own objects,
pregnable by numerous sanctions and obliga- nlot, as desired, by their welfare and by the
tions than any other institutions ever were, confusion of their enemies, but by their
or ever can, indeed, with any propriety, be misery and destitution.  It was left him to
made, by any authority short of that infinite demonstrate his almightiness — his supreme
wisdom  by which the Hebrew  institutions power over all the " gods" whieh swarmed
were established.  Thus the  nation was the world, not by overthrowing with his strong
placed in the peculiarly advantageous position hand all the enemies who rose against them,
which  many enlightened  nations have and by maintaining them in the land he had
struggled for and sought after in vain - that given them, against the old conquerors by
their happiness, their prosperity, their liber- whom great empires were thrown dl:wn, but
ties, were not dependent on the will of any by making these very nations the instruments
men or set of men, but rested on firm insti- of his punishments upon the chosen people.
tutions which were as obligatory upon the And this was accomplished  under such
chiefs of the land as upon the meanest of the peculiar circumstances of manifest intention
people.                                    and instrumentality, that the  conquerors
But this was a new thing on the earth, themselves were brought to acknowledge the
and  the  Hebrew  nation  seemted  utlterly supremacy of Jehovah, and that they had
incapable of appreciating its value; and, been but the blind agents of his will.  The
indeed, what Oriental nation is there, at this strong and marked interference to prevent
advanced day, by which the value of so " the great kings " fiom engrossing to themnprecious a gift would be duly appreciatedl? selves the merit or glory of their victories,
They rested always on men; they always and from  despising the God of the people
wanted leaders.  And as they were led they who, for their sins, had been abased at their
followed: if their leaders were good and footstool, even extorted from  these proud
just men, they did well; if evil men, not monarchs the avowal that they had reecived
well.  They turned their back upon institu- all their crowns and all their kingdoms from
tions, and threw themselves upon the acci- "the most high God," whom  the Hebrews
dents of human character:- and they fared worshipped.  Now this and other results of
accordingly.  This preference occurs every- the destitution of the Hebrews as strongly,
where in the history of this people, and is and perhaps more strikingly, subserved the
with peculiar prominence evinced in their great object of keeping alive in the world
determination to have " a kino to rule them  the knowledge of a supreme and universal
like the nations; " in the ease with which governor and creator, as by maintaining the
Jeroboam was enabled to establish a schis- Hebrews in Palestine.  Indeed, that this
matical worship in ten of the tribes; and in great truth was diffused among, and imthe facility with which, even in Judah, the pressed upon, the conquering nations by the
people followed the examples offered by their captivity  of  the  Hebrews, -  that " the
kings.                                     Lord's song " was not sung utterly in vain
With reference to this point, the character in a strange land, by the captives who wept
so frequently given to Jeroboam when the when they remembered Zion under the wilsacred writers have occasion to mention his lows and beside the waters of Babylon,name, as " Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who in short, that they received some salt which
sinned, and made fsrael to sin," has always kept.,them  from  utter putrefaction, some
seemed  to  us frightfully  emphatic  and leaven which wrought vitally in them  and
significant.                               prepared them for the revelations which the
Had the ancient Hebrews adhered to their " fulness of times " produced - is evinced
institutions, it was impossible for them, as a by the history of Daniel, by the edicts of
political body, not to have fulfilled their Nebuchadnezzar, of Darius, and, above all,
special vocation in the world.  But having, of Cyrus, and may even be traced in the
by the neglect of those institutions (which, tradition which ascribes the doctrines and
among other benefits, secured the absence of important reforms of Zoroaster to his inter



414                               AN ILLUSTRATED
course with the Jewish captives and prophets sites to which the Israelites were removed is
at Babylon.                                  a matter of some interest, but one which, in
Thus, although they had forfeited the high a work like the present, does not require any
destiny of preserving and propagating cer- large investigation.  The interest lies in the
tain truths as an independent and sovereign means thus given of determining the district
people, the forfeiture extended only to their to which  the Israelites were expatriated;
own position, for the truths intrusted to them  and it is sufficient for us to state that all the
were still preserved and  diffused through  investigations which have yet been instituted,
the instrumentality  of their bondage and  and all the information which has yet been
acquired, concur in referring all these names
(exceptingo, of course, the River Chebar) to
E    a     a                   that north-western part of the present Persian
empire which formed the ancient Media.  It
is, indeed, remarkable that the only other cities
whose names occur in the history of the captivity of the ten tribes are Rhages and Ecbatarna, which we k1now to have been important cities of Media, in both  of which it
appears that the expatriated Israelites were
settled in considerable numbers.'ij llij A ~              lEven this much it is important to learn;!.eca use of itself it thlrows much light upon
t'lhe policy of the Assyrian conquerors, and
_`U~f;   -~_-~-r= —~ —'-~ —=upon the position which the removed Israel
1. Female, supposed to,elpresent a Jewi-:h captive wear- ites ultimately occupied.  Media was then
ing the veil, from 2inev'eh Marbles. 2. Modern wollman subject to the Assyrian empire, although
still chiefly occupied by the native Medes;
punishment.   This was true even inl the it seems, therefore, to have been the policy
times posterior to their restoration to their of the Assyrians to remove the inhabitants of
own land.                                     one conquered country to another conquered
We have been anxious to make these  country with  the view  of weakening the
remarks, lest the facts of the history should  separate interest or nationality of both, and
seem to intimate that the divine intention in of promoting  such a fusion of races atnd
the establishmnent of the Hebrew  common- nations as might tend to realize tranquillity
wealth was.frustrated by the perversity  of and  permanence  to  the  general empire.
the people which rendered the subversion of Froml this allocation of the expatriated Isthat conmmnonwealth necessary.  Having, as raelites in Media results the important fact
we trust. shown that there is no room  for that, whereas Judab was always subject to
this conclusion, it may see.n better to reserve  the conquering nation, Israel was only so for
such further remarks as may tend to develop  a short time, as the Medes, among whom
the spirit of the ensuing history, for the  they were placed, were not long in asserting
natural connection with the record of the  their independence  of Assyria, which emcircumstances in which they are involved. pire they (with the Babylonians) ultimately
We now therefore proceed to record the cap- subverted, and continued independent of the
tivities of Israel and of Judah.              great Babylonian empire which succeeded,
When Jerusalem was destroyed, one hun- and to which  the captives of Judah were
dred and ninety-four years had elapsed since subject.  So, then, the relations of the ten
the Israelites of Galilee and  Gilead had tribes were with the Medes, not with the
been led away captive into Assyria; one Assyrians or Babylonians; and their relanhundred and thirty-three years since Shal- tions with the Medes were not, and were
maneser had removed  the  ten  tribes  to necessarily far better than, those between
HIalah, and Habor by the River Gozan, and captives  and  conquerors.   It  does  not
to Hara and other cities of Media; and ten appear how the Medes could regard them,
years since  Nebuchadnezzar had banished or that they  did regard  them, otherwise
some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem to the than  as useful and  respectable  colonists
river of Chebar.  The determination of the whom  the common  oppressor had  placed




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                               415
among them, and whose continued presence tion of one of the expatriated Hebrews is
it was desirable to solicit and retain.  It is significant in its indications, as it shows
hard to call this a captivity; but since it is that, as afterward with their brethren in
usually so described, it is important to Babylon, offices of  importance and profit
remark that the captivity of the ten tribes were, under the Assyrians, open to the
and that of Judah  was under different, and ambition, or rewarded the good conduct of
independent, and not always friendly, states. the Israelites.  Tobit availed himself of his
There is a vague  notion that since the position to visit his brother Israelites in
Babylonians subverted and succeeded the other cities, to cheer them and to encourage
Assyrians, the Israelites, who had been cap- their reasonable hopes and enterprises.  He
tives to the Assyrians, became such to the must have acquired considerable wealth, as
Babylonians, and were afterwards joined in he was enabled to deposit ten talents of
that captivity by their brethren of Judah; silver in the hands of Gabel of Rhages, in
but this, as we have seen, was by no means Media.  That he did this may seem to imply
the case.                                  that the captives stationed in Media were
The information we possess respecting the considered more. securely circumstanced than
condition of the ten tribes, before and after those directly under the eye of the Asthe fall of Jerusalem, is exceedingly scanty. | Syrians.  When Sennacherib returned fiom
It is certain that during the long years his signal overthrow in Palestine, he vented
which passed before Judah also was carried his ill-humor upon the Hebrew captives, and
into captivity, the expatriated Israelites fully caused many of them  to be put to death,
participated in all the extravagant hopes of and their bodies were cast forth to remain
their brethren in Judah, and were looking unburied  beyond  the walls of Nineveh.
with sanguine expectations for a speedy res- This was very shocking to the pious Tobit,
toration to their own land; and the adverse who made it a practice to inter by night the
prophecies and declarations of Ezekiel were bodies of his brethren whom he found  unas little heeded by them as those of Jeremiah buried.  The absence of the bodies occawere at Jerusalem.                         sioned inquiry, and the truth came to the
The apocryphal book of Tobit is the only knowledge of the tyrant, who would have
source from which any information can be put him  to death; but the good mall reobtained as to the social position of the ceived timely warning, and made his escape
expatriated Israelites.   We are certainly firom  Nineveh.   The tyrant himself was
not among those who would like to repose soon slain by his own sons; and (another
much belief in " the stupid story of Tobias trarked instance of promotion) his succesand his dog; " yet the framework of that sor, Esarhaddon,  appointed  Achiacharus,
story is so much in agreement with what we Tobit's nephew, to be his " cupbearer, and
do know, and is so probable and natural in keeper of the signet, and overseer of the
itself, that it would seem  to have been accounts."   Through this person, Tobit
"founded on facts," and to have been con- received permission to return to Nineveh.
cocted by one who was intimately acquainted But he was reduced to comparative poverty,
with the condition and affairs of the Israelites and total blindness was soon after added to
under the Assyrians.                       his misfortunes.  His nephew, Achiacharus,
From this it would appear, that many of was kind to the family under these circumlthe captives were stationed at Nineveh it- stances, until Tobit thought proper to remove
self, where they would seem to have lived into Elymais.  There poverty was still their
much like other citizens, and were allowed lot; and they were supported chiefly by the
to possess or acquire considerable wealth. wife, Anna, who took in " woman's work,"
Among these was Tobit, of the tribe and and sometimes obtained presents from her
city of Naphtali, a man who feared God, employers above her actual earnings.
as doubtless many other of the captives did,   At last Tobit, who had  returned  to
and who, as far as in his power, squared his Nineveh, bethought him  of the valuable
conduct by the rules and observances of property he had left with Gabel at Rhages,
the Mosaical law, and acquired such a char- and he sent his son to reclaim it, after giving
acter for probity, that the conqueror him- him such instructions as shows that travelself, Shalmaneser, took notice of him, and ling was then, as almost ever since, danappointed him  his purveyor.  This promo- gerous in those countries.   The romantic




416                             AN ILLUSTRATED
adventures of young Tobias on the journey brought before the king to be examined as
form the most suspicious part of the book -   to their proficiency, when the young persons
perhaps the only suspicious part; for which named were " found to be ten times better
reason, as well as because it affords none informed in all matters of wisdom  and unof the illustration we require, we willingly derstanding than all the mnagi or astrologers
pass it by.  It may suffice to state that that were in the whole realm."  They were
Tobias prospered in his journey.   Tobit accordingly admitted  to a place in that
lived in Nineveh to the good old age of learned body.
158 years, and before his death foretold    Seventeen years after the destruction of
the approaching troubles of Assyria and Jerusalem, and the second year after the
the destruction of Nineveh, and that " for a devastation of Egypt, when all his enemies
time peace should rather be in Media," to were subdued on every side, and when his
which he advised  his  son  to withdraw. rule extended over many nations, NebuchadTobias was mindful of his counsel, and nezzar had a dream, which left a profound
withdrew to Ecbatana, where, in due time, impression upon his mind, but the details of
he heard of the destruction of Nineveh  which he was unable to recover when he
by the combined forces of the Meodes and awoke.  He therefore sent for all the magi
Babylonians.                               and astrologers, requiring that by theil ocWe have already stated the inferences, as cult skill and pretended influence with the
to the condition of the expatriated Israelites, gods, they should not only interpret but
which this narrative opens, although we recover the dream  he had lost.  This they
have no infornmation as to their conditioa avowed themselves unable to do; whereupol
after the fall of Nineveh and du:ring the the enraged and  disappointed king comcontemporary captivity of Judahl.  But there manded them to be massacred.  Daniel and
is every reason to conclude that their posi- Ilis fiiends were sought for, to be included
tion under the Medes, when Media became in this doomn; but Daniel, being informed
an independent and well-governed state, was of the cause, repaired to the royal presence,
even less disadvantageous and unequal than and  promised that if further time were
it had been when that country was part of' allowed, he would undertake that the dream
the Assyrian empire.                       and an interpretation should be found.  To
We have broughlt the history of the king- this  the  king willingly agreed; and the
dom  of JLdah downe to the destruction of' pious youths betook themselves to fasting
Jerusalem and the desolation of the country. and prayer, in the hope that God would
But the history of the captivity must take enable them  to satisfy the king's demand.
us back to an earlier date, even to the titme Nor was their expectation  disappointed.
when Nebuchadnezzar spoiled the temple of The matter was made known to Daniel in
its costly utenlsils, anod sent away to Baby- a vision.  He was then enabled to remind
Ion a number of young princes and nobles the king that he had seen in his dream a
as hostages for the fidelity of the people and compound imalge, and to inform  him that
their new  king.  This was eleven years this image represented "the things that should
before the fall of Jerusalem.              come to pass thereafter."  In this compound
Among these captives were Daniel, and image, the head of pure gold denoted Nebuhis three friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and chadnezzar himself, and the succeeding kings
Azariah.  These, as tokens of their enslaved of the Babylonian dynasty; the breast and
condition, received Chaldaean names, more arms of silver, indicated the succeeding bat
familiar than their own to the organs of the inferior empire of the Moedes and Persians;
conquering people.  Daniel was called Bel- the belly and thighs of brass, the next folteshazzar; Hananiah, Shadrach; Mishael, lowing empire of the Macedonians and the
Meshach; and Azariah, Abednego.  These Greeks, whose arms were brass; the legs qf
were, among others of the most promising iron, and the toes partly iron fand partly
youths, selected to be educated in the pal- clay, refer to  the Roman empire, which
ace for three years, under the charge of the should be strong as iron, but the kingdoms
chief of the eunuchs, in the learning and lan- into which it would ultimately subdivide,
guage of the Chaldmans, to qualify them for composed of heterogeneous materials, which
holding offices about the court and in the should be partly strong and partly weak;
state.  At the end of that time they were and, lastly, the STONE smiting the image




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                            417
and filling the whole earth, denoted the highest civil and scientific offices in the
kingdom of Christ, which was to be set up state.  At his request, also, his three friends
upon the ruins of these temporal kingdoms were appointed to conduct under him in the
and empires, and was destined to fill the affairs of his provincial government, while
whole earth, and to stand or continue for- he himself took a high place, if not the first
ever.  "Thou art this head of gold," said place, in the civil councils of the king.
the prophet to the king; but he did not   The services of Daniel and his fiiends
indicate the names and sources of the suc- proved too valuable to be d spensed with;
ceeding and then. non-existing empires with but mature deliberation disgusted the king
equal distinctness.  But we know them, not at his dream and its interpretation, and h:s
only from  the order in which they succeed, pride disposed him to retract the aeknowland fiom the characters ascribed to themrn; edgment he had made of the supremacy
but from the subsequent visions of Daniel of the God of a conquered people.  It was,
himself, in which these empires are distinctly as we apprehend, under this influence that
named, and by which the meaning of this he erected a great image, of which not the
primary vision is gradually unfolded, and head only, but the whole figure was of gold,*
which form, together, one grand chain of *to denote the continuance of his empire, in
prophecy, extending to the end of time, and opposition to his dream; and it was dedicated
so clear and distinct, that as much of them  to the tutelary god Bel, or Belus, whose
(nearly the whole) as is already fulfilled, power he now considered superior to that of
and which was once a shadowing forth of the God of the Hebrews; whereby, in the,
the future, reads like a condensed history most offensive manner, he revoked his former
of past ages.                            concession.  All men were commanded to
From the first, Daniel had disclaimed any worship this, and no other god, on pain of
peculiar pretensions to wisdom. " There is," death: in consequence of which, the three
he said, "a God in heaven who revealeth friends  of Daniel, who  continued  their
secrets;" and to him he not only referred worship of Jehovah, with their faces turned
all the credit of the interpretation, but plainly toward Jerusalem, anl took no notice of the
told the king that it was to the appointments golden image, were seized, and cast into an
of this "God in heaven," who  had the intensely heated furnace. But by the special
supreme disposal of all events, that he owed and manifest interposition of the God they
all the kingdoms which he ruled.  Here was served, they were delivered without a hair
a grand instance  of that testimony  for of their heads being injured: by which fact
Jehovah to which, when introducing this the king, who was present, was constrained
chapter, we had occasion to advert.  The to confess that the God of the Hebrews, who
king was much struck by it, so that, while could after this sort deliver his people, was
he  prostrated  himself before  Daniel as unquestionably superior to all others.
before a superior, he acknowledged that the    Nebuchadnezzar manifestly was endowed
God who could enable him  to reveal this with many great and generous qualities;
great secret was indeed the God of gods but he was spoiled by prosperity, while, by
and Lord of kings.  Who does not see that the very aggrandizement which exalted his
it was for the purpose of impressing this con- pride, he had been fixed into a position
vietion that the dream  was given to him, which made it necessary to the Divine glory
the forgetfulness inflicted, and the inter- that he should be brought to, and kept in,
pretation bestowed on Daniel?            the acknowledgment that in all his acts he had
Nebuchadnezzar was not slow in reward- been but an instrument in the hands of the
ing the distinguished qualities which the God worshipped by one of the nations which
prophet exhibited.  He appointed him ruler had received his yoke, and whose superiority
over the whole province of Babylon, and, at at least, if not his unity, he was required to
the same time, "chief governer over all acknowledge.
the wise men of Babylon"' (Rab-Mag, or   In another dream  he was forewarned of
Archimayus, Jar. xxxii. 3), two of the the consequences of his excessive pride. This
* This was probably the statue of solid gold, by Daniel, sixty cubits, probably included the
twelve cubits high, which, according to Herodo- pedestal or pillars on which it stood, as otherwise
tus, stood in the temple of Belus, until it was its height would have been disproportionate to
taken away by Xerxes. The height mentioned its breadth, six cubits.
27




418                           AN ILLUSTRATED
dream Daniel unflinchingly interpreted; but chadnezzar, praise, and extol, and honor the
whatever effect it might produce was of no King of heaven, all whose works are truth,
long duration.  Twelve months after, while and his ways judgment; and those that walk
contemplating his extensive dominion and in pride he is able to abase."  This noble
the splendor to which he had raised the great acknowledgment demonstrates our former
city of Babylon, his heart swelled with kingly argument, that care was taken by Jehovah
pride, and he exclaimed, "Is not this great to maintain his own honor, and to secure
Babylon, which I have built for the capital his own great objects, notwithstanding, and
of the kingdom, by the might of my power, indeed through, that bondage to which sin
and for the honor of my majesty?"  While had reduced his people.
these words were in his mouth, there fell a   After a long reign of forty-three years,
voice from heaven, saying, " O king Nebu- Nebuchadnezzar died in 561, and was succhadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: The king- ceeded by his son, Evil-Merodach. A Jewish
dom is departed from thee.  And they shall tradition * reports that this prince behaved
drive thee from  men, and thy  dwelling so ill, by provoking a rupture with the
shall be with the beasts of the field; they Medes, during the distraction of his father,
shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and that Nebuchadnezzar, on his recovery, threw
seven times [years] shall pass, over thee, him into prison; and that he there became
until thou know that the Most High ruleth acquainted with, and interested in, Jehoiain the kingdom of men, and giveth it to chim, the imprisoned king of Judah.  Howwhomsoever he will."  The thing was ac- ever this may be, it is certain that one of
complished that very hour; and in this state the first acts of his reign was to release
he remained until " his hairs were grown like Jehoiachim from his long imprisonment of
eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' thirty-seven years; and during the remainder
claws."  The meaning of which seems to be of his life he treated him with much distinethat his proud mind was in that instant tion and kindness, giving him a place at his
shattered, and fell into a kind of monomania, court and table above all the other captive
which made him fancy himself some animal; kings then in Babylon.  As, however, the
in conseqcuence of which it was judged neces- text implies that he died before his benefacsary by his physicians to humor. his fancy by tor, who himself survived but three years,
treating him as such, and by allowing him  the Hebrew king could not long have outwithin certain limits to act as such.  The lived his release.  Evil-Merodach was slain
sequel cannot be more emphatically told in a battle against the united Medes and
than in his own words, as found in an Persians, who by this time had become very
edict, recounting these circumstances, which powerful by their junction and intermarhe issued on his recovery.  "At the end of riages.  The combined force was on this
the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine occasion commanded by young Cyrus, who
eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding had already begun to distinguish himself,
returned unto me, and I blessed the Most and who had been appointed to this command
High, and I praised and honored him that by his uncle and father-in-law, Cyaxaresliveth for ever and ever, whose dominion is " Darius the Mede" of scripture - king of
an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom  the Medes.  This was in B. C. 558.
from generation to generation.  And all the    Evil-Merodach was succeeded by his son
inhabitants of the earth are reputed as Belshazzar.  The end only of this.monarch's
nothing; and he doeth according to his will reign is noticed in scripture; but Xenophon t
in the army of heaven, and among the gives instances of his earlier conduct on the
inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay throne, of which only a barbarous and jealhis hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? ous tyrant could have been capable.  His
At the same time my reason returned; and last and most heinous offence was the profafor the glory of my king-dom, mine honor nation of the sacred vessels belonging to the
and brightness returned unto me; and my Jerusalem  temple, which  his illustrious
counsellors and lords sought unto me; and I grandfather, and even his incapable father,
was established in my kingdom, and excellent had respected.  Having made a great feast
majesty was added unto lme. Now I, Nebu- "to a thousand of his lords," he ordered
* Noticed by Jerome on Isaiah xiv.                i Cyrop. i. 4.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              419
the sacred vessels to be brought, that he and the queen-mother, or rather grandmother *
his wassailers might drink wine from them. made her appearance.   She soothed the
That there was an intentional insult to the troubled monarch, and reminded him of the
Most Hligh in this act transpires in the nar- services and character of Daniel; indicating
rative: " They praised the gods of gold, him as one " in whom is the spirit of the holy
silver, brass, iron, and stone; but THE GOD God; and in the days of thy grandfather
in whose hand was their breath, and whose light, and understanding, and wisdom, like
were all their ways, they praised or glorified the wisdom of the gods was found in him; "
not."  Indeed, to appreciate fully this act and therefore one who was likely to affold
and its consequences, it is indispensably Belshazzar the satisfaction which he sought.
necessary that the mind should revert to the It was probably the custom at Babylon (as
operations by which the supremacy of Jeho- with respect to the corresponding officer in
vah was impressed upon Nebuchadnezzar -   other Oriental courts) for the archimagus to
operations not hid in a corner; and which, lose his office on the death of the king to
together with the public confessions and whose court he was attached; and that,
declarations of this conviction which were consequently, Daniel had withdrawn into
extorted from that magnanimous king, must private life on the death of Nebuchadnezzar.
have diffused much formal acquaintance with This will explain how the king needed to be
the name and claims of Jehovah among the reminded of him, and how the prophet was
Babylonians, with which also the royal family in the first instance absent from among those
must have been in a peculiar degree familiar, who were called to interpret the writing on
not only through these circumstances, but the wall.
through Daniel, who had occupied high rank    Daniel was sent for: and whene he apat court in the still recent reign of Nebu- peared, the king repeated what he had heard
chadnezzar, and whose mere presence must of him; stated the inability of the magiciains
constantly have suggested the means to which to interpret the portentous words; and promhis advancement was owing.  From  this it ised him, as the reward of interpretation,
will be seen, that, on the principle of opera- that he should be clad in scealiet,t with a
tion which we have indicated in the early chain of gold about his neck, and that he
part of this chapter, the time was now come should rank as the third person in the kingfor another act whereby  Jehovah  might domn.  The  venerable  prophet modestly
vindicate the honor of his own great Name, waived the proffered honors and rewards, as
and enforce his peculiar and exclusive claims having no weight to induce his compliance:
to the homage of mankind.                     " Thy gifts be to thyself and give thy
Suddenly a mysterious hand appeared, rewards to another; nevertheless I will read
writing conspicuously upon the wall words the writing to the king."  But, first, he
of ominous import, but which no one could undauntedly reminded the king of the exunderstand; for, although they were in the perience, and resulting convictions of his
vernacular Chaldean language, the character renowned grandfather - adding, with emphain which they were written was the primitive sis," And thou, his grandson, 0 Belshazzar,
old Hebrew, which differed totally from the hast not humbled thy heart, although thou
Chaldee, and was the original from  which knewest all this."  He then read the inthat which is called the Samaritan character scription:was formed.  The king himself was greatly  " AIENE, AMENE, TEKEL, [PERES], UPHARSIN."
agitated, and commanded the instant attend- NVumber, Nzumber, Weight, [Division] andl Divisions,
ance of the magi and astrologers.  They and proceeded to give the interpretation:came, but were utterly unable to divine the    " Mene, God had numbered thy reign, and
meaning of  the  portentous words  upon    " [Mene], hath finished it.?
the wall.  This increased the terror of the    " Tekel, Thou art weighed in the balance
impious king, which was at its height when and found wanting.
* So she is called by Josephus, 7i? ytzaylz avrov; noble, is known by the scarlet mantle which he
indeed, the part she took on this occasion is so wears on occasions of ceremony.
probable of no one as of the widow of Nebu-   t The repetition merely giving emphasis to the
chadnezzar.                                signification, indicating its certainty and speedy
t It is singular that in Persia scarlet is at this accomplishment.
day the distinctive color of nobility. A khan, or




420                             AN ILLUSTRATED
" Peres, Thy kingdom is divided.        once became painfully conscious of his weak
"Upharsin, And given to the Mede and and criminal conduct, when his most trusted
the Persian (Darius and Cyrus)."           servant, Daniel, was accused before him  as
The king heard this terrible sentence: but an open transgressor of this decree, and his
made no remark further than to command punishment demanded.  Among the Medes
that Daniel should be invested with the prom- and Persians there was a singular restraint
ised  scarlet robe and golden chain, and upon despotism — which while at the first
that the third rank in the kingdom  should view  it seemed to give intensity to  the
be assigned to him.                        exercise of despotic power, really tended to
The sacred historian adds, with great con- deter the kings from hasty and ill-considered
ciseness, " That same night was Belshazzar, decisions, by compelling them  to feel the
king of the Chaldclans, slain."  How, we evil consequences with which  they were
are not told: but we may collect from  attended.  The king's word was irrevocable
Xenophon (Cyrop. lib. vii.) that he was law.  He could not himself dispense with
slain through the conspiracy of two nobles, the consequences of his own acts.  Of this
on whom he had inflicted the greatest indig- Darius was reminded: and he saw  at once
nities which men could receive.  This was in that he was precluded from interfering in
553 B. C., in the fifth year of his reign.  behalf of his friend.  It is a beautiful illusHe was succeeded by his son, a boy, named tration of the great truth, which appears as
Laborosoarchod  (Joseph. ceont. Apion, i. the main argument of this chapter, namely,
20); but as he was put out of the way in  that the glory of God was promoted amcng
less than a year, he is passed over in Ptole- the heathen by the captivity of his people,my's Canon, as well as in the sacred history, that the king himself was already so well
which relates that, as following the death of  acquainted with the character and power of
Belshazzar, " Darius the Mede took  the  Jehovah, that he spontaneously rested himkingdom."  In fact. the family of Nebu- self upon  the hope, that, although unable
ohadnezzar being extinct, Cyaxares, or (to  himself to deliver him fiom  this well-lai(l.
give him his scriptural name) Darius, who snare, the God whom Daniel selved would ceerwas brother to the queen-mother, and the tainly not suffer h'm to perish.  The prophet
next of kin by her side to the crown, had  was cast into the lion's den; and the mouth
the most obvious right to the vacant throne; thereof was closed with a sealed stone.  The
and while his power was so great as to over- king spent the night sleepless and in sorrow.
awe all competition, the express indication of Impelled by his vague hopes, he hastened early
him by the prophet in his interpretation of in the morning to the cavern, and cried in a
the inscription was calculated to have much  doleful voice, " O  Daniel, servant of the
weight with all concerned, and indeed with  living God, hath thy God, whom thou servest
the whole nation.                          continually, been able to deliver thee from
Daniel, naturally, came into high favor the lions? "   To the unutterable joy and
with Darius, to whose accession he had so astonishment of the king, the quiet 1voice
materially contributed.  On making out the of Daniel returned an  affirmative answer,
new appointments of the governors of prov- assuring the king of his perfect safety.  Ininces, the prophet was set over them  all: stantly the cavern was opened, the servant
and the king contemplated a still further of God drawn forth; and his accusers were
elevation for him.  This excited the dislike  cast in, and immediately destroyed by the
and jealousy of the native princes and presi- savage inmates of the den.  This striking
dents, who determined to work his ruin. interposition  induced the king to issue a
In his administration, his hands were so pure, proclamation, to the same ultimate effect as
that no ground of accusation could be found that which Nebuchadnezzar had issued in a
against him.  They therefore devised a plan former time.  He wrote unto " all peoples,
by which Daniel's known and tried fidelity nations, and languages, that dwell in all
to his religion should work his destruction. the earth," charging them  to "tiemble and
Theyprocuredfrom the carelessandl vain king fear before the God of Daniel; for he is
a decree, that no one should for thirty days the God that liveth, and is steadfast, forever,
offer any prayer or petition to any god or man and his kingdom shall not be destroyed, and
save the king himself, under pain of being his dominion shall be even unto the end."
east into  the  lion's den.  The king at It would not be easy to overrate  the im



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HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                                421
portance of the diffusion of such truths as stream into this new channel; and the old
these through the length and breadth of the one, left dry, offered a free passage to the
Median empire.                              exulting  Persians.  Even  yet,  however,
It was the  established  policy of the their condition, in the bed of the river,
Medes and Persians to conciliate the good might have been perilous, and a vigilant
will of the subject states, by leaving the enemy might have surprised them  as in a
practical government in the hands of native net; but that night a public festival was
princes.  Darius, therefore, as we may col- celebrated in Babylon, and all there was
lect from Berosus, appointed Nabonadius, a confusion and drunkenness.  From  this, as
Babylonian  noble, unconnected with  the well as from  the little reason to apprehend
royal family, to be viceroy, or king under danger on that side, the gates leading from the
him.  This appointment was confirmed or quays into the city were that night left open,
continued by Cyrus, when he succeeded to so that an easy and unopposed access was
the general empire on the death of his offered to the army of Cyrus, and the king
uncle, in B. C. 551.                        was horror-struck and paralyzed, as succesDuring the first years of his reign, Cyrus sive messengers arrived in haste from  the
was too much occupied in foreign wars. to various distant quarters of the city, to inform
pay much attention to Babylon; and this him  that the Persians had entered there,
gave Nabonadius an opportunity to assert and thus to learn, that, at both extremities
his independence, and to maintain it until at once, great Babylon was taken, B. C.
the hero was at leisure to call him  to ac- 536.
count.  This was not until B. C. 538,    Daniel was still alive, and there is eviwhen  this great prince  marched  against dence that Cyrus knew and valued his charBabylon, with the determination to crown his acter.  The apocryphal history of Bel and
many victories by its reduction.  Nabona- Dragon says that Cyrus conversed much
dins, on his part, seems to have been en- with him, and honored him above all his
couraged by his diviners (Isa. xliv. 25), to friends.  But we have better evidence in
repose much confidence in his own resources, effects which, seeing Daniel still lived, may
and in the stability of the kingdom he had  very safely be, in some degree, referred to
established.   He ventured  to  meet the the instruction and counsel which the now
Persian army on its advance towaid the very aged prophet was able to give.
city; but was defeated in a pitched battle,    There is an important and most striking
and driven back to abide a siege within the prophecy by Isaiah (xliv. 24, to xlv. 6) in
walls of Babylon.  Still all was not lost; which Cyrus is mentioned by name, and his
for not only was the city strongly fortified, exploits predicted, more than a century bebut a siege by blockade was likely to be fore his birth.  To him  it is expressly
indefinitely protracted, as the town not only  addressed, and in terms of tenderness and
possessed immense stores of provisions, but respect, which was never, in any other inthe consumption of them would be greatly  stance, applied to a heathen- if it be just
lessened by means of the large open spaces to apply that name  to Cyrus.  In  this
within the city, in which all kinds of prod- splendid  prophecy  Jehovah  calls  Cyrus
ece could be raised to a considerable extent. " my shepherd, who shall perform  all my
In fact, the siege continued for two years, pleasure; " and, "mine anointed."   His
and Babylon was then only taken by a victories are foretold, and ascribed to Jeremarkable  stratagem.   Cyrus  observed hovah; and, in a particular manner, the
that the town lay the most exposed on the taking of Babylon by him  is foreshown,
side of the river, and therefore he caused a even to the indication of the very peculiar
new bed to be dug for its waters; and at manner  in  which  that  conquest  was
an appointed time, by night, the dikes were achieved.*  And the object of all this —
cut, and the Euphrates rolled its humbled of his existence, of his acts, and even of
* "Thus saith Jehovah of his anointed,          The valves of brass will I break asunder,
Of Cyrus, whose right hand I hold fast,     And the bars of iron will I hew down.
That I may subdue nations before him,       And I will give to thee the treasures of darkness,
And ungird the loins of kings;              And stores deeply hid in secret places;
That I may open before him the valves,      That thou mayest know that I, JEHOVATT,
And the gates shall not be shut;            That call thee by name, am the God of Israel.
I myself will march on before thee,         For the sake of Jacob my servant,
And will make the crooked places straight,  And of Israel my chosen one,




422                             AN ILLUSTRATED
this prophecy concerning him  and them —    Accordingly, the proclamation proceeded
is declared, with marked emphasis, to be, not only to grant free permission for such of
that he may be in a condition to restore the the seed of Abraham  as thought proper to
captivity of Judah, and that such convic- return  to their own land, but also comtions might be wrought in him  as might manded the authorities of the places in which
incline to fulfil this his vocation, and to they lived to afford every facility to their
become acquainted with the supreme and rerigP'ation.
sole power of Jehovah.  And the careful   Before accompanying them  on their rereader will not fail to note in this sublime turn, it may be well to contemplate the results
address to one destined to live in a future of the circumstances which have been related,
generation, not only a clear assertion of the as affecting the position of the captive Jews
unity of God, and his universal power and during the period through which we have
providence, but a distinct blow at the peculiar passed.
superstition of Cyrus and his people —which    There is certainly nothing to suggest that
consisted in the adoration of two principles their condition was one of abject wretched-the good and evil, represented by light ness.  This is in some degree shown by the
and darkness.  Hence the emphasis of-       high offices enjoyed by Daniel and his three
"friends; and by the distinction conferred
I makte peace, and create evil."       upon King Jehoiachim  by Evil-Merodach.
He not only enjoyed the first rank over all
We can easily imagine the impression  the kings then at Babylon, but ate at the table
which the perusal of these prophecies would  of the monarch, and received allowances cormake upon the ingenuous mind of this great responding to his rank. While these circumman, accompanied by the explanations which  stances of honor must have reflected a degree
Daniel could pour into his willing ears, and  of dignity on the exiles, sufficient to protect
with the further intimation, collected from  them  firom being ill-treated or despised, we
the prophecies of Jeremiah respecting the  see that there was always some person ~f
seventy years of the captivity, that the time  their nation high in favor and influence at
of the restoration was then arrived, and him- court, able to protect them from wrong, and
self the long pre-determined instrument of probably to secure for them  important and
giving effect to the divine intention.  His peculiar privileges. They, most likely, came
consciousness of all this is evinced in the  to be considered as respectable colonists,
proclamation, which he issued the same year enjoying the peculiar protection of the sover— that Babylon was taken.  This proclamation  eign.  Although Jehoiachim  did not long
is to be regarded as the final acknowledg-  survive  his release from  prison, his son
ment from  the conquering foreign kings of Salathiel, and his grandson Zerubbabel unthe supremacy of Jehovah, and it was most doubtedly partook in and succeeded to the
interesting from the distinctness with which  respect which he received.  If the story in
this acknowledgment is conveyed- " Thus the apocryphal book of Esdras (1 Esd. iii.,
saith Cyrus king of Persia -  JEHOVAH, the  iv.) of the discussion before Darius, in which
God of the heavens, hath given me all the  Zerubbabel won the prize, be a mere fiction,
kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged  it is still at least probable that the young
me to build for himself a temple in Jeru- prince, although he held no office, had free
salem, which is in Judah."  In  this he access to the court; which privilege must
manifestly alludes to the charge conveyed in have afforded  him  many opportunities of
the prophecy -                              alleviating the condition of his countrymen.
It is even not improbable that (as is implied
" Who [3JEIOVAH] saith of Cyrus, He is my  in the apocryphal story of Susannah, and as
Asndhe sphall erfdor all my pleasures, the tradition of the Jews affirm) the exiles
And he shall perform all my pleasures;
Even saying to Jerulsalem, Thou shalt be built; had magistrates and a prince from their own
To the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid."  number. Jehoiachim, and after him Salathiel
I have even called thee by name:            And from the west, that there is none beside me.
I have surnamed thee, yet Me thou knowest not.  I am JEHOVAH, and there is none else:
I am JEHOVAH, and there is none else;       I form the light, and create darkness,
There is no God besides me.                 I make peace, and create evil.
I girded thee though thou hast not known me;  I, JEHOVAH, do all these things."
That they may know, from the rising of the sun,




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                             423
and Zerubbabel, might have been regarded and scorn of the Babylonians and Chaldaeans,
as their princes, in the same manner as - a striking example of which is given in
Jozadak and Jeshua were as their high- the profanation of the sacred vessels by
priests.                                 Belshazzar.  By such insults they were
At the same time it cannot be denied that made to feel so much the more sensibly the
their humiliation, as a people punished by loss of their houses, their gardens, and fruittheir God, was always extremely painful, ful fields; the leaving of their capital and
and frequently drew on them expressions of temple, and the cessation of the public
contempt. The peculiarities of their religion solemnities of their religion.  (See Jahn,
afforded many opportunities for the ridicule chap. 6, sect. 45.)
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE RESTORATION. -  ARTAXERXES. -  EZRA. -  NEHEMIAH.
WE consider the great argument of the of David that, as was well known, he was to
preceding chapter to have been, that the spring who was to enlighten and redeem the
honor of Jehovah was as adequately main- world, and to bring in that new creation for
tained, and that the knowledge of his claim  which the moral universe groaned as the times
to be the supreme and only God, to have advanced  to their completion.  For his
been even more diffused by the dispersion identity, as the ransomer promised of old, it
of the Hebrews, than it would even have was necessary that the dying struggles of the
been by their continuance in their own land. Hebrew nationality should not be yet permitIt also appears very clearly to us, that by a ted to terminate.  And further, inasmuch as
succession of such operations as those which the bondage of the Hebrews east of the
elicited  the public  acknowledgments of Euphrates, had tended in no small degree to
Nebuchadnezzar, Darius and Cyrus, and by advance in that quarter the knowledge of the
acts which could not but be known to many great preparatory principles of which the
nations, these objects might have been pro- Jews were the commissioned conservators, it
moted as well without as by the restoration remained for the west to be in like manner
of the Hebrew people to their own land, and allowed to catch such glimmerings of light,
the re-establishment of the temple service. as might make the nations impatient of their
It may then be asked, why it was expedient blindness, and prepare them to hail with
that Judah should be at all restored; and, gladness the future " day-spring from  on
being restored, why Israel — the ten tribes high."  And this was, in fact, accomplished
— were not?  These interesting questions by the intercourse of the Hebrews with the
we cannot'discuss in the extent which they western nations - Egypt, Syria, Asia-Minor,
deserve; but we may suggest, that since, by Greece, Rome -in subjection, in conflicts,
immutable promises, the privilege had been or in commerce.
secured to the seed of Abraham of uphold-   That Judah was preferred to this vocation,
ing the standard of divine truth in the world, and that the ten tribes were not nationally
until " the fulness of times," and since the or formally restored, must be accounted for
nationality of Judah, until then, had been by the further development of a consideration
anciently secured by the guaranty of the to which the reader's attention was called in
Lord's promise, - it was necessary that a the preceding chapter.  The political sins
restricted restoration, after punishment and of Judah were there traced to the disposition
correction, should for these purposes take to lean rather upon men than upon instituplace.  This was all the more necessary, as tions.  The sin of Israel was even greater,
it was from Judah and from the royal house and merited greater severity of punishment.




424                            AN  ILLUSTRATED
There, not only was the same disposition ex- circumstances of the remigration were in fact
hibited, but the institutions themselves were such as to attract only those who were in the
corrupted, alienated, tortured from the objects soundest state of moral health.  They were
for which they were expressly framed, and, also cured of all danger of idolatry, and of
with most culpable ingenuity, made subserv- all disposition to make light of their own
ient to the very circumstances against which institutions.  That the Hebrews' as a body
they were designed to operate.  In Judah, profited largely by the correction which they
the  building  of God  was indeed  often had received, is unquestionable -  so largely
neglected, often allowed to run to ruin; but indeed that under temptations as great;as
it was not, as in Israel, made the abiding any to which they  had  in former times
habitation of unclean and evil things.  In yielded, idolatry was ever after their a.bJudah, a good king could purge out abuses horrence.  And indeed if, during the period
and correct evils; but in Israel the tampering of the captivity, the proudest heathen were
with institutions was so effective, that the made so seriously attentive to the God of
best kings were unable to lay an improving Israel, much more were the Hebrews likely
finger on them. For these things Israel was to be awakened by the same events to Le
thrown loose from the mercies of God, much  true to their own God.  On this point we
sooner than Judah; and the evil had been  copy the remarks of Plofessor Jahn:so heinous and deeply rooted, that no promise    " Among the Hebrews who, agreeably to
or hope of restoration was held forth, nor did  the sanctions of the law, were punished for
any take place.                           idolatry  by  total banihment from  their
By the attention which, through the cap- native land, there were certainly many who
tivity and consequent dispersion of the Jews cid not worsh p idols; and probably not a
among what was then (if we except Egypt)  few, in consequence of this national judgthe most civilized nation of the world, had  ment, so often predicted, were brought to
been directed to the majesty and providence  reflect on and to abhor the superstition which
of Jehovah, we consider that a very imipor- had been the cause of so great a calamity.
tant part of the mission confided to the  Others, not wholly riel;nquishing idolatry,
Hebrews was accomplished; for an impression  still retained a reverence for Jehovah. They
was made, the effects of which may without never, lEke other transplanted nations, interdifficulty be traced to the time of Christ, mingled with the people among whom they
and, therefore, we are thus brought to a sort were settled, but continued a peculiar race.
of end in the national history of the Hebrew  There were doubtless individual exceptions;
people.  Undoubtedly, the real fall of Jeru- but the nation as such relna'ned distinct.
salem was that which was wrought by the  The intermingl:ng with pagans, and that
hand of Nebuchadnezzar; the real destruction  entire extinction of the Hebrews as a peculiar
was that which the Assyrians worked in the people which must have resulted from  it,
north, and the Babylonians in the south; was promoted by the rite of circumcision,
and the real dispersion of the race was that by the prohibition of many kinds of food
which took place in consequence of the allowed among other nations, by ceremon al
Assyrian and Babylonian captivities.  A  impurities, and by various other inst;tutions,
remnant only was preserved, as necessary designed to segregate and conequently to
for the. remaining objects which have just preserve the nation.  These usages had by
been indicated; and it is the history of that time become a second nature, so that any
remnant which forms the subject of the intimate  connection  with  Gentiles was a
present chapters.                          matter  of  considerable  dcifficulty.  The
It is unquestionable that this remnant was ancient favors of Jehovah, the miraculous
highly fitted for its vocation.  The large deliverances which he had vouchsafed exmass of the Israelites were natives of the elusively to them, and the promises he had
land of their exile, in which they were for given them  for futurity, were not easily
the most part so comfortably situated that forgotten. The fulfilment of so many propheonly those whose religious zeal and senti- cies respecting the fall of the Assyrian empire
ments were above  the average warmth, and of the city of  Nineveh,  respecting
would be likely, or did, encounter the dan- the Babylonian captivity and the destruction:gers of the desert and the inconveniences of Jerusalem, must have raised Jehovah in
aend anxieties of an unsettled country.  The their eyes far above all idols; and the very




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              425
punishment they were then suffering was more closely the matter is examined, the
wall calculated to awaken reflection, and more clearly the details of the prophecy will
thus become a bitter but powerful antidote be found to agree with this fulfilment.  We
to their propensity to idolatry. Many Israel- are quite aware that the large terms and
ites, therefore, in Assyria and Media (as the forcible expressions employed by the prophets
book of Tobit testifies) persisted in the sincere have led all the Jews and many Christians
worship of Jehovah; neither could the Jews into the expectation of a more brilliant and
in Babylon, and those by the River Chebar, complete restoration than on this occasion
fall easily into idolatry, while such men as took place.  Our undertaking is however to
Ezekiel and  Daniel were constantly and record past events rather than to undertake
earnestly reminding them of the God whom  the development of prophecies which may be
they were bound to serve.                  deemed unfulfilled.  That these prophecies
"The prophecies of Ezekiel, relating for have a further meaning beyond the literal
the most part to events near at hand, were and primary purport, we take to be evinced
accomplished before the eyes of the un- not only by the glowing language employed,
believing exiles; and every fulfilment was a but by the present condition of the Hebrew
new proof that Jehovah, the author of these nation, " like a column left standing amid the
predections, was the God and ruler of the wreck of worlds and the ruins of nature 
world.  Thus there were repeated oppor- (Trans. of the Parisian Sanhedrim, p. 68,
tunities to remind this superstitious people of 1807), in which they manifestly remain
Jehovah their God. The remarkable prophe- awaiting destinies yet to come; but that these
cy respecting the conquest and destruction  destinies include the restoration and indeof the powerful city Tyre, which was so pendent and happy settlement of the nation
speedily accomplished, is particularly worthy in Palestine, we hold to be considerably le/s
of notice. By such striking accomplishments certain and less important than has of late
of the prophecies respecting occurrences near years been made to appear.
at hand, the belief of predictions of more    Now, by the decree of Cyrus, the moundistant events was strenothened, and the tains were made low and the valleys filled
eyes of the Hebrews were eagerly directed for the return of the Hebrews to their own
toward the future."                       land.  But seeing that only the two tribes of
Thus, and through the deliverance which Jucdah and Benjamin - conventionally reJehovah wrought in behalf of his persecuted  garded as one tribe - formally returned to
servants, - and through the  acknowledg- Palestine, it becomes an interesting question
ments which were extorted from the pagan - What became of the other ten tribes?
monarchs under whose yoke the necks of   As the invitation of Cyrus was directed to
Israel and Judah were  placed, — " God all the people of Jehovah, and proclaimed
pursued them  (so to speak) with the effica- throughout his empire, there is every reason
cious dealings of his providence, with miracles to conclude that not a few of the ten tribes
and prophecies, in order to compel them to returned to Palestine.  Those who supposed
preserve the true religion, and to place them  they could improve their condition by rein a situation in which it would hardly be moving, would attach themselves here and
possible for them to exchange the worship there to a caravan of merchants, and proceed
of the creator and governor of the world for to the land of their fathers.  But as they
the  worship  of idols.  By  the  prophet arrived one after another, and in small compaEzekiel (Ezek. xx. 32-44), Jehovah declares nies, their return is not particularly noticed in
in so many words that even if the Hebrews a history so concise.  There might even have
desired to become united with'the heathen, been many Israelites in the first great caravan
it should not be done; and that he would under Zerubbabel; but, however this may
himself find means effectually to prevent the be, it is highly probable that the Israelites
execution of such a design " (Jahn, ii. 1, returned in considerable numbers, as soon as
sect. 53, IRuckker der zehen Stamme).      they heard of the settlement and the prosperThat the restoration to Palestine, which ity of their brethren in Palestine.  Most of
now took place, is, at least primarily, that of these arrivals were probably subsequent to
which the prophets delivered such glowing the close of the Old Testament canonical
predictions, very few who carefully examine history, and when the restored nation had
the subject will find reason to doubt.  The acquired a somewhat settled  form.  But




426                            AN ILLUSTRATED
whether their return were early or late, it is large remnant of the captivity of Judab
certain that at least a portion of them did remained in Babylonia, and this so much
return, for the history of later periods men- composed of the elite of the nation, as to
tions Israelites as settled in Galilee and secure the respectof the Jews who returned
Bersea (1 Mac. v. 9-24) long before the to Palestine and multiplied there -  all traces
time of Christ.  But connecting themselves of which estimation of the Babylonian Jews
with the tribe of Judah, they finally lost the is not even at this day wholly obliterated;
name of Israelites, and all Hebrews were and this fact would suggest the probability
indiscriminately designated as Jews.       of a similar local fixity of the ten tribes in
But since many of the tribe of Judah chose Media and Assyria.  Indeed the probability
to remain in the land of their exile, it is reason- is the greater, from the fact that in those counable to suppose that still greater numbers of tries, as history proves, they would be much
the Israelites who had lived in those countries less liable to be disturbed by wars and
200 years longer, would feel little inclination  troubles than the Jews of Babylonia.  It is
to exchange the comforts they there enjoyed  probably under such a class of impressions,
for the uncertain advantages of Palestine. that the Jews themselves have generally been
But as the jealousy between Judah and Israel disposed to look for traces of the ten tribes
had now ceased, according to the predictions of in that direction.  Nor, as it would appear,
the prophets, those Israelites also who remained has the search been quite abortive.
in exile joined themselves to the tribe of   In the twelfth century of Christ, the disJudah, which was in the possession of the tem- trict referred to at page 393 was visited by
ple, and, consequently, they too received the the Spanish  Jew, Benjamin  of Tudela.
denomination of Jews.                      After speaking of large congregations of
On these grounds Professor Jahn conceives Jews in this quarter, he comes to Amaria
that all questions and investigations for the [which Major Rawlinson regards as the same
purpose of ascertaining what has become of as Halah; now  Holwan], where he found
the ten tribes, and whether it is likely they 25,000 Jews.  " This congregation forms
will ever be discovered, are superfluous and part of those," says Rabbi Benjamin, " who
idle.  We are not ourselves quite so clear live in the mountains of Chaphton, which
that this is the case.  We grant indeed that amount to more than 100, extending to the
there is no good reason for expecting to find frontiers of Media. These Jews are descendthe remnant of the ten tribes as distinct from  ants of those who were originally led into
the remnant of Judah; but that traces of the captivity by King Shalmaneser. They speak
Hebrews of both captivities, without dis- the Syriac language, and among them are
tinction of tribes, may be found in the many excellent talmudic scholars.'"    Bencountries in which they were so long located, jamin then gives the history of the false
there is much reason to conclude.  We say Messiah, David El Roy, who sprang from
in those countries, for the reasons which the city of Amaria, and whose romantic
prevented them  from returning to Palestine history has lately been made familiar to the
were as operative in preventing their migration English public.
in -any other direction.  Indeed, while the    Recently, the Rabbi David D'Beth Hillel
second temple stood, one would expect that has much obscure and dispersed talk about
such of them as were disposed to migrate at the fragments of the tribes which he found in
all, would return to the land of their fathers, the same quarter.  But the following stateas many of them, no doubt, did.  But, ment by Major Rawlinson will give more
apart from  this preference, there was much satisfaction to the reader:reason for their remaining in Media; for the    " If the Samaritan captives can be supempire which comprehended that country, posed to have retained to the present day any
continued long to be possessed by a nation distinct individuality of character, perhaps
which was quite able to protect them  and the Kalhurs, who are believed to have inhabmake their homes secure; while the religion ited from the remotest antiquity those regions
which it professed was more in agreement around Mount Zagros, preserve in their name
with that of Moses, and less revolting to the the title of Calah [Halah].   They state
peculiar notions of the Hebrews, than any
other they could find in the world.  It is dela. Translated and edited by A. Asher. BeTcertain also, that for a long course of ages a lin, 1840.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             427
themselves to be descended from Roham, or who joined these heads of the nation was, in
Nebuchadnezzar, the conqueror of the Jews, round numbers, 50,000, including 7,337
-perhaps an obscure tradition of their real male and female servants.t This large body
origin.   They have many Jewish names was composed chiefly, it would seem, of
among them, and, above all, their general members of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin,
physiognomy is strongly indicative of an and Levi, although the comparatively high
Israelitish descent.  The Iliyat of this tribe number of the remigrants supports the probanow mostly profess Mohammedanism; but a bility that a considerable proportion were of
part of them, together with the Gurans, who the ten tribes.  The prophet Daniel, who
acknowledge themselves to be an offset of must at this time have been about ninety
the Kalhurs, and most of the other tribes of years old, remained at the court of' Cyrus,
the neighborhood, are still of the'Ali-Ilahi where he could probably render much more
persuasion - a faith which  bears evident service to his nation than by returning to
marks of Judaism, singularly amalgamated Palestine.
with Sabiean, Christian, and Mohammedan    Those who were to return assembled from
legends.  The tomb of Baba Yadgar, in the all quarters at an appointed place, according
pass of Zardah, is regarded as their holy to the usual method of collecting a caravan,
place; and this, at the time of the Arab furnished with provisions and other things
invasion of Persia, was regarded as the necessary for the journey.  Their camels,
abode of Elias.  The'Ali-Ilahis believe in horses, and beasts of burden, amounted to
a series of successive incarnations of the god- eight thousand one hundred and thirty-six.
head, amounting to a thousand and one, Zerubbabel, on whom  devolved the serious
Benjamin, Moses, Elias, David, Jesus Christ, responsibility of directing this immense caraAli, and his tutor Salman, a joint develop- van, received from Cyrus the sacred vessels
ment, the Imam iHusein, and the Haf-tan of the temple, and was intrusted with the
(the seven bodies), are considered'the chief very large contributions toward the rebuildof these incarnations.  The Hlaf-tan were ing of the sacred edifice made by those of
seven Pirs, or spiritual guides, who lived in the Hebrew race who chose to remain behind.
the early ages of Islam, and each, wor- Zerubbabel was not only appointed leader or
shipped as the Deity, is an object of adora- sheik of the caravan, but the office of govtion in some particular part of Kurdistan -  ernor of Judclea was intrusted to him.  This
Baba Yadgar was one of these.  The whole appointment may probably be attributed not
of the incarnations were thus regarded as one more to the  circumstance which inclined
and the same person, the bodily form of the Cyrus to show peculiar favor to the nation,
Divine manifestation being alone changed; than to the general policy of the Persian
but the most perfect development is supposed kings in leaving the governments of conto have taken place in the persons of Benja- quered provinces to native governors, whenmin, David, and All."  Referring to the ever this could be done with safety.  Several
passage already adduced from Rabbi Benja- months were consumed in preparations for
min, the major notices that he appears to the journey; and encumbered as they were
have considered the whole of these'Ali- with baggage and young children, and thereIlahis as Jews, and remarks, " It is possible fore obliged to travel slowly, the journey
that in his time their religion was less cor- itself occupied four months.
rupted." *                                   The "seventy years " of the captivity
Abandoning this subject for the present, were completed by the time they arrived;
we may now  be allowed to return to the and they were now to settle in their own
historical narrative.                     land, governed by their own laws, and formAll obstacles being removed, and every ing a distinct commonwealth.  The Persian
facility afforded, Zerubbabel, the grandson sovereignty was not a calamity, but a
of King Jehoiachim, and Jeshua, a grandson benefit, from  the protection and security
of the high-priest Jozadak, with ten of the which it gave to a colony as yet too weak for
principal elders, prepared themselves for the independence.
journey home.  The number of the remnant   The people dispersed themselves on their
Geographical Journal, vol. ix. part 1,  t The number of the congrecation was 42,620,
36.                                       which, with 7,337 servants, makes 49,957.




428                               AN ILLUSTRATED
arrival in search of their native cities and place, had been forwarded to them.  This
of necessaries for their families.   But in indeed is stated by Josephus, although such
the following month, being the seventh of orders, being sent direct to  the  Persian
the Jewish year, they all assembled at Jeru- magistrates, are not noticed by Ezra.  But
salem to celebrate the feast of tabernacles. opposition, persevering and venomous, canme
On this occasion an altar was reared upon from   another  and   probably  unexpected
the ruins of the temple, and the customary quarter.  This was from the colonists whom
sacrifices were offered; and on this altar the the Assyrian kings had planted in the land
daily morning and evening sacrifices were of Israel, and who had  intermarried with
afterward continued.                         the remaining  Israelites, and now formed
In the second month of the second year one people with them  under the name of
of their return, the people again assembled
at Jerusalem, to lay the foundation of the
temple, the preparations for which, through
the voluntary contributions of the people
and the elders, were now completed.  This
was a most joyful occasion to all but the old
people; and very loud were the shouts of
gladness which were raised: but, loud as
were the sounds of rejoicing, they were
neutralized by the wailings of the old people,
who had  seen  "the holy and  beautiful
house " in which their fathers praised Jehovah; and who wept bitterly and loudly
at the comparison: for they could perceive           Ancient Persian Dress. (Persepolis.)
that the edifice would neither be so large,
so magnificent, nor so richly ornamented as Samaritans.  It does not appear that the
the temple of Solomon.  It is true, as ap- Samaritans were, at this time, completely
pears fiom the record found at Ecbatana in  purged of the idolatries which their fathels
the time of Darius Hystaspes, that Cyrus had brought firom  foreign  lands; yet the
had directed that the temple should be twice  measures employed to enlighten them with
as large as that of Solomon, and that the  the knowledge of the true God seem  gradexpense should be defrayed from  the royal ually to have produced a considerable effect.
treasury.   But either the proper officers The return of the Jews fiom  their seventy
had neglected to give effect to these orders, years' captivity so clearly evinced the overor the Jews were backward to avail them- ruling  providence  of Jehovah, that the
selves of the full extent of the monarch's  Samaritans were extremely desirous to join
bounty, lest they should awaken the envy  in rebuilding his temple and celebrating his
of the worshippers of Ormuzd, and expose  worship:' They said unto the chief of the
themselves to their persecutions.    From  fathers,' Let us build with you; for we
whatever cause, it is certain that they did  seek your God, as ye do; and we have clone
not build the temple so large as the decree  sacrifice to him since the days of Esarhaddon,
of Cyrus allowed.  (Ezra iv. 1-5.)           king of Assyria, who brought us up hither.'
The Persian  governors  of Syria  and  This proposal was steadily rejected by the
Palestine offered no opposition to the settle- Jews;  and, whatever their motives may
ment of the Jews ifi their own country or have been, it is easy to discern important
to their proceedings there.  No doubt, there- reasons in consequence of which this rejecfore, orders corresponding to the tenor of tion appears to have been subservient to the
the decree under which the restoration took  purposes of the divine economy.*
* "The intermixture of the Samaritans with consequence of this rejection and the alienation it
the Jews might have rendered the accomplish- produced, the Jews probably became more vigilant
ment of the prophecies concerning the family and in preserving the strictness, and the Samaritans
birth of the Messiah less clear - might have more jealous in emulating the purity, of the
re-introduced idolatry among the restored Jews, Mosaic ritual. They became hostile, and therenow completely abhorrent fiom it, and in various fore unsuspected guardians and vouchers of' the
ways defeated the grand objects of Providence in integrity of the sacred text, particularly of the
selecting and preserving a peculiar people.  In Pentateuch.  And while the Jews in general,




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  429
Finding  they  could  not  prevail, the time they should recommence the building
Samaritans used every means in their power of the temple.   And, to neutralize the
to thwart the enterprise.  Their influence at discouragements arising from  the detractive
the Persian  court appears to have been or sorrowful comparisons of the old men
considerable, owing perhaps, as Josephus who had seen the temple of Solomon, he
suggests, to their claiming to be of Median was commissioned to deliver the celebrated
and Persian origin.  Thlrough this influence prophecy: —
they managed, during the latter days of
Cyrus,  who was either absent in foreign              c"Thus saith the Lord of hosts:
wars or not at leisure to attend to such pro-   Yet once more, and in a little while,
And I will shake the heavens and the earth,
vincial matters, to oppose such obstacles to   And the sea and the dry land;
the progress of the work that the people   And I will shake all the nations,
got disheartened,  and discontinued the build-   And the Desire of all nations shall come,
ing    This discouragement d continued dhuringd   And I will fill this house with glory, saith the
ing.  This discouragement continued during        Lord of hosts.
the succeeding reigns of Cambyses and of   The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith
Smerdis the magian; nor was the work re-          the Lord of hosts.
sumed until the second year of Darius Hys-   The glory of this latter house shall be greater
taspes.                                           than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts.
And in this place will I give peace, saith the
The proceedings of the Samaritans in this      Lord of hosts." - Hag. ii. 6-9.
matter naturally excited the emnity of the
Jews; and thus was laid the foundation    The prophecies of Zechariah tended to the
of the hatred  between the  two nations, same objects as those of Haggai; and in
which  new   provocations  continually  in- consequence of their forcible representations,
creased, until, at last, all friendly intercourse the building of the temple was resumed with
between them was entirely discontinued.     rekindled zeal.  To this resumption of the
Cyrus died seven years after the restora- work, after so long a suspension, the Samartion of the Jews.   The reigns of Cam- itans succeeded in drawing the attention of
byses his son, and of the usurping magian Tatnai, the Persian general-governor of Syria,
Smerdis (seven months), occupied together who, being a man of impartial justice, detereight years.  Darius Hystaspes, one of the mined to go himself to Jerusalem  to invesseven nobles who slew the intrusive magian, tigate the matter.  He there demanded the
was elected king, B. C. 521.                authority of the Jewish chiefs for their operAt Jerusalem, the people had by this ations, and was referred by them to the edict
time lost their zeal in a work which had of Cyrus.  Tatnai sent a clear and rigidly
been so much  obstructed, and, counting unbiassed report of the matter to the king,
from  the destruction of the former temple and did not deem it necessary to direct the
instead of from  the commencement of the present suspension of the work.  The refer,
captivity, they argued that the time for ence to the Persian court could not have
the rebuilding of the sacred edifice had not been made under more favorable circumyet arrived.  But while they erected fine stances; for Darius was of a mild and just
buildings for their own use, and bestowed character; and, still more, was a devoted
much expense and labor on the mere orna- admirer of Cyrus, and disposed to pay the
mental parts of their own dwellings, this was highest respect to his acts and intentions.*
obviously a mere pretence, and provoked The king, on receiving the report of Tatnai,
the severe reproaches of the prophet Haggai, directed a search to be made among the
who attributed to this neglect the drought, archives of the kingdom.  It was naturally
and consequent failure of crops, which had sought at first among the records kept in
then  occurred; and  was  authorized  to the treasure house at Babylon.  It was not
promise the blessings of plenty from  the found there; but a roll containing the edict
blinded by their national prejudices, could see in very probably his son) could not but have known
the promised Messiah only a inational and temporal so eminent person as Daniel when at the court of
deliverer, the Samaritans appear to have judpged Susa. Indeed, the wisdom of Daniel appears to
of his pretensions with more just;ce and success." have been a proverb (Ezekiel xxviii. 3). It i.
— Dean Graves's Lectures on the Pentateuch, p. remarkable that Hystaspes ultimately succeeded
347. 5th Ed. 1839.                          (under his son) to the very office of archimagus,
* Hystaspes, the father of Darius, was high in or master of the magians, which Daniel had forthe confidence and favor of Cyrus, and he (and merly occupied.




430                             AN ILLUSTRATED
was ultimately discovered in the record accruing within his government, and also
chamber of the palace at Aehmetha (Eeba- to furnish the priests with such animals as
tana).  It directed not only that the temple were necessary for the sacrifices, with wheat,
should be rebuilt, and of larger dimensions salt, wine, and oil, from  day to day, for the
than before, but that the expenses should be divine service.  " That they may offer sacridefrayed out of the royal treasury.  The flees of a sweet savor to the God of heaven,
king directed a copy of this edict to be for- and pray for the life of the king and of his
warded to Tatnai, together with a letter, in  sons."  The letter concluded with an order
which he was enjoined not to obstruct the  (apparently  levelled at the  Samaritans),
building, but zealously to forward it, to de- that whosoever obstructed the execution of
fray the expenses out of the royal revenues the decree should be  hanged, and their
1Xtl'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'
1!!IlirI                                   i!~i i!  I r i
fleill
RECORD CHAMBER.*
houses demolished: and an imprecation was Cyrus, which was on this occasion brought
added on all kings and people who should  to light, contained such a declaration of revattempt to destroy the house of God.        erence for, and dependence on, Jehovah, as
This transaction gives a very favorable  alone could not but have had great weight
idea of the good order and efficient adminis- upon the mind of Datlius.  It may be retration of the Persian government; while  marked, indeed, that Darius himself was a
the concluding direction affords another and  disciple  and  supporter of Zoroaster, the
very important illustration of the honor which reformer of the magian religion, who is supJehovah had obtained for his name among posed to have profited largely by his interthe heathen through the eastward dispersion course  with  the  Hebrew  captives  and
of the  Hebrews.  Indeed, the  edict of prophets in Babylon.
* The cut actually represents the library at books, &c., are (and probably were anciently)
Constantinople, but it is applicable to the present kept by the Orientals..
isubject, as showing the manner in which records,




IeSTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  431
Under these favoring auspices, the work dice him against the inhabitants of Judah
proceeded with renewed spirit; and  four and Jerusalem.   But the king confirmed
years after, being the sixth of Darius (B. C. in every particular the grants made by his
516), the temple was completed.  It was father.  Xerxes is the Ahasuerus of Ezra
dedicated with great solemnity, of which iv. 6.  (See also Joseph. Anticl., xi. 4, 8;
there has ever since been an annual con- xi. 5, 1.)
memoration in " The Feast of Dedication."    He was succeeded in B. C  464 by his
In the following month the Passover was sonArtaxerxes Longimanus,whose protracted
celebrated in a regular and solemn manner, reign was replete with incidents most imporfor the first time since the restoration.  The tant and interesting to the Jews.  At the
temple service was then re-established as beginning of it they began  regularly to
before  the  Captivity; Jeshua, the  high- rebuild Jerusalem, and to surround it by
priest, encouraging the other priests and the a wall.  But they were stopped in their
Levites by his example to attend  to their work'by an order from  the king, in consepeculiar duties.                            quence of a letter of complaint from  the
The Jews appear to have been undisturbed  principal Samaritan officers, who described
during the remainder of the thirty-six years Jerusalem, truly enough, as " a rebellious
in which Darius reigned.  It is possible, and bad city; " and warned him that if the
indeed, that some difficulty arose in the lat- city were rebuilt and fortified, the inhabitter years of that reign from  their relation to ants were  sure to prove seditious as in
the Persian empire.  Darius, whose whole former times, and would be likely to raise
reign was occupied in foreign and generally up troubles, and endanger the Persian dosuccessful war, had then extended his oper- minion in that quarter.  They appealed to
ations westward.  After the Persians had the archives of the empire to prove that the
lost the battle of Marathon in B. C. 490, town had been demolished and dismantled
Darius made immense preparations for re- on account of its rebellion and seditions.
newing the war, which kept all Asia in a The records were accordingly consulted, and
ferment for three years: in the fourth Egypt the fact being found as thus stated, the king
revolted, which occasioned the division of delayed not to send a letter auithorizing the
the army into two, one to act against Greece, Samaritan  chiefs to stop the work until
and the other against Egypt.  But just as further orders.  This they forthwith did,
all preparations were completed, Darius died, and with no gentle hand.~  This opposition
B. C. 485.  Now, as the rendezvous of the of the  Samaritans was remarkably wellarmy in this expedition against Egypt was timed, and hence, in all probability, its suein the neighborhood of the Hebrew territory, cess.  Immediately on the death of Xerxes,
it is in every way likely that the Jews were Egypt had again revolted from  the Persian
obliged to participate in its operations; or it yoke (Diod. lib. iii.); the Samaritans thereis possible that they obtained an exemption fore could not have chosen a fitter opportufrom  personal service on condition of sup- nity to carry their point, or a stronger arguplying the army with provisions.           mnent to work upon the king's fears, than the
Xerxes completed the intentions of his danger that might result from  allowing the
father as to Egypt, which he succeeded in Jews to fortify their city.  For, strengthened
again bringing under the Persian yoke.  His and increased as they were in the seventysubsequent gigantic plans and  operations two years since their return, it migrht be
against Greece, however important, claim  apprehended that, as in former times, they
no notice in this place.  As the resources would not only themselves follow the examof the empire were on this occasion taxed to ple of Egypt by refusing to pay tribute, but
the uttermost, there is no reason to suppose that they milght offer serious obstruction to
that the Jews were able to avoid contributing the Persian army to be employed in the
toward  this  vast undertaking, either by reduction of Egypt, in going or returning
their property or personal service, or by through Palestine.
both.  At the commencement of his reign    After he had subdued all his domestic
the Samaritans made some attempt to preju- foes and competitors for the crown, Artar Ezra iv. 6-.3. The whole passage is referred original narrative it is an historical anticipation,
to this reign in the text (after Howe and Hales), and not in its proper chronological place.
under the impression that where it stands in the




432                             AN ILLUSTRATED
xerxes, in the third year of his reign, cele- sary that the queen should be deposed, and
brated at Susa the general and protracted that the act of deposition should be acconlrejoicing which usually attended the settle- panied by a decree that every man should
ment of a new king on the throne.  At a bear rule in his own house!  So Vashti
public banquet, the king, in his cups proba- was deposed; and, ultimately, a beautiful
bly, had the folly to send for the queen, Jewish damsel named Esther was promoted
Vashti, that the banqueters might be wit- to her place, in the fourth year of Artanesses of her extreme beauty.  An order xerxes.
so repugnant to the customs of women, the    The king had now leisure to turn his
queen was under the necessity of disobeying, attention to Egypt, and in the course of the
and disobedience, whatever were the cause, expedition to bring that country back to its
could not be allowed to pass unpunished. subjection, which was happily concluded in
All the sages of Persia held that, to prevent the sixth year of his reign.  He had probathe evil effects of this example, it was neces- bly sufficient opportunity to become aoposition of the Jews, and with the claims to law, to punish the refractory with fines, im 
his favor which they derived from the edicts prisonment, banishment, or even with death,
of Cyrus and Darius.  At all events, in according to the degree of their offences.
the seventh year of his reign, he indicated He was also permitted to make a collection
his knowledge of those edicts and his will- for the service of the temple among those
inness  to enforce them, by authorizing  Hebrews who chose to remain in the land of
"Ezra the priest, and a scribe of the Law  their exile; and the king and his council
of the God of Heaven" to proceed to Je- not only largely contributed toward the same
rusalem "to beautify the house of Jehovah," object, but the ministers of the royal reveand to establish the ecclesiastical and civil nues west of the Euphrates were charged to
institutions with greater firmness and order furnish Ezra with whatever (within certain
than they had yet acquired.  His powers limits) of silver, corn, wine, oil and salt
were very large.  He was commissioned to (without limit) which he migrht require for
appoint judges, superior and inferior, to rec- the service of the temple.  Such persons of




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             433
the Hebrew race as thought proper to return was certainly perfectly competent for Esther
with Ezra to their own land, were permitted to make the king better acquainted with the
and invited to do so.  From the whole tenor claims of the God'she served and of the
of this commission it is evident that the God people to whom  she belonged; nor should
of the Hebrews was still held  in high she be blamed for elmyploying, or the king
respect at the Persian court; and, by a new  for receiving, such influence.  But there
concession, all his ministers, even to the were other and adequate means through
lowest netitinim, were exempted from trib  which " the great king" might acquire this
ute, and thus put on an equality with the knowledge, at which he certainly arrived.
Persians and Medes.  For these favors some To the series of splendid acknowledgments
writers would assign "the solicitations of extracted from  these illustrious monarchs
Esther" as the motive.  But it is not clear through the captivity and vassalage of the
that the king knew she was a Jewess.  It Jews, let us add that of Artaxerxes, whose
_= =
AN ENCAIMPMENT.
commission to Ezra orders  " Whatsoever where the number assembled was found to
is commanaded by THE GOD OF HEAvEN consist of sixty "houses," containing one
let it be diligently done for the house of thousand  seven  hundlred  and  fitLy-four
TIIE GOD OF HEAVEN; lest there be wrath (adult'?) males, so that, with women and
[from Him] against the realm of the king children, there were probably not less than
and his sons."                            six thousand persons. When Ezra surveyed
It is worthy of remark, however, that the this party it was with much chagrin that he
decree of Artaxerxes was limited to the same found not one of the tribe of Levi among
object - the temple — as the edicts of former them, notwithstanding the exemption from
kings; and that no mention is made of the tribute; andt it was not without difficulty
walls, from which it appears that the king t.hat two families of priests were induced to
was not yet prepared to concede that Jeru- join the emigrants.
salem should be fort;fied.                  Considering the treasure with. which they
The rendezvous of the party gathering for were charged, and the number of helpless
this second caravan was by the River Ahava, women and children of the party, there was
28




434                            AN ILLUSTRATED
much ground to apprehend danger from the himself, who was  destroyed with  all his
Arabs infesting the desert over which the family, and Mordecai (by virtue of an old
caravan must pass, and who then, as now, and  neglected  service)  promoted  to his
were wont to assault, or at least to levy large place.
contributions, on caravans too weak or too   In the narrative of this transaction, the
timid to resist them. Ezra therefore appointed attention is arrested by the further illustraa special season for fasting and prayer beside tion, offered in the case of Haman and afterthe river, that they might, as it were, throw  ward of Mordecai, of the distinction and
themselves upon the special protection and wealth which foreigners and captives - or,
guidance of Jehovah: for, as Ezra ingenu- at least, persons of  foreign and captive
ously confesses, " I was ashamed to require origin -were enabled to attain.  The rank
of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen is obvious; and as to the wealth they were
to defend us against the enemy by the way; allowed to acquire, no more striking illustrabecause we had spoken unto the king, saying, tion can be afforded than by the fact that'The hand of our God is upon all them for good Haman, to gratify his barbarous wh m, was
that seek him, but his power and his wrath is in a condition to offer the king a gratuity of
against all that forsake him.'            ten thousand talents of silver, to defray the
Their confidence was not in vain, for they probable deficiency of the royal revenue by
all arrived safely at Jerusalem after a journey the proscription of the Jews throughout the
of four months.  They set out on the first empire.  This the king declined accepting.
month of the seventh year of the king's The amount, computed by the Babylonish
reign, and reached their destination on the talent, would be upward of two millions
first day of the fifth month, B. C. 457.  sterling; and  this, it appears, was conOf all the improvements and regulations siderably short of the full amount of the
which Ezra introduced into Judrea, the book Jewish tribute.
which  bears his  name only records his   On this occasion, we also have another
exertions in removing the heathen women example of  the mischievous consequences
with whom matrimonial connections had very which might result from the king being ungenerally been formed by the Jews -to such mindful of the heavy responsibility of cauan extent indeed that even the sons of the tion, which was designed to be imposed
high-priest Jeshua, and many of the other by the well-meant law which precluded his
priests, had fallen into this grievous error. To decrees from being changed or repealed.
annul these marriages, was a measure, how- For when Artaxerxes became convinced of
ever harsh to the natural affections, indis- the grievous wrong into which he had been
pensably necessary as a security against a led in decreeing the massacre of the Jews,
relapse into idolatry.                    it was beyond his power to recall the order
While Ezra was thus, and by other means, he had issued.  All he could do was to
laboring to raise the character and improve despatch swift couriers with a counter decree,
the condition of the Hebrews in Judaea, all empowering the Jews to stand upon their
the Jews in the Persian dominions were defence when assaulted, with the aid of
suddenly threatened with entire extermina- whatever moral advantage they might derive
tion.  Haman, an Amalekite, and as such, from this indication of the present intentions
an inveterate foe of the Hebrew  nation, of the king.  On the appointed day, which
occupied the chief place in the confidence had been destined to sweep the race of Israel
and service of the Persian king.  His paltry from the face of the earth, the Jews were by
pride being irritated by the apparent dis- no means wanting to themselves.  They
respect of a Jewish officer, named Mordecai repelled their assailants by force of aims,
(the uncle of Queen Esther, but not known and that with such effect, that in Susa itself
as such), he laid a plot for the massacre of eight hundred men fell by their hands, and
the whole nation and the spoliation of their in the different provinces seventy-five thougoods.  The book of Esther, to which we sand.  The slaughter among the Jews themmust refer the reader, relates at large the selves is not stated, but must have been conparticulars of the plot, and shows how the siderable.
machinations of the Amalekite were defeated    This great deliverance has ever since been
by the address and piety of Queen Esther, commemorated by the annual feast of Purim,
and turned upon the unprincipled contriver or of Lots, - so called from the lots which




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                           435
were superstitiously cast by Haman to find the other to labor and build; and even the
a propitious day for the massacre.       builders " with one hand wrought in the
It was not until the twentieth year of his work, and with the other held a weapon."
reign that Artaxerxes granted  the long- Thus, by the most noble exertions, the whole
delayed permission to build the walls of wall, which was distributed in lots among
Jerusalem.  It was then obtained at the the priests and chiefs of the people, was
instance of a Jew  named Nehemiah, who finished, with all the towers and gates, in the
held at the Persian court the high and confi- short space of fifty-two days.
dential office of cup-bearer, or butler.  He   On the commission of Nehemiah, Hales,
had become acquainted with the mortifica- following the acute observations of Howes,
tions and insults to which the inhabitants of remarks -
Jerusalem were exposed through the defence-   "This change in the conduct of Artaless condition of their city; and the depres- xerxes, respecting the Jews, may be accountsion of his spirits, in consequence, was too ed for upon sound political principles, and
strongly marked on his countenance to pass not merely from regard to the solicitations
unnoticed by the king, who demanded the of his cup-bearer or the influence of his
cause of his sadness. As it was no ordinary queen.
misdemeanor to  exhibit  sadness in  the    " Four years before, in the sixteenth year
presence of "the king of kings," Nehemiah of his reign, Artaxerxes, who, after the
was much alarmed, but answered, " Let the reduction of Egypt, had prosecuted the war
king live for ever: why should not my coun- against their auxiliaries, the Athenians,
tenance be sad when the city, the place of suffered a signal defeat of his forces by sea
my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the and land, from Cimon the Athenian general,
gates thereof are consumed with fire?"  The which compelled him to make an inglorious
king encouraged him to declare his wishes peace with them, upon the humiliating confreely, and the result was that Artaxerxes ditions, 1, that the Greek cities throughout
consented to dispense with his services at Asia should be free and enjoy their own
court for a few years, and gave him the ap- laws; 2, that no Persian governor should
pointment of tirshata, or civil governor, of come within three days' journey of any part
Judrea, in succession to Zerubbabel, whose of the sea with an army; and 3, that no
death about this time might furnish an Persian ships of war should sail between the
additional reason for the appointment (Neh. northern extremity of Asia Minor and the
xii. 47).  This would not interfere with the boundary of Palestine, according to Diodorus
commission of Ezra, which was chiefly of an Siculus (lib. xii.). Thus excluded from the
ecclesiastical nature, and who, by the dis- whole line of sea-coast, and precluded from
charge of his proper function of teaching the keeping garrisons in any of the maritime
law  to the people, would give the new  towns, it became not only a matter of prugovernor important co-operation.         denuce but of necessity to conciliate the
Nehemiah was commissioned to build walls Jews; to attach them to the Persian interest,
and gates to the town, to erect a palace for and detach them from the Grecians by furhimself and future governors, and afterward ther privileges; that the Persians might
to rebuild the city. All this he accomplished have the benefit of a friendly fortified town
with singular zeal, ability, and disinterested- like Jerusalem, within three days' journey
ness, in the course of his administration of of the sea, and a most important pass to keep
twelve years, to which his leave of absence up the communication between Persia and
from  the  Persian  court extended.  He Egypt; and, to confirm this conjecture, we
had  to  encounter much  opposition  and may remark that in all the ensuing Egyptian
many threats from  the chiefs of the sur- wars, the Jews remained faithful to the Perrounding nations,- Sanballat the Samari- sians; and even after the Macedonian invatan, Tobiah the Ammonite, the Arabians, sion: — and  surely some such  powerful
and the remnant of the Philistines.  But motive must have been opposed in the king's
Nehemiah piously encouraged the people to mind to the jealousy and displeasure this
rely on JEHOVAH, and "to fight for their measure'must unavoidably excite in the
brethren, their sons and their daughters, neighboring provinces hostile to the Jews,
their wives and their homes."  And he whose remonstrances had so much weight
divided them into two parts, one to fight and with him formerly. It was necessary, there



436                               AN ILLUSTRATED
fore, to intrust the important mission to an of the temple-service, and of the civil govofficer high in former trust and confidence, ernment; while various abuses, which the
such as Nehemniah, whose services at court unsettled condition of affairs had engendered,
Artaxerxes reluctantly  dispensed  with, as were  corrected  by him  with  a firm  and
appears from his appointing a set time for unsparing hand.   And to  strengthen  his
Nehemiah's return, and afterward, from  his authority and influence, and that he and his
return again to Persia in the thirty-second government might not be burdensome to the
year of his reign."                            people, this fine-spirited  man declined  to
While the city remained  unwalled  the receive the usual dues of a governor; but
mass of the people had chosen rather to while he  travelled  with  a great retinue,
dwell in the country than in a place so con- maintained a large number of servants, and
spicuous and yet so insecure.  The walls kept open table at Jerusalem, the heavy
were built on the old  foundations;  and  charges were entirely borne from  his own
Nehemiah found that although as enclosed  private fortune, which must have been very
within the walls "the  city was large and  considerable.  That he, a foreigner and a
great," yet " the people were few therein, captive, was enabled  to accumulate such
and  the houses were not builded."  He  a fortune, affords another illustration of the
therefore caused the people to be registered, liberality of the Persian government; which
and'required that one family in ten (to be also was unquestionably, as far as the Hechosen by  lot) should  come to reside in brews at least were concerned, the best and
Jerusalem.  Those who, without waiting the most generous of the foreign governments,
decision of the lot, voluntarily offered them- to which they were at any time subjected.
selves to dwell in Jerusalem, were received    It was during the government of Nehewith  peculiar favor.  The city  was thus miah that Ezra, his ecclesiastical coadjutor,
replenished with inhabitants, and the walls completed his collection and revisal of the
with defenders.  The walls were dedicated  sacred books.*  Traces of his careful hand
with great solemnity and joy.  And while may still be detected throughout the historical
the governor was thus heedful of the stone- books of scripture; and the settlement of
and-mortar framework of the social system  the Old  Testament canon  in  nearly  its
which he desired to establish, he was by  present shape;  may  be ascribed  to him.
no means negligent of the inhabiting and  Among  his labors was the exchange of the
animating spirit.  He applied himself dili- old  Hebrew  character of writing — with
gently (assisted by Ezra) to the organization  which  the people  had  now become unac* All that is really known of Ezra is contained him  again at Jerusalem  with Nehemiah "the
in the four last chapters of the Book of Ezra, Tirshatha."  It seems probable that after he had
and in Neh. viii. and xii. 26. From these pas- effected the above-named reformation, and had
sages we learn that he was a learned and pious appointed competent judges and magistrates, with
priest residing at Babylon in the time of Arta- authority to maintain it, he himself returned to
xerxes Longimanus. In the seventh year of his the king of Persia. The functions he executed
reign, Ezra obtained leave to go to Jerusalem, and  under Nehemniah's government were purely of a
to take with him a company of Israelites, together priestly and ecclesiastical character. But in such
with priests, Levites, singers, porters, and Nethi- he filled the first place. As Ezra is not mentioned
nim.                                          after Nehemiah's departure for Babylon in the
The journey of Ezra and his companions 32d Artaxerxes, and as every thing fell into
from  Babylon to Jerusalem  took  just four confusion during Nehemiah's absence (Neh. xiii.),
months; and they brought up with them a large  it is not unlikely that Ezra may have died or
free-will offering of gold and silver, and silver returned to Babylon before that year. Josephus,
vessels. It appears that his great design was to  who should  be our next best authority after
effect a religious reformation among the Palestine  Scripture, evidently knew nothing about the time
Jews, and to bring them back to the observation  or the place of his death. There was a strong
of the Law  of Moses, from  which they had. Jewish tradition that he was buried in Persia.
grievously declined. Ihis first step, accordingly, The principal works ascribed to him by the Jews
was to enforce a separation from their wives upon  are: - 1. The institution of the Great Synagogue.
all who had made heathen marriages, in which 2. The settling the canon  of Scripture, and
number were many priests and Levites, as well as restoring, correcting, and editing the whole sacred
other Israclites. This was effected in little more volume. 3. The introduction of the Chaldee
than six months after his arrival at Jerusalem. character instead of the old Hebrew or SamariWith the detailed account of this important tan. 4. The authorship of the books of Chrontransaction Ezra's autobiography ends abruptly, icles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and, some add, Esther.
and we hear nothing more of him till, 13 years Smith's Bib. Dictionary.             A. B.
afterwards, in'the 20th of Artaxerxes, we find




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              437
quainted-  for  the  more  shapely  and extent to which the injunctions which they
generally known Chalciean character, with heard had been neglected by them, filled
which alone the people were now familiar. them  with grief, and occasioned much and
The difference thus created is not so great loud lamentation, which the.Levites allayed
as that which would take place were the with difficulty.  Among other things, they
Germans to exchange their peculiar (and not heard of the feast of tabernacles, and found
very elegant) character of print for that that the time of its celebration was close at
(the Roman) which prevails among nearly hand.  They therefore proceeded forthwith
all other European nations.  The Samaritans to manifest their obedience to this law, and
did not adopt or need this change in their they celebrated the feast in a manner so
copies of the Pentateuch; they retained the distinguished that nothing like it had been
original character, which, therefore, has since known since the time of Joshua.
been known as the Samaritan character.       Nehemiah and Ezra availed themselves of
It was not alone the old Hebrew character the favorable disposition which at this time
of writing, but the language itself, which existed to induce the people to enter into
had become unintelligible to the mass of the one of those solemn covenants which we
people, who  had been born  beyond the have ha(d frequent occasion to notice in the
Euphrates, and  had  imbibed the  East- past history.   This was, however, mnore
Aramoean or Chaldee dialect as a mother specific in its obligations; for the people
tongue.  The old Hebrew  was still well pledged themselves; 1, to walk in God's
known to, and spoken by, educated persons law as given to Moses; 2, not to intermarry
in their intercourse with each other; but the with the people of the land; 3, to observe
Chaldee was used in all the. common inter- the sabbath day, and not to buy or to sell
course of life, since that only was understood goods thereon; 4,  to keep the sabbatical
by all.  It was not, however, until the time year, and to remit all debts therein; 5, to
of the Maccabees, that the old Hebrew was pay a tax of a third of a shekel yearly for
completely displaced by the Chaldee.  This the service of the temple; 6, and to render
last language is but a dialect of the Hebrew, their first-fruits and tithes as required by
which fact accounts for the ease with which the law.
the Jews fell into the use of it during the    At the expiration of his twelfth year of
captivity.   It however assigned to words office, when his leave of absence expired,
essentially the same such additional or new  Nehemiah returned to resume his station at
meanings, and such differing  terminations the Persian court.
and pronunciation, that the old Hebrew    When he departed, no person with adequate
could be but imperfectly intelligible to those authority appears to have been left to carry
who understood only the Chaldee.           on or complete his measures.   His salutary
Accordingly, when Ezra had finished his regulations, and even the solemn covenant
revision of the sacred books, and the people into which the people had entered, were gradthronged to Jerusalem to hear the authentic ually infringed and violated.  The general
law from his lips, it was necessary that some laxity of principle and conduct may be estiof the Levites should interpret to the multi- mated from the proceedings of the persons who
tude what this excellent person  read in might have been expected to ofer the brightHebrew  from  the book.  This was a very est examples of knowledge and faithfulness.
solemn and interesting occasion.  The peo- Thus the high-priest himself,. Eiiashib, gave
ple assembled in the open street; and Ezra, Tobiah the Ammonite (the grand opponent
raised above the people on a kind of pulpit of Nehemiah) for lodging, even in the
made for the occasion, read from  the book temple itself, a large chamber, which had
of the law  to an immense audience, who been used as a store room for the tithes and
listened with most rapt attention to the offerings.  This Tobiah, as well as his son
interpretations which the surrounding Levites Johanan, had married Jewish women and
gave.  It is manifest that the copies of the became allied to the high-priest.  One of the
law had been scarce, and that it had not grandsons of Eliashib was also sonrlin-law to
been publicly read to the people, for it is Sanballat theHoronite, another of Nehemiah's
manifest that they heard much on this occa- great adversaries.  The temple service was
sion with which they were not previously neglected; the tithes, appointed for the supacquainted; and  the consciousness of the port of the Levites and the singers, were ab



438                              AN ILLUSTRATED
stracted by the high-priest and his agents, or he ultimately succeeded in obtaining perwithheld by the people; the sabbath was pro- mission to return to Judaea.  He returned
faned in every possible way;* and marriages in his former capacity as governor, and apwith strange women were frequent among plied himself most vigorously to the correction
the people.  In accounting for the demoral- of the evils which had gained ground during
ization of this period, it may not be improper his absence.t  His exertions appear to have
to connect it with the frequent march of been continued for four years, or until the
Persian troops through the territoryin passing third year of Darius Nothus, whom Nehemiah
to and from Egypt, which was frequently in designates as Darius the Persian.  The end,
a state of revolt.  By this Judoea was made therefore, of this eminent person's second
to share in the evils of war, than which reform, which may be taken as the final act
nothing is more relaxing of the bonds by in the restoration and settlement of the Jews
which the order of civil society is main- in their own land, may be ascribed to the
tained.                                     year B. C. 420.  With this year, therefore,
The tidings of this relapse occasioned much the canon of the Old Testament concludes;
grief to Nehemiah at the Persian court, and for Malachi, the last of the prophets, is
TOMB OF EZRA.
alleged by tradition, supported  by every Persian king, obtained permission to build
probability of internal evidence, to have a temple upon Mount Gerizim  like that at
prophesied during this later administration Jerusalem, and in which Jehovah was to be
of Nehemiab.  Malachi is supposed by-many worshipped with similar services.  Of this
to be the same as Ezra.                     establishment he made Manasseh the highOne of the measures of Nehemiah was to priest.  This, in future, attracted numbers
expel the grandson of the high-priest, who of Jews who had married strange wives from
had wedded the daughter of Sanballat, from  whom  they could not bring themselves to
whom  he declined to separate.  This act part, or who had rendered themselves amenwas attended with important consequences. able to punishment by other transgressions
Josephus informs us that this person's name of the law.  And this, while it. tended in a
was Manasseh; and that, on being expelled very serious degree to aggravate the enmity
from Jerusalem, he went to his father-in-law  between the two nations, served ere long to
Sanballat, who, by his interest with the correct the remaining idolatrous practices,
* One of the profanations consisted in the    t The time is uncertain and conjectures vary.
practice of the Tyvrians bringing fish to the city Hales makes it B. C. 424, six years after his
for sale on the sabbath day. A curious fact.    return to Persia.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                   439
and  tendencies  to  idolatry  among  the hesion to the temple of Jerusalem, it is
Samaritans.  Receiving the account of these difficult to see what other. course was left
matters through Josephus, and other preju- them than to build a temple for themselves.
diced writers, it behooves us to be cautious of Besides, the obligation of adhesion to one
receiving all the impressions they intend to temple was imposed only on the seed of
convey.   The temple of Gerizim was un- Abraham; and the law made no provision
doubtedly a schismatical establishment.  But for the case of a people who desired to worseeing that, on the one hand, the Samaritans ship Jehovah, but were repelled by the Jews.
were anxious to worship Jehovah according And this very fact may suggest that this
to the regulations of Moses, while, on the repulsion was in itself not legal, whatever
other, the Jews, whether right or wrong, good effects may ultimately have resulted
pertinaciously refused to receive their ad- from it.
CHAPTER XXIV.
END OF INSPIRED HISTORY, 420 B. C. -JEWISH HISTORY TO B. C. 163.
AFTER Nehemiah, no more separate gov- Zerubbabel, was succeeded by his son
ernors of Judsea were sent from  Persia. Joachim, and he by his son Eliashib, who
The territory was annexed to the province obtains unfavorable  notice in the history
of Coele-Syria, and  the  administration  of of Nehemiah's second administration.  He
Jewish affairs was left to the high-priests, was then old, and died in B. C. 413.  He
subject to the control of the provincial gov- was succeeded by his son Joiada or Judas,
ernors.  This raised the high-priesthood to a who held the office for forty years, B. C.
degree of temporal dignity and power, which  413-373.
very soon made it such an object of worldly    Artaxerxes, who died in 423 B. C., left
ambition, as occasioned many violent and one son by his queen, and seventeen sons by
disgraceful contests among persons who had his concubines. The first was named Xerxes,
had the least possible regard for the reli- and, among the latter, history only knows
gious character and obligations of the sacer- Sogdianus, Ochus, and Arsites.   Xerxes,
dotal office.                               the only legitimate son, succeeded; but,
The history of this period is obscure and after forty-five days, he was slain by Sogintricate.*   Facts are few, and some  of dianus, who mounted the throne.  On this,
those -which we possess are hard to recon- Ochus, who was governor of Hyrcania,
cile.  But there is enough to acquaint us marched thence with a powerful army to
with the unholy violence and unprincipled avenge the deed.   Sogdianus  submitted,
conduct of the competitors for the priest- and was put to death.  Ochus, in ascendhood, and the sufferings arising from this, as ing the vacant throne,. took the name of
well as from  the arbitrary proceedings of Darius, and  was surnamed  Nothus, or
those who succeeded in obtaining that high  " bastard," to distinguish  him from  others.
office.                                     of the name.
Jeshua, the high-priest who returned with    Of the events of this troubled reign, it is
* The narrative of inspired history closes soon been written with much care and labor.  The
after the administration of Nehemiah, about 420 writer seems to have availed himself of the
years, B. C.  The history of the intervening learned works of Prof. Jahn, particularly his
period to the coming of Christ is intricate and History of the Hebrew Commonwealth, to which
fragmentary.  The principal sources are the the critical reader is referred for the several
historic writings of Josephus, Diodorus Siculus, authorities whence the facts of this intermediPolybius, Livy, Plutarch, Maccabees, and other ate portion of the history of the Bible are doancient writers. This intermediate history has rived.- A. B.




440                           AN ILLUSTRATED,perhaps only necessary to notice that the being constantly impeded in his movementf
Egyptians again shook off the Persian yoke, by the various channels of the rising Nile,
and made Amyrtreus of Sais their king, he was obliged to retreat and relinquish the
413 B. C.  With the aid of the Arabians, hope of subjecting Egypt to the Persian
they drove the Persians out of Egypt, pur- yoke.
sued them  as far as Phoenicia, and main-   The Egyptian king, by whom the Persians
tained their independence sixty-four years. were thus repelled, was succeeded in 369
Ochus sent an army against them without B. C. by Teos or Tachos, who formed large
success.  The Persian forces marched to designs, and made extensive preparations for
Egypt along  the coast, through Judea. acting offensively against the Persian power.
This event could not fail to act to the serious He made an alliance with the Lacedvemonianrs,
detriment and disquiet of the Jews; but and received from them  10,000 auxiliaries
we possess no precise information on the under the command of Agesilaus their king.
subject.  The Persian army while on its Both the person and counsels of this consunrmarch might have laid waste Idumrea, be- mate general were treated with considerable
cause the Idumaeans had perhaps taken part disrespect; and the king persisted in leadwith those Arabs, who in conjunction with ing his army in person into Phoenicia against
the Egyptians, had pursued the Persians the Persians.  But his absence was immediinto Phoenicia, while the Jews continued  ately followed by a powerful conspiracy in
faithful to the Persian government, with favor of his relative Nectanebo, for whom the
which they certainly had no reason to be army also declared, so that the infatuated
dissatisfied.  The prophet Malachi appears Tacho had no resource but to flee fiom his
to allude to these circumstances.  (Mal. own people and throw  himself under the
i. 2-5.)                                  protection of the great and generous king of
Darius Nothus died in 404 B. C., and Persia, whose dominions he had invaded.
was succeeded by his eldest son Arsaces,    The Idumncans,again suffered much firom
who, on his accession, took the name of being mixed up in the contest between the
Artaxerxes, and was surnamed Memnon, Persians and Egyptians.  Nor can it be
on account of his astonishing " memory." supposed that the Jews escaped without
The long reign of this monarch was fail of much moral if not physical injury.  It will
striking and  important events; but our be considered that they were exposed to the
notice must be confined to the circumstances burdens of a military rendezvous from  377
connected with Egypt and Phoenicia, with to 374 B. C.; for at that time there were
which the Jews could not but be in some assembled in their vicinity 200,000 barbarian
way involved.                             soldiers, besides 20,000 Greeks; and 300
Artaxerxes determined to make a vigor- ships of war, 200 galleys of thilty rowers,
ous effort to restore the Persian power in and a great number of stovle-ships were colEypt, and to this end made most exten- lected at Acco (Acre). The invading army
sive preparation, continued for three years. of Persia, both in going and returning, took its
At last, in 373 B. C., he had equipped route along their coasts, as did afterward the
a most formidable expedition by land and sea, Egyptian army in its invasion of Phoenicia.
which, he  confidently  expected, would These circumstances could not but te atspeedily reduce the strongholds, and firmly tended with very injurious effects; but upon
establish his authority throughout the coun- the whole the Jews may be considered to
try.  But the jealousy between the cornm- have enjoyed peace and comfort during most
manders of the land and sea forces pre- of the reign of Artaxerxes Memnon, who
vented that union of purpose and'action was a prince of mild and humane character,
which was essential to success.  Pelusium  and governed with much moderation and
was found to be impregnable, and all the prudence, and with  considerable political
fortified towns were placed in a state of wisdom.  However, in all the provinces,
defence. The Persian general, Pharnabazus, much: depended on the character of the
therefore, despaired of making any impres- governor or satrap, whose powers, within his
sion upon them, and advanced into the in- province, were almost regal.  Artaxerxes
terior; but being opposed by the Egyptian died in 358 B. C., after a long reign of
king (Nectanebo) with a considerable force, forty-six years.  The pen of Xenophon has
and in consequence of the want of boats, immortalized the revolt of his younger brother




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             441
Cyrus, by which the early part of his reign submission of Cyprus, the king marched into
was much troubled.  The retreat of the 10,- Egypt 350 B. C., and completely reduced
000 Greeks -who had fought for Cyrus it, chiefly by the assistance of Mentor the
and survived his overthrow  and death-  Rhodian, and  10,000  mercenary Greeks
under the conduct of the historian himself, whom he had drawn into his service.  The
has been more admired and celebrated than Egyptians were treated with a severity more
most ancient or modern victories.         congenial to the savage disposition of Ochus
It was between the periods of disturbance than was the moderation to which policy had
which have been indicated, namely, in 373 constrained  him  in  Phoenicia: — he disB. C., that the high-priest Joiada died, and mantled the towns; he plundered the telmwas succeeded by his son Jonathan or Joch- ples of their treasures and public records; and
anan (John).   About the  time  of the the ox-god Apis he sacrificed to an ass -a
Egyptian invasion, this person occasioned severe practical satire upon the animal-worship
much trouble to his nation.  His brother of Egypt, and not less significant as an act of
Jesus had become so great a favorite with revenge upon the Egyptians for their having
the Persian governor Bagoses, that he nomi- nicknamed himself Tle Ass, on account of
nated him to the priesthood.  When Jesus his apparent inactivity and  sluggishness.
came to Jerusalem  in that capacity, he was Ochus returned in triumph to Babylon,
slain  by Jonathan  in  the very temple. laden with spoil of gold and silver, and other
Bagoses no sooner heard of this outrage precious things from the kingdoms and provthan he hastened to Jerusalem; and when inces he had conquered. From this decisive
an attempt was made to exclude him  from  war the humiliation of Egypt may be dated.
the temple as a Gentile, and consequently
unclean, he replied with vehemence, " What!  
am not I as clean as the dead carcass that
lies in your temple?"   The punishment
which Bagoses imposed for the murder of
Jesus was a heavy tax upon the lambs
was not remitted until the succeeding reign;
and it must have been the more sensibly
felt, as the priests had for many years been
accustomed to receive  large contributions
from  the Persian kings toward defraying
the expense of the sacrifices.
Artaxerxes Memnon was succeeded on
the throne of Persia by his son Ochus.  In
his reign, among many other disturbances
which we need not mention, the Sidonians,
Phoenicians, and  Cyprians revolted, and
made common cause with the Egyptians,
who  still maintained their independence.
After repeated failures of his generals to
reduce them, Ochus himself took the command of the expedition against them.  He
besieged Sidon, which was betrayed to him           -
by the king Tennes; on which the Sidonians
in despair set fire to the city, and burned     Egyptiancaptives or allies. (Rosellini.)
themselves with all their treasures. Terrified
by this catastrophe of Sidon, the  other Nectanebo II., the last of her native kings,
Phoenicians submitted on the best terms now fled with all the treasures he could
they could obtain; and among them we may collect into Ethiopia.  Thenceforth, even to
include the Jews, who seem to have joined this day, it has been the destiny of Egypt
the common cause. Being anxious to invade only to change masters, as Ezekiel the prophEgypt, Ochus was not unreasonable in his et had foretold (Ezek. xxix. 13-16).
demands.  After having also received the    That the Jews were involved in the revolt




442                             AN ILLUSTRATED
of the Phoenicians has been already inti- whom he had spared, he placed on the throne,
mated.   This appears from  the fact that expecting to reign in his name. But finding
Ochus went from Phoenicia to Jericho, sub- that the young king contemplated the punishdued that city, took some of the inhabitants ment of the murderer of his father and his
with him  into Egypt, and sent others into brothers, Bagoas anticipated his intention,
Hyrcania to people that province.  But that and in the third year of his reign destroyed
the disaffection of the Jews was not general, him  and all the remaining members of his
or that, at least, it was not shared by the family.  The eunuch, whose soul was now
hardened to iron by the concurrent and.-;:~.;~    repeated action of grief and crime, tendered
the sceptre to Codomanus, the governor of
Armenia, a descendant of Darius Not;hus, t
and who on his accession assumed the name
of Darius, and is known in history as Darius
Codomanus, B. C. 335.  Bagoas soon repented of his choice, and plotted the death
of this king also; but Darius, having discovered his design, returned to his own lips the
poisoned chalice which he had prepared for
the king.
Few kings ever enjoyed greater advanEgyptian captives or allies. (Rosellini.)  tages than Darius at their accession.  He
had no competitors or opponents; his treasinhabitants of Jerusalem, may be inferred ures, increased under Oehus by the plunder
from the fact that this city was not disturbed. of many lands, seemed exhaustless; his
Indeed, the Jews owed some gratitude to dominion appeared well established over all
Ochus for remitting at his accession the heavy the nations which abode from the Indus to
tax n   which Bagoses had in the preceding the isles of Greece, and from the cataracts
reign imposed.                              of the Nile to the Caucasian mountains; and
It was in the eighteenth year of Ochus with all this, the personal bravery of Darius
(B. C. 341) that the high-priest Jonathan, and his acknowlcldged merits made him uniwhose murder of his brother Jesus had given versally respected and admired throughout
occasion for the imposition of this tax, died, his empire.  But bright as appeared his
and was succeeded by Jaddua or Jaddus.   star, another had risen before which his own
Ochus, after having  re-established  his grew pale and became extinct.
dominion over all the provinces which had
newly or in former times revolted, abandoned        7,,
himself to luxurious repose, leaving the gov- /?/\>
ernment in the hands of Bagoas, an Egyptian eunuch, and of his general Memnon, a,'               )  )Q
from both of whom he had received important i
services during  the Egyptian war.   But
Bagoas could not forgive the ruin of his
country, although that had been the basis of
his own fortunes.  He poisoned Ochus and  Head of Alexander the Great. (On a coin of Lysimachus,
destroyed all his sons, except Arses the                   King of Thrace.)
youngest.  This horrid act was followed by    Alexander, the son of Philip king of
his sending back to Egypt such of the plun- Macedon, ascended the throne when he was
dered archives as he could collect.  Arses, only twenty years of age, in B. C. 335,
* Jahn estimates that it must have produced of the reign of Ochus, supporting himself as an
50,0001., perhaps rather too high an estimate.  astanda, or courier, by carrying the royal det His grandfather was the brother of Darius spatches.  He at last had an opportunity of
Nothus, and his father was the only one of the distinguishing his valor by slaying a Cadusian
family who escaped the massacre with which champion, who like another Goliah, defied the
Ochus commenced his reign.   He afterward whole Persian army. lFor this gallant exploit he
married and had a son, who was this Codomanus. was rewarded by Ochus with the important govThe young man lived in obscurity during most ernment of Armenia.




HISTORY  OF THE  BIBLE.                               443
being the very same year that Darius Co- the summer others were subjugated.  In the
domanus became king of Persia.  It is not campaign of the following year (B. C. 333)
necessary in a work of this nature to record Alexander subdued Phrygia, Paphlagonia,
the exploits of this celebrated hero, unless Pisidia, Cappadocia, and Cilicia.
as far as necessary to carry on the history of   Darius, meanwhile, was not remiss in
Palestine and the Jews.                    making preparations for a vigorous resistIn the spring of B. C. 334, Alexander ance to the most formidable  enemy the
arrived at Sestos on the Hellespont, at the empire had ever seen.  His admiral, whom
head of little more than thirty thousand foot he had sent with a fleet to make a diversion
and five thousand horse, and had them con- by a descent upon Macedonia, died in the
veyed to Asia by his fleet of one hundred midst of the enterprise; and, in an age
and sixty galleys, besides transports, without where so much depended upon individuals,
any opposition from the enemy on their land- his death spoiled the undertaking.  Darius
ing.  He had with him only seventy talents, then assembled a vast army, which some
or a month's pay for his army, and before he accounts make four hundred thousand, others
left home he disposed of almost all the reve- six hundred thousand men, in Babylonia,
nues of the crown among his friends. When and led them  in person toward Cilicia to
asked "what he left for himself?" he meet Alexander.  That hero, on hearing of
answered, " Hope."   Such was the spirit this movement, hastened forward to seize
with which Alexander invaded Asia.         the passes of Cilicia.  In this he succeeded,
On the fifth day after the passage of the and stationed himself at Issus, where not
Hellespont, Alexander met the Persians at more than thirty thousand men could march
the river Granicus in the Lesser Phrygia, up to the attack.  In this position his flanks
were protected, and he could bring his whole
army into action, while the Persians could
only bring a number of men equal to his
own into conflict.  Darius saw too late how
much wiser it had been for him to await the
Greeks in the plains of Damascus.  He lost
the battle.  The vast number of his soldiers
was worse than useless; for the retreat was
thus so obstructed, that more were crushedl
to death in the eagerness of flight than had
been slain by the weapons of the Greeks.
Darius himself escaped with difficulty, leaving his whole camp, with his own rich baggage, and his mother, wife, and sons, in the
hands of the victor.   These  last were
treated with tenderness and respect by the
generous conqueror.  To him  this victory
opened Syria, Phoenicia, and Egypt.  Immediately after the battle he sent to Damascus, and took all the heavy baggage, equipage, and treasures of the Persian army,
with their wives and children, which had
Assyrian standards. (From Ninevehmarbles.)  been left behind in the disastrous expedition
to the Syrian straits.
where the governor of the western provinces    For the present, Alexander did not folhad assembled an army of one hundred low  Darius, who  withdrew  beyond  the
thousand foot and twenty thousand horse to Euphrates; but, according to his original
oppose his passage.  By defeating this great plan of reducing  first all the  maritime
army, Alexander gained possession of the provinces of the empire, he marched in the
Persian treasury at Sardis, the capital of the spring of B. C. 332 into Phoenicia.  All
western division of the  Persian empire; the  states of that country tendered their
several provinces of Asia Minor then volun- submission to  him, except Tyre, which,
tarily submitted to him, and in the course of however, was willing to render him barren




444                            AN ILLUSTRATED
testimonials of respect, had he been content that during the siege of Tyre, a written
with these.  The siege of this place was order of this description came to Jerusalem,
one of the most splendid of Alexander's addressed to Jaddua, the high-priest, as the
operations, and is even at this day regarded chief magistrate of the nation.  Jaddua
with admiration by military men.  Tyre, replied that he had sworn fealty to Darius,
which since the destruction of the ancient and could not violate his oath as long as
city by Nebuchadnezzar had been rebuilt that  monarch  was  living.   Alexander,
upon an island about four hundred fathoms naturally of a furious and impetuous temper,
from  the  shore, relied upon the aid  of was highly  irritated  by this  reply, and
Carthage  (which  was  promised  by the  threatened that as soon as he had completed
Carthaginian ambassadors there present in the conquest of Tyre, he would, by the
the city) and still more upon its situation, punishment of the Jewish high-priest, teach
Alexander being  destitute of shipping,?  all others to whom  they were to keep their
and on  its walls, which  were  high and oaths.
strong, and which were now  additionally    Accordingly, on his progress to Egyvpt,
strengthened.   The city was plentifully  after the destruction of Tyre (B. C. 332)
supplied with provisions, and fresh supplies he turned aside firom Gaza, which he reduced,
could be brought by sea without any dif- to chastise Jerusalem.  But he was met at
ficulty.  But Alexander, with the rubbish  Sapha -  an eminence near Jerusalem, which
of the ancient city, constructed a causeway  commanded a view of the city and temple
from the shore to the island, and in seven  by a solemn pl( c-ssion, consisting of the
months took the place by storm, although  high-priest arrayed in his pontifical robes,
the Tyrians defended themselves bravely. attended by the priests in their proper habits,
Many of them  fled to Carthage by sea; and by a number of the citizens in white
but of those who remained, eight thousand  raiment.  This course Jaddua  had  been
were put to the sword, thirty thousand were commanded to take, in a vision, the preceding
sold into slavery, and two thousand were night.  When Alexander beheld the highcrucified, while the city was plundered and  priest, he instantly advanced to meet hinm,
laid  in  ashes.   These  barbarities  were adored the sacred NAME inscribed on his
committed under the policy of deterring  mitre, and saluted him first.  This singular
other places from offering resistance to the conduct the hero accounted for by observing
conqueror.  Thus the prophecyof Zechariah  to those around him --   I adore not the
respecting new  Tyre was literally accom- high-priest, but the God with whose priestplished, as the previous prophecy of Ezekiel hood he is honored.  When I was at Dios in
against the old city had been fulfilled in the Macedonia, and considering in myself how to
time of Nebuchadnezzar.  Alexander had, subdue Asia, I saw in a dream such a person,
however, enlarged  views of commercial in his present dress, who encouraged me not
policy, which induced him to re-people Tyre to delay, but to pass over with confidence,
from  the neighboring countries; and, im- for that himself would lead my army and
proved in its harbors and basins by the very  give me the Persian empire.  Since therefore
isthmus which he had made, and by which, I have seen no other person in such a dress
consolidated by time, the island has ever as I now see, and recollect the vision and
since been connected with the shore, this the exhortation in my dream, I think that
maritime city was not long in recovering having undertaken this expedition by a divine
much of its former greatness.              mission, I shall conquer Darius, overthrow
There is every reason to conclude that the Persian empire, and succeed in all lmy
Alexander, when he invaded Syria, sum- designs."  Having thus spoken (to Parmemoned all the cities to surrender, to pay to nio) he gave his right hand to the high-priest,
him  their customary tribute, and to furnish and going into the temple, he offered sacrifice
his army with provisions.  Josephus affirms according to the high-priest's directions, and
* Alexander, after the battle of the Granicus, sea by conquering on land —that is, by getting
had discharged and dismissed his fleet, which was the ports and harbors of the enemy into his postoo small to cope with that of the Persians session. It was in conseqnence of this large idea
(collected from Egypt and Phoenicia), and yet too that he persevered in reducing Phoenicia and
large for his slender treasury to maintain. He Egypt before he advanced into the interior.
declared that he would render himself master of the




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              445
treated the pontiff and the priests with dis- privileges which had been conceded to them;
tinguished honors.  The book of Daniel was for, as Josephus (with some asperity) rethen shown to him, in which it was foretold marks, the Samaritans were always ready to
that one of the Greeks should overthrow the profess themselves to be Jews, when the sons
Persian empire, pleased at which, andbelieving of Abraham were in prosperous circumstances,
himself tobe the person intended, he dismissed and equally ready to disavow the connection
the multitude.  The day after, he caused the when the Jews were in distress or difficulty.
people to be assembled, and desired them to They also met Alexander in solemn procesask what favors they desired; on which, at the sion, and as they were graciously received,
suggestion of the high-priest, they asked and they also requested exemption from tribute
obtained the free enjoyment of their national on the sabbatical year, since they, as well as
laws, and an exemption from  tribute every the Jews, then left their lands uncultivated.
seventh year.  He also, by a bold anticipa- But as, when pressed, they could not give a
tion of his fortunes, promised that the Jews direct and satisfactory answer to the question
in Babylon and Media should enjoy their whether they were Jews, Alexander told
own laws; and he offered to take with him  them  he would take time to consider the
in his expedition any of the people who matter, and let them know his decision when
chose to share his prospects.  (Joseph. An- lihe returned from  Egypt.  It was not his
tiq. xi. 8, 4, 5.)                         policy to encourage such applications, as
This story has been much questioned by others, under the same or other pretences,
many writers, as they were at perfect liberty  might make similar claims of exemption, to
todo.  Nevertheless, as these questioners are the great injury of the public revenues.
of the same class as those who doubt on the The eight thousand Samaritans who had
unusual or supernatural details of the sacred assisted him  at the siegfe of Tyre he took
history itself, it is impossible not to see with him to Egypt, and assigned them  lands
that the animuts of objection is essentially in the Thebaild.
the same.  We are therefore disposed to    When Alexander reached Egypt, he met
declare our belief in this statement, 1. Be- with no opposition.  The Persian garrisons
cause Alexander had been a clear and con- were too weak to resist him, and the natives
spicuous object of prophecy; and that an everywhere  hailed him  as their deliverer
operation upon his mind by dreamlor vision, fi'om  the Persian bondage.  In fact the
was as natural and necessary as in  the Egyptians abhorred the Persians, and liked
cases of Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar.  2. the Greeks as much as any foreigners could
Because it was as necessary that the God of be liked by them.  And the reason is very
the Hebrews should be made known to him as obvious.  The Persians hated and despised
the bestower of empires, as to the other great image and animal worship as thoroughly as
conquerors -all of whom had been brought it was possible for the Jews to do, and the
to avow it.  3. Because an operation upon power of their arms gave them much opporthe mind of Alexander was a natural and tunity for the exercise of the iconoclastic
necessary sequel to the operations upon the zeal by which they were actuated.  They
minds of those former conquerors.  4. Be- lost no opportunity of throwing contempt
cause the impression described as being made and ignominy upon the idols and idolaters
by this dream upon Alexander, and the con- of Egypt.  But the pliable Greek regarded
duet which resulted from it, are perfectly in the same objects with reverence, and had no
unison with his character and conduct as difficulty of so adopting them  into his own
described by other historians.  5. Because system, or of identifying them with his own
the Jews actually did enjoy the privileges idols, as it enabled him to participate in the
which are described as the result of this worship which the Egyptians rendered to
transaction, and which it would not otherwise them.
be easy to account for, or to refer to any    From Egypt, Alexander went to visit the
other origin.                              temple Oif Ammon, in an oasis of the westThe Samaritans had early submitted to ern desert; and at this celebrated temple
Alexander, and sent him auxiliaries at the got himself recognized as the son of the god
siege of Tyre; and now  seeing the favor (commonly known as Jupiter Ammon) * worwith which the Jews had been treated, they    * This god was worshipped under the form
were not at all backward to claim the same of a ram: hence the ram's horns-which appear




446                             AN ILLUSTRATED
shipped there.  It is better (with Plutarch) sive policy chose the site of a new  city,
to attribute this to political motives than to Alexandria, to be the emporium of commerce
admit that impression of Alexander's under- for the eastern and western worlds by its
standing which the affair is calculated to two adjacent seas, the Red  Sea and the
convey.  Alexander had much good sense, Mediterranean.  The great prosperity which
as yet uncorrupted by the  extraordinary the city ultimately reached, and a considerprosperity which had attended his undertak- able share of which it has ever since retained,
ings; but he knew that there were millions affords the best illustration of the large and
in the world who would receive the belief sagacious views with which it was founded.'
Early in the spring of B.C. 331 Alexander prepared to  seek  Darius beyond the
Euphrates.  The  rendezvous of his army
was appointed at Tyre; in advancing to
which Alexander once more passed through
Palestine.  During  his absence in Egypt,
some Samaritans (perhaps enraged that they
had not obtained the same  privileges as the
Jews) set fire to the house of Andromachus,
whom Alexander had appointed their governor, and he perished in the flames.  The
other Samaritans delivered  up the culprits
to Alexander, now on his return from Egypt;
but they could hardly dare at this time to
remind him of their previous claim  (respecting the sabbatic year), which he had promised to consider, as the conqueror was so
Amemon. (From sculptures, Brit. Mus.)  highly enraged that, not satisfied with the
punishment of the actual culprits, he removed
of his heavenly origin as a discouragement the Samaritans fiom  their city, and tfansto resistance, and as a consolation in defeat.  ferred thither a Macedonian colony.  (CurAfter his return from  Libya, Alexander tius, iv. 21. Comp. Euseb. Chron.)  The
wintered at Memphis, and appointed sepa- Samaritans, thus  excluded  from  Samaria,
rate and independent governors of the several thenceforth made Shechem  their metropolis.
garrisoned towns, in order to prevent the This, it will be remembered, was at the f( (t
mischief so often experienced by the Persians of Mount Gerizim, on which the Samaritan
in intrusting too much power to a single  temple stood.
hand.  He prudently separated the finan-    The operations and victories of Alexander
cial, judicial, and military functions, to pre- beyond the Euphrates are not so connecled
vent the oppression of the people by their with the history of Palestine as to require to
union; and his enlightened and comprehen- be traced in this work.  We therefore -;bon the head of Alexander in many figures of suffered for its attachment to the cause of
him.                                        Antony; but its importance as one of the chief
* Alexandria, the Hellenic, Roman, and Chris- corn-ports of Rome secured for it the general
tian capital of Egypt, was founded by Alexander favor of the first emperors. In later times the
the Great, B. C. 332, who himself traced the seditious tumults for which the. Alexandrians had
ground-plan of the city, which. he designed to alwavs been notorious desolated the city, and
make the metropolis of his western empire. The religious feuds aggravated the popular distress.
work thus begun was continued after the death Yet even  thus, though Alexandria  suffered
of Alexander by the Ptolemies. Every natural greatly from constant dissensions and the weakadvantage contributed to its prosperity.  The ness of the Byzantine court, the splendor of
climate and site were singularly healthy.  The "the great city of the West " amazed Amrou,
harbors formed by the Island of Pharos and its Arab conqueror; and, after centuries of
the headland Lochias were safe and commodious, Mohammedan misrule, it promises once again to
alike for commerce and for war; and the Lake justify the wisdom of its founder.
Mareotis was an inland haven for the merchandise   It was one of the large grain-ships of Alexof Egypt and India.  Under the despotism of andria in which St. Paul was put on arriving
the later Ptolemies, the trade of Alexandria at Myra, then a flourishing seaport of Lycia,
declined; but its population and wealth were and in which he suffered shipwreck on his voyage
enormous.  After the victory of Augustus it to Italy. (Acts xxvii. 6, xxviii. 11, 41.) - A. B.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               447
stain from particular notice of the battle of circumstances on which it might be pleasant
Arbela, in Assyria (fought Oct. 1, B. C. to expatiate.
331), which gave Alexander possession of   He returned to Persia in B. C. 324, with
the Persian throne; the flight of Darius into a character still great, and adequate to great
Media, with the view of raising new levies occasions; but, upon the whole, very much
there; the prevention of this intention by damaged in its finer traits, by the intoxicathe speedy pursuit of Alexander; the further tion of mind which, but too naturally, his
flight of Darius, and his murder by the con- inordinate  successes produced.   On  his
spirators, into whose hands he had fallen, return he inquired into and punished the
and whom  Alexander ultimately overtook mal-administrations of his generals and govand punished.  As little need our attention ernors of provinces during his long absence
be detained by his northern  and Indian  eastward.  The last year of his life he spent
expeditions, full as they are of interesting in a circuit through the imperial cities of
_
TIHE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA.
Persepolis, Susa, Ecbatana, and Babylon,    Alexander arrived at Babylon in B. C.
and in forming the noblest plans for the con- 324, intending to make that city his future
solidation and improvement of his mighty residence, and the capital of his gigantic emempire.  These plans we cannot recapitu- pire.  Hence he was full of projects for
late; but they are well worth the most restoring that city to its ancient beauty and
attentive study of those who would realize a magnificence.  This included the rebuildingo
just impression respecting one of the most of the temple of Belus, which the Jewish
remarkable men the world has produced. prophecies had devoted to destruction, never
The grasp of his mind was perhaps as large to  be rebuilt.   Alexander, nevertheless,
as that of his ambition: and while we regard actually commenced this work.  The soldiers
his plans of universal conquest, and the were employed in turn to remove the rubbish.
sacrifice of human life and happiness which The Jews alone refused to render any assisthis causeless wars involved, with the most anee, and suffered many stripes for their
intense dislike, we have no desire to conceal refusal, and paid heavy fines, until the king,
our admiration of the many illustrious quali- astonished at their firmness, pardoned and
ties which his mind exhibited.              excused them.  "They also," adds their




448                             AN ILLUSTRATED
historian  (Hlecatmus, in  Joseph. contra governments among the generals and minisApion, i. 22), "on their return home, ters.  Some who had been appointed by
pulled down the temples and altars which Alexander were confirmed in their provinces.
had been erected by the colonists in their The rest are named below.*
land, and paid a fine for some to the satraps,   It was scarcely possible that the authority
or governors, and received a pardon for of two such kings, vested in a regent, should
others."                                   hold in check the powerful and ambitious
The death of Alexander at Babylon, -   governors of the provinces.  Indeed the
in the midst of his prosperity, his excesess, latter paid them  the least possible regard
his large plans, and also during his ominous and attention, and immediately after the
attempt to rebuild the temple of Belus, and assignment of the provinces, wars broke out
at the early age of thirty-two years, - was not only between the governors themselves,
calamitous to the Jewish nation.  For amid but between them and the regent.
the contests that prevailed among Alexander's    Our plan of confining our notices to the
successors, - each striving for the mastery, circumstances which more immediately afand celebrating his death, as he himself fore- feeted Palestine, leads us first to notice the
told, with funeral games the most bloody, -   combination  against the regent Perdiccas,
"evils  were  multiplied  in  the  earth " which was formed in B. C. 322 by Antig(1 Maec. i. 19), and the Jews, from their onus, Antipater, Leonatus, and Ptolemy, on
intermediate situation, lying between the account of the  design which  Perdiecas
two powerful kingdoms (as they speedily betrayed  of appropriating  the crown of
became) of Syria northward, and of Egypt, Macedonia, of which Antigonus was himself
southward, were alternately  harassed  by desirous.  Perdiccas, who kept the young
both. According to the imagery of Josephus, kings  constantly with him, was then in
"They resembled a ship tossed by a hurri- Cappacdocia.  The next spring he, accompacane, and buffeted on both sides by the nied by the two kings, marched a large army
waves, while they lay in the midst of con- through Syria into Egypt, to subdue Ptolemy
tending seas."  (Antiq. xii. 3, 3.  See in the first place, while Eumenes was left in
Hales, ii. 537.)                           Asia Minor to prosecute the war against,
Every one is acquainted with the scramble Antipater and his allies.  The result of this
for empire which took place among  the expedition was, that Perdiccas was slain by
generals and principal officers of Alexander his own soldiers, who went over to Ptolemy,
upon his death.  It is useless to enter into who was a very able and popular man, and
the details and trace the results of this natural brother to Alexander.   Eumnenes
struggle in the present work.  It is only was proclaimed an outlaw, and, ultimately,
necessary that we should disentangle firom  the regency was undertaken by Antipater,
the  complicated web which  history here who made some changes in the governments,
weaves, such threads as may be found useful appointing Seleueus governor of Babylonia;
in leading on the history of the Jews and Antigonus to be general of Asia, to prosecute
Palestine.                                the war against the outlawed Eumenes; and
It was determined  that Aridmus, an the command of the cavalry he gave to
illegitimate brother of Alexander, a man of I his own son Cassander, who was then with.no capacity, should be made king under the Antigonus.
name of Philip, and that a posthumous son    The passage of a part of the royal army
of Alexander's, called Alexander _Egeus, through Judwa, in going to and friom Egypt,
should be joined to him, Perdiecas being as just related, could not fail to involve the
regent and guardian of the two kings, who Jews in some of the miseries of war.  But
were both incapable of reigning   After when the same royal army, under Antigouns,
some deliberation Perdiccas distributed the was otherwise employed against Eumenes,
* Porus and Taxiles had India; Sebyrrius, gonia and Cappadocia; Antiqonus, Pampihyla,
Arachosia and Gedrosia; Tleopolemus, Carama- Lqcia, and Greater Phrygia: Cassander, Caria;
nia; Peucestes, Persia; Python, Media; Phrat- Meleager, Lydia; Leonatus, Lesser Pllrygia, and
aphernes, Parthia and Hyrcania; Stanasor, Aria the country around the Hellespont; Lysimachus,
and Drangiana; Philip, Bactria and Sogdiana; Thrace; Antipater, Macedonia: Seleucus, after
Arcesilaus, Mesopotamia; Archon, Babylonia: ward destined to be the greatest of these names,
Ptolenzy Lagas, Ecqypt; Laonledon, Sg/ri'a and received the important office of commander of the
Palestine; lPhilotas, Silicia; Eumenes, Paphla- cavalry.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             449
Ptolemy, who had become very powerful, Ptolemy, Lysimachus, and Cassander (then
embraced the opportunity to take possession governor of Macedonia), who entered into an
of Judea, Samaria, Phoenicia and Coele- allegiance against him.  Antigonus himself
Syria, which were all easily subjugated by was not idle, for  the year following he
Nicanor his general. Laomedon the governor wrested from  the grasp of Ptolemy, Palwas taken prisoner, but contrived to make estine, Phoenicia, and Ccele-Syria.  In conhis escape.  Thus Palestine was partly the sequence of this Palestine and its vicinity
theatre of this short war; but as Laomedon became for three years the theatre of war
could make but a faint resistance, little between Ptolemy and Antigonus, and during
injury was probably sustained by the inhabit- that time the Jews must have suffered much,
ants; and, since it was their destiny to be as their country frequently changed masters.
a subject people, the inhabitants were well The  consequence was, that many of the
rewarded for what they then suffered, by inhabitants voluntarily withdrew to Egypt,
passing under the dominion of so benevolent where, and particularly at Alexandria, they
a prince as Ptolemy Lagus.  He went him- could enjoy freedom and peace under a mild
self to Jerusalem, as Josephus says, for the government.  During these wars Jerusalem
purpose of sacrifice in the temple after the does not, however, appear to have been
example of Alexander, and on this occasion molested, and was spared when'Ptolemy
declared himself master of the country. To gave up Samaria, Acco (Acre), Joppa,
secure his dominions he took a number of the and Gaza, to pillage.
people with him  to Egypt.  Among these   It was at the last-mentioned city, Gaza,
were several of the Samaritans and several that the great battle was fought between
thousand  Jews; but their condition could Ptolemy  and  Demetrius (B. C. 312),
not be very calamitous, as many of their which, by the defeat of the latter, threw the
countrymen soon followed them of their own country again into the hands of the satrap
accord.                                   of Egypt.  In this battle Demetrius had a
Ptolemy was soon made acquainted with the large force of elephants, mounted by native
fidelity with which the Jews had maintained Indian  riders.  But, notwithstanding the
their alleganee to the Persian kings.  This alarm which they inspired, they contributed
was a rare quality in those times: and wish- to his defeat through the confusion they
ing to attach such a people to himself, he produced, when annoyed and harassed by
restored the privileges they had enjoyed the prudent measures which Ptolemy took
under Alexander; he employed a part of against them.  They were all taken, and
them  to garrison his fortresses; others he most of the Indians slain.
sent to Cyrene, that he might have some   Seleucus had a joint command in this
faithful subjects in that newly-acquired terri- action.  lie was soon after furnished by
tory; and many more were assigned a resi- Ptolemy with an inconsiderable force of two
dence in Alexandria, with the grant of the hundred horse and eight hundred foot, with
same privileges as Alexander had bestowed which he might prosecute his own interests,
on the Macedonian inhabitants of that city.   and at the same time annoy Antigonus in
In 316 the  puppet-king Aridmus was the East.  With this handful of men he
privately put to death, by Olympias, the crossed the desert and the Euphrates, and
mother of Alexander the Great, and in the paused at Haran to increase his army in
same year Alexander iEgeus was imprisoned Mesopotamia.  His entrance into Babylonia
with  his mother Roxana, by Cassander, was like a triumphal procession, for the
governor of Caria; and he also was mur- people, mindful of the justice of his previous
dered in B. C. 310.  Even this, however, administration, and the great qualities of
did not quite put an end to the mockery of character and conduct which  he had disdependence and deference; for it was not played, flocked to his standard in crowds,
until the death of Hercules, the remaining and he recovered with the utmost ease not
son of Alexander the Great, by his wife only the city and province of Babylon, but
Barsine, that the satraps put on crowns and the whole of Media and Susiana; and he
took the name of kings.                   was enabled to establish his interest in this
By the year B. C. 315 the turbulent and quarter upon so solid a foundation that it
ambitious Antigonus  had  acquired  such could no more be shaken, notwithstanding
power as excited the alarm  of Seleucus, the momentary appearance of success which
29




450                             AN ILLUSTRATED
next year attended an attempt made by ers of Egypt and Syria, and chose rather to
Demetrius to recover Babylon for his father avail themselves of the security and ample
Antigonus.  It is from  this recovery of privileges by which the wise policy of PtoBabylon by Demetrius in October B. C. lemy invited them to settle in Egypt.
312, twelve years after the death of Alex-   Elated by his successes, Antigonus conander, that the celebrated  "Era of the ceived the design of reducing to his yoke
Seleucidle" commences.  It is also called the Nabatbhman Arabs, who at this time
the " Greek" and the " Alexandrian Era;" inhabited the mountains of Seir.  Availing
while the Jews, because obliged to employ himself of the absence of the active populait in all their civil contracts, called it the tion of Petra at a great and distant fair in
"Era of Contracts."  Some nations cornm- the desert, the general Athenrus sacked
pute from the spring of the ensuing year: that remarkable metropolis, and departed
but that, as some suppose, this arose from  with immense booty.  But overcome with
the fact that Seleucus was not fully estab- fatigue, the army halted on the way, and
lished until then in the possession of Babylon lay carelessly at rest, when it was surrounded
(after the attempt of Demetrius) may very and cut in pieces by the hosts of the returnwell be doubted.  It is more natural to ing  Nabathmans.   Sixty  only  escaped.
resolve the difference into an acdjustment of Antigonus  afterward  sent  Demetrius to
the era to the different times at which the avenge this loss.  But he,, advancing to
year was commenced by different nations —  Petra, and perceiving the hazard and delay
some at the autumnal, and others at the of the enterprise, was glad to compound
vernal equinox.*                            with the people on terms which bore a show
Meanwhile Demetrius gained anirnportant of honor to his father, without being disadvantage over the general (Cilles) whom  graceful to them.  Petra, which was the
Ptolemy had despatched to drive himn out of chief scene of these enterprises, was doubtless
Upper Syria, where he remained with the reml- the city, in a valley of Mount Seir, which,
nant of his army; and on this occasion the after the oblivion of ages, has been brought
victor, following the example which had to our knowledge and abundantly described
lately been set by Ptolemy, directed the by Burkhardt, Mangles, Laborde, and other
prisoners which were taken to be restored. travellers.  We notice this expedition chiefly
It is interesting to note the introduction of for the sake of recording, that Demetrius on
such civilized amenities into transactions so his return by way of the Dead Sea, took
essentially savage, and so humiliating to the notice of the asphaltos of that lake, and gave
just pride of reason, as those which warfare such an account of it to Antigonus as led
involve and produce.  When the news of him  to desire to render it a source of profit
this success reached  Antigonus (then in to his treasury.  He therefore despatched
Phrygia) he hastened to join his son; and  the aged historian Hieronylnus, with men to
the aspect of their joint forces was so for- collect the asphaltos for the benefit of the
midable, that Ptolemy judged it prudent to government.  The Arabs looked on quietly,
evacuate  his recent conquests  in Syria. and offered no interruption  until a large
Having therefore caused most of the fortifi- quantity had been collected and preparations
cations of the places he relinquished to be were made for carrying it away; then they
demolished, he withdrew into Egypt, laden  came down with six thousand men, and gurwith spoil, and attended by great numbers rounding those who were employed in this
of Jews, who were weary of continuing in business, cut them  in pieces.  Hieronylnus
what seemed likely to become the troubled escaped.   Thus  we  perceive  that  the
battle-ground between the great ruling pow- Asphaltic  lake,  otherwise  useless,  had
* It may be doubted whether the Era in its name of the Era of Alexander. Even the Jews,
origin had any real reference to the taking of who in the first instance had been oblio'ed to
Babylon, although that event happened to occur adopt it from its general use in civil contracts,
in the year to which its commencement is referred. employed no other epoch until A.D. 1040, when,
This Eralong continued in general use in West- being expelled from Asia by the caliphs, and
ern Asia. The Arabians, who called it the "Era scattered about in Spain, England, Germany,
of the two-horned "  (Dilkarnaim), meaning Poland, and other Western countries, they began
Alexander, did not relinquish it till long after to date from the creation, although still without
the Era of the Hegira had been adopted. It is entirely dropping the Era of the Selcucidme.
still retained by the Syrian Christians under the




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                        451
become a oe a  oreof   t a          e o
become a souice of                          hsea'dth   Aid object of'  dhI
We need not enter into the tieaties'i 
wars between the satmaps, duiine the sueceed
in  years. s   Antigonus remained in posses-                                             
io            t of Sy ri a   Tn 306 B. C., Demetrius,                                 hw'
who had been hi'hly successful in Greecel.
invaded the island of Cyprus, and made tiho 
conquest of it after repelling  Ptol0emy, who'/
came with a fleet to the assistance of his                   to
Antigonus that he thereupon assumedC the
title of king, and had such confidence in the
duty and affection of his excellent son, that
he saluted him (by letter) with the same
title, thus making him  the associate of his                US, OF ELEPHANTS IN WAR.
government. When this was heard in Eoypt,
the people, out of their attachment to Ptole- ance and delay.  In those times, however,
my, saluted  him  also as king, whereupon  the kingly title was very common, and much
Lysimachus in Thrace, Seleucus in Baby- less of special significance  was connected
Ion, and even Cassander in Macedonia, were with it than it has since acquired.
hailed by the regal title, by the nations under    Elated by this and his other great successtheir rule.  This none of them  strenuously  es, Antigonus cast his eyes upon Egypt. In
forbade or opposed; and although they did  305 B. C. he collected in Syria an army of
not immediately call themselves kings on their eighty thousand foot, eight thousand horse,
coins and in their edicts, they all did so ere and  eighty-three  elephants, and  marched
long, with more or less show of decent reluet- along  the coast of Palestine  to Gaza; to




452                            AN ILLUSTRATED
which point Demetrius also repaired by sea, field of battle pierced by many arrows, while
with a fleet of one hundred and fifty ships of Demetrius managed with a poor remnant of
war, and one hundred store-ships.  This for- the army to escape to Ephesus. He survived
midaLle expedition failed through mismanage- seventeen years, and took an active part in
ment on their side, met by excellent manage- the affairs of that time, but not so as to bring
ment and preparation on the part of Ptolemy. him under our future notice.
Antigonus retired from the Egyptian frontier   This great victory was followed ly a
in disgrace, not a little heightened by the treaty between the four potentates who had
avicity with which his own soldiers embraced weathered the storm which had raged since
the opportuniiy of escaping from his austere the death of Alexander, being Seleucus,
rule to the mild and paternal sw;ay of the Ptolemy,  Lysimachus,  and   Cassander.
Egyptian king.                             Each was formally to assume the royal digMeanwhile Seleucus had been consolidat- nity, and to govern his provinces with iming in the East that power which ultinmately perial power.  The distribution was made
made him the greatest of the successors of on the principle of each retaining what he
Alexander.  By 303 B. C. he had estab- already had, and taking his due share of
lliead his dominion over all the eastern prov- the empire which Antigonus had lost with
inces to the borders of India, and in that life.  To Cassander was allotted Macedonia
year was preparing for the invasion of that and Greece; to Lysimachus Thrace, Bicountry, when affairs called his attention to thynia, and some of the adjacent provinces;
the West, and he concluded a treaty with the to Ptolemy, Libya, Egypt, Arabia Petrea,
Indian king, fromn whom  be received five Palestine, and  Coele-Syria; to Seleucus,
hundred elephalns, -  a ract which we particu- all the rest, being in fact the lion's share -
larly notice as explaining the frequent pres- including many provinces  in Syria, Asia
ence of that noble beast in the subsequent Minor, Mesopotamia, Babylonia, and the
warfares in Syria and Palestine. Subsequent East as far as the frontiers of India.
supplies were afterward obtained from  the    This settlement must have been highly
same source, in order to keep up this favorite satisfactory to the J ews, whom  it restored
force in the armies of the Syrian kings.*    to the dominion of Ptolemy, with whose
At last the several kings, wearied out with  generally beneficent government, and partroubles and conflicts which the insatiable and ticular favor to themselves, they had every
turbulent ambition of Antigonus occasioned, reason to be satisfied.  The prospects of
made common cause against him, Seleucus durable peace, under the shadow of so great
taking the lead, and bringing the largest force a king, must also have been contemplated
into the field.  The belligerents met and with peculiar satisfaction by a people who
fought a battle, intended by all to be decisive, suffered so much of the horrors and penalat Ipsus in Phrygia, in the year B. C. 301. ties, without sharing in the contingent honors
Antigonus brought into the field between and benefits of war.
seventy and eighty thousand foot, ten thou-   They were not disappointed.  Ptolemy,
sand horse, and  seventy elephants; and now relieved from  his long conflict, and
Seleucus and his confederates had sixty-four settled firmly upon his throne, applied himthousand infantry, ten thousand five hundred self with great and laudable diligence to
cavalry, above one hundred chariots armed the improvement of his dominions.  One
with scythes, and four hundred elephants. great point of his policy was really to attach
The courageous old man, Antigonus, now  to his rule the several nations which had
fourscore and upward, behaved aith his usual become subject to it.  From  this policy
valor and conduct, but not with his usual sprang the favors which he showered upon
spirit.  Seleucus, by an adroit interposition the Jews, and the indulgence with which,
of his elephants, managed to prevent Deme- notwithstanding  their  peculiarities, they
trius from properly supporting his father with were on all occasions treated.  The most
the cavalry, which he commanded; and the perfect religious toleration was established
final result was, that Antigonus fell on the by this eminent monarch, whose interest
* The ancient Egyptians do not appear to with a single instance in which this animal is
have known the elephant, although quantities of described as being figured on the old monuments
the teeth were brought to the country and to of that country.
Palestine.  We do not remember to have met




HISTORY  OF THE  BIBLE.                               453
it was to harmonize the differences of reli- ures as ere long rendered it the first comngious practice and opinion which existed mercial city in the world.  This, among
between his Greek and Egyptian subjects: others, was a circumnstance calculated to
the religion of the Jews was comprehended  attract the Jews to that city; as, first their
in this indulgence; and their synagogue long absence from their native land — dur'was as much tolerated and respected as the ing the captivity, and then the troubles of
temples of Isis and of Jupiter.  Ptolemy war in that land -troubles peculiarly unmade  Alexandria  the  metropolis of his favorable to the peaceful pursuits and hopes
empire, and gave full effect to the intention of agriculture -  had already turned their
of its great founder by taking such meas- attention toward commerce.
* __-_-"~-~_'~-~-~-~-~-;~~======~~~ _.




454                                AN ILLUSTRATED
population  in  the  country  in which it is have," says a late traveller, " walked over
found.*  Its name will occur very often in' the ground it occupied, and  found the site
the  remainder of our narrative.  Next to  of the royal city only marked by the parallel
Antioch  in importance  was  Seleucus  on  embankments of ancient  aqueducts, and by
the Tigris, which may in fact be considered  the  consolidated   grit  and  debris  which
the  capital of the  eastern  portion  of the  devote to utter barrenness, in this'primeval
empire.  It was situated about fifty miles country, the  spots which towns once oecunorth by east of Babylon, twenty-three miles  pied, as if man had branded the ground by
below the site of the present city of Bagdad,  the treading of his feet."
and just opposite -to  the  ancient city  of    In his  newly-founded towns, it was the
Ctesiphon.   This city  (founded in B. C.  policy  of  Seleucus to induce as many as
293)  tended much  to the  final ruin and  possible of the Jews to settle by important
desolation  of Babylon.   Great privileges  privileges  and  immunities, such  as  those
were granted  to the citizens; and on this  which  Ptolemy  had  extended  to  them.
account nany of Ale inhabitants of Babylon   The  consequence  was that the Jews were
remicoved  thither;  and  after  the  transfer  attracted to these spots in,such  numbers,
of the  trade to  Seleucia, these removals  and especially to Antioch, thlat in tlem  they
became still more frequent.  It was in this  formed nearly  as large a pioi;ortion of the
manner that Babylon was gradually depop-  inhabitants as at Alexandria itself.
ulated;  but  the  precise  period  when  it    In  all this, we think it is not difficult
became  entirely  cleserted  cannot now  be  to perceive  a further development of the
ascertained.  It may be interesting to note  divine plan, which  now, as the times adthis, as many  of the Eastern  Jews  were  vanced, dictated  the  dispersion  of nunmerinvolved in whatever transactions took place  ous bodies of Jews  among  the  G-entile
in this quarter, which, from  the time of t;he  nations, -  while the nation  still maintained
captivity  to  this  day,  has  never  been  in its own land'the  standards of ceremonial
destitute of a large and  often  influential  worship  and  of doctrine —  with  the view
Jewish  population.  But now  Babylon it-  of making the nations acquainted with cerself is not more  desolate - is  even  less  tain  truths  and  great  principles, whieh
desolate -  has more to mark it as the site  should work in their minds as leaven until
of a great city of  kld times, than the super-  the times of quickening arrived.
seding Seleucia, which only received exist-        During the time of Ptolemy Soter, the prosence in  the last days of Babylon.   "I  perity of the Jews was much strengthened by
* Antioch, the capital of the Greek kings of  tulhed the chulch at Antioch (ibid. xv. 1); and
Syria, and afterwards the residence of the Roman  it was at Antioch that St. Paul rebuked St. Peter
governors of' the province  which bore the same  for conduct into which he had been betratecd
nanme.  This metropolis was situated where the  throulh the iflut(n(e of enmissaries  eiom Jerusachain of Lebanon, running northwards, and the  lem  (Gal. ii. 11, 12).  The chief interest of
chain of Taurns, rulnillg eastwar(ls, are brought  Antioch, however, is connected with the progress
to an abrupt meeting.  Here the Orontes breaks  of Christianity among tie heathcn. Hicle lic first
throunoh the mountains; and Antioch Was placed  Gentile church waas founded (Acts xi. 20, 21);
at a bend of' the river, partly on an island, partly  here the discilcS of Jcsus Christ were filstt called
on tlhe level xwhich forms the left bank, and partly   Christiens (xi. 26); ltere St. Paul excr'ised (so
on the steep and crapgy ascent of Mount Silpius,  far as is distinctly rceord(d) his first s)'slcmatic
which rose al)ruptlv on the south.  No city, after  ministerial work (xi. 22-46; see xiv. 26-28: alto
Jerusaletm, is so intimately connected with the  xv. 35 andt xviii. 22); bhuce he started at the
history of the apostolic cllllhrch.  Certain points  beginning of his first missionary journey (xiii
of close association between these two cities, as  1-3), and hither he returned (xiv 26).  So again
regards the proloress of Christianity, may be  after the apostolic council (the decrees of wihich
noticed in tile first place.  One of the seven  were specially addressed to the Gentile conveits
deacons, or almoners appointed at Jerusalem, was at Antioch, xv. 23), he began and ended his
Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch (Acts vi. 5). second missionary journey at this place (xv. s6,
The Christians, whvlo were dispersed fiom Jerusa- xviii. 22).  This too was the starting-lF oilit of
lem at the death of Stephen, preached the Gospel the third missionary journey  (xviii. 23), wh-llich
at Antiochl (ibid. xi. 19). It was fiom Jerusalem   was brought to a termination  by the Imprlisonftlat A afitis and the other prophets, who foretold  ment at Jerusalem  and Cmesarea.  Tlierg:h St.
tthe famine, came to Antioch (ibid. xi. 27, 28)  Paul was never again, so far as Nwe kno-w. at
and Barnabas and Saul wvere consequently sent Antioch, that city did not cease to be an im-.on a mission of charitv from the. latter city to the portant centre  for Christian  progress. -  Bib.
fbormer (ibid. xi. 30, xii. 25). It was fiom Jera- Dictionary.                         A. B
salem  again that the Judaizers came, who dis- I




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               455
the internal administration of the excellent him that he had no time to lose; he therehigh-priest Simon the just.  In 300 he suc- fore resigned  the diadem  to Philadelphus
ceeded Onias I., who had in 321 succeeded  (" the brother-loving"), and enrolled himJaddua, the high-priest in the time of Alexan- self among the royal life-guards.  He died
der the Great.  Simon repaired and forti- two years after (B. C. 283) at the age of
flied the pity and temple of Jerusalem, with eighty-four, forty years after the death of
strong and lofty walls; and made a spacious Alexander.
cistern, or reservoir of water, " in compass    As for Ptolemy Keranunls, he ultimately
as a sea."    He is reported to have com- sought refuge at the court of Seleucus, by
pleted the canon of the Old Testament by whom  he was most kindly received and
the addition of the books of Ezra, Haggai, entertained; but he justified the ill opinion
Zechariah, Nehemiah, Esther, and Malachi. of him  on which his own father had acted
This is not unlikely, as also that the book by destroying his benefactor.  This was in
of Chronicles was completed in its present B. C. 280, only seven months after Seleustate; for the genealogy of David in the cus had consummated the greatness of his
first book comes down to about the year empire by the overthrow of Lysimachus, who
B. C. 300; and it may also be remarked that had himself previously added the kingdom
in the catalogue of high-priests as given in of Macedonia to his own of Thrace.  Thus
Nehemiah, Jaddua is mentioned in such a Seleucus  became  the  possessor of three
manner as to intimate that he had been for out of the four kingdoms into which the
some time dead.  The Jews also affirm  empire of Alexander had, in the defeat of
that Simon was " the last of the great syna- Antigonus, been divided.  After his death,
gogue  "  which  some  ingeniously  para- Ptolemy Keraunus managed to seat himself
phrase into  "the  last president of the on the Macedonian throne; but the very
great council, or Sanhedrim, among  the next year he was taken prisoner and cut in
high-priests " (Hales, ii. 538); whereas it pieces by the Gauls, who had invaded Maceseems clear that no Sanhedrim  at or before donia.
this time existed.  And from  the fact that   Seleucus was succeeded in what may be
this " great synagogue " is not (like the called the throne of Asia by his son AntioSanhedrim) described as being composed of ebhus  Soter.   This  prince, after  he had
seventy members, but of one hundred and secured the eastern provinces of the empire,
twenty, amongr  whom were Ezra, Haggai, endeavored to reduce the western, but his
Zechariah, Nehemiah, and  Malachi -  it general Patrocles was defeated in Bithynia,
would appear that it rather denoted the suc- and the loss of his army disabled him  fiorn
cession of devout and patriotic men who immediately  prosecuting  the claims upon
distinguished themselves after the captivity, Macedonia  and Thrace.   Meanwhile  the
by their labors toward the collection and sceptre of Macedonia was seized by the
revision of the sacred books, and the settle- vigorous hands of Alexander Gonatus, a son
ment and improvement of the civil and of Demetrius Poliorcetes, and consequently
religious institutions of their country; and  a grandson of Antigonus, and to hint Antiof whom  Simon, by completing the sacred ochus at length felt himself constrained to
canon, became the last.  Simon died in B. cede that country; and the family of AntigoC. 291, and was succeeded by his son nus reigned there until the time of PerEleazar.                                    seus, the last king, who was conquered by
Not long after this (B. C. 285), the the Romans.  Antiochus Soter died in B. C.
king of Egypt, having conceived just cause 261  after nominating as his successor his
of displeasure against his eldest son Ptolemy second son Antiochus Theos (" the God ").
Keraunus, took  measures  to  secure  the This prince was his son by his mother-in-law
succession to his  youngest son  Ptolemy Stratonice, whom  his too indulgent father
Philadelphus.   His advanced age warned had divorced to please him t
* Ecclus. 1. 1-3. The whole chapter, entitled but carried this vice to still greater excess.
"The praise of Simon the Son of Onias," is Seleucus, to favor the wishes of his son Antidevoted to a splendid eulogium on his deeds and ochus Soter, divorced his wife Stratonice, andl
character.                                  gave her to that son as his wife, she being his
f It is worthy of notice that the Greek mother-in-lav. From  this incestuous nor rinucr
monarchs at this time not only imitated the were all the succeeding kings of Syria descended.
Persian kings by marriage with their own sisters, - Plutlarch.                  A. 13.




456                             AN ILLUSTRATED
The accession of Antiochus II. took place empire - Parthia, Bactria, and other provabout the middle of the reign of Ptolemy inces beyond the Tigris —revolted from  his
Philadelphus in Egypt.  This last-named dominion; this was in B. C. 250, fiora
monarch was quite as tolerant and as friendly which the foundation of the Parthian empire
to the Jews as his father had been.  He may be dated; but it is perhaps better, with
was a great encourager of learning and the Parthians themselves, to date it from the
patron of learned men.  Under his auspices enrsuing reign, when they completely estabwas executed that valuable translation of the lished their independence.  It is here howHebrew scriptures into Greek, called the ever we are to seek the real beginning of the
Septuagint, from  the seventy or seventy- Parthian empire, which was ultimately destwo translators said to have been employed tined to set bounds to the conquests of the
thereon.  Eleazar was still the high-priest, Romans, and to vanquish the vanquishers
and appears to have interested himself much  of the world. The immediate result was that
in this undertaking, and was careful to fur- Antiochus was obliged, in the year B. C.
nish for the purpose correct copies of the 249, to make peace with Philadelphus on
sacred books.  The date of B. C. 278 is such terms as he could obtain.  These were,
usually assigned to this translation.  Thus that he should repudiate his beloved queen,
the Jewish scriptures were made accessible who was his half-sister, and marry Berenice,
to the heathen.  It is unquestionable that a daughter of Philadelphus, and that the
copies of this version, or extracts from  it, first male issue of the marriage should sucfound their way in process of time into the ceed to the throne.
libraries of the learned and curious of Greece    As Philadelphus on his part gave for the
and Rome; and there is no means of calcu- dower of his daughter- half the revenues of
lating the full extent of its operation in open- Palestine, Phoenicia and Ccele-Syria, the
ing the minds of the more educated and  Jews may seem to have come partly under
thoughtful class among the heathen to the the dominion of Antiochus.  But as the
perception of some of the  great truths king retained the other half in his own
which they could learn only from that book, hands, and as the revenues of Judaea were
and which it was now becoming important always farmed by the high-priest, the cirthat they should know. It was even a great cumstance made no change in their condimatter that they should have the means of tion.  Besides, the arrangement was too
knowing clearly what the Jews believed, soon broken  up to produce any marked
whatever they may themselves have thought effect.  These were the important nuptials
of that belief.  This version soon came into  between " the king of the north," and " the
common use among the Jews themselves daughter of the king of the south," which
everywhere, even in Palestine, the original the prophet Daniel had long before predicted
Hebrew having become a learned language.  (Dan. xi. 6).  It was only two years after
Indeed, the quotations from the Old Testa- this (B. C. 247) that Philadelphus died;
ment made by the evangelists and apostles, immediately on which he put away Berenice
and even by Christ himself, are generally, and restored his beloved Laodicea; but she,
if not always from this version.           fearing his fickleness, poisoned him, and set
In the third year of Antiochus a long and  her son SELEUCUs   CALLINICUS (" illustrious
bloody war broke out between him  and  conqueror") upon the throne (B. C. 246).
Ptolemy Philadelphus.   The latter king, On this Berenice sought shelter with her
bending under the weight of years, com- son (the heir by treaty) in the sacred groves
manded by his generals, while Antiochus, in of Daphne (near Antioch ); but at the inthe vigor of youth, led his armies in person. stigation of his mother, Callinicus tore her
Neither monarch appears to have gained any from that sanctuary, and slew her, with her
verydecided advantages over the other; while infant son.
we know that much was lost by Antiochus;   Now Berenice was full sister to the new
for while his attention was engaged by wars king of Egypt, PTOLEMY III., surnamed
in the west the eastern provinces of his. vast EUERGETEs,* who immediatey placed him* We may add in a note that this title (the with other booty to an immense amount, 2,500
Benefactor) was conferred on Ptolemy by his idolatrous images, chiefly those which Cambyses
Egyptian subjects on his return from his Eastern had taken away from the Egyptians. When he
expedition.  He recovered and brought back, restored the idols to their temples, the Egyptians




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              457
self at the head of his army to avenge her Joseph, the high-priest's nephew, who genwrongs.  He was eminently successful. He erously borrowed the money upon his own
entered Syria, slew the queen Laodicea, and credit, paid the tribute, and so ingratiated
overran the whole empire, as far as the Tigris himself at the Egyptian court that he obon the east and Babylon on the south.' On. tained the lucrative privilege of farming the
he marched, from province to province, levy- king's revenues not only in Judaea and Saing heavy contributions, until commotions in maria, but in Phoenicia and Cele-Syria.
Egypt obliged him to abandon his enterprise    Seleucus Callinicus, in his emergencies,
and return home.  On his way he called at had promised to his younger brother AntiJerusalem, where he offered many sacrifices, ochus Hierax, who was governor of Asia
and  made large presents to the temple. Minor, the independent possession of seveThere is little doubt but that the high-priest ral cities in that province, for his assistance
took the opportunity of pointing out to him  in the war with P. Euergetes.  But when
those prophecies of Daniel (xi. 6-8) which  he had (B. C. 243) obtained a truce of ten
had been accomplished in the late events and years from  the Egyptian king, he refused
his recent achievements; and this may proba- to fulfil this engagement.  This led to a
bly have been the cause of his presents and  bloody war between the two brothers, in
offerings.                                 which Seleucus was so generally unsuccessThe high-priest of the Jews was then  ful that it would appear as if the title of
Onias II. Eleazar, the high-priest at the Callinicus (illustrious conqueror) had been
time the Greek translation of the Scriptures bestowed upon him  in derision.  He was
was made, died in B. C. 276, and was suc- however ultimately successful through the
ceeded, not by his own son Onias, but by losses and weakness which other enemies
Manasses, a son of Jaddua.  He died in brought upon  Antiochus  Hierax  (" the
B. C. 250, and Onias III. then became  Hawk " — from  his rapacity), who was in
high-priest.  As usual, Onias farmed the the end obliged to take refuge in Egypt,
tribute exacted from Judsea by the Egyp- where he was put to death in B. C. 240.
tians. But growing covetous as he advanclsd Toward the end of this war, Mesopotamia
in years, he withheld, under one pretence or appears to have been the scene of action;
another, the twenty talents which his prede- for in that quarter occurred the battle in
cessors had been accustomed to pay every  which  eight thousand  Babylonian  Jews
year to the king of Egypt as a tribute for (subjects of Seleucus) and four thousand
the whole people.  This went on for twenty- Macedonians defeated one  hundred  and
four years, and, the arrears then amount- twenty thousand Gauls whom Antiochus had
ing to four hundred and eighty talents, the in his pay (Macc. viii. 20).
king deemed it full time to take energetic    S. Callinicus being now relieved from the
measures to secure the payment of this por- western war, turned his attention to the retion of the royal revenues.  He sent an covery of the eastern provinces which had
officer named Athenion to demand the pay- revolted in the time of his father.  Renewed
ment of what was already due, and  to troubles in Syria prevented any result from
require a more punctual payment in future, his first attempt in B. C. 236; and in his
with the threat that unless measures of com- second, in 230, he was defeated and taken
pliance were taken, he would confiscate all prisoner by the Parthians, whose king, Arthe lands of Judexa, and send a colony of saces, treated the royal captive with the
soldiers to occupy them.  The infatuated respect becoming his rank, but never set
priest was disposed to neglect the warning him at liberty.  He died in B. C. 226 by a
and brave the danger, which filled all the fall from his horse.  On this event Seleucus
people with consternation.  But the evils III. inherited the remains of his father's
which might have been apprehended were kingdom.  This prince was equally weak in
averted through the policy and address of body and mind, and therefore most unaptly
manifested their gratitude by saluting with this Asia, he ultimately crossed the Euphrates, and
title. They were less prone than the Greeks of brought under his dominion, not only MesopoAsia to deifq their kings.                 tamia and Babylonia, but Media, Persia, and the
* The inscription found at Adule by Cosmas whole country as far as Bactria. As this needs
gives a more extensive range to his operations, more collateral support than it has received, we
affirming that after having subdued the west of adopt a more limited statement in the text.




458                            AN ILLUSTRATED
surnamed Keraunus ('thunder').  When made wild work in Jewish minds.  Nothing
a war broke out in B. C. 223, his imbecile manifests this more clearly than the rise of
conduct so provoked his generals, that he the SADDUCEES, whose system  was nothiing
was poisoned by their contrivance.        more than a very awkward attempt to graft
Of these troubles and dissensions in Syria, the negations of Greek philosophy upon the
Ptolemy Euergetes, in Egypt, took due ad- Hebrew creed.  It confirms this view, that
vantage in strengthening and extending his the sect of the Sadducees was never popular
own empire.  In B. C. 222, the year after with the mass of the nation - but was always
the murder of Seleucus III., his reign was confined to those whose condition in life
terminated through his murder by his own brought them the most into contact with the
son Ptolemy, who succeeded him, and who, notions of the Greeks -  the wealthy, noble,
on account of this horrid deed, was ironical- and ruling  classes.  Priests -  even highly surnamed PHILOPATOR (" father-loving "). priests -  sometimes adopted the views of
P. Euergetes is popularly considered the this sect.
last good king of Egypt, which is true in   It has already been stated that the highthe sense that the succeeding Ptolemies gov- priest Simon the Just was counted as the
erned far worse than the first three of that last of " the great synagogue," who had
name - all of whom were just and humane applied themselves to the great work of
men, and whose reigns were glorious and collecting, revising, and completing the canon
beneficent.  If Euergetes was inferior in of the Old Testament.  To this followed "a
some respects to Lagus and Philadelphus, new  synagogue," which applied itself clilhe was more than in the same degree supe- gently to the work of expounding and ccmrior to his own successors.               menting upon the completed canon.  This
school lasted until the time of Judah Hakkadosh, who to prevent these comments or
" traditions" (which were deemed of equal
authority with the text) from being lost,
after the dispersion, committed  them  to
writing, in the Mishna —which, with its
comments, has since constituted the great
law-book of the Jews, from which, even more
than from the Scriptures, they have deduced
their religious and civil obligations.   The
Egyptian standards. (From Champollion.)  founder and first president of this school,
or synagogue, was Antigonus Socho, or
At this time the Jews had for about sixty  Socheus.  He (or, according to some acyears enjoyed almost uninterrupted  tran- counts, his successor Joseph) was fond of
quillity under the shadow of the Egyptian teaching that God was to be served wholly
throne. During this period, circumstances led from disinterested motives, of pure love a.nd
them into much intercourse with the Greeks, reverence, founded on the contemplation of
who were their masters and the ruling people his infinite perfections, without regard to the
in Egypt, Syria, Asia Minor -  and, in fact, prospects of future reward, or to the dread
in all the country west of the Tigris.  A pro- of future punishment.  This was either misdominance of Greeks and of Grecian ideas, understood or wilfully perverted ty scme of
which has dotted the surface  of western- his scholars, and in particular b;y Sadce and
most Asia with  frequent monuments of Baithos, who declared  their disbelief that
Grecian art, was not without much effect there was any future state of reward or
upon the Jews in this period.  Among other punishment.  Perhaps they stopped at this;
indications, the increasing prevalence, in but the views ultimately  embodied in the
and after this period, of Greek proper names creed of the sect which took its name frcm
among the Jews, may be taken.  There is the first of these persons, inculcated that the
ample  evidence  that the  more opulent soul was mortal like the body, and perished
classes cultivated the language and imbibed with it, and consequently that there was not,
some of the manners of the Greeks.  It is nor could be, any resurrection.  They also
also apparent that some acquaintance with held that there was no spiritual being, good
the Greek philosophers was obtained, and or bad.  (Matt. xxii. 23; Acts xxiii. S.)




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              4t 9
They rejected the doctrine of an overruling which circumstances made desirable for both
Providence, and maintained that all events parties before prosecuting the war. Negotiaresulted fiom  the free and unconstrained tions for a peace were indeed entered into;
actions of men.  That, like the Samaritans, but as both parties claimed Ccele-Syria and
they rejected all the sacred books save the Palestine in virtue of the treaty by which
Pentateuch, is inferred from the unsupported the empire of Alexander was divided after
authority of a passage of doubtful interpre- the fall of Antigonus, the truce expired withtation in Josephus.*  And as there is some out any thing having been concluded.
evidence to the contrary, it is.safer to con-   The war was therefore resumed in 218
elude that they admitted the authority of B. C.  Antiochus marched into the disputed
the other books, but ascribed to them an in- territory and carried all things before himl: 
ferior value and importance than to the Pen- forcing the passes of Lebanon, he penetrated
tatauch.  But it is certain that they rejected into Phoenicia, and after securing the coast,
absolutely  the " traditions," to which such marched into the interior, and brought under
supreme  importance was attached by the his power all the cities of Galilee; after
mass of the nation.  This was a good thing which he passed beyond Jordan, and won
in them; and in this they agreed with Jesus the ancient territory of the tribes beyond that
Christ and his apostles, who were opposed river, with the metropolis Rabbath-Animon,
to them and by them  on every other point. which Ptolemy Philadelphus had fortlified,
In fact, it would seem as if this sect in its and named after himself Philadelphia.  At
beginning was intended merely as an oppo- the same time, Antiochus subjugated some
sition to the tradition party, which was likely of the neighboring Arabs; and on his return
to be regarded with apprehension by the threw  garrisons into Samaria and some of
more open and thinking minds.  The doe- the adjacent towns; and at the close of this
trinal errors had no necessary connection with brilliant campaign, he took up his winter
the anti-tradition zeal of the party, and were quarters in Ptolemais (afterward Czcsarea).
probably grafted on it through the speou-   These large and repeated losses at length
lative tendencies of some of its original roused all the energies which Ptolemy was
leaders.                                   capable of exerting. He forsook his drunken
After the murder of Seleucus Keraunus, revels, and placing himself at the head of
who left no son, the kingdom of Syria fell to an army of seventy thousand infantry, five
his brother ANTIocHus III., who had been thousand  cavalry, and  seventy-three  elebrought up at Seleucia on the Tigris.  He phants, he marched from Pelusium  through
camne to Antioch; and his reign was so pro- the desert, and encamped at Raphia, a place
ductive in great events that he ultimately between Rhinoculura (El Arish) and Gaza.
acquired the surname of " THE GREAT." Ha Antiochus, with the confidence of victory
carried on the wars against the revolted which his recent successes inspired, advanced
provinces with such success that he soon to meet him  at that place, with an' army of
recovered  almost all Asia Minor, Media, sixty-two thousand infantry, six thousand
Persia, and  Babylonia.   The  effeminate cavalry, and one hundred and twenty elecharacter of Ptolemy Philopator - who was phants.  He was totally defeated, with such
a mean voluptuary, abandoned to the most loss that he made no attempt to repair it, but
shameful vices, and entirely governed by the abandoned all his conquests and withdrew to
creatures and instrumerits of his pleasures -   Antioch.  By a peace, concluded soon after,
led Antiochus to contemplate the feasibility he relinquished all pretension to the disputed
of obtaining possession of the valuable prov- territories.  Philopator now recovered all the
inces of Coole-Syria, Phoenicia, and Palestine. former possessions of his crown without strikGreat part of the first of these provinces, ing a blow; for the cities hastened to emulate
with the city of Damascus, he easily acquired, each other in renewing their homage to him
through the defection of Theodotian the gov- by their ambassadors.   Among these the
ernor —a brave man rendered a traitor by Jews, always partial to the Egyptian rule,
the desire of revenge, and by contempt for were the most forward; and the king was
the character of his master.  The campaign induced to pay a visit to Jerusalem, as well
was terminated by a truce for four months, as to the other principal cities.  There he
offered sacrifices according to the Jewish law,
* Antiq. xiii. 10, 6.         and presented gifts to the temple.  But,




460                               AN ILLUSTRATED
unhappily, the beauty of the building, and so pointedly shunned, and excluded fi-om the
the peculiar order and  solemnity of the society of their old associates, that the king,
worship, excited the curiosity of the king to when acquainted with it, was highly enraged,
see the interior.  Sinion Ii., who had but and regarded this as an opposition to his
lately succeeded Onias II. in the high-priest- authority; he vowed to extirpate the whole
hood, remonstrated  against this intention, nation.  To begin with the Jews in Egypt,
intimating that it was unlawful even for the he ordered them all to be brought in cha ns
priests to enter the inner sanctuary.  Philop- to Alexandria.  Having thus brought them
ator answered haughtily, that although they all together,. they were shut up in the hippowere deprived of that honor, he ought not to be; drome, which was a large enclosure outside
and pressed forward to enter the sacred place. the city, built for the purpose of horse-racing
But while he was passing through the inner and  other public  amusements, where he
court for that purpose, he was " shaken like intended to expose them as a spectacle, to bie
a reed, and fell speechless to the ground,"  destroyed by elephants.  At the appointed
overcome either by his own superstitious fears, time, the people assembled in crowds, and
or, as the' historian seems to intimate, by a the  elephants were on the spot; but the
supernatural dread and horror cast on him  effects of a drunken  bout, the preceding
from above.  He was carried out half dead, night, prevented the attendance of the king,
and speedily departed from  the city full of and caused the postponement of the show.
displeasure against the Jewish people.  I-IH  The next day, a similar disappointment protherefore commenced a most Ibarbarous perse- ceeded from the same unseemly cause.  But
cution against the Jews in Egypt on his on the third, the king managed to be present,
return home.  In the first place he caused a and the elephants were brought out after they
decree to be inscribed on brazen pillars at the had been intoxicated with wine and frankinpalace-gate, that none should enter there who cense to render them more ferocious.  But
did not sacrifice to the gods he worshippedl —  they spent their fury, not on the unhappy
which effectually excluded the Jews from all Jews, but turned upon the spectators, of
access to his person.  Then he deprived the whom they destroyed great numbers.  This,
Jews in Alexandria of the high civil privi- connected with some unusual appearances in
leges they had enjoyed, degrading them from  the air, appeared to the king and his attencdthe first to the third or last class of inhabit- ants so manifest an interposition of a divine
ants.  He also ordered them to be formally  Power  in  behalf of the  Jews, that  he
enrolled, and that at the time of their enrol- instantly ordered them to be set at liberty;
ment, the mark of an ivy-leaf (one of the and fearfiul of having  provoked  the veninsignia of his god, Bacchus) should be geance of Heaven, he hastened to restore the
impressed upon them with a hot iron: if any Jews to their former privileges by rescinding
refused  this mark they were to  be made all the decrees he had issued against them
slaves; and whoever opposed the decree was Now also, his better reason gaining sway,
to be put todeath. Again, theywere tempted considering that those who had so signaihy
to apostasy by the promise of restoration to evinced their fidelity to their God were not
the rank of citizens of the first class; but likely to be unfaithful to their king, he
of the many thousands of  Jews then at bestowed upon them  many marks of htis
Alexandria, only three hundred appear to munificence and confidence.  Among other
have submitted to the humiliating condition, things, he abandoned to their disposal the
and these were held in such abhorrence by three hundred apostates, who were speedily
the majority of their countrymen, and were put to death by their offended brethren.e
It is right to apprise the reader that the in the Alexandrian and Vatican manuscripts.
whole of this account of the visit of Philopator There is also a Syriac version of it from the
to Jerusalem and its consequences, down to this Greek; but it has never been inserted in the
point, is not in Josephus, but is given on the sole Vulgate, or in our English Bibles, but English
authority of the author of the third book of translations of it exist. It appears to have been
Maccabees. In all, there are five books of Mac- the work of an Alexandlrian Jew, and while we
cabees, of which two only are included in our admit that the book is fi1ll of absurdities, and
Apocrypha.  The third, which relates solelr to that the authoritv is of very little value in itself,
this persecution of the Jews by Ptolemy Philopa- yet we think that in the outline facts. as related
tor, exists in Greek, and is found in some ancient in the text, there is so much appearance of probamanuscripts of the Greek Septuagint, particularly bility, and so' many small agreements with the




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                                461
Ptolemy Philopator died in B. C. 205, been one of the first objects of his reign.
leaving his crown to PTOLEMY EPIPHANES, This design again exposed unhappy Palestine
then a child five years of age.  Meanwhile to all the horrors of war. The first campaign
Antiochus III. had won the surname of put Antiochus in possession of the standing
Great, by his eminent successes in the East, bone of contention, Cele-Syria and Paleswheie he restored the ancient supremacy of tine.  It is remarkable that on this occasion
the Seleucidae.  At the death of Philopator, the Jews relinquished their usual attachment
hle had but recently returned from his Eastern to the Egyptian yoke, and took a very dewars.  He was not slow in perceiving the cided part with Antiochus.  For this many
advantage which he might take of the infancy reasons may be conceived, but none are
of the new king in accomplishing what had distinctly known; we have however no doubt
EXEOUTION BY ELEPHANTS.
that one of them may be found in the indul- Minor, Palestine was speedily recovered by
gent consideration with which the Jews of Scopas, the Egyptian general, who did not
Babylonia and other eastern provinces had fail to make the Jews aware of his consciousbeen treated by Antiochus-  a fact which ness of the favor to Antiochus which they
could not fail to be known in Palestine and had manifested.  The Egyptians were, howat Jerusalem.   The next year, however, ever, soon again driven out of the country
Antiochus having been called away into Asia by Antiochus, and on this occasion such iraaccounts which history has preserved of the circumstance to which we are willing that due
manners and ideas and circumstances of the times, weight should be given; but it will be noticed by
as well as with the character of the king, that every reader that the history of Josephus is
we are disposed to re-ard it as substantially true. remarkably brief at this period.
The silence of Josephus is indeed a suspicious




462                             AN ILLUSTRATED
portant services were rendered him  by the sacred place from the intrusion of strangers;
Jews, and when he came  to Jerusalem  and by liberal grants, he made ample pro(B. C. 198) so lively were their demonstra- vision for the due and orderly performance
tions of joy, that the king, to confirm their of the  sacred  services.   Antiochus also
attachment to his government, and to reward expressed his confidence in the attachment.
their services, granted them many important of the Jews by establishing colonies of theim,
favors; and aware that there were no points on very advantageous terms, in Phryglla,
on which they were more anxious than in Lydia, and other districts of doubtful fidelity
what concerned their city and temple, he -  a circumstance which accounts for the
declared his intention to restore the city to great number of Jews scattered  through
its  ancient  splendor  and  dignity, and those countries at the preaching of the gospel.
thoroughly to repair the temple at his own  (1 Pet. i. 1; James i. 1.)  But it was teli
cost; he guaranteed the inviolability of the destiny of Antiochus to come into contact
ROMIAN STANDARDS.
with the iron power which was ere long to hension, and perceiving, at the same time,
break in pieces all the kingdoms of the earth, what appeared  advantageous opportunities
and to make their glory a vain thing.  The of recovering in the north  all that had
RoMANTs had already become  great, and belonged to the first Seleucus, he felt disbegan to interfere with their usual haughti- posed to bring his southern contest to a
ness in the affairs of the East.  The success- conclusion. He therefore temporized with
ful termination of the second Punic war had the Egyptians, whose power he had greatly
covered them with renown, and spread their underrated, and made an offer of his beautiful
fame far and wide; and already they had daughter Cleopatra in  marriage with the
indicated to sagacious persons, by the reduc- young king of Egypt, as soon as he should
tion of Macedonia to the state of a subject become of age; promising, as her dower,
kingdom, the ultimate tendencies of their to restore the provinces of Coele-Syria and
great and still increasing power.  Antiochus Palestine, which he had wrested firom Egypt.
regarded this phenomenon with some appre- The princess was accordingly betrothed to




HISTORY  OF THE  BIBLE.                               463
P. Epiphanes; but the marriage did not routed at Thermopylae, and compelled to
actually take place until B. C. 192, when withdraw from Europe, by the consul Acilius
the young monarch reached the eighteenth Glabrio.  The marriage of his daughter with
year of his age.                           Ptolemy had been completed the year before
Antiochus availed himself of this settle- this at Raphia, but he still retained possession
ment of affairs to prosecute his other plans. of the provinces to be cededcl,* and endeavored
He reduced the maritime Greek cities of to corrupt his daughter to betray the interests
Asia Minor, and crossing the Hellespont, of her husband.  But he was disappointed.
wrested the Chersonese from the weakened She was more attached to Ptolemy than to:anmds of the Macedonian king. This brought her father; and, being probably dissatisfied
him into direct and fatal collision with the at his breach of promise, she joined her
RomLns. And here it may be observed that husband in an embassy to Rome in 191 B.
long before this the political sagacity of C., to congratulate the Romans on driving
Ptolemy Philadelphus had detected the nas- Antiochus out of Greece, and to assure the
cent greatness of the Roman state, and had senate of the readiness of the king and queen
anxiously cultivated its friendship.   This to conform themselves to its directions.
also had been the policy of his successors;    Antiochus was now driven to seek peace
and the guardians of the young king, when with Rome; but the terms which they offered
apprehensive of the danger of Antiochus, were so hard, that he could not bring himhad placed him under the guardianship of self to accept them.  In all human probthe republic.                              ability he had brought himself into this
When Antiochus had passed into Europe condition by his inability to appreciate the
and taken possession of Thrace, the Romans value of the advice tendered to him  by
sent an embassy to require restitution not Hannibal, who, expelled fronm Carthage, had
only of all he had taken from  Philip of in 195 B. C., sought refuge at his court;
Macedon, hut of all that he had taken from  and who, while he encouraged his enmity to
their ward the king of Egypt.  The Syrian the Romans, had exhorted himo to make Italy
king answered the requisition as haughtily as the seat of the war.  In 190 B. C, Corneit was made; and it was manifest that an lius Scipio (consul), assisted by his brother
appeal to arms could not be far distant. Africanus, passed over into Asia to conduct
What brought on the actual conflict was the the war against Antiochus.  Under their
passage of Antiochus into Greece, at the able management, it was soon brought to
invitation of the ZEtolians, who made him  a conclusion, and. the Syrian king was comtheir commander-in-chief.  In  Greece  his pelled from his capital of Antioch to sue for
proceedings were not taken with that ability peace, which he obtained on very humiliating
which distinguished the earlier part of his terms, but not essentially harder than those
career, and in 191 B. C., he was utterly he had at first refused.  He relinquished all
Tetratdrachm of Antiochus Epiphanes.
Asia Minor west of the Taurus: he agreed regllated instalments; he was to deliver up
to pay all the expenses of the war, estimated his elephants and his ships-of-war (excepting
at eighteen thousand Euobic talents, by twelve) to the Romans; and he was to give
X Jerome and. Appian say that Antiochus did But Polybius denies it; and this denial is consurrender these provinces; and Josephus appears firmed by the fact that they still remained in
to concur with them, intimating that the revenues the- possession of the sons and successors of
were paid to the Egyptian king. (Ant. xii. 4, 1.) Antiochus.




464                             AN ILLUSTRATED
into their hands Hannibal and other eminent formation of Simon -  a Benjamite, who was
foreigners, who had sought protection at his made governor of the temple, and had quarcourt.  The aged Carthaginian and another relied with Onias -that the treasury of the
contrived to make their escape; but the rest Jerusalem  temple was very rich, and abunwere given up, together with the twelve hos- dantly more than sufficient to supply the
tages, for the observance of the treaty, among sacrifices and oblations,- the king, who was
whom  the king's younger son, Antiochus, greatly straitened for money, to raise the
surnamed Epiphanes, was one.  After this money required by the Romans, sent his
Antiochus withdrew to the eastern provinces treasurer Heliodorus to seize and bring him
of his empire, where he endeavored to collect the reported treasure. IHeliodorus concealed
the arrears of tribute due to him, to defray his the object of his journey until he reached
heavy engagements to the Romans.  There Jerusalem, when he made it known to the
he was slain, two years after, by the natives high-priest, and demanded the quiet surof Elymais in Persia, when he attempted to render of the money.  Onias informed him
seize the treasures contained in their rich in reply, that there was indeed considerable
temple.  This was in B. C. 187, in the treasure in the temple; but by no means of
fifty-second year of his age, and the thirty- such large amount as had been reported.
seventh of his reign.  The leading eyents of Great part of it consisted of holy gifts, and
his reign had been foreshown by Daniel (xi. offerings consecrated to God, and the appro13-19).                                    priation of which could not be disturbed
SIMON II., who was high-priest of the without sacrilege. The rest had been placed
Jews at the time of the unhappy visit of there by way of security, for the relief of
Ptolemy IV. to Jerusalem, diedin B. C. 195, widows and orphans, who  claimed it as
after an administration of twenty-two years. their property; and a considerable sum had
He was succeeded by his son ONIAS III. been deposited there by Hyrcanus (the son
Onias was a person of great piety, and of of that Joseph who obtained the farming
mild and amiable disposition — and  well of the revenues from  Ptolemy Euergetes,
worthy of better times than those in which as before related), a person of great opulence
he lived, and of a better end than it was his and high rank.  He added, that being by
lot to experience.  During the first years of virtue of his office the guardian of this
his administration, when his excellent inten- wealth, he could not consent to its being
tions received full effect under the favorable taken from  the right owners, and thereby
auspices of Antiochus and his successor, disgrace his office and profane the sanctity
" the holy city was inhabited in all peace, of that holy place which was held in reverand the laws were kept very well."  The ence by all the world.  Determined to fulfil
nation was also at this time held in such high his mission, whatever impression this stateestimation that the sovereigns of the neigh- ment may have made upon his mind, Heliboring countries courted its friendship, and odorus marched directly to the temple, and
made magnificent offerings to the temple. was there vainly opposed by the high-priest
And we are persuaded that this was not and the other ministers of the sacred services.
merely on account of the Jews, but with the The outer gates were ordered to be demolishled;
design of honoring and with the hope of pro- and the whole city was in the utmost agonies.pitiating their God, JEOVAoI, whose fame of apprehension.  But when Heliodorus was
was by this time widely extended among the about to enter, at the head of his Syrians, he
nations, and his power acknowledged and was struck with a panic terror, simnilar to that
feared by many of them.                    which Ptolemy Philopator had befoile exSELEucus IV., surnamed  PHILOPATOR, perienced, and, falling to the ground, speechthe eldest son of Antiochus the Great, suc- less, he was carried off for dead by his gi arid.
ceeded to the throne of his father, and to the Onias prayed for him and he recovered, -lnd
heavy obligations under which he lay to the made all haste to quit the city.  His plan
Romans.  He was as well disposed toward being thus frustrated, the guilty Smonl had
the Jews as his father had been; and not- the effrontery to charge Onias himself with
withstanding his embarrassments, gave orders having procured this visit from Hellodorus:
that the charges of the public worship should some believed it; and in consequence there
continue to be defrayed out of his own arose hostile conflicts between the parties of
treasury.  But subsequently, upon the in- Onias and Simon, in which many lives were




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             465
lost.  At last, Onias resolved to proceed old enemy of his father, Eumenes, king of
himself to Antioch and lay the whole matter Pergamos* (to whom the Romans had conbefore Seleucus. He was favorably received signed the greater part of the territory in
by the king, who heard and credited his Asia Minor, which they compelled Antiochus
statements, and, in  consequence, decreed the Great to cede) who, with his brother
the banishment of Simon from  his native Attalus, was easily induced to assist him
country.  This was in B. C. 176.  In the against the usurper.  They succeeded, and
year following, Seleucus was induced to send their success placed the brother instead of
his son Demetrius as a hostage to Rome, to the son of Seleucus upon the throne of Syria,
relieve his own brother Antiochus, who had with the concurrence of the Romans.
now been twelve years in that city.  Deme-   Antiochus IV. was scarcely settled on the
trius had departed, and Antiochus was not throne before Jesus, or, by his Greek name,
come; and the absence of the two who stood Jason,t repaired to Antioch, and, availing
next the throne afforded Heliodorus an oppor- himself of the penury of the royal treasury,
tunity of conspiring against his master, whom  tempted the new king by the offer of four
he removed by poison, and himself assumed hundred and forty talents of silver to depose
the government.   Antiochus was visiting the excellent Onias III. from the high-priestAthens, on his way home, when he heard of hood, and to appoint himself in h s place.
this.  He immediately applied himself to the He also obtained an order that Onias should
Leaping. (From a Greek intaglio. Montfaucon.)
be summoned to Antioch, and commanded disposed to regard a people so peculiar and so
to dwell there.  Finding how  acceptable exclusive.  This might have been a good
money was to the king, Jason offered one design under general considerations of human
hundred and  fifty  talents more for, and policy, but was calculated to be most injuriobtained, the privilege of erecting at Jerusa- ous and fatal as respected the Jews, whose
lem  a gymnasium, or place for such public institutions designedly made them a peculiar
sports and exercises as were usual among the people, and whatever tended to make them
Greeks, as well as for permission to establish otherwise must needs have been in counteran academy in which Jewish youth might be action of the great principle of their establishbrought up after the manner of the Greeks; ment.  The effects which resulted from the
and also the important privilege of making exertions of Jason, after he had established
what Jews he pleased free of the city of himself in the high-priesthood, were such as
Antioch. The obvious object of all this was as might have been foreseen.  The example of
opposite as possible to that of the Mosaic a person in his commanding position drew
institutions. It was intended to facilitate the forth and gave full scope to the more lax
commixture of the Jews with foreigners, and to dispositions which existed among the people,
lessen the dislike with which the Greeks were especially among the younger class, who were
* The founder of the celebrated library at names; one native Hebrew name, used among
Pergamos, and the reputed inventor of parch- their own countrymen, and another Greek (as
ment.                                     much as possible like the other in sound or meant Most persons of consequence had now two ing), used in their intercourse with the heathen.
30




466                             AN ILLUSTRATED
enchanted with the ease and freedom of the with the force of a fascination.  The priests
Grecian customs, and weary of the restraints neglected their service in the temple to be
and limitations of their own.  Such as these present at these spectacles. It is well known
abandoned  themselves with all the frenzy that some of these exercises were performed
of a new excitement, from which all restraint naked; and it is related that many of the
had been withdrawn, to the license which was Jewish competitors found means to efface
offered to them.  The  exercises  of the the marks of circumcision. that they might
gymnasium  seem to have taken their minds not be distinguished from other people.  In
Egyptian fencers. (IZosellini.)
the Greek cities of Asia, in which Jews were of obeying their instructions, they presented
settled, this became a common practice among the money to the Tyrians as a contribution
those young men who wished to distinguish toward the repair of their fleet.
themselves in the sports of the gymnasium.*   Jason only enjoyed his ill-gotten dignity
We allude to this as a striking illustration of for three years.  His younger brother Onias,
the extent in which this rite operated in ful- or, by his Greek name, Menelaus, having
filling its design of separating the Jews from  been sent to Antioch with tribute, took ad
other people.  The year after his promotion, vantage of the  opportunity  to ingratiate
Jason sent some young men, on whom he had himself with Antiochus, and by offering three
Boxers. (From a Greek vase.)                 Athletse. (Montfaucon.)
conferred the citizenship of Antioch, to assist hundred talents more than Jason had paid,
at the games which were celebrated at Tyre succeeded in getting himself appointed to
(in the presence of Antiochus) in honor of the high-priesthood in his room.  But he
Hercules.  They were intrusted with a large was repulsed in his attempt to assume that
sum of money, to be expended in sacrifices to high office, and returned to Antioch, where
that god.  But even the least scrupulous of he induced the king to establish him  by
the high-priest's followers were not prepared force, by professing for himself and his assoto go to this extent with him, and instead ciates an entire conformity to the religion of
the Greeks.  Jason was in  consequence
* To this practice allusions are made by St. expelled by an armed force, and compelled to
Paul: Rom. ii. 25; 1 Cor. vii. is.         retire to the land of the Ammonites, leaving




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             467
the pontificate to his still less scrupulous thousand men he had got to defend him, and,
brother.                                  when he himself fled to the treasury of the
Menelaus found that he had over-taxed temple, pursued and slew him there.
his resources in the payment he had agreed    Antiochus having soon after come to Tyre,
to make for his promotion, and in conse- the  Jewish elders sent three  venerable
quence of the non-payment he was sum- deputies thither to justify this act, and to
moned to Antioch by the king.  Antiochus accuse Menelaus as the author of all the
was absent when he arrived, and he soon troubles which had happened in Judmaa and
learned that there was no hope of his retain- Antioch.  The case which they made out
ing the favor of the king unless the payment was so strong, and was heard with so much
was completed.  Having exhausted his own attention by the king, that Menelaus felt
coffers as well as credit, he privately sent to greatly alarmed for the result.  He therefore
his brother Lysimachus (whom he had left as applied  himself to  the  king's  favorite,
his representative at Jerusalem) to withdraw  Ptolemy Macron, and promised him so large
some of the sacred vessels of gold from the a sum  that he was induced to watch the
temple, to sell them  at Tyre and the neigh- inconstant temper of the king, and availed
boring cities, and send him  the amount. himself of an opportunity of getting hin not
This disgraceful affair was not managed with only to absolve Menelaus, but to condemn
such secrecy but that it came to the knowl- the three Jewish deputies to death.  This
edge of his elder brother, the deposed high- most unjust and horrid sentence was immepriest, Onias III., who was still residing at diately executed. This terrible crime shocked
Antioch, much respected by the numerous the whole nation, and was abhorrent even to
Jews of that city, before whom he spoke of foreigners, for the Tyrians ventured to exthis sacrilege in such strong language as press their sense of the wrong, by giving an
threw them into such a state of ferment and honorable burial to the murdered men.  The
displeasure as was likely to prove dangerous ultimate effect was to make Antiochus himself
to Menelaus.  He therefore, by bribery, pre- a sharer in the aversion with which Menelaus
vailed on Andronicus, the king's deputy at was regarded by the nation; but, at the
Antioch, to put him  to death.  Onias, ap- same time, the paramount influence of that
prised of these intrigues, had taken refuge guilty person with the king seemed to be so
in the sanctuary of Daphne; * but was in- clearly manifested, that all further notion of
duced to quit it by the assurances and prom- resisting his authority was abandoned, and
ises he received from  Andronicus, and was he was enabled to resume his station at Jebarbarously murdered as soon as he had rusalem.  This was greatly facilitated by the
passed the sacred bounds.   This atrocious presence of the king himself with a powerful
deed raised a terrible outcry among the Jews army in the country, for which circumstance
at Antioch, who hastened to make their com- we must now proceed to account.
plaints to the king on his return to that city.   It will be remembered that the king of
Antiochus, to do him  justice, was much Egypt, Ptolemy Epiphanes, had been maraffected, and shed tears, when he heard them. ried to Cleopatra, daughter of Antiochus the
He promised justice, and performed it; for, Great, and sister of the present Antiochus.
after proper investigation, Andronicus was Ptolemy was taken off by poison in B. C.
stripped of his purple, and put to death on 181, after a profligate and troubled reign of
the very spot where Onias had been mur- twenty-four years.  He left three children:
dered.  Menelaus, the more guilty of the Ptolemy P'hilometor, Ptolemy Physcon, and
two, found means to escape the storm which Cleopatra, who was successively married to
destroyed the agent of his crime.  But the her two brothers.
sums of money which were necessary to en-   Ptolemy  VI.,  surnamed   Philometor
able him to maintain his credit, obliged his' (" mother-loving "), was but a child at
brother Lysimachus to resort to such repeated the death of his father, and the government
and unheard-of exactions, violence, and sac- was conducted with ability by his mother
rilege, that the people of Jerusalem  rose Cleopatra.  But she died in B. C. 173, on
against him, scattered like chaff the three which the regency devolved on Eulveus the
* This was a grove about three miles from  the place became so infamous that no man of
Antioch, which had been made a sanctuary for character could visit it.
criminals and a place of pleasure. In the end




'4G8                          AN ILLUSTRATED
eunuch, and Lennaeus the prime minister -  Ireached Palestine, on which the deposed
the tutors of the young prince. They imn- high-priest, Jason, quitted the land of the
mediately advanced a claim to the possession Ammonites, and with a party, assisted by
of Ccele-Syria and Palestine, on the ground friends within, surprised Jerusalem, massathat they had been secured to  Ptolemy cred the citizens, drove his brother Menelaus
Lagus by the partition-treaty of B. C. 301; into the castle, and possessed himself of the
and that they had again been given by Anti- principality.  But he was speedily compelled
ochus the Great in dowry with his daughter to quit the city and country, at the news
Cleopatra on her becoming queen of Egypt. that Antiochus was alive, and marching with
Antiochus refused to listen to such demands; a powerful army against Jerusalem.  After
and  both parties sent deputies to Rome wandering from one place to another, a fugito argue their respective claims before the tive and a vagabond, Jason at last perished
senate.                                  miserably, a refugee in the strange land of
When Philometor had completed his four- Lacedvemonia.  The news of this movement
teenth year, he was solemnly invested with had been reported to Antiochus with such
the government, on which occasion embassies exaggeration as led him  to conclude that
of congratulation were sent from  all the Judoea had revolted; and being further proneighboring nations.  Apollonius, the am- voked by hearing that the Jews had made
bassador of Antiochus, was instructed to public rejoicings at the news of his death,
take the opportunity of sounding the dispo- he marched in great wrath from  Egypt,
sitions of the Egyptian court; and when took Jerusalem by assault, destroyed eighty
this person informed Antiochus that he was thousand persons, plundered the temple of
viewed as an enemy by the Egyptians, he all its treasures, vessels, and golden ornaimmediately proceeded to Joppa, to survey ments, and carried away one thousand eight
his frontiers toward Egypt, and to put them  hundred talents to Antioch.
in a state of defence.  On this occasion he   Ptolemy Philometor being now  actually
paid a visit to Jerusalem.  The city was under the power of Antiochus, the people
illuminated, and the king was received by of Alexandria proclaimed his brother king
Jason (who was then high-priest) with every under the name of Ptolemy Euergetes II.;
demonstration  of respect.  Afterward he but who wais afterward nick-named Physcon
returned to Antioch through Phmnicia.    (" big-belly ") on account of his corpulency.
Having completed his preparations for This afforded Antiochus a pretext for returnwar, Antiochus, in B. C. 171, led his army ing the next year (B. C. 169) to Egypt
along the cost of Palestine, and gave the with the declared intention of supporting
Egyptians a signal overthrow at Pelusium. Ptolemy Philometor on the throne, but with
He then left garrisons on the frontier and the real purpose of bringing  the whole
withdrew into winter-quarters at Tyre.  It country under his power. Atthe end, howwas during his stay there that the deputies ever, perceiving that the conquest of Alexarrived to complain of Menelaus, and were andria would be an undertaking of great
put to death, as just related.  In the spring difficulty, he withdrew  to Memphis, and
of the next year (B. C. 170) Antiochus affected to deliver up the kingdom to Philundertook a second expedition against the ometor, and returned to Antioch. But as he
Egyptians, and attacked them  by sea and retained in his own hands Pelusium, the key
land.  He defeated them on the frontiers, of the kingdom  on the side of Syria, his
and took Pelusium.  After his victory he ulterior designs were transparent to Philomight have cut the Egyptian army in pieces, metor, who therefore made an agreement
but he behaved with such  humanity as with Physcon that they  should share the
gained him great favor with the Egyptians. government between them, and resist AntiAt length all surrendered to him voluntarily; ochus with their united power; and also
and with a small body of troops he overran that a joint embassy should be sent to Rome
all the country except Alexandria, and ob- to implore the protection of the republic
tained possession of the person of the young'against their uncle.
king, whom he treated with apparent consid-   This brought on a fourth invasion of
eration and regard.                      Egypt by Antiochus (B. C. 168), who now
While Antiochus was thus employed, a threw off the mask he had hitherto chosen
rumor of his death  before  Alexandria to wear, and declared himself the enemy




HISTORY  OF TIHE  BIBLE.                             469
of both the brother kings.  He took posses- day, it was known, the Jews of that age
sion of all the country as far as Alexandria, would not fight even in self-defence.  The
and then advanced toward that city.  He soldiers were then let loose, and scoured the
was within four miles thereof, when he was streets, slaughtering all they met -  who
met at Eleusis, by the ambassadors which suffered themselves meekly to be slain, none
the Roman republic had sent to adjust these being found who attempted to stand on their
differences.  And this they did in the usual defence.  The women and children were
summary manner of that arrogant people. spared, to be sold for slaves.   All the
At the head of the ambassadors was Popi- streets of Jerusalem, and the courts of
lius Lmenas, whom  Antiochus had known the temple flowed with blood; the houses
during his thirteen years' residence atRome. were pillaged and the  city wall thrown
Rejoiced to see him, Antiochus stretched down.  Apollonius then demolished all the
forth his arms to embrace him.  But the buildings near Mount Zion, and with the
Roman sternly repelled the salute, demand- materials strengthened the fortifications of
ing first to receive an answer to the written the citadel, which he furnished.with a garorders of the senate, which he delivered. rison and held under his own command.
The king intimated that he would confer on This castle was so situated as to give the garthe matter with his friends, and acquaint risoen complete command of the temple, and
the ambassadors with the result: on which the remains of the people would no longer
Popilius drew with his staff a circle around visit the sanctuary, or the priests perform
the king on the sand, and said, " I require the public services of religion.  Accordyour answer before you quit this circle." ingly, in the month of June, B. C. 167, the
The king was confounded; but after a daily sacrifice ceased, and Jerusalem  was
moment of rapid and condensed deliberation, soon completely deserted, as the surviving
he bowed his proud head, and said falter- inhabitants fled to the cities of the neighboringly,;'I will obey the senate!"   On ing Gentiles.
which Popilius, who had hitherto seen only    An edict was now issued at Antioch, and
the king of Syria, recognized the friend, proclaimed in all the provinces of Syria,
and extended to him  his hand.  Perhaps commanding the inhabitants of the whole
this conduct in either party would not have empire to worship the gods of the king,
occurred the year, or even the month before; and to acknowledge no  religion but his
but the Romans had just concluded their — with the declared object " that all shouldl
war with Perseus, and made Macedonia become one people."   Antiochus was una Roman province, and the ambassadors had questionably a madman.  This is not doubted
waited at Delos to learn the issue of this by any one who has studied the whole of
war before they sailed for Egypt.          his history, which it has been  no  part
Antiochus obeyed the senate, by imme- of our duty to relate: and it is surely not
diately withdrawing his forces from  Egypt. very necessary to analyze the interior moOn his way homeward, he marched along tives of a madman's acts.  Hales fancies
the coast of Palestine; and he despatched that " this general persecution seems to have
Apollonius, his general, with  twenty-two been  raised by Antiochus, not from  any
thousand men to vent his mortification and regard to his own religion, but from a regufury upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, lar plan and deep-laid scheme of plunderwhich, as well as the rest of the province, ing the temples throughout his dominions,
had for two years been groaning under the after he had suppressed their worship.  For
tyranny and rapacity of Philip, the Phry- the temples were not only enriched by thie
gian governor, " more barbarous than his offerings of the votaries, but from their sancmaster;"  and of Menelaus the apostate tity were the great banks of deposit, and
high-priest, "worse  than  all the  rest." the grand magazines of commerce."  But
Apollonius came to Jerusalem, and as his there was no general persecution, although
men remained quiet, and he was himself the edict was general in its terms.  The
known as the collector of the tribute in cities containing  the  wealthiest temples
Palestine, and as such usually attended by already worshipped the gods of Greece;
an armed force, his hostile intentions were and it must have been known, as proved
not suspected by the Jews.  All things the  fact, that none of the other pagan
remained quiet until the sabbath, on which nations would make much difficulty in corn



47 0                            AN ILLUSTRATED
plying with the royal edict.  It must have time that the Jews first took to the public
been known, in fact, that none but the Jews reading in the synagogues, of the other books
were  likely to  oppose themselves to the of Scripture, as substitutes for the interdicted
operation  of this decree; and  we  are Pentateuch, which  usage  they  afterward
therefore  not disposed  to look for any retained, when the reading of the law was
deeper cause than the insane abhorrence restored.   Groves were  consecrated, and
which Antiochus had conceived against that idolatrous altars erected in every city, and
people, and which he could not safely mani- the citizens were required to offer sacrifices
fest without bringing them  into a condition to the gods, and to eat swine's flesh every
of apparent contumacy, which might, in month on the birth-day of the king; and on
some degree, excuse, in the eyes of the the feast of Bacchus, the Jews were comheathen, his contemplated severities against pelled to join in the celebration, and to walk
them.                                      in procession crowned with ivy. Instant
The pagans generally, as we have inti- death was the penalty of refusal.  Among
mated, found no difficulty in complying with other instances of cruel punishment at Jeruthe royal edict.  The Samaritans, who were salem, two women, with their infant children,
anxious to claim a Jewish origin in the time whom  they had circumcised with their own
of Alexander, now wrote to Antiochus to hands, were thrown from the battlements on
inform him that they were Sidonians, and the south side of the temple, into the deep
offered to dedicate their temple on Mount vale below.  Officers were sent into all the
Gerizim  to Jupiter Xenius, " the defender towns, attended by bands of soldiers, to enof strangers."  Even many Jews submitted force obedience to the royal edict.
to the edict for fear of punishment, and a    It seems that ultimately Antiochus came
still greater number, long attached to the into Palestine to observe that his orders had
customs of the Greeks, were glad to avail been duly executed; and the history relates
themselves of the  apparent compulsions that he commanded and superintended the
under which they were now placed.  But the most horrible tortures of the recusants:better part of the people fled, and kept them- particular mention is made of the martyrdom
selves concealed.  An old man of the name  of Eleazar, in his ninetieth year, for refusing
of Athenceus was sent to Jerusalem  to  to eat swine's flesh (2 Mace. vi. 18-31);
instruct the Jews in the Greek religion, and  and of the heroic matron and her seven sons,
to compel the observance of its rites.  He  who nobly set the royal madman at defiance
dedicated the temple to Jupiter Olympius, and professed their belief that " The King
and on the altar of Jehovah he placed a of the World would raise up to everlasting
smaller altar to be used in sacrificing to the  life those who died for his laws;" and
heathen god.  This new altar, built by order threatening their tormentor that " he should
of the desolater Antiochus, is what Daniel have no resurrection to life, but receive the
alludes to when he speaks of the " abomina- just punishment of his pride through the
tion that maketh desolate," or "abomination judgment of God."   Never before were
of desolation." ~  This altar was set up on the Jews exposed to so furious a persecution
the fifteenth day of the month Cisleu (No- — indeed it is the first time in which they
vember - December), and the heathen sacri- can be said to have been persecuted on
fices were commenced on the twenty-fifth of account of their religion. It was undoubtedthe same month.  Circumcision, the keeping ly made instrumental in the  then great
of the sabbath, and every peculiar observance mission of the Jews in calling the attention
of the law was made a capital offence; and of the heathen to the great principles of
all the copies of the law which could be doctrine of which they had been the special
found were taken away, defaced, torn in conservators.  The mere fact of this conpieces, burned.  The reading of it was for- spicuons persecution for opinion, which was
bidden; and it is said to have been at this a new thing to the heathen, and still more
X This is from Jahn, who remarks further, authority of Josephus and the first book of
"This interpretation agrees much better with the Maccabees.  Undoubtedly there was an image
literal meaning of the words than that adopted erected to Jupiter Olympius, for the pagan
by those who apply this expression to the erect- religion required it; but this is not the circum.
ing of an image to Jupiter Olympius; a mode stance referred to by the prophet, in the words
of explanation which is at variance with the which have been quoted."




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                             471
the historical results of this persecution, tion to the loose principles of those who had
were calculated to draw the attention of every joined the Greeks - it being the tendency
reflecting mind among the heathen to those of all great struggles to produce extreme
religious peculiarities on behalf of which parties.  They hence held it to be imperasuch numbers of the Jewish people were tive to abstain from the use of arms on the
willing to peril their lives.            sabbath day.  In consequence of this a
The persecution had  lasted  about six thousand persons, who had taken refuge in
months, when God raised up a deliverer for a large cave not far from Jerusalem, allowed
a people whom he had not yet abandoned, themselves to be slaughtered on that day
in  the noble family of the Asmoneans. without the least resistance.  This event
MATTATHIAS was the son of John, the son opened the eyes of Mattathias and his adherof Simon. the son of Asmonias, from whom  ents; who, after mature deliberation, deterthe family took its name.  He was a priest mined that it was not only lawful, but their
of the course of Joarib, the first of the duty, to stand on their defence  on the
twenty-four courses appointed  by  David  sabbath day; although they still thought
(1 Chron. xxiv. 7), descended from Phineas, themselves bound from voluntarily becoming
the son of Eleazar, the elder branch of the on that day the assailants.  They took every
family of Aaron (1 Macc. ii. 55).  He had means of making this resolution known
five sons, whose names were JOHANAN throughout the country, so that from that
(John), SIMON, JUDAS, ELEAZAR, and JONA- time no scruples on the subject were enterTHAN. He was one of the principal inhabi- tained.
tants of Modin, a town near the seashore,   Meanwhile the party of Mattathias went
about a mile from Joppa (Jaffa), and four on steadily increasing, until it amounted to
miles from Lydda or Diospolis.  To this city  a considerable body of men, who  were
a royal officer named Appelles was sent to prepared to hazard every thing in defence of
enforce the edict. With many fair promises, their religion.  This ardor could not long be
he endeavored to induce Mattathias, as a restrained, and Mattathias, emerging from
leading man in the place, to set the example his concealment, went with them throughout
of sacrificing to the idol.  But the undaunt- the Jewish cities, and everywhere demolished
ed priest repelled his offers with indignation the idolatrous altars, circumcised the chiland abhorrence, and with a loud voice, in dren, slew the apostate Jews and the officers
the hearing of the whole assembly, pro- appointed to execute the decree of Antioclaimed his refusal to sacrifice.  At this chus, recovered many of the copies of the
juncture a certain Jew passed toward the law which the oppressors had taken away,
altar with the intention of sacrificing, when and gained several important advantages
Mattathias, in obedience to the law, struck over the enemy.  While engaged in these
him  down with his own hand, as a rebel expeditions the heroic priest died, in the
against Jehovah.  This was the earnest- year B. C. 167.  Before his death  he
blood of the great war which  followed. appointed his third and bravest son, Judas,
Kindled by his own act, the zealous priest to be military leader; associating with him
and his sons, assisted by the citizens, whom  Simon, his second and most prudent son, as
their daring act emboldened, rushed upon counsellor.  Judas is supposed to have
the commissioner and his retinue, slew them  derived his celebrated surname of Maccabeus
on the spot, and tore down the idolatrous from a cabalistic word formed of M. C. B.
altar.  Alive to the consequences of this I., the initial letters of the Hebrew text Mi
deed, Mattathias proclaimed through the city, Chamoka Baalirh Jehovah, " Who is like
"Whosoever is zealous for the law, and a unto thee among the gods, O Jehovah!"
maintainer of the covenant, let him follow  (Exod. vi. 11), which letters might have
me!"  Thus he and his sons fled to the been displayed on his sacred standard: like
mountains of Judsea.  They were only ten the S. P. Q. R. for Senatus populus que
in number at first, but were soon joined by Romanus on the Roman ensigns.
many Jews who were determined to maintain   The noble war for the rights of opinion
the religion of their fathers.           commenced by Mattathias was carried on for
These conscientious persons were disposed twenty-six years by his illustrious sonsto construe the obligations of the law all counting from the first stroke at Modin
the more rigidly and literally, out of opposi- — with  five successive kings of Syria.




472                            AN ILLUSTRATED
Within this period Judas and his brothers a cheap purchase of slaves.  This was not
established the independence of their coun- a peculiar circumstance; for it was then
try and the aggrandizement of their family, usual (according to Polybius) for the march
after destroying above two hundred thousand of armies to be attended by slave-dealers.
of the  best troops of the  Syrian kings. Under these alarming circumstances Judas
"Such a triumph of a petty province over and his party assembled at Mizpeh — that
a great empire is hardly to be paralleled ancient place of concourse —where they
in the annals of history."  (Hales ii. 551.) fasted and prayed; after which Judas, in
The first enterprise of Judas, and his obedience to the law, dismissed all such of
comparatively small but resolute band, was his men as had in the course of the precedagainst Apollonius, whose barbarous exploits ing year built houses, betrothed wives, or
at Jerusalem  have lately been recorded. were planting vineyards, or were fearful; and
He was at the head of a large army, but this strong act of faith reduced his small army
was defeated and slain by Judas, who took from six thousand to three thousand men.
his sword, with which he afterward fought   The Syrian generals deemed it superfluous
all his life long.                        to employ their large force against so small
The next exploit of Judas was the defeat a body.  Gorgias, therefore, with a chosen
of Seron, a Syrian general, with a large host army of five thousand foot and one thousand
of Graecising Jews and apostate Samaritans. horse, marched by night to surprise the army
The small force with which he achieved this of Judas.  But that vigilant commander
victory was encouraged by the hero in the was apprised of the design, and determined
words of Jonathan, the son of Saul, " With  to take advantage of the separation of the
the God of Heaven it is all one to deliver two generals.  He marched therefore early
with a great multitude or a small company:" in the evening, and fell by night upon the
adding the emphatic words, " We fight for camp of Nicanor.  Not the least expectaour lives and our laws."  This battle was tion of an attack being entertained, the
fought near Betheron.                      whole camp was thrown into confusion, and
Antiochus was filled with rage and indig- the soldiers fled.  Three thousand Syrians
nation at these successes of an adversary were slain, and many soldiers and slavewho seemed  so contemptible, but whose dealers made prisoners.  Early in the mornfame had now spread into all the neighboring ing Gorgias, returning from  his abortive
nations.   He formed large plans of ven- march to Mizpeh, beheld the Syrian camp
geance, but finding these checked  by the in flames, which threw his soldiers into such a
exhausted state of his treasury -for he had panic that they betook themselves to instant
squandered wealth like a madman, as he flight; but were pressed upon so vigorously
was - he resolved to proceed into the east- by the conquering Jews, that in all they
ern provinces to recruit his finances.  His destroyed that day nine thousand of their
son, the heir of his crown, then about seven enemies, and wounded many more.  Nicanor
years old, he committed  to the care of escaped in the disguise of a slave to AntiLysias, " a nobleman, and one of the blood och, declaring his conviction that a mighty
royal," and appointed him regent of all the God fought for the Jews.  In the camp of
western provinces, from  the Euphrates to the Syrians the latter found great quantities
Egypt, and commissioned him to raise and of gold and silver, including the money
march an army to extirpate the Jews, and which the slave-dealers had brought to purto plant a foreign colony in their room, chase  their persons.  This  victory  was
B. C. 166.                                celebrated by a feast of thanksgiving.
The next year Lysias was able to send a    On the news of this defeat, the regent
large army of forty thousand foot and seven Lysias assembled a larger army of sixty
thousand horse into Judrea, under the com- thousand choice infantry, and five thousand
mand of Nicanor and Gorgias.  So confident horse, and marched himself at their head,
were they of victory that Nicanor proclaimed to invade Judaea in the south.  He entered;a sale of the captive Jews beforehand, at Idumpea, which name must be understood as
the rate of.ninety for a talent, or about two distinguishing  the more modern  territory
pounds sterling a head.  This drew a crowd of the Edomites, from their older and more
of merchants from the coast to the Syrian southern territory of Edom, in Mount Seir,
camp at Emmaus, near Jerusalem, to make which the Nabatheeans now occupied.  Idu



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HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               473
mrea was at this time confined to the region    When Antiochus Epiphanes received inwest and south-west of the Asphaltic lake, telligence of the success of the Jewish arms,
which had in former times belonged to the and the defeat of the Syrian hosts, he was
tribes of Simeon and Judah.  But after the at Elymias in Persia, detained by an insurCaptivity it had been occupied by Edomites rection  occasioned by his plundering the
from Arabia Petrmea, the ancient Edom, who celebrated temple in which his father Antimade Hebron their capital, and rebuilt, on ochus the Great had lost his life.  Transtheir northern firontier, the strong fortress ported with  ungovernable passion at the
of Bethsur, or Bethsura, which had been news, he hastened his homeward march to
originally built by Rehoboamn.  (2 Chron. Antioch, devoting the Jewish nation to utter
xi. 7.)  At this last-named very advanta- destruction.  But while his mouth uttered
geous post, Lysias encamped, and was there the deep curses and fell purposes of his heart,
set upon by the dauntless Judas, who, with he was smitten with sore and remediless toronly ten thousand men, gained a most im- ments in his inner parts.  Yet on he went,
portant victory, slaying five thousand men until he fell from his chariot, and suffered
on the spot, and putting the rest to flight. much from the fall.  He was then carried
Observing that the Jews fought like men on a litter; but his disease acquired such a
who were determined to conquer or die, loathsome character that his person became
Lysias did not venture to renew the engage- an abhorrence to himself and to all who had
ment, and indeed his soldiers were so dis- occasion to be near him. In a disease so
heartened that he was soon obliged to return  timed and so peculiar, the proud monarch
to Antioch, and there issue orders that re- was led to perceive the hand of God, and to
cruits for a new expedition should be raised acknowledge that his barbarities and sacriin distant countries, B. C. 165.          leges were justly punished by the torments
This victory made Judas master of Judma; which he endured and by the death which
and he determined to return to Jerusalem, lay before him.  He died early in the year
to repair and beautify the temple, which was 164 B. C., and in him perished a man whose
then deserted and dilapidated.  In the neg- wild extravagances, dissolute and undignified
lected courts of the Lord's house shrubs character, savage cruelties, and capricious
were growing " as in the forest or on the alternations of temper, abundantly justified
mountain."  The whole host cast ashes on the nickname of Epimanes, " madman" by
their heads, and cried toward heaven, when which in his later years his assumed title
they beheld the desolation of that holy place. of Epiphanes " illustrious " was ridiculed.
The work of restoration was commenced with    Antiochus V., surnamed Eupator " wellardor; new utensils were provided for the fathered," then a child nine years of age,
sacred services; the old altar, having been was set up for king by his guardian Lysias,
defiled by idolatrous sacrifices, was taken and his succession received the important
away, and a new one erected in its place; sanction of the Romrans; for although Deand the sacrifices were recommenced precise- metrius (the son of Seleucus Philopator),
ly three years after the temple had been still a hostage at Rome, and then twentydedicated to Jupiter Olympius.  A feast of three years of age, failed not to urge his
eight days celebrated this new dedication, claims upon the attention of the senate, that
and an annual festival was instituted in sage body decided that it was more for the
honor of the event.                       interests of Rome that a minor should occupy
The.castle on Mount Zion soon, however, the throne of Syria, than the ardent and
proved a serious annoyance to the people, able Demetrius.
as it was still in the hands of the Syrians,   In the year 164 B. C., the war against
who lost no opportunity of disturbing the the Maccabees was renewed by the regent
services of the temple.  The army of Judas Lysias.  He invaded Judoea with an army
was too small to allow him  to blockade the of eighty thousand foot, eighty elephants,
castle, but he fortified the temple-mount and a large body of cavalry.  He laid siege
against their aggressions with high walls to Bethsura, but was repulsed by Judas
and towers.  He also strengthened the im- with the loss of eleven thousand foot, and
portant fortress of Bethsura, to protect the one thousand six hundred horse, and his
frontier toward Idumea, as it lay about mid- whole army was broken up.  This defeat
way between Jerusalem and Hebron.          convinced Lysias that the Jews could not




474                           AN ILLUSTRATED
be overcome, because of the almightiness of not venture to attack the royal army in the
the God by whom they were helped.  He open field.  But while the Syrians laid
therefore offered them peace, on the condi- siege to Bethsura, Judas fell upon them in
tion of their being loyal to the state; on the night, slew four thousand of them before
their acceptance of which, he issued a decree they well knew who was among them, and
in the name of the king, which allowed them  drew off safely by break of day.  The day
the free exercise of their own customs and after, a battle took place, in which the
worship, and permitted them to live accord- Syrians lost six hundred men; but Judas,
ing to their own laws.  The apostate high- fearing to be surrounded by the numbers of
priest Menelaus, who had been all this while the enemy, thought proper to retire to Jeruwith the Syrians, and had exerted himself salem, the fortifications of which he now
in promoting this peace, was now sent back strengthened and put in a state of defence.
to the Jews to be reinstated in his pontifi- In this battle Judas lost his brother Eleazar.
cate. It is of some importance to note that That valiant man perceiving one of the
the Roman ambassadors at the Syrian court elephants more splendidly caparisoned than
used their efficient aid in obtaining this treaty the others, mistakenly supposed it to be that
for the Jews.                            of the king, and fought his way to it, got
The peace thus afforded was of no long under it, stabbed it in the belly, and was
continuance: for although, formally, the war crushed to death by the fall of the huge
with the kingdom had ceased, the governors beast upon him.
of the Syrian provinces were not back-   It being a sabbatie year of rest to the
ward in giving the Jews all the molestation land, Bethsura soon after surrendered for
in their power, and in encouraging such of lack of provisions; and Jerusalem, which
the neighboring nations as were, from old was next besieged, must have shared the
or new enmities, disposed to disturb them  same fate, and all the advantages which had
— such as the Joppites, the Jamaites, the been gained appeared now to be on the
Arabians, and the Idumveans, all of whom  point of being lost for ever; when proviwere successively reduced by Judas, after a dentially the young king and his guardian
bloody warfare, the particulars of which are were recalled by a civil war at home, comrecorded in 2 Macc. x. 14-38; xi. 1-38.   menced by Philip, who had been appointed
All this time the citadel on Mount Zion, regent by Antiochus Epiphanes before his
garrisoned by Syrians and renegade Jews, death, to the exclusion of Lysias, whose ill
continued to prove a great annoyance to the success in the former war with the Jews had
temple worship, which at last proved so in- been highly displeasing to him.  When this
tolerable, that Judas was induced to lay intelligence reached the camp, the king and
siege to it, after his return from the defeat council hastily concluded a peace with the
of Gorgias the governor of Idumea.  But Jews on  the  former terms - that they
some of the besieged, forcing their way should be allowed to live according to their
through in a sally, hastened to the court at own laws. The siege was then broken up, but
Antioch, and complained of the continued the treaty was violated by the Syrians in
hostility of the Jews to the Syrian govern- the demolition of the strong walls of the
ment, as evinced by this attempt upon the mount on which the temple stood.  The
Syrian garrison; and by dwelling on this and royal army  was then  marched  against
other matters, contrived to stir up Lysias to Philip, who had gotten possession of Antiundertake a new war against them.  The och, the metropolis, but who was defeated
Syrian army which was raised for this war and slain.
in B. C. 163, consisted of one hundred    Now at last the traitor and apostate Menthousand foot, twenty thousand horse, thirty- elaus met the fate he had long deserved.
two elephants, and three hundred chariots At the approach of the Syrian army he had
armed with scythes — a prodigious force in abandoned his countrymen, and had stimuthat age, when, on account of the extrava- lated the operations against them  by his
gant wages which soldiers received, it was advice and counsel, in the secret hope of
difficult to keep more than eighty thousand being made governor of the province, if
men in the field.  The young king was Judas and his party were destroyed.  But
present in the camp, but of course Lysias the intended mischief recoiled on his own
was the actual commander.  The Jews did wicked head.  On the conclusion of the




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             475
peace, he was viewed by the king  and tary and political talents procured him high
regent as the author of all these unhappy favor from Ptolemy Philometor, and he was
wars, and was sentenced to be suffocated in ultimately empowered to build a temple
the ash-tower at Berea;  while the office to and establish a priesthood, for the numerous
which he aspired was given to Judas him- Jews of Egypt and Cyrene, at Heliopolis;
self, who was appointed to be chief govern- and which subsisted nearly as long as that
or, "from  Ptolemais unto  the Gerrheni- of Jerusalem, both being destroyed in the
ans."                                     reign of Vespasian.   There  can be no
In the room of Menelaus, Jachimus, or question of the irregularity of this establishAlcimus, was nominated to the high-priest- ment; and although Onias justified it to
hood, to the exclusion of the rightful claim- the Jews by reference to the text Isa. xix.
ant, Onias, the son of that Onias who had 18, 19, the temple at Jerusalem was always
been slain at Antioch at the instigation of held in much superior estimation by the
Menelaus. Upon this disappointment, Onias Jews even of Egypt, who frequently repaired
retired in disgust to Egypt, where his mili- thither to worship.
CHAPTER XXV.
MACCABEAN RULE. -  POMPEY S INVASION. -' ROMAN POWER.
WITH the promotion of Judas Maccabeus Antioch.  Here the army declared for him,
to be chief governor of Judrea, the rule of the and  secured  the  persons of  Antiochus
Asmonean  dynasty may be  conveniently Eupator and Lysias, and, in proof of their
taken to commence, and the period which sincerity, brought them  to ]Demetrius; but
that rule embraces may be suitably intro- he said, " Let me not see their face! " on
duced in a new chapter.                   which hint they were slain by the soldiers,
Alcimus, the new  high-priest, did not B. C. 162.
long enjoy his dignity, for his profligacy,   In the preceding year one of the Roman
and his attempts to revive the heathenish ambassadors at the court of A. Eupator had
rites, so offended the Jews, that they ex- been slain, while enforcing the treaty with
pelled him.                               Antiochus the Great, by destroying all the
We have already noticed the refusal of elephants, and all but twelve of the ships-ofthe Roman senate to support the claim  of war. Demetrius, anxious to have his claims
Demetrius to the crown of Syria, or to allow  recognized by Rome, sent the murderer thithhim to depart for that country. Subsequent- er, together with a present of a crown of gold.
ly, acting by- the advice of his friend Poly- The present was accepted by the senate;
bins, the historian, he made his escape from  but they dismissed the murderer, resolving
Rome, and landed with a few men, only to take some future occasion of making the
eight friends and their servants, at Tripolis whole Syrian empire responsible for the act.
in Phoenicia. Here he had the art to make it   When Demetrius was established on the
believed that his wild enterprise was sanc- throne of Syria, the apostate Jews, with
tioned by the Romans; under which per- Alcimus at their head, gathered around him,
suasion he was joined by several of his and filled his ears with reports and insinnadherents, with whom  he advanced towards ations injurious to Judas and the party of
* This punishment was borrowed by the was liberally supplied with meat and drink, until
Syrian-Greeks from the Persians. A place was overcome with sleep, he fell into the deceitful
enclosed with high walls and filled with ashes. heap, and died an easy death. Only criminals
A piece of timber was made to project over the of high rank were thus punished, it being conashes, and on this the criminal was placed. He sidered a sort of privileged death.




476                             AN ILLUSTRATED
which he was the leader.  As people natu- body, the Roman senate, to grant liberty to
rally listen with pleasure to those who ex- those who were under foreign dominion, that
press conformity of views, it is not wonderful they might detach them from their rulers,
that these traitors gained the attention of the and afterward enslave them when fit opporking, who could as yet know but little of the tunity offered.*  The Jewish ambassadors
real state of affairs in his kingdom.  He were therefore very graciously received; an
re-appointed Alcimus as high-priest, and sent offensive and defensive alliance was readily
a considerable military force, under the com- concluded with the Jews; and a letter was
mand of Bacchides, governor of Mesopotamia, immediately after written to Demetrius, comto reinstate him, and to take vengeance upon manding him to desist from persecuting them,
those whom he had represented as equally and threatening him with war if he persisted.
the enemies of himself and the king.  As But before the ambassadors returned, or this
Bacchides, accompanied by the high-priest, letter had been received, Judas had fallen in
entered the country with professions of peace, a furious conflict with Bacchides, whom (with
many Jews, relying thereon, put themselves Alcimus) the king had sent to avenge the
in his power, and were treacherously slain. defeat of Nicanor and his host.  With only
After this Bacchides reinstated Alcimus; eight hundred men, the rest having deserted
and intrusting the province to his charge, him, Judas charged the Syrians, defeated
and leaving a force that seemed sufficient to  their right wing and pursued them to Azotus:
support him, he returned to the king. Judas, but the left wing, being unbroken, pursued
who had not appeared in the field against him closely in turn; and after a most obstiBacchides, came forward after he withdrew; nate engagement the greatest of the later
and Alcimus, unable to offer any effectual Jewish heroes lay dead upon the field. This
resistance, again  repaired  with his com- was not far from  Modin, his native town;
plaints to the king.  On this Demetrius, and his brothers Simon and Jonathan, having
resolving on the utter destruction of the concluded a truce, were enabled to deposit
Maccabees, sent a large army into Judaea, his remains in the family sepulchre at that
under the command of the same Nicanor place
whom Judas had defeated five years before.    The death of Judas restored the ascendAt first he endeavored to entrap the Jewish  ency to the apostate Jews, and was followed
chief with friendly professions, but finding  by a merciless persecution of his adherents.
Judas too wary to be thus caught, hostilities They were thus made strongly sensible of
commenced, and in a battle fought at Ca- the want of a head, and therefore they
pharsalama, Nicanor was defeated with the elected Jonathan, the valiant younger brother
loss of fifty thousand men.  He was then of Judas, to be their chief and leader.  He
forced to seek refuge in the castle of AMount led them into the wilderness of Tekoah, and
Zion, until the re-enforcements, for which cncamped at the cistern of Aspher.  After
he sent, should arrive from  Syria.  These  sone skirmishes with the Arabs in that quarwere promptly supplied, and then he haz- ter, Jonathan  deemed it advisable to send
arded another battle, in which he was him- the wives and children, and the most valuable
self slain, and his army cut in  pieces. property of his party, to the safe keeping of
B. C. 160.                                 the friendly  Nabathoeans of MIount Seir,
Now Judas, having heard of the already under a convoy commanded by his brother
extensive conquests of the Romans, and John.  This party was attacked on the way
having become sensible of the great control- and plundered by the Arabs, and John hmling power which they exercised in the affairs self was killed.  For this, Jonathan soon
of Western Asia and of Egypt, took the after took a severe revenge upon the bridal
opportunity of the respite which this victory procession at the marriage of one of the
procured, to send an embassy to Rome, to princesses  of this same tribe, which he
solicit an alliance with that great people, and attacked, and slew the greater part, and took
therewith protection from the Syrian govern- their spoils.
ment.  It was part of the systematic plan    After this, Jonathan, the more effectually
of subjugation practised by that most politic to secure himself firom  his enemies, with- This is the drift of Justin's remark with petita, primi omnium ex Orientalibus libertatem
reference to this very transaction: "A Demetrio receperunt: facile tune IRomanis de alieno larcum  defecissent Judaei, amicitia Romanorum  gientibus." - Lib.xxxvi. cap. 3.




HISTORY  OF THE  BIBLE.                                47~
&rew into the marshes formed by the over-' to conclude a treaty with the Romans.  For
flowings of the Jordan, access to which was this step he has been blamed by some pervery difficult.  Bacehides, however, made an sons, who appear to have inadequately conattack on the sabbath-day upon the pass lead- sidered the circumstances.  It is not clear to
ing to the camp, and carried it by storm. us that if Judas had been aware that the
The Jews defended themselves with great step he took was likely to lead to the future
valor; but being oppressed by numbers, they  subjection of the country to the Romans, he
leaped into the overflowing Jordan and swam  would have been deterred from seeking their
to the other side, whither the enemy did not alliance.  He did not fight for national indeventure to pursue them.                     pendence, which was a moral impossibility,
It was not without difficulty that Jonathan but for the liberty of conscience.  If that
roused his adherents to the exertions which had been conceded by the Syrian kings, the
they made on this occasion.  In fact there Jews would readily have returned to their
are several indications, at and before this political subjection, and were indeed anxious
time, that the people were becoming tired of to do so.  If therefore Judas had known
this long struggle for their religion and liber- the ultimate contingeney of subjection to the
ties, and disposed to submit to circumstances, Romans instead of the Syrians, there was
for the sake of the quiet of which they had nothing in that to deter him, if he felt that
been so many years deprived.  Besides, by the Romans were likely to be more tolerant
this time the original character of the war, of the religious peculiarities of his nation.
as one of resistance against religious persecu- It is quite true that by the skilful use of
tion, had somewhat changed.  There was circumstances which ultimately arose, the
more of politics mixed in it; and with that Jews were enabled to establish a modified
change, the ardor of the orthodox Jews independence — which independence the Roappears to have abated. The Syrian govern- mans destroyed.  But these circumstances
ment had also become much more mld since were not foreseen in the time of Judas, and
the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, and under independence was not among the objects
favoring circumstances, it might have been originally contemplated.  It is only in forgetexpected that the Jews would without diffi- fulness of those facts that any one can impute
culty have obtained what they sought.  It blame to Judas for the measure which he
was probably the knowledge of this, as well took -  which measure, indeed, we cannot
as from the consciousness that the breach was trace to have had any grave effect upon ultinot likely to be healed by continued warfare, mate results.  Whether the Jews had offered
that latterly produced so great a reluctance themselves to the notice of the Romans at
to support the Maccabees, and so strong a this time or not, they certainly could nt long
disposition to submit to the Syrians.  We have escaped the attention of that people,
may thus account not only for the circum- nor, unless events had taken  an entirely
stance which occasions this remark, but for different course to that which they actually
the readiness of some of the best supporters took, could their subjection to the Roman
of the Maccabees to listen to the fair promises yoke have been long postponed.
of the Syrian generals, for the desertion of    From  the Jordan, Bacehides returned to
Judas, before his last action, by the great Jerusalem, and was employed for some time
body of his adherents, and for his compara- in strengthening the fortresses of Judvea,
tive inaction on several recent occasions.  To particularly the citadel at Jerusalem and the
the operation of these circumstances we are important fortresses of Gazara.*  The sons
also disposed to refer the anxiety of Judas of some of the principal persons among the
* There is some doubt respecting this place, son (for which we are indebted to his kindness)
which is so often named in the history of the we find that a site name Yazur occurred in his
Maccabees. Some think it the same as Gaza, line of route, three miles and a half to the east
which indeed is still called Gazara, and that is of Jaffa, and we much more than suspect that
certainly a strong circumstance in its favor. this marks the site not only of the Gazara in
Upon the whole, however, there are several question, but also (believing the names identical)
passages in which the place is named which of the Gazer which was one of the royal cities of
seem to refer it to the neighborhood of Joppa, the old Canaanites, and the same which the king
and others which cannot without much straining of Egypt took from the Canaanites, and gave, for
and difficulty be made to apply to Gaza. In one a dower with his daughter, to Solomon. All cirof a set of unpublished maps by Professor Robin- cumstances appear to agree with this allocation.




478                            AN ILLUSTRATED
Jews he took and detained in the citadel as the interposition of the Romans, we have no
hostages for the good conduct of their friends. means of knowing; but the results of the
But in the same year Alcimus was seized application to the senate must by this time
with a kind of cramp, and died in much have been known both at Antioch and in
agony, while giving orders for the demolition Judaea.  Probably the death of Judas, beof the wall which separated the court of the fore the return of his ambassadors, went far
Gentiles from that of the Israelites, so as to to neutralize the immediate effects which
give the former free access to the privileged might have been expected firom this treaty.
part of the temple; and Bacchides, having    This tranquillity was not favorable to the
nothing to detain him in Judaea after the designs of the Grecizing Jews, who laid a
death of the man on whose account the war plot to surprise and seize Jonathan and his
was undertaken, withdrew from the country, adherents, all in one night, throughout the
and allowed the Jews two years of repose. land, and prevailed on Bacchides to return
To what extent this may have been due to with the force under his command to give
TBE RIVER JORDAN.
effect to their design (B. C. 158).  A timely tion; and, in his resentment, he put to death
discovery of the plot enabled Jonathan to several of the persons who had the most
damp the ardor of the conspirators by putting actively stimulated his enterprise.  At this
to death fifty of the principal of them.  Not, juncture, Jonathan sent to him a deputation
however, feeling himself in a condition to with  proposals of peace, and  Bacchides
oppose Bacchides in the field, Jonathan, readily acceded to the terms which were
with his friends and his brother Simon, with- offered.  The treaty being concluded and
drew to the wilderness, where they so strong- sworn to by both parties, an exchange of
ly repaired the dilapidated fortress of Beth- prisoners took place, and Bacchides withdrew
basi, that they were enabled to maintain a from the land, B. C. 156.  Peace being thus
long siege against Bacchides, and at length happily restored, Jonathan fixed his residence
to defeat him.  This affair wonderfully en- at the strong post of Michmash, six miles
lightened the Syrian general, who now per- north by east from Jerusalem, where he govceived that he had been but the tool of a fac- I erned according to the laws of Moses, and to




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              479
the extent of his power reformed the public from his lethargy, and came forth from his
abuses which had sprung up during the past disgraceful retreat- but it was too late.
troubles.                                    This conjuncture of affairs was highly
About the year B. C. 154, Demetrius favorable to the interests of the Jews, as,
Soter retired to a new palace which he had from  the high military character they had
built near Antioch, and there abandoned now acquired, the rivals vied with each other
himself entirely to luxury and pleasure.  All in the honors and immunities which they
business and all care was refused admission, offered for the assistance of Jonathan and
and consequently all the responsibilities and the Jews.  First, Demnetrius sent a letter
duties of his high office were utterly neglect- appointing Jonathan his general in Judea,
ed.  Hence arose great administrative abuses, empowering him to levy forces, and promisand these led to discontents, and discontents ing to release the hostages.  When the conto conspiracies, which where eagerly fostered tents of this letter were made known, the
by different neighboring kings, especially by hostages were restored by the garrison of
Ptolemy Philornetor, king of Egypt,* from  the citadel, and the fortresses throughout the
whom the Island of Cyprus had been taken country were given up to him by the Syrian
by Demetrius.  They availed themselves of garrisons which Bacchides had left in them.
the services of Heraclides, who had been The citadel and Bethsura indeed still held
banished by Demetrius, and who had since out, as they were garrisoned by apostate
lived at Rhodes; and now, at the instigation Jews who had no other resource.  Jonathan
of these kings, he persuaded a young man of now removed from  Michmash and fixed his
obscure birth, named Balas, to announce residence at Jerusalem, which he occupied
himself as the son of Antiochus Epiphanes, himself in repairing, and in rebuilding those
and as such lay claim to the throne of Syria. walls of the temple-mount which Antiochus
As soon as he had been sufficiently tutored in Eupator had cast down.
the parthe was to act, he publicly advanced his    On the other hand, Balas, acting probably
pretensions, which were acknowledged at once by the advice of Ptolemy Philometor (who
by Ptolemy Philornetor, by Ariarathes, king was well acquainted with the affairs and
of Cappadocia, and by Attains, king of Per- interests of the Jews), sent also a letter to
gamus (B. C. 153).  He was then sent to Jonathan, in  the very commencement of
Rome, together with a true daughter of which he styled him  " Brother," gave himn
Antiochus; and although the senate soon the title and rank of "Friend of the King,"
detected the imposture, their old grudge appointed him  to the high-priesthood, and
against Demetrius, for having taken  the sent him a purple robe and diadem, thereby
throne of Syria without their consent, led creating him Ethnarch, or Prince of Judaea.
them to recognize him, and empower him to It was in the seventh month of this same
raise forces for the recovery of a kingdomn in  year (B. C. 153) that Jonathan put on the
which he could have had no just pretensions holy robe of the high-priest, after that high
to supersede Delnetrius (the son of the elder office had been vacant for seven years.
brother), even had his alleged birth been    Demetrius did not yet despair of outbidtrue.  Balas now  assumed the name of ding Balas in this struggle to gain the favor
Alexander, and the title of king of Syria. and assistance of Jonathan.  The list of the
He delayed not to levy troops, and sailed to exemptions, immunities, and privileges which
Ptolemais (previously Aceho), now Acre, in he offered is exceedingly curious, as showing
Palestine, where he was joined by numbers the extent and minute ramifications of the
who had become disaffected to Demetrius, previous exactions of the Syrian government.
That infatuated person was now fairly roused The extravagant generosity of these offers
* As the transactions in Egypt, since they and Cyprus, and that Physcon should reign in
were last noticed, have not, up to this point, been Libya and Cyrene. But they soon aoain were at
necessarily involved in the current of our history, variance respecting Cyprus, which Physcon
we have not allowed them to engage our notice. wanted, but which Philolnetor resolved to retain
It may however be briefly indicated in a note, according to the terms of the agreement. Meanthat, after their junction against Antiochus while, as often happens in such cases, a third
Epiphanes, quarrels arose betweenthe two brother party (Demetrius) stepped in and appropriated
kings, Philometor and  Physcon, which  the to himself the disputed island.  Hence the
Romans endeavored to adjust in B. C. 162, by enmity of Philometor to the king of Syria.
arranging that Philometor should retain Egypt




480                             AN ILLUSTRATED
made Jonathan and the patriots suspicious essential service he received from Alexander
of their sincerity, and, mindful of the past a golden clasp or buckle, such as only memsufferings  they  had experienced  through bers of the royal family might wear; and the
Demetrius, they agreed to espouse the cause town and territory of Ekron, near the coast,
of Alexander.*                             was also bestowed upon him.   The king
Next year (B. C. 152) both' the kings himself remained  shut up  in  Antioch,
took the field with their armies, and Deme- awaiting the succors which he expected friom
trius, who, when sober, wanted neither cour- his father-in-law of Egypt.  Philometor came
age nor conduct, defeated his rival in the indeed; but having discovered a plot formed
first battle; but Alexander Balas, being against his life by the favorite Ammonius,
re-enforced by the kings who had put him  and the infatuated Balas refusing to deliver
forward, was more successful in a great up that guilty minister, Ptolemy testified his
battle fought the year after, in which De- resentment by taking away his daughter, and
metrius himself was slain.                 bestowing her on Demetrius, whose cause
The successful impostor now mounted the he thenceforth espoused.  This decided the
throne of Syria, and married Cleopatra, a contest. Ammonius was slain by the citizens,
daughter of his great friend Ptolemy Philo- and A. Balas only avoided a similar fate by
metor of Egypt, who himself conducted the flight.  The character which Ptolemy Philobride to Ptolemais in Palestine, where the metor bore among the Syrians for justice and
nuptials were celebrated with great magnifi- clemency was so high, that they pressed him
cence (B. C. 150).  Jonathan was present to accept the vacant crown.  But this he
on this occasion, and, mindful of the services prudently declined, and recommended the
he had rendered during the war, both Ptole- rightful heir to their choice.  The next year
my and Alexander treated him with distin- Alexander appeared again, in a condition to
guished honors.  He was again presented make one more struggle for the crown.  Ho
with a purple robe, and appointed commander was defeated, and fled into Arabia, where an
or Meridarch of Judaea.                    emir, with whom he sought shelter, rendered
Alexander Balas, who had manifested con- his name, Zabdiel, infamous by the murder
siderable ability during this contest, was no of his guest, whose head he sent to the king
sooner firmly settled on the throne than he of Egypt.  That monarch himself died the
lapsed into the same errors which had been same year (B. C. 146).  He left one son, a
fatal to his predecessor.   He abandoned child, who was put to death by Physcon,
the cares of government to his  favorite who now reigned sole king of Egypt.
Ammonius, that he might enjoy a luxurious    In Judcl6a, Jonathan now employed himlife undisturbed.  This minister put to death self in besieging the citadel of Jerusalem,
all the members of the royal family he could which still remained in the hands of the
get into his power.  But there still lived in apostate Jews and the Syrians, and which
C(nidus two sons of Demetrius, the elder of had so long proved a serious annoyance to
whom, Demetrius II., surnamed% Nicator, the inhabitants of the city. Complaint of this
landed at Cilicia in B. C. 148, and soon operation having reached Demetrius, he cited
collected a great army with which to assert Jonathan to Ptolemais to answer for his conhis right to the crown.  He also gained over duct.  He went; but left orders that the
to his interest Apollonius the governor of siege should be vigorously prosecuted in his
iCele-Syria, whose first proof of attachment absence. He took with him valuable presents
to his new master was to invade Judclea, for the king, by which and other means he so
which still adhered to the cause of Alex- won his favor, that he not only confirmed him
ander.  Jonathan  came  down from  the in the high-priesthood and all his other honors,
mountains into the plain of the coast, and but also ratified the offers of his father, which
after taking Joppa, before his eyes, defeated Jonathan had once declined for the friendship
Apollonius with terrible loss.  Ashclod he of Balas.  As the citadel still held out,
then subdued, and Ascalon opened wide her Jonathan urged the king to withdraw the
gates to receive the conqueror.  For this garrisons from it and from Bethsura: which
* The letter addressed by Demetrius  to and powerful rival Alexander Balas, may be
Jonathan the commander of the Jewish military found in 1 Mac. x. 26-45, and in Joseph. Antiq.
forces, and to the people, for the purpose of xiii. 2, 3. —A. B.
enlisting their influence and aid against his artful




HISTORY  OF  THE: BIBLE.                          481
Demetrius promised to do, provided the Jews alienating the Jews as'much as his other
would send a re-enforcement to put down a subjects.
dangerous disturbance which had broken out   Alexander Balas left a son called Antioat Antioch; for the new king had already chus, whom the' Arabian emir Zabdiel had
managed, by his gross misconduct and cru- retained in his hands when he slew the
elty, to alienate the affections of both his father; and he was persuaded by Tryphon
Syrian subjects and Egyptian allies.  The (the former governor of Antioch undcler A.
Jews rendered the required service.  But Balas) to send the young prince with him
when Demetrius deemed himself secure, and to lay claim to the throne of Syria.  Antiowithout further need of them, he behaved chus was joyfully received by the malewith great ingratitude. He demanded all contents, and by the numerous soldiers
the taxes, tolls, and tributes which he had whom the false economy of Demletrius had
promised to remit, and thus succeeded in disbanded.  In a pitched battle, Demetrius
42 —=~_ — _   _= -..  _
ASCALON.
was defeated, his elephants were taken, and assistance of the Syrian forces, expelled the
Antioch was lost, B. (C. 144.           hostile garrison from Gaza, Bethsura, and
As soon as Antiochus VI., surnamed Joppa; but the citadel of Jerusalem still
Theos, had been crowned, his guardian Try- held out for Demetrius.
phon (for Antiochus was but a child) wrote   With due regard to the past and the future,
in his name to invite the adhesion of Jona- Jonathan deemed it advisable at this time to
than; and offered in return to observe faith- seek arenewal of the alliance with the Romans.
fully all the promises whieh Demnetrius had The ambassadors were received at Rome w;th
broken, and to appoint his brother Simon the favor, and dismissed with assurances of friendroyal governor of the district extending from ship. On their return they (as the ambasthe mountains between Tyre and Ptolemais sadors of Judas had formerly done) visited
to the borders of Egypt. These conditions the Spartans, and concluded a league with
were accepted by Jonathan, who, with the them, under some notion which the Jews
31




482                            AN ILLUSTRATED
entertained that the Spartans were of the    We are free to express our own opinion
stock of Abraham.                          that the three brothers, Judas, Jonathan,
Tryphon had contemplated the advance- and Simon, were men of great ability and
ment of the son of Alexander Balas, mere- unquestionable courage; and we believe
ly as a means of intruding himself into the they sincerely desired the welfare of their
throne of Syria.  Things were now, in his country, and to preserve the purity of relijudgment, ripe for the removal of the young gious worship, to promote which objects they
king, and for his own intrusion, when he would at any time have shed their last blood.
found that Jonathan was likely to prove an But we think also that Judas is the only one
obstacle to the execution of his design.  He of the brothers of whose high moral principle
therefore invaded Palestine, and had advanced or disinterestedness much can be said.  From
as far as Bethshan, when, being intimidated the time that Jonathan accepted the highby the appearance of Jonathan. with forty priesthood, and various personal honors, from
thousand men, he pretended that his mission Alexander Balas, it is easy to detect in most
was entirely of a friendly nature - and that of the alternations of policy a leaning to that
he had entered the country to put him in course which included the aggrandizement
possession of Ptolemais.  He played this of the family  and the  promotion of its
part so naturally that the Jewish hero was chiefs.  We do not say or think that they
deceived, and dismissed  his army, saving would knowingly have sacrificed any public
three thousand men, two thousand of whom  object to their own aggrandizement.  But
he left in Galilee, and advanced with the the disposition to seek or prefer that particother thousand to take possession of Ptole- ular good to our country which comprehends
mais.  He had no sooner entered that city honor or power to ourselves, belongs to a
than the gates were shut, his men cut in lower class of minds and principles than
pieces, and himself laden with chains.  Not that which refuses wealth or power in conlong after he was put to death by the per- nection with any public service, lest the
fidious Tryphon, who next slew his young motive of that service might be suspected.
master and set on his. brows the Syrian It must also be said, that the disposition of
crown.                                     the later Maccabees to play fast and loose
The Jews, whose prospects had lately between the  competitors for the  Syrian
been so fair, were filled with consternation crown, and equally to accept the favors
when they heard of the captivity and sub- which rival kings offered, when it was imsequent murder of Jonathan.  But Simon, possible to perform  equally to both the
the brother of Jonathan, who had already conditions which were expected in return, is
been enabled to prove himself a true Mac- not entitled to munh praise.
cabee, called them  together. in the temple,   Had Jonathan and Simon been perfectly
encouraged them  to make a vigorous de- disinterested men, the obvious duty imposed
fence, and offered to become their high- upon them  by the Law would have been to
priest and leader in the room of his brother. direct the attention of the Jews and of tlhe
He said: -" Since all my brethren are slain Syrian king to Onias, then in Egypt, as
for Israel's sake, and I alone am left, far be the rightful high-priest, of the elder branch
it from me to spare my own life in any time of the family of Aaron, who was unsusof trouble."  The offer was gladly accepted pected of any idolatrous taint, and whose
by the people, and he was unanimously abilities were of no common order: and the
elected to succeed Jonathan: and, seeing promises of the continuance of the sceptre
he had sons of high promise, it was decided of Judah to the house of David, should
that the honors to which Simon was called have induced Simon, at least, when affairs
should be inherited by h's descendants. The were taking a turn favorable to the indepencform of expression is however remarkable, as ence of the nation, to direct the hopes of
showing that some doubts were entertained Israel toward some able member of that
as to the strict legality of this procedure. It is illustrious house.  But it is time to return
said, " The Jews and the priests were well to follow the course of our narrative.
pleased that Simon should be their governor   Simon removed the corpse of his illustriand priest [he and his sons] forever, until ous brother from Boscana, in Gilead, where
there should arise a faithful prophet to show  he was slain, to the family sepulchre at
them what they should do."                Modin, where he subsequently erected a




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              483
noble mausoleum, which was still standing reside in Gazara on the sea-coast; while he
in the time of Eusebius and Jerome.        made the temple-mount at Jerusalem  his
At the first opportunity, Simon sent an own residence.  This he strongly fortified;
embassy  to  Rome  and  Lacedoamon  to and his palace probably stood on the site
announce to the senate the death of his which the castle of Antonia afterward occubrother, and his own succession to his dig- pied.
nities, and to seek a renewal of the alliance.   Having thus gained complete possession
Both nations received the ambassadors with of the country, and the rights and liberhonor, expressed the usual regret and the ties of the nation being established, a great
usual congratulations, and readily renewed council of the nation was held at Jerusalem,
the treaty, with the terms of which graven which testified its gratitude by confirming to
on brass the deputation returned.          Simon all his honors, and, in more distinct
The first care of Simon was to put the terms than before, entailed them  on his
country in a state of defence, by repairing descendants.  This decree of the assembly
the fortresses and furnishing them with pro- was graven on brass, and fixed to a monuvisions.  As the conflict between Tryphon ment which was erected in the temple-court.
and Demetrius still continued, and it was   Anxious to have the independence conthe unhappiness of the Jews that their posi- ceded  by  Demetrius recognized  by  the
tion did not allow them to remain neutral, Romans, another  embassy  was sent to
there were many sufficient causes to induce the senate, with a present of a shield of
them to prefer the side of Demetrius, not- gold, weighing one thousand minge, equal,
withstanding  the  ill-treatment they  had at the lowest computation, to fifty thousand
formerly received fromn him. This personage, pounds sterling.  The deputation was well
although nearly the whole of Syria was. lost received, and the  present graciously  acto him, remained in luxurious repose at cepted.  Their suit was granted, and misLaodicaea, whither Sitnon sent ambassadors to sions were sent by the senate to the kings
him, with a crown of gold, to treat about of Egypt, Pergamus,  Cappadocia, Syria
the renewal of the former terms of accomn- (Demetrius), and Parthia, and to all the
modation.  To this Demetrius, in his fallen cities and states of Greece, Asia Minor, and
estate,  most  gladly  agreed,  confirming of the isles in alliance with the Romans, to
solemnly all the immunities and privileges engage them to treat the Jews as their
specified in his father's letter to Jonathan, firiends and allies, B. C. 141.
with an act of amnesty for all past offences.   In the same year Demetrius, whose cause
These privileges were so great that they appeared to be lost in the West, was inmay be said to have raised the nation to a vited to the East by large promises of supstate of independence.   The Jews them- port in any attempt he might make to bring
selves certainly considered that they were by back the Parthians to their allegiance.  He
this act delivered from the Syrian yoke; and was at first successful, but was in the end
therefore this first year of Simon's reign surprised  and  made  prisoner  by  the
(B. C. 143), as high-priest and ethnarch, Parthians.  In this war he was assisted by
or, in short, as Prince of the Jews, they a body of Jews under the  command  of
signalized by making it an epoch from which John the son of Simon, whose exploits in
to compute their times.  This era is used on Hyrcania procured him  the honorary surthe coins of Simon, as well as by Josephus name of Hyrcanus.  As for Demetrius, he
and the author of the first book of Macca- was well treated by the Parthian king,
bees.                                      Arsaces V., otherwise called Mithridates;
The next care of Sirnon was to reduce who indeed first took care to exhibit him  in
the strong  fortresses that still held out. different parts of his empire, but afterward
Gaza he took, and expelled the idolatrous sent him  into Hyrcania, where he treated
inhabitants; and the citadel of Jerusalem, him with the respect due to his rank, and
which had so long been a thorn in the sides even gave him his daughter Rhodoguna in
of the Maccabees, was compelled by the marriage.  Meanwhile his cause in Syria
famine which a rigorous blockade produced, was maintained against Tryphon by his wife
to surrender in B. C. 142.  Aware of the Cleopatra, who had shut herself up, with
valor of his son John, Simon made him cap- her children, in Seleucia on the Orontes;
tain-general of his forces, and sent him to and a powerful force, composed of persons




484                           AN ILLUSTRATED
discontented with the government of Try- emergencies, and by which the power and
phon, was gathering around her, when she dignity of the crown were so seriously
heard that her captive husband had married impaired.  Antiochus probably considered
Rhodoguna.  This offended her pride, and his own acts more binding than the treaties
was also calculated to weaken her party. obtained from the usurper Balas, or from
Therefore, from  both policy and revenge, the distressed Demetrius; yet even his own
she sent to Antiochus, the  brother of letter, written in the expectation of needDemetrius, who was then at Rhodes, and ing the aid which the event proved that he
made him the offer of her hand and of the did not require, was not likely to be conkingdom.  Antiochus VII., who, from his sidered by him any strong bar to the execupassion for hunting, received the surname tion of his design.
of Sidetes (" the hunter"), eagerly ac-   His intentions were indicated on his first
cepted the proposal, and delayed not to arrival in Palestine, to  besiege Tryphon
assume the title of king of Syria, although in Dora.  Simon then sent two thousand
as yet unable to proceed to the continent, men to assist him in the siege, with a good
B. C. 141.                               supply of warlike stores and engines, but
The next year (B. C. 140) Antiochus the king declined to receive them, and sent
wrote "from the isles of the sea," being over to  Jerusalem  one of his generals,
still at Rhodes, "to Simon the high-priest named Athenobius, with a requisition for
and ethnarch, and to the people of the the surrender of Joppa, Gazara, and the
Jews," announcing his intention of coming citadel of Jerusalem, which belonged to
speedily to recover the dominions of his the Syrian crown, or else to pay five hunfather from  the usurper Tryphon; and, dred talents for each of the former, and five
to secure their assistance, confirming all the hundred more for the arrears of tribute
privileges granted by former kings, together from' those cities beyond the limits of Judea,
with the royal privilege of coining money, of which the Jews had gained possession,
which  seems the only one which former and on account of ravages which they had
kings had withheld, or which seemed want- committed in his dominions.  This demand
ing to complete the sort of secondary in- was skilfully framed to steer clear of any
dependence which they had by this time points comprehended  in  the treaties or
acquired.                                in the letter of Antiochus himself, and the
The year after (B. C. 139) Antiochus demand seems upon the whole as moderate
landed in Syria to attack Tryphon, with as could be framed consistently with the
whose tyrannies the people and even the intention of retaining some hold upon the
soldiers had become completely weary.  On country.  Writers call the answer of Simon
the appearance of Sidetes he was deserted " wise."  It appears to us rather feeble.
by most of his forces, and he therefore He denied that the Jews held any possesfled to Dora (south of Carmel) on the sions but what belonged to their fathers,
coast of Palestine.  Antiochus pursued and and which they had found opportunity to
besieged him there; but he fled by ship to recover.   With  regard  to  the fortified
Orthosia, a maritime town of Phoenicia, and, towns of Joppa and Gazara, he called atagain, thence to Apampea, where he was tention to the injuries which the people had
taken and put to death.                  been continually receiving from those places,
Finding with how  much more  facility as justifying the measures he had taken;
than he had been prepared to expect, the but he was willing to give the king one
kingdom fell to him, Antiochus, very soon hundred talents for the right of possession.
after his landing, formed the intention of Athenobius  returned  with  this  answer
reducing to their former complete subjection to the king, to whom also he gave a very
to the Syrian crown, the provinces and flaming account of the state and splendor
cities which had availed themselves of the in  which Simon  lived, and of the large
troubled reigns of his predecessors to ac- quantities of gold and silver plate which
quire such independence as the Jews had appeared in his house and at his table.
established.  This was an intention which At this the king was so moved, that he
any king in those times was likely to have sent an army under Cendebeus to invade
formed with reference to  privileges so Judaea: but he was met and defeated by
recent, and so much extorted by temporary John Hyrcanus and Judas, the two sons




HISTORY  OF THE  BIBLE.                              485
of Simon'; and the Syrians were expelled accompanied him in this expedition, and left
the country.                               him victorious in three battles over the ParThe  peace purchased  by  this victory thian king Phraates, which put A. Sidetes
was not of long duration.   Simon availed in possession of Babylonia,:Media, and the
himself of it to make a tour of inspection other revolted provinces, and confined the
through the country, in the course of which Parthians within the original limits of their
he arrived at Jericho, where be took up his own kingdom.  But while the Syrian army
abode in the castle of his son-in-law Ptole- was dispersed in winter-quarters, the Parmy, who was governor there. This Ptolemy, thians, assisted by the natives, conspired
desiring to secure the government to himself, against them, and slew them all in one whole
caused the old man and his two sons, Mat- day; Antiochus himself perished  in the
tathias and Judas, to be treacherously mur- massacre, and scarcely a man remained to
dered at an entertainment.  He also sent a bear back to Syria the report of the catasparty to destroy John Hyrcanus at Gazara; trophe.
but John had timely warning, and fled to    Upon this Phraates sent to retake DemeJerusalem, where he was readily recognized trius, whom, after having been vanquished
by the people as the successor of his father in the former campaign, he had liberated,
in the high-priesthood, and in the principality and sent back to Syria, to create such a
of Judaea.  Then Ptolemy, against whom  diversion there as might induce Antiochus
the people of Jerusalem  shut their gates, to relinquish his enterprise. But Demetrius
fled to a fortress near Jericho, and thence to made such speed that he escaped the pursuit,
Zeno, the prince of Philadelphia (Rabbath- and, on his re-appearance in Syria, coupled
Ammon), probably to await there the arrival with the news of the death of his brother,
of Antiochus, to whom he had sent, desiring he was enabled to recover his throne without
the assistance of an army to reduce Judma much difficulty.
again to the Syrian yoke.  But his name    Hyrcanus neglected not to avail himself
occurs in history no more; whence it is of the confusion into which the Syrian emprobable that although Antiochus may have pire fell, and the loss of strength which it
liked the crime, he hated the criminal, and sustained after the downfall of A. Sidetes.
would afford him no countenance. However, He got possession of several towns on the
the king marched a large army into Judma sea-coast, and beyond Jordan, and annexed
in B. C. 135, and having ravaged the coun- them  to his territories.  He also rendered
try, advanced to besiege Hyrcanus in Jeru- himself more completely independent; for
salem, which was soon reduced to great after this neither he nor his descendants paid
extremities for want of provisions, which had any more" tribute, service, or homage to the
been scarce that year.  On the approach of kings of Syria.  Next Hyrcanus invaded
the feast of Tabernacles in autumn, Hyrcanus Samaria.  He took Shechem, the chief seat
besought a week's truce for the celebration of the Samaritans, and demolished the temple
of the feast; and this was not only granted which they had built on Mount Gerizim.
by Antiochus, but he furnished the victims However, they continued to have an altar
required for sacrifice, which could not be on the spot, on which they have offered sacriprocured within the city.  Finally, he con- flees, according to the Levitical law, even to
eluded a peace with the Jews, when it was this day.  After this, Hyrcanus invaded and
in his power to extirpate them from the coun- subdued the Idumveans, to whom he offered
try, and he was exhorted by many to do so, the alternative of either relinquishing their
but generously refused.  He was content idolatries and embracing the Jewish religion,
to dismantle Jerusalem, and to bind them to or else of leaving the country into which
pay tribute (not for their proper country, they had intruded, and seeking a settlement
but) for Joppa and other towns beyond the elsewhere.  They preferred the former alterlimits of Judaea, which they had either taken natives, and as proselytes, gradually became
by arms, or held by the grants of his prede- so incorporated with the Jews as to be countcessors.                                   ed one people with them; and at length the
Four years after (B. C. 131), Antiochus name itself was lost, or absorbed in that of
Sidetes marched with a great army against the Jews.*
the Parthians, under the pretence of deliv-   * The rabbins indeed have long spoken and
ering  his brother Demetrius.   Hyrcanus still speak of Edom and the Edomites as existing,




486                            AN ILLUSTRATED
The course of events now again calls our which he retained until his death in B. C.
attention to Egypt.  That country was still 117.
ruled by Ptolemy Physcon, whose gross and    The passage and return of the Syrians
beast-like person bore the very impress of through Palestine could not but be attended
that cruel and voluptuous character which with much annoyance to the Jews, and it
belonged to him.  We gladly hurry over the may be proper to regard it as in some
revolting theme which his character and con- measure the cause of the embassy which
duct offer, merely to mention that Cleopatra, Hyrcanus sent to Rome  the same year
the sister of the late Philometor and himself, (B. C. 128), to solicit the renewal of the
became the wife of the former, by whom he treaties into which the senate had entered
had a son, and two daughters, both of the with his predecessors, and to complain of
name of Cleopatra.  After the death of the small attention which Antiochus and
Philometor, his young son was slain by Deinetrius had paid to its former mandates.
Physcon, who also married the widow, his The ambassadors were received with the
own sister.  Of the two daughters, one was usual favor by the senate, which readily conthat Cleopatra who was married to Alexander sented to renew the treaty which had been
Balas, king of Syria, then to Demetrius concluded with Simon, and which moreover
Nicator, then to Antiochus Sidetes, and after took upon itself to abrogate the disadvanthe return of Demetrius became his wife tageous treaty which the Jews had been
again.  Her sister, the other Cleopatra, was compelled to make with A. Sidetes. It also
defiled by her uncle Physcon, who afterwarld decreed that Hyrcanus should hold the towns
repudiated his wife (her mother and his own of Joppa, Gazara, and others beyond the
sister), and married this young princess. limits of Judaea, without paying tribute for
His oppressions and cruelties toward his them to the Syrian kings; and that the latter
subjects were so severe, that at last they could should not presume to march armies through
bear them no longer, but rose against him, Palestine without permission.   This last
and compelled him to flee to Cyprus.  The clause was doubtless intended to check the
people then intrusted the government to his enterprises of the kings of Syria against
sister and divorced wife, the elder Cleopatra. Egypt.  Ambassadors were appointed to see
Her son by him was with his father at all this executed; and the Jewish deputation
Cyprus, and Physcon, fearing that the son's were furnished with money to bear their
name might be used to strengthen Cleopatra expenses home.  Hyrcanus was too sensible
on the throne, slew him, and sent his head, of the importance of these favors to neglect the
feet, and hands to her, directing that they expression of his gratitude; and the next
should be given her in the midst of an year another embassy was sent to Rome with
entertainment.. In the war which followed, a present of a cup and  shield of gold,
Physcon was victorious, and Cleopatra in which the senate accepted, and passed anher despair sent to Demetrius of Syria, the other decree confirming the former. [By
husband of her eldest daughter, offering him  these treaties, as well as by the unquiet state
the crown of Egypt if he would come with of the Syrian kingdom, Hyrcanus was much
an army to her aid.  Allured by the splen- strengthened in what we may now call his
did bribe, Demetrius immediately marched dominions.
an army through  Palestine  into  Egypt.   Demetrius was one of those men whom
But, while he was engaged in the siege even adversity could not improve.  After
of Pelusium, Antioch and several other of his restoration, he fell into the same misconhis own cities revolted from him, and he duct which had before occasioned him  the
was obliged to abandon the prospect before loss of his kingdom.  His subjects again
him and return the way he came.  Cleo- were alienated from him; and readily joined
patra then fled to seek protection with her a competitor who was brought forward and
daughter the queen of Syria, who then supported by P. Physcon, in revenge for the
resided at Ptolemais in Palestine.  Phy- recent attempt of Demetrius to take possesscon then regained possession of his throne, sion of his kingdom.  The young man put
But these are merely feigned and well understood states into which that empire broke up for fear
names for denoting, not Edom, but Rome and of incurring the displeasure of the nations among
Christendom, and not the Edomites, but the which they dwelt, if they said of them, without
Christians of the Roman empire, and of the disguise, all they wished to say.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                            487
forward on this occasion was the son of a people compelled her to appoint Ptolemy
merchant of Alexandria, and claimed to Lathyrus.
be the adopted son of Antiochus Sidetes, or   Antiochus Gryphus had a half-brother,
(according to some) of Alexander Balas. whom his mother Cleopatra had borne to
He assumed the name of Alexander, but Antiochus Sidetes.  This young prince was
was nicknamed in derision, Zebinas (" the sent by his mother to be brought up at Cyzibought one ").  Notwithstanding the weak- cus on the Propontis, and hence his name of
ness of his pretensions, he easily succeed- Antiochus Cyzicenus.  He soon appeared as
ed  in depriving the  universally disliked a competitor for the Syrian throne, and after
Demetrius of his kingdom  and life, B. C. various conflicts the brothers agreed in
126.                                      B. C. 112 to divide the empire between them.
Zebinas was an equitable and popular ruler; A. Cyzicenus  obtained  Coele-Syria  and
but he did not obtain the whole of the king- Phoenicia, and fixed his residence at Damasdom, as part was retained by Cleopatra-  cus.  Both the kings were heartless liberthat wife of many husbands who has so often tines; and their relatively uneasy position
been named.  To strengthen her cause, she gave them too much employment, in watchcaused Seleucus, her son by Demetrius, to ing and annoying each other, to permit them
be proclaimed king of Syria, but retained to interfere much with the Jews, whose
all power in her own hands; and when in princes well knew how to avail themselves
the twentieth year of his age (B. C. 124) he of such opportunities  to  aggrandize  the
manifested a desire  really to reign, she power of the nation.
slew him by a javelin with her own hands.    There is one exception.  In B. C. 110
A  Zebinas, on the other hand, strengthened Hyrcanus ventured to besiege Samaria, the
his cause by an alliance with John Hyrcanus, inhabitants of which were not Samaritans,
who skilfully availed himself of all these properly so called, but were descended from
troubles to confirm his independence, and to the Syro-Macedonian colony, which Alexenlarge his dominion.  Zebinas could not, ander planted there when he rooted out the
however, long maintain his position. A very former inhabitants.  The siege was conproper and spirited refusal to do homage to ducted by Hyrcanus himself, with his two
P. Physcon for the crown of Syria, lost him  sons Aristobulus and Antigonus.   They
the support and procured him the enmity of enclosed the city by a wall and a ditch, and
that monarch, who immediately came to all supplies being thus completely cut off,
terms with Cleopatra, and furnished her the place was soon  reduced to the last
with an army whereby Zebinas was defeated, extremity from  scarcity of food.  In this
and ultimately fell into the hands of Ptolemy, emergency, the besieged sent to A. Cyzicewho put him to death.  Thus Cleopatra be- nus, supplicating his aid.   He marched
came mistress of all Syria, her younger son himself to afford it; but was met on the
by Demetrius, Antiochus VIII., surnamed way by a detachment of the Jewish army
Gryphus (" hook-nosed," from yeop, a vul- under the command of Aristobulus.  In a
ture), being seated on the throne.  Soon bloody engagement the Syrians were totally
after (B. C. 120), finding that Gryphus was routed, and A. Cyzicenus himself escaped
also disposed to claim the power as well as with difficulty.  In the next year (B. C.
name of king, she prepared poison for him; 109) Samaria was taken and totally demolbut she was detected, and the king compelled ished.  This victory, with its results, made
his murderous mother to drink the poisoned HIyrcanus master of all Judsea, Samaria,
cup herself.                              and Galilee, and of several places beyond
Ptolemy Physcon died in B. C. 117, their limits; and raised the glory of the
twenty-nine years after his brother Philo- Asmonean princes to its height.  Hyrcanus
metor.  He left all power in the hands of spent the rest of his reign without foreign
Cleopatra, his wife and daughter-in-law —  wars, and respected by all the neighboring
sister of the Syrian queen whose doom con- potentates.  He died in B. C. 106, after a
eluded the last paragraph.  Physcon had by reign of thirty years.
her two sons, Lathyrus and Alexander, and    Hyrcanus left the principality to his wife;
left to  Cleopatra. the choice of a king but Aristobulus, his eldest son, soon posfrom them.  She would have preferred the sessed himself of the government; and as
youngest, Alexander; but the voice of the his mother refused to lay down her author



488                            AN ILLUSTRATED
city, he committed her to prison, where she and withdrew to Cyprus, where he reigned
perished of hunger.   Having established up to the date to which we have now come.
himself in the principality and high-priest- To him the beleaguered cities now applied for
hood, Aristobulus ventured on  the very aid.  This he readily granted, and landed
questionable step of assuming the diadem  in Palestine with an army of 30,000 men.
and regal title.  And thus (as seems to He was very successful, defeating Alexanhave been predicted by Zechariah, vi. 9-15) der in a pitched battle on the banks of the
was brought about that state of things, Jordan, in which the Jews lost 30,000 men,
which  early  existed in Egypt and other and then overrunning and furiously ravacountries, in which the offices of the king ging the country, so that the Asmonean
and high-priest were united in the same cause seemed on the brink of utter ruin,
person.  Aristobulus availed himself of the when Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, feardisagreements between the two  kings of ing that the conquest of Palestine by LaSyria to extend his dominions.  *He subdued thyrus would be but a step toward the invaIturpea beyond Jordan, and offered the inhab- sion of Egypt, sent an army to the assistance
itants the alternative of circumcision or ex- of Alexander.  By this means he recovered
patriation.  They preferred the former, and his footing, and Lathyrus was compelled to
accordingly became Jews, and were incor- withdraw  to Cyprus, B. C. 101.  Alexanporated with the Jewish nation.  Aristobu- del' had gained none of the original objects
lus fell sick during this campaign, leaving of the war he had so unjustly commenced,
his brother Antigonus to complete the sub- and the nation had suffered greatly.  The
jection of the country, and the settlement king soon after paid a visit to the Egyptian
of its affairs.  On the return of the latter queen, to whom he had been so much into Jerusalem, the king was taught to regard  debted.  This visit had nearly proved fatal
him as one who aimed at his life and king- to him.  This ambitious and unscrupulous
dom, and under -that mistaken impression, woman was advised to put him to death and
ordered his death.  Discovering his error, unite Judma to Egypt: and she was inclinhe fell sick and died after a reign of only ing to such suggestions, when the interposione year, B. C. 105.                       tion of Ananias, the Jewish commander of
He was succeeded by his brother, the her forces, inclined her to a more just and
third son of Hyrcanus, Alexander Jannmus, generous policy, and  she  concluded  an
whose Hebrew name was probably Jonathan; alliance'with   Janniaus  at  Bethshan
as the name of "Jonathan' " or "King (Schythopolis).
Jonathan," occurs on some coins in the   After Cleopatra had returned to her own
Hebrew, while the reverse has the legend country, Alexander began to resume his
"Kin, Alexander" in Greek.  He had former projects of reducing to his yoke the
been brought up in Galilee, and from early towns and fortresses on his borders — purchildhood he had not been admitted to the suing, in short, the same needlessly aggrespresence of his father.  Alexander pursued sive policy which had well nigh been his
the policy of his predecessors, of turning to ruin.  Gadara he took after a ten months'
his own advantage the divisions in the Syrian  siege.  He also took the strong fortress of
empire.  Nor was he singular in this, for Arnathus beyond Jordan; but on his return
mans:-cities (Tyre, Ptolemais, Gaza, Dora, he was surprised and defeated with the loss
and others) had contrived to make them- of ten thousand men, by the prince of Philselves independent.  The three last of the adephia, whose treasures had been deposited
cities we have named, A. Jannmus desired there, and returned with disgrace to Jeruto subdue to his own power; which seems salem.  He was a Sadducee: this, and his
to us a very unprincipled design; but it is other humiliations, were therefore matters
difficult to find any thing  like principle of high satisfaction to the Pharisees, who
in any public transactions of any parties had great influence with the mass of the
in this most unprincipled age.  In B. C. people, which they employed with much suc104 he took the field against Ptolemais, cess, to alienate their affections from  Alexand detached a part of his army against ander.  The king, nothing  discouraged,
Dora and Gaza.  Before this time (name- turned his attention to the towns on his
ly, in B. C. 107), Ptolemy Lathyrus had southern border.  Raphia and Anthedon he
been expelled from Egypt by his mother, took: the conquest of Gaza was more diffi



HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              489
cult; but at last he won it by treachery, moil, and made every effort and declared.
burned it, and massacred the inhabitants, his readiness to make any sacrifice for the
but with so much loss to his own troops, that sake of peace.  He sent some of his friends
he returned with little honor and less spoil to the assembled people, to know what he
to Jerusalem.                              could do to satisfy them — "Die!" was
The long cherished hatred of the Phari- the answer, given with such vehemence and
sees, and dislike of the people toward the king, fury as showed him  that there was no hope
broke out openly in the year B. C. 95. He of accommodation.  The malecontents, on
was officiating as high-priest at the feast of their part, sought the help of the Moabites
tabernacles, and was offering sacrifice upon and the Arabians of Gilead, whom Alexanthe great altar, when the people began to der had made tributary, and whose tribute
pelt him  furiously with the citrons which he was now obliged to remit, to prevent their
they bore in their hands at that celebration, hostilities.  The invitation was then sent
at the same time assailing him with the most to Demetrius Eucerus, king of Damascus.
opprobrious expressions.  In accordance with  He gladly accepted the call, and entered
the severe principles of the Sadducees, which Judmea with an army of forty thousand foot
he had on so many occasions exemplified, and three thousand horse, with which he
he let loose his guard upon the insurgents, overthrew Alexander with the loss of all his
by whom  six thousand of them  were cut Greek mercenaries to a man, B. C. 89.
down, and thus the disturbance was, for the His utter ruin was inevitable, had it not been
time, allayed with blood.  To prevent such that six thousand of the Jews themselves,
insults in future, he enclosed the priests' taking compassion upon his distress, deserted
court, which contained the altar and sanctu- from the Syrians, and joined him.  This so
ary, by a wooden partition, which excluded  much alarmed Demetrius, fearing lest the
the approach of the people, and for his defection should extend, that he withdrew
greater security, he took into his pay a body his forces from the country to employ them
of six thousand foreign mercenaries, who against his brother Philip.  The indomitable
soon became almost his only support.       spirit of Alexander Janunus, and the large
After this, A. Jannaeus turned his atten- resources which he found in himself, now
tion to the countries beyond Jordan.  In  very conspicuously appeared; for no sooner
B. C. 94 he made the Arabs of Gilead, and had the Syrians departed than he again got
the inhabitants of Moab, tributary.  In  together his broken army, and recommenced
B. C. 93 he destroyed the strong fortress of operations with increased vigor and success
Amathus, his former enterprise against which  against his own discontented subjects.  In
had been followed by his defeat, as lately one great action, fought in B. C. 87, he
mentioned.  In the next year, while in a utterly cut off the greater part of the incampaign against Obodas, the Emir of the surgent army, and shut up the remainder in
Arabs of Gaulonitis, he fell into an ambush  Bethone, which he besieged and took the
in the mountains near Gadara, where his year after.  On this occasion he was guilty
army was driven over the precipices and ut- of a most barbarous act, for which the nickterly destroyed, and he himself escaped with name of "Thracian" was justly given to
difficulty.  This disaster imbittered the feel- him.  He sent eight hundred of the princiings of the already discontented Pharisees, pal captives to Jerusalem, and there crucified
who were at all times jealous even to mad- them all in one day and in one place, and
ness of the national honor.  A  successful put their wives and children to death before
and  glorious Sadducee  they might have their eyes, as they hung dying on the crosses;
borne; but an unsuccessful one was intolera- while he sat, feasting with his wives and
ble.  They took up arms, supported by the concubines, within view of the horrid scene,
masses, and broke out into open rebellion, to glut his eyes with their torments.  Ceirwhich they maintained for six years, and in tainly, the existence of a man who could do
which, although repeatedly defeated, their this was an evil upon the earth; and it seeinms
refractory spirit remained unsubdued.  At alone sufficient to induce a suspicion that
last, after fifty thousand of the malecontents there was good cause for the intense dislike
had been destroyed, besides the loss on the with which he was regarded by the people.
other side, the king, although successful,   After this, Alexander had no more disturbbecame weary of slaughter and intestine tur- ance, andhe was enabled to spend three years




490                           AN ILLUSTRATED
in recovering the fortresses which had revolted, counsels in the administration of the governand in reducing the provinces beyond Jor- ment: she was also to lay his dead body
dan which had got loose from his dominion, before them, and leave it wholly to their
during the civil war.  Returning victorious discretion whether to treat it with ignominy
to Jerusalem  in B. C. 82, he abandoned or honor.  "If thou dost but this," conhimself to luxury and revelling, which speedi- eluded the king, " I shall be sure of a
ly brought on a quartan ague, under which glorious funeral, and thou wilt rule in safety."
he languished for three years, and of which he Alexandra followed all his instructions to a
died in B. C. 78, at the siege of Ragaba be- letter; and the event answered to his predicyond Jordan, in the country of the Gergesenes, tion.  The Pharisees were suddenly apin the forty-ninth year of his age, and the peased, as by a miracle; they spoke with
twenty-seventh of his eventful reign.  That profound reverence of the king, whose death
reign might be deemed successful in its ulti- they had so often invoked; they lauded to the
mate results, if judged only by the enlarged skies his heroic achievements; and none of
dominion which he left to his successors; for all his predecessors had a funeral nearly as
at his death the Jewish kingdom  included magnificent as that of Alexander Jannueus.
Mount Carmel and all the coast as far as   The Pharisees, having now  the upper
Rhinocolura; it embraced on the south all hand in the state, proceeded to do what any
Idumea; northward it extended to Scy- successful party would have done in the
thopolis (Bethshan) and Mount Tabor; and same circumstances.  They released all the
beyond Jordan it comprehended Gaulonitis, prisoners and recalled all the exiles of their
and all the territory of Gadara, including own party; and being thus strengthened by
the land of the Moabites on the south, and the recovery of the ablest men of their body,
extending as far as Pella on the east.   they delayed not to demand justice against
Alexander Jannous left the government the advisers of the crucifixion of the eight
in the hands of his Queen Alexandra, in- hundred; and certainly, if there were any
fluenced doubtless by the recent example of persons active in advising that dreadful enorthe female reigns in Egypt and Syria.  She mity, they  richly  deserved  punishment.
was to enjoy the government while she lived, Diogenes, the chief confidant of the late
and was to determine which of her two sons, king, was the first to feel the wrath and
Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, should succeed vengeance of the Pharisees, and after he
her.  On the approach of death, Alexander had been out off, they proceeded to the
gave her such counsels as he judged best more obnoxious of Alexander's advisers.
calculated to insure her a peaceable reign. The queen, sore against her will, submitted
Sensible that the most of his own troubles to all their demands, to avoid the worse evils
had been produced through the agency of of a civil war.
the great control which the Pharisees had    Queen Alexandra appointed to the highacquired over public opinion, he exhorted priesthood her eldest son Hyrcanus, a person
her above all things to cultivate their favor, of mild and inactive disposition, ill qualified
and to attempt no public measure without to take part in the turmoils of the troubled
their approval.  This advice may have been days in which he was cast.  The other son,
good; but the motive claims no high com- Aristobulus, was of a different spirit - with
mendation.  He wished his wife to reign the same impulsive energies of character,
after him; and to secure that private object and nearly as unscrupulous, as his father.
he was willing that all the energies of the He burned with indignation at the degraded,
government should be sacrificed, and that all although safe, position which his mother octhe powers of the state should be thrown into cupied; and in the seventh year of her reign
the hands of men whom, whether justly or (B. C. 72) he appeared before her at the
not, he despised and hated.  He also in- head of a large party of friends of congenial
structed the queen what course to take in sentiments, and solicited permission either to
throwing herself into  the hands of the leave the country, or to be permitted to retire
Pharisees.  He counselled her to conceal his to the frontier garrison towns, where they
death until the capture of the fortress, and might be secure from the malice of the Pharthen, on the triumphant return to Jerusalem, isees.  The queen agreed to the latter proshe was to convene the heads of the Pharisees, posal, and put them in possession of all the
and offer to be guided entirely by their fortresses, except Hyrcania, Alexandrium,




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             491
and Machaerus, where she kept her treasures. west.  Such a man might expect, under
Next year Aristobulus was intrusted with the a weak ruler like Hyrcanus, to  benefit
command of an army sent against Damascus, largely by the distractions  of the counbut he returned without doing any thing try; whereas the firm rule of a man like
memorable, although he was mindful not to Aristobulus was calculated to nip all his
neglect the opportunity of ingratiating him- budding hopes.  This consideration decided
self with the troops.                     him to take up the cause of the deposed HyrIn the year B. C. 69 some attempts made canus, whom  he gradually drew  into the
by Selene (reigning in Ptolemais) to extend belief that his brother had designs against his
her dominions in Coele-Syria, drew the atten- life, and after much solicitation persuaded
tion of Tigranes, the Armenian king, whom, him to flee to Petra, and claim the protection
as already related, the Syrians had called to of the Arabian king Aretas.  That prince
reign over them.  He came against her with readily espoused his cause, and brought him
a large army, subdued Ptolemais, took Selene back to Judlea, with an  army of fifty
prisoner, and ultimately ordered her to be thousand men: and being there joined by
put to death at Seleucia on the Tigris.  Her such of the Jews as favored the cause of tlw
sons were at Rome.  While Tigranes was elder brother, he gave battle to Aristobulus,
engaged before Ptolemais, Alexandra sent defeated him, and compelled him with the
an embassy with valuable presents, to ob- heads of his party, to take refuge in the
tain his friendship.   The rapid  progress temple-mount, and  besieged  him  there,
which the Romans were at this time making B. C. 66.
in Asia Minor so strongly called his attention    So great was the hatred of the besiegers
to that quarter, that he returned a more against Aristobulus and his party, that at
favorable answer than might have been ex- the feast of the passover, they would allow
pected, and hastened back to his own coun- no animals for sacrifices to be carried into the
try.  Queen Alexandra died in the same temple, although Aristobulus had given to
year.                                     them over the walls the full sum  they deOn the death of his mother, the mild and manded for such permission.
feeble  Hyrcanus took  possession  of the    The great war of the Romans in Asia
throne.  He reigned only three months. Minor against Mithridates, king of Pontus,
His more enterprising and able brother, Aris- is of importance from its result of bringing
tobulus, had obtained possession of most of all Western Asia under the power of the
the fortresses in the kingdom  during the Romans; but the circumstances of that war
sickness of his mother: the people, also, had have no such connection with our history as
by this time grown weary of the tyranny of to require their exhibition in this place.
the Pharisees, and greatly fearing the pos- Tigranes was soon involved in this war; and
sible results of their ascendency over such a in B. C. 69 he was obliged to withdraw his.person as Hyreanus, readily declared them- forces from Syria to make head against the
selves in favor of his brother: and as the Romans nearer home.
soldiers also deserted to him, Hyrcanus had    This gave an opportunity to ANTIOCHUS
no alternative but to resign his crown and ASIArICUS, the son of Selene and A. Eusebes,
mitre to Aristobulus; and he agreed, with to seize the government; and, having conlittle reluctance, to lead a private life under tracted an alliance with the Roman general,
his protection. " So," as Josephus expresses Lucullus, he contrived to retain a part of
it, "Aristobulus went to the palace, and the empire, until the arrival of Pompey in the
Hyrcanus to the house of Aristobulus."    East.  He arrived to take the command of
An Idummean originally called Antipas, but the Roman armies in the year B. C. 66.
better known by the name of Antipater, While himself employed in the north against
had by this time become a great man in Mithridates  and  Tigranes, Pompey  sent
Judaea.  He was high in the confidence of Seaurus into Syria.  While that general was
Alexander Jannmus, and of Queen Alex- at Damascus, he received from  Aristobulus
andra, who had intrusted him with the gov- (then besieged in the temple) an application,
ernment of his native province of Idumeea. with the offer of four hundred talents if he
He had amassed considerable wealth, and would come to his aid.  The offer of a simformed connections with the Arabs in the east, ilar sum soon after came from Hyrcanus;
and with the Gazites and Ascalonites in the but the Roman, considering that it would be




492                            AN ILLUSTRATED
easier to frighten away the besieging Naba- were heard, and dismissed in a friendly
theans for Aristobulus than to take so strong manner, with orders that the two brothers
a fortress for Hyrcanus, determined to accept should appear in person.  Unfortunately for
the offer of the former.  He accordingly re- Aristobulus, his cause was much prejudiced
ceived the money; and three hundred talents by the allusion of Nicodemus to the bribes
were also given to Gabinius.  Scaurus then which Scaurus and Gabinius had received,
commanded Aretas to abandon the siege and whereby he provoked the resentment of two
quit the country, or expect that the Roman persons whose influence with Pompey was
arms wouldbe turned against him. Awed by very  great.  As ordered, Hylcanus and
this threat, the Arabian king immediately Aristobulus appeared at Damascus in the
obeyed; but he was pursued and overtaken spring of B. C. 63, to plead their own
in his homeward march by the active Aris- cause before Pompey, and each attended by
tobulus, and defeated with great slaughter.   multitudes of witnesses to prove the justice
In B. C. 65, Pompey came into Syria, of their respective claims.  A third Jewish
all the princes of which were prepared to party, uninvited and undesired by either of
look to him  as the arbiter of their fate. the others, also appeared, in the persons of
Antiochus Asiaticus humbly sued to be con- many Jews of high consideration, who were
firmed in his kingdom; but he was refused, prepared to plead, and did plead, against
on the pretext that he was too weak to both the brothers, that in order to enslave a
defend the country against the Jews and free people they had changed the form  of
Arabs; and that the Romans having over- government from  pontifical to regal, concome Tigranes, Syria became theirs by right trary to established usage and precedent.
of conquest, and they were not disposed to Hyrcanus, on his part, rested on his rights
forego the rewards of their toils.  In the as the elder brother, and complained of the
person of Antiochus XI. was deposed the usurpation of Aristobulus: the latter pleaded
last of a regal dynasty, descended from  the necessity which the imbecile character of
Seleucus, which had ruled Syria for two Hyrcanus had imposed upon him.  This
hundred and forty-seven years.  His domin- was precisely the worst plea he could have
ions, together with Phoenicia, then passed made; for imbecility of character was, for
into the condition of a Roman province.    their own selfish ends, far from  being esTwelve kings and many ambassadors re- teemed a disqualification by the Romans, in
paired to Damascus to render their homage the princes under their control.  However,
to the illustrious Roman, or to receive from  Pompey did not openly declare his sentihim the award of their fate.  Aristobulus, ments, but left the matter undecided, until
to whom the recognition of his title by the he should have leisure to come in person to
Romans was at this time of great impor- Jerusalem and settle it there.  But Aristotance, sent an embassy with the present bulus, perceiving clearly that the decision
of a golden vine, valued at five hundred would not be in his favor, withdrew without
talents.  But as those who saw this vine taking leave, in order to make the requisite
subsequently in the capitol at Rome declare preparations, and he thus rendered his case
that it bore the name of Alexander Jan- still more desperate.
naus, it would seem that he was not sue-   Pompey was occupied for a time in reducessful in his application, unless, as some cing Aretas and his Nabathaeans to subjection.
imagine, the vine had been made by Alex- This being effected, he -marched against
ander Jannreus and placed in the temple, Aristobulus, of whose hostile preparations he
from which it was taken by his son to be was well apprised.  He found him  in the
presented to the Romans.                  frontier fortress of Alexandrium (which was
The next year, B. C. 64, Pompey again situated upon the top of a high rock), and
returned to Damascus from  Asia Minor, well prepared for an attack.  On his arrival,
with large designs for the southward exten- Pompey summoned the Jewish prince to his
sion of the Roman power, which had already presence; and Aristobulus, afraid of irritatbeen established as far as the Caspian in the ing him  by a refusal, and relying on his
north.  At that place, the competing Jew- honor, came down and had several interviews
ish princes produced their cause before him: with the Roman general, who, in the end,
Hyrcanus through Antipater, and Aristobu- refused to let him go until he had signed an
lus through  Nicodemus.   The delegates order for the surrender of all the fortresses




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                            493,
to the Romans.  But, resenting deeply this   Pompey violated the sanctity of the temr,
imposition, Aristobulus was no sooner dis- pile, by intruding with his principal officers
missed than he fled to Jerusalem, and there into the holy of holies.  He was not stricken
prepared for a siege.  But, when Pompey as Ptolemy Philopator and Heliodorus had
approached with his army, his resolution been, but it has been remarked by some that
forsook him, as well it might; and he went he never prospered in any of his subsequent
forth to meet the Roman, to whom he ten- undertakings.  By the Jews, of course, this
dered his submission, and offered a sum of act was deeply resented.  Pompey, however,
money to prevent a war.  His proposal was spared the sacred treasury, although it conaccepted; and Gabinius, one of Pompey's tained two thousand talents; and the sacred
lieutenants, who there has been previous utensils, and other articles of great value,
occasion to name, was sent with a body of were left for the sacred uses to which they
troops to recover the city and receive the had been devoted.  But he ordered the walls
money. But when  Aristobulus returned of Jerusalem to be demolished.  Hyrcanus
with the Romans, his own party shut the he appointed to be high-priest and prince of
gates against him and them; on which the the country, on condition that he should subcaptive prince was put in chains.  Pompey mit to the Romans, pay tribute, not assume
then himself marched to Jerusalem, and the the crown, nor seek to extend his territory
party of Hyrcanus, being the most numerous beyond the ancient limits of Judoca.  All the
in the city, and well aware of his favorable places beyond those limits which the Jews
dispositions toward them, opened the gates had conquered were also restored to Syria,
to him.  The party of Aristobulus now with- which was made a Roman province, and left
drew into the temple, which was by this under the rule of Scaurus as prefect, with
time a strong fortress, fully resolved to abide two legions to preserve tranquillity.  Thus
the result of a siege.  They held out for the Jews, from  being old allies of the
three months, and might have done so much Romans, were at once reduced to the conlonger, but for the remaining superstition dition of a subordinate principality, and
respecting  the  Sabbath.  Pompey being were compelled to paylarge tribute to the
apprised that, although on that as on any conquerors.
other day they would stand on their defence   Pompey returned to Rome laden with the
if actually attacked, they would not on that spoils of conquered nations, and with a long
day act on the offensive, or disturb any train of royal and illustrious captives to grace
operations short of actual assault, he saga- his triumph. Among them were Aristobulus,
ciously made use of every Sabbath in filling his two daughters, and his two sons, Alexup the ditch and planting his engines, in ander and Antigonus.  Alexander escaped
which he experienced not the least opposition, by the way, and returned to Judcla.  The
and this enabled him to make his attacks with rest were among the three hundred and
more effect on the other days of the week. twenty-four noble prisoners who graced the
At last the temple was taken by assault in triumph of Pompey in B. C. 61.  Pompey
the first year of the 179th Olympiad, ending was the first to discontinue the barbarous
in B. C. 63, the same year in which C. An- custom of putting the captives to death in
tonius and M. Tullius Cicero were consuls, the Capitol after this public exhibition. They
and on the very day observed with fasting were all liberated and sent home at the puband humiliation on the conquest of Jerusa- lie expense, with the exception of Tigranes
lem by Nebuchadnezzar.  These dates fix the and Aristobulus, who were detained lest
year from  which the  direct rule of the they should excite disturbances in their re.
Romans over Judoea may be dated.         spective countries.




494                              AN ILLUSTRATED
CHAPTER XXVI.
ANTIPATER, GOVERNOR OF JUDEA. -- HEROD. -  BIRTH OF CHRIST.
ALTHOUGHi Hyrcanus II. had again become drium, to which siege was immediately laid.
the nominal head of the reduced and depend- Gabinius, who had now arrived, perceiving
ent princedom  of Judiea, Antipater was the that the reduction of so strong a place would
actual governor, and managed all things as require time, left a sufficient force to invest
he would.                                    it, and with the rest made a progress through
In the year 57 B. C., Alexander, the the country.  Many cities which he found in
eldest son of Aristobulus, who had escaped ruins, he directed to be rebuilt, according to
on the way to Rome, re-appeared in Judaea, the intentions of Pompey: * among these
and soon succeeded in collecting an army of was Samaria, which, after his own name, he
ten thousand foot and fifteen hundred horse. called  Gabiana, which was not long after
lie seized and  garrisoned the strong for- changed by Herod to Sebaste.  When he
tresses of Alexandrium, Machairus, Hyrcania, returned to the camp at Alexandrium he was
and several others, and thence ravaged the visited by the mother of the besieged Alexwhole country.  Hyrcanus was not in a con- ander, who had already offered to capitulate,
dition to make head against him: but for the and now, by her address and mediation, was
protection of Jerusalem  he was desirous of allowed to depart on condition that the forrebuilding the walls of that city; but this tresses which he held in his power should be
was forbidden by the jealousy of the Romans, demolished, that they might give no occasion
and the prince was then obliged to apply to for future revolts.
them  for assistance.  Gabinius (the same    Gabinius then went to Jerusalem, and conwho had before been in the country with firmed Hyrcanus in the high-priesthood; but
Pompey), who had lately become proconsul he took upon him to change the government
of Syria, sent some troops into Judea under to an aristocracy, undoubtedly at the request
the command of Mark Anthony, the com- of the Jews themselves, who had formerly
mander of the cavalry -  who afterward took much desired such a change from Pompey.
so conspicuous a part in the affairs of Rome, Hitherto the administration of public afitfairs
while he prepared to follow  himself with a had been managed, under the prince, by two
larger army.  The Roman general, being councils, or courts of justice; the lesser,
joined by Antipater with the forces of Hyr- consisting of twenty-three persons, was insticanus, defeated Alexander near Jerusalem, tuted in every city, and each of these lesser
with the loss of three thousand men, and councils was subject to the control of the
compelled  him  to seek refuge in Alexan- great council, or Sanhedrim, t of seventy* Those were - Scythopolis (Bethshan), Sa- this tribunal, and there wyere two vice-presidents
maria, Dora, Azotus or Ashdod, Jainnia, Gaza, who sat the one on his right hand and the other
Anthedon, Raphia, Gamala, Apollonia, Marissa, on his left. The members werle- 1. Those who
and some others.                             were called " chief' priests " in the Gospels. These
t This is the first historical notice of such a were partly priests, who had previously exercised
council. The Jews deem that the council of sev- the office of high-priests, and partly of' the heads
enty elders appointed to assist Moses was after- of the twenty-four classes of priests, who were
ward constantly maintained, and that with it we called honorarily, high or chief priests. 2. Elders,
are to identify the Sanhedrim of their later history. being the heads of tribes and of lancge gr)tups of
But if such a body had existed, it is impossible allied families. 3. The scribes, or nici of learnbut that its presence must have been indicated, ing. It is to be understood, howeverl tllatdlt-hough
in the long intervening period, on some of the all the chief-priests had a seat in the Shillhedrim,
many occasions which would have called for the only those of the elders and scribes sat there who
exercise of its functions.  That the Sanhedrim  were elected to fill up vacancies.
was intended as an imitation of the council of the   There is no reason to doubt the asser tion of the
seventy elders is very possible and likely; but Talmudists, that the Sanhedrim  had secretaries
scarcely any one who has examined the matter and apparitors.  The place in which this great
closely imagines that it had any earlier existence council sat in Jerusalem cannot with any certainty
than the time of the Maccabees.              be determined. The Talmudists inform us that
The high-priest was usually the president of the council sat so as to form a semicircle, of which




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                     495
two members, sitting at Jerusalem.  Both year 44 B. C., when iEyrcanus was restored
were suppressed by Gabinius, who divided to his former power by Julius Caesar.
the country into five districts, appointing in    About this time Aristobulus contrived to
each an executive council for its government. escape from  his captivity at Rome, with his
These districts will be sufficiently indicated younger son Antigonus, and returned to
by the names of the cities in which the Judmea, where his presence excited a revolt.
respective councils sat: —Jerusalem, Jeri- But he was ere long defeated, taken captive
cho, Gadara, Amathus, and Sepphoris. This, with his son, and sent back to his former
in fact, changed the government into an aris- prison.  The report which Gabinius sent,
tocracy, for all real power rested in the hands however, of the services which the wife of
of the several councils, composed of the Aristobulus had rendered in suppressing her
principal persons of each district, and the son Alexander's insurrection, procured the
power of the prince was completely nullified. release of all the family except Aristobulus.
This form  of government continued to the    In 56 B. C. Gabinius undertook to restore
BONAN CONSUL.
Ptolemy Auletes to the throne of Egypt. Roman army was most bountifully furnished
Ha and Mark Anthony succeeded in this with  provisions, arms, and money; and
object, in which they received no slight assist- measures were taken to dispose the Jews of
anee from Hyrcanus, or rather from  Anti- Egypt to forward their cause, which they
pater, who eagerly laid hold of every oppor- had large means of doing.  While the sulk
tunity of serving and ingratiating himself stantial force of the Romans was absent on
with the Romans, through whose favor alone this expedition, Alexander, the son of Ariscould he hope that his ambitious designs tobulus, got together a large army, with
would ever be realized.  By his means the which he contrived to make himself master
the president and two vice-presidents occupied the high council. Its powers were much limited by
centre. We learn from other sources that they the Romans; but in the time of Christ it still
either sat upon the floor, carpets being spread possessed the power of trying offenders and of
under them, or upon cushions slightly elevated, passing sentence; although when the penalty was
with their knees bent and legs crossed, as is still high or capital, it was necessary that it should be
she fashion in the East.                     confirmed by the Roman governor, who also
Appeals firom the mrnicipal councils and other assumed the right of executing as his own tlhe
matters of importance, were brought before this sentence which he had confirmed.




496                            AN ILLUSTRATED
of Judaea, and massacred all the Romans   In the civil war which broke out between
who had the misfortune to fall in his way. Pompey and Csesar, Syria and Palestine
Several fled to Mount Gerizim, and were were variously  involved.   When  Coesar
there besieged by Alexander, when Gabinius passed the Rubicon in 49 B. C., and made
returned victorious from Egypt.  The pro- himself master of Rome, he thought that
consul endeavored, through Antipater, to Aristobulus might be useful to his cause
make peace with him; but as, although many against that of Pompey, which was strong
had abandoned him on the approach of the in the east; and therefore sent him  into
Romans, he was still at the head of thirty Palestine, with two legions under his comthousand men, he refused to listen to any mand, to keep Syria in awe.  But Pompey's
terms of accommodation. In a battle, which party contrived to poison him on the way,
soon followed, near Mount Tabor, ten thou- and thus frustrated the design.  His always
sand of his men were slain, and the rest dis- active son, Alexander, had raised forces in
persed.  Gabinius then went to Jerusalem, expectation  of his father's arrival; but
and settled affairs there according to the Pompey  sent orders  to his  son-in-law,
views of Antipater, who had much influence Q. Metellus Scipio, whom he had promoted
both with him and Anthony.                to the government of Syria, to cause hin
In the year 55 the proconsul Gabinius to be put to death.  Alexander was accordwas recalled, to answer for the venality and ingly taken prisoner, brought to  kntioch,
extortion of his government.  Yet he is tried, and beheaded.
regretted by  Josephus as one who was   In the midst of all the causes of agitation
friendly to the Jews; who, however, had to in Judclea — from  the contests of the Aspay a high price for his friendship.  They monean princes - from the different characcertainly gained nothing by the exchange ters of the governors of Syria-from  the
for the new proconsul, who was no other march of armies —from the intrigues which
than the wealthy and avaricious Crassus divided courts and people in the quarrel
(the colleague of Pompey and Julius Caesar between Pompey and Csesar-  Antipater
in the triumvirate), who procured himself to never slept, was never found wanting to
be invested with unusually large powers, himself.   He had availed himself of his
and  who, being  consul for that year, power over the feeble HIyrcanus to make for
embarked for Syria before his consulship himself a personal influence and reputation,
expired.  Crassus was bent on an expedition through the services he was thereby able to
against the Parthians; and he failed not, render to the various parties and persons
before his departure, to plunder the temple whose friendship might be useful to him.
at Jerusalem  of all the treasures which He was moreover the father of four sons,
Pompey had spared   He took every thing who understood and concurred in his views
that he deemed worth taking, and the value -  all of them  brave, ambitious, magnifiof his plunder is estimated at ten thousand cent, full of spirit and high hopes.  One
talents.  In the war against the Parthians, of them, Phasael, was already governor of
which was entirely unexpected and unpro- Jerusalem, and another, Herod, was govvoked, Crassus was at first successful; but ernor  of  Galilee.   These, it will be
in the end, he and his son were slain, and perceived, were two of the five districts
the Roman army disgraced, B. C. 53.       into which the country had been divided by
Cassius, who had commanded a wing of Gabinius.  Thus the family went on gatherthe Roman army in the battle, conducted a ing strength from  day to day, while the
body of five hundred horse safely back to Asmonean family - through the imbecility'
Syria, the government of which devolved of Hyreanus, and the reverses of Aristobuon him until a successor to Crassus should lus and his sons - sustained a daily loss of
be appointed.  Having, with much ability, power and influence.  In the contest between
so organized the broken resources of the Pompey and Caesar, Antipater, who was
province as to defend it successfully against under obligations to the former, was in a
the Parthian  invasion of 52 B. C., he critical and difficult position.  But such
afterward marched into Judoea, and forced men as be are never wrong. Their felicitous
Alexander, who began raising fresh distur- instincts enable them  to discover the falling
bances as soon as the news of the defeat of cause in sufficient time to make the aban-'
Crassus arrived in Syria, to terms of peace. donment of it a merit with him whose stai is;




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                           497
rising.  Thus Antipater turned in good awakened, and they obliged Hyrcanus to cite
time to the side of the new master; and in him to Jerusalem  to answer for his conduct
the Egyptian campaign rendered important before the Sanhedrim.  He came arrayed in
services to Caesar by bringing to his aid the purple, with a numerous retinue, and preforces concentrated in Judaea, Idumaea, and sented to Hyrcanus a letter from Sextus
part of Arabia; while in action he displayed Caesar, commanding him  to acquit Herod
great abilities and courage, which no one under pain of his highest displeasure.  The
knew better than Caesar how to appreciate prince, who liked Herod, was well enough
and respect.  On his return from  Egypt, inclined to this before, and the accusers
the crown of which he had fixed on the head were so damped by the young man's auof the too celebrated Cleopatra, the eldest dacity, as well as by the letter, which also
daughter of Ptolemy Auletes, he went to intimidated the Sanhedrim, that they all sat
Jerusalem, and there employed the absolute in awkward silence until one firm and honest
power he possessed quite in subservience to voice, that of Sameas, was heard rebuking
the views and wishes of Antipater. In vain the members of'the council for their cowdid Antigonus, the surviving son of Aristo- ardice, and predicting that the day would
bulus, appear, and plead that the lives of come when Herod would refuse them  the
his father and brother had been lost in his pardon which they were then all too ready
cause: he was heard coldly, and dismissed to extend to him.  This was verified in the
as a troublesome person.  Caesar abrogated end.  When Sameas had spoken, the Santhe aristocratical government which Gabinius hedrim  exhibited some inclination to act;
had established ten years before, and con- but Hyreanus adjourned the sitting, and
firmed Hyrcanus in his full powers as high- gave Herod a hint to quit Jerusalem.  He
priest and  ethnarch.  He  ordered  the repaired to Sextus Caesar at Damascus, and
remission every sabbatic year of the annual not only obtained his protection, but received
tribute payable to the Romans: he further from him the government of all Coele-Syria,
conceded that the  Jews should not, as on condition of paying a stipulated tribute.
formerly, be obliged to provide winter quar- On this, Herod collected a small army, and
ters for the Roman troops, or to pay an was with difficulty persuaded by his father
equivalent in money; and he granted such and his brother Phasael from marching to
further privileges and immunities to the Jerusalem, to avenge himself for the insult
Jews throughout the empire, that the Roman he considered he had received in being sumyoke became very light upon them for a moned before the Sanhedrim.
time.  Antipater himself was appointed   The assassination of Sextus Caesar in Syria,
procurator of Judaea for the Romans.  The by Bassus, and of Caesar himself at Rome,
decree in which these privileges was em- by Brutus, Cassius, and their confederates,
bodied was engraved on brass, and laid up rekindled the flames of civil war, and might
in the Capitol at Rome, and in the temples have prostrated the hopes of one less ductile
of Zidon, Tyre, and Ascalon.  Hyrcanus than Antipater.  Cassius passed over into
afterward ventured, by ambassadors sent to Syria to secure that important province for
Rome, to solicit permission to fortify Jeru- the republic, and was compelled to exact
salem, and to rebuild the walls which Pompey heavy contributions to maintain the large
had thrown down. This was granted by Cae- army he had raised.  Jud3ea was assessed
sar, and immediately executed by Antipater.  at seven hundred talents, one half of which
Julius Caesar left the government of Syria Antipater commissioned  his sons Phasael
in the hands of Sextus Caesar, his relative, and  Herod  to  raise, and intrusted the
who was also well disposed toward the family collection of the other half to Malichus,
of Antipater.  The promotion of his son a Jew, one of the chief supporters of HyrHerod to be governor of Galilee has already canus.  Herod won the favor of Cassius
been noticed.  He displayed great activity by the promptitude With which he produced
and daring in clearing his province of the his quota; but MasLchus, being more dila,
robbers by which it had been infested.  But tory, would have been put to death, had
having put the leader of these banditti, with not Hyrcanus redeemed him by paying one
several of his associates, to death, by his own hundred talents out of his own coffers. There
mere authority, without any form of trial, the was something in this affair to kindle the
jealousy of several of the leading Jews was smouldering jealousy with which Malichus
32




498                           AN ILLUSTRATED
and the heads of the Jewish nation were   This was the state of affairs (B. C. 41)
disposed to regard the concentration of all when, after the battle of Philippi, Mark
the real power of the government in the Antony passed into Syria, to secure that
hands of an Idummean  and foreigner, as important province for the conquerors.  The
they regarded Antipater; and they plotted discontented party sent a deputation to him
to destroy him and all his family. Antipater soon after his arrival, to complain of the sons
was poisoned by a glass of wine given to him  of Antipater.  But Antony who had been
at the very table of Hyrcanus: in revenge already joined by Herod, and had accepted
for which Phasael and Herod procured Mali- presents from  him, was indisposed toward
chus to be put to death by the Roman garrison them, especially when Herod reminded him
at Tyre, in obedience to an order which they of the services, well known to himself, which
obtained from Cassius.                   Antipater had rendered to Gabinius in the
The influence of Antipater over Hyrcanus expedition to Egypt.  About the same time
being now withdrawn, the adverse party soon Antony received  an  embassy from  Hyrsucceeded in bringing him  over to their canus, touching the ransom of the inhabitants
views, by directing his fears toward the of Gophna, Emmaus, Lydda, Thamma, and
overgrown and increasing power of the sons some other places, whom Cassius had sold
of Antipater.  Felix, the commander of the for slaves because they refused to pay their
Roman forces at Jerusalem, was also led into portion of the seven hundred talents which
the same views; for by this time (42 B. C.) he exacted.  Antony granted the application,
Cassius and Brutus had been defeated and and notified his determination to the Tyrians,
slain at Philippi by Antony and Octavius. who had probably purchased most of these
This party was, however, soon mastered by persons, Tyre being a great mart for slaves.
the brothers, who recovered Massada and    Nothing discouraged by the former negall the fortresses of which it had obtained leet, one hundred Jews of the first conpossession, and even dared to expel Felix sideration repaired to Antony at Daphne
from  Jerusalem, as the change of affairs near Antioch, to  renew  their complaints
produced by the battle of Philippi, rendered against Herod and Phasael.  Antony gave
it unlikely that the now dominant avengers them an  audience, and then turning  to
of Caesar would resent *the insult offered to Hyreanus, who was present, asked him, in
one employed by his slayers.  They up- their hearing, whom he esteemed most able
braided Hyrcanus for favoring a party which to conduct the affairs of the government,
had always sought to curb his power, which under himself.  Influenced, probably, by
had been on all occasions supported by the the recent contract of marriage between his
sagacious and firm counsels of Antipater. A  grand-daughter and Herod, he named the
reconciliation was, however, soon effected, as two brothers, on which Antony conferred
Herod greatly wished to strengthen his pre- upon them the rank and power of tetrarchs,
tensions by a marriage with  Miriam  or committed the affairs of Judeaa to their
Mariamne, the beautiful grand-daughter of management, imprisoned  fifteen  of the
the high-priest, to whom he was accordingly deputies, and would have put them to death,
espoused.                                had not Herod interceded for them.  So
But although the adverse party had been things were managed in those times.  With
repressed, it was not extinguished; and it the usual pertinacity of the nation, the
soon found a new -head in the person of discontented Jews renewed the complaint
Antigonus, the surviving son of Aristobulus, at Tyre in a body of a thousand deputies;
whose unsuccessful application to Caesar has but Antony thought proper to treat this
lately been noticed.  Nothing less was now  as a tumultuous assembly, and ordered his
professed than an intention to restore him to soldiers to disperse it, which was not done
the throne of his father, his claims to which without bloodshed.   Antony  was  then
were stronglysupported by some neighboring on his way to Egypt.  Summoned, on his
princes, and even by the Roman governor of first arrival in Syria, to appear before him
Damascus, who had been won by a sum of to account for the part she was alleged to
money. But when he arrived in Judoea with have taken in assisting Cassius, Cleopatra
his army, he was totally defeated by Herod, had not in vain exercised upon him the
and compelled for the present to relinquish fascinations by which  Cesar had  before
iu purpose.                               been subdued.  The  story of Antony's




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             499
thraldom to this charming but most unprin- soldiers, under the command of his cupcipled woman is too familiar to need more bearer, who also bore the name of Pacorus,
than the slight allusions which the connec- to assist the operations of Antigonus.  The
tion of this  history requires.   Lost in united force found no effectual resistance
luxurious  ease -and  dalliance,  Antony until it reached Jerusalem, where the strugwasted much time at Alexandria, leaving gle was protracted without any decisive
the affairs of Syria and Asia Minor to get results.  But at length it was agreed beinto a state of confusion, satisfying himself tween the real belligerents to admit the
that by and by he would rouse himself to Parthian commander within the city, to act
some great effort which would set all right.  as umpire between them.  Phasael (the
In the spring of the year B. C. 40 the governor of Jerusalem) invited him to his
news from both Syria and Italy compelled own house, and allowed himself to be perthe warrior to break off the enchantment suaded that the best course that could be
by which he was bound, and to look closely taken would be for him and Hyrcanus to go
to his affairs.  In Syria, the people dis- and submit the matter in dispute to the
gusted and exhausted  by the successive arbitration of Barzapharnes, the Partbian
exactions of Cassius and Antony, refused governor of Syria.  They went notwithto bear them  any longer.  The people of standing the dissuasions of the less confiding
Aradus kindled the flame of opposition, by Ierod.  Barzapharnes treated them  with
openly resisting the collectors of tribute, great attention and respect, until he supwhich example was soon followed by others. posed that sufficient time had elapsed to
They united themselves with the Palmnyrenes, enable Pacorus to secure Herod at Jerusaand the princes whom Antony had deposed, lem, when he immediately  put them  in
and called to the Parthians for aid.  They chains, and shut them up in prison.  But
gladly responded to the call, and entered Herod,  suspecting  the treachery  of the
the country in great numbers under the Parthians, withdrew with his family by night
command of their king's son Pacorus, and from Jerusalem, and repaired to the stron,
of a Roman general (Labienus) who had fortress of Massada, situated upon a high
belonged to the party of Pompey.   The mountain west of the Dead Sea.  On findking with one division of the army took pos- ing that Herod had escaped, the Parthians
session of Syria, while Labienus with another plundered the country, made Antigonus king
performed the same service in Asia Minor. according to their contract, and departed,
Antony  was made  perfectly  acquainted leaving lHyrcanus and Phasael in his hands.
with this when he reached Tyre; but the Phasael, feeling assured that he was doomed
news which he also received from  Italy to death, dashed out his brains against his
so much more nearly concerned his personal prison walls.  The life of his aged uncle
prosperity, that he immediately embarked was spared by the nephew; but he cut off
for that country.  On his arrival, affairs his ears to disqualify him  from  ever again
between him and Octavius wore, for a time, acting as high-priest, and thus mutilated,
a threatening aspect.  But the opportune sent him  back to the safe keeping of the
death of Antony's wife Fulvia allowed an Parthians, who sent him to Seleucia on the
opening for intermarriages between Antony, Tigris.
Octavius, and Lepidus, and peace between   In this seemingly desperate state of his
the triumvirs was for a time restored. They affairs, for to the great body of the Jews themthen  divided the Roman  empire  among selves Antigonus appears to have been more
themselves.   Antony received Syria and acceptable than he, Herod repaired to Egypt,
the East, Lepidus  obtained Africa, and and took ship at Alexandria for Rome.  Hea
Octavius all the West, B. C. 40.          was warmly welcomed by Antony, by whom
Meanwhile the Parthians, having made he was introduced to Octavius, who was inthemselves masters of Syria, as related, duced to notice him favorably by the report
began to take part in the affairs of Palestine. of the very great services which Antipater
Pacorus was induced by the offer of one had rendered to his grand-uncle (and adop.
thousand talents in money, andfive hundred tive father) Caesar, in the Egyptian expediwomen, to undertake to place Antigonus tion.  The object of Herod's journey was to
on the throne of Judaea.  To put this con- induce the Romans to raise to the throne
tract in execution he furnished a body of of Judaea Aristobulus, the brother of his




500                           AN ILLUSTRATED
espoused Mariamne. This Aristobulus was well calculated to render his cause odious to
the  son of Alexandra, the  daughter of the Jews.  One good service to the land
Hyrcanus, by Alexander the eldest son of was performed in the extirpation of the
Aristobulus, so that he seemed to unite in numerous bands of robbers which infested
his person the claims of both branches of Galilee, dwelling chiefly in the caverns of the
the Asmonean family.  For himself, Herod hill country, and who were so numerous as
proposed to govern the country under Aristo- sometimes to give battle to the troops in the
bulus, as his father had governed it under open field.  They were, however, pursued
Hyrcanus.   But Antony  suggested  the with fire and sword, in all their difficult
startling idea of making Herod himself king retreats, and after great numbers had been
of Judea; and noticing the eagerness with slain, the rest sought refuge beyond Jordan.
which he grasped at the glittering bait, he   The arrival of Antony in Syria enabled
undertook, on the promise of a sum of money, Herod to obtain more efficient assistance than
to secure this object for him.  He easily before; and, after having subdued the open
induced Octavius to concur with him; and country, he, with his Roman auxiliaries, sat
their joint representations secured the ap- down before Jerusalem.  During this siege
pointment from  the senate.  Accordingly, he consummated his marriage with Mariamne,
during the consulship of Demetrius Calvinus to whom  he had four years before been
and Asinius Pollio, in the one hundred and betrothed.  He was not only passionately
eighty-fourth Olympiad, in the year B. C. attached to this lady, but he hoped that the
40, the man who had a few weeks before affinity thus contracted with the Asmonean
been on the point of destroying himself from  family, which was still very popular among
sheer despair of his fortunes, was conducted the Jews, would conciliate the people to his
to the Capitol between the two foremost men government.  The city held  out for six
in the world, Antony and Octavius, and months, whereby the Romans were so greatly
there consecrated king, with idolatrous sacri- exasperated that when at last (B. C. 27)
fies.  All this was so soon accomplished, they took it by storm, they plundered the
that Herod departed from Rome seven days town and massacred the inhabitants without
after his arrival, and landed at Ptolemais mercy.  Herod complained that they were
only three months after his flight from Jeru- going to make him king of a desert; and
salem.  If the Parthians had still been in paid down a large sum of money to induce
possession of Syria, it would have availed them to desist.  Antigonus surrendered himhim little to have been made a king at Rome; self in rather a cowardly manner to the
but by the time of his return they had already Roman general (Sosius), and, throwing
been driven out of Syria by the Romans, and himself at his feet, besought his clemency
had withdrawn beyond the Euphrates.      with so much abjectness, that the Roman
Herod diligently applied himself to the repelled him with contempt, addressing him
collecting such a force as might enable him  by the name of Antigona, as if unworthy
to relieve the friends he had left in Massada, a man's name.  He sent him to Antony,
who had all the while been closely besieged who at first intended to reserve him for his
by Antigonus, and were at one time reduced triumph; but, being assured by Herod that
to such extremities for want of water, that while Antigonus lived the Jews generally
they had fully intended to surrender the next would not acknowledge himself as king, or
day, when an abundant fall of rain during cease to raise disturbances on his behalf, and
the intervening night filled all the cisterns this representation being backed by a sum
and enabled them to hold out until Herod of money, Antony put him  to death at
came to their relief.                    Antioch, by the rods and the axe of the lictor
Three years elapsed before Herod can be  - an indignity which the Romans had never
said to have obtained possession of the throne before inflicted upon a crowned head.  Thus
which the Romans had given to him.  The ignominiously ended  the dynasty of the
assistance which the Romans themselves ren- Asmoneans, one hundred and  twenty-six
dered is of questionable value, as at first the' years after its glorious commencement.
generals appointed to assist him would only   Herod commenced his reign by cutting off
act just as money induced them; and under all the heads of the Asmonean party, not
pretence that the forces wanted provisions, only to secure himself on the throne, but, by
ravaged the country in such a manner as was the confiscation of their property, to enrich




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    501
his coffers, which were well exhausted by his himself in the matter, when Herod saw that
profuse expenditure, and by the rapacity of it was necessary to his domestic peace and
the Romans.  In this process all the mem- public safety that he should depose Ananel
hers of the Sanhedrim perished, except Pollio and promote Aristobulus to his office, who
and Sameas, which last, it will be remem- was then but seventeen years of age.  He
bered, had predicted this result. The ground was, however, so seriously displeased at the
on which they were spared was, that they bold step which Alexandra had taken, that
alone had counselled submission to the course he ordered her to be confined in her own
of events, by surrendering the city to Herod; palace, and placed around her some of his
whereas the others were constantly encoura- confidential servants to watch all her moveging each other and the citizens in the now  ments.  She wrote to Cleopatra, complaining.
vain expectation that Jehovah would, as of of this treatment, and in reply was advised
old, interpose for the deliverance  of his to make her escape to Egypt.  Accordingly
temple.*                                     she arranged that herself and Aristobulus
Herod, sensible that the Jews would not should be placed in two coffins, and carried
tolerate his own assumption of the high-priest- by attached servants to the seacoast, where a
hood in the room  of Antigonus, designed to  ship was waiting to receive them.  But their
render that office politically insignificant, and  flight was intercepted by Herod, whom, howtherefore appointed it to Ananel of Babylon, ever, the fear of Cleopatra prevented from
an obscure priest, although descended from  treating them with harshness. He, however,
the ancient high-priests, and who was entirely  secretly resolved to put Aristobulus out of
without influence or connections to render the way, as a person whose influence he had
him dangerous (B. C. 36). This appointment great reason to dread.
occasioned confusion in his own family; for    This intention was strengthened when he
Mariamne  his wife, and  Alexandra  her perceived how  dangerously the discharge of
mother, took umbrage at the exclusion of her his functions brought under the  admiring
brother Aristobulus -  the same youth for notice of the Jews this beautiful fragment of
whose brows he had originally designed the the Maccaboean race, in which they were
diadem which he had himself been induced delighted to trace out the noble qualities and
to assume.  Mariamne was constantly harass- lineaments by which that race had been dising him  on the subject; and her mother tinguished.   At the feast of tabernacles
Alexandra, a woman of great spirit, went Aristobulus officiated at the altar in the
much further, for she complained to Cleopa- splendid robes of the high-priest, which set
tra, queen of Egypt, by letter, and had off to such advantage the angelic grace and,
begun to engage the interest of Antony beauty of his youthful person, that the Jews
* This Pollio and Sameas of Josephus are the Jerusalem. His son was Gamaliel II., and his
famous Hillel and Shammai of the Rabbinical again Simeon II. He was succeeded by his son,
writers - two of the most eminent of the ancient the celebrated R. Judah Hlakkadosh, or " the hodoctors of the nation. Hillel was of the royal line ly," who committed the traditional law to writing,
of David, being descended from Shephatiah, Da- in the Mishna. His son and successor was Gamavid's son by Abital (1 Chron. iii. 2). He was liel III.; after him Judah Gemaricus; after him
born in Babylonia, and came to Jerusalem in the Hillel II., the ingenious compiler of the present
fortieth year of his age; and for his eminence in Jewish Calendar, A. D. 358.
the study of the law, he was appointed president    Shammai had been a disciple of Hillel, and
of the Sanhedrim, forty years after, in the eighti- approached the nearest to him in learning and
eth year of his age, and held that high station for eminence of all the Mishnical doctors. He was
forty years more; and it continued in his family vice-president of the Sanhedrim, and disagreed in
to the tenth generation. He was succeeded by several points with his master. Hillel was of a
-Simeon, supposed to be the same who took Christ mild and conciliatory temper; but Shammai of an
in his arms when he was presented in the temple angry and fierce spirit. Hence proceeded violent
(Luke ii. 23-35). His son Gamaliel was presi- disputes and contests between the two schools,
dent of the Sanhedrim when Peter and the apos- which at length ended in bloodshed. At last they
tles were summoned before them  (Acts v. 34); were allayed by a fictitious Bath Col, or voice
" at whose feet" the Apostle Paul was " brought from heaven, deciding in favor of Hillel, to which
up," or educated, in the sect and discipline of the the school of Shammai submitted. See Hales, ii.
Pharisees (Acts xxiii. 3). He lived until within 593. Persons acquainted with the matters in
eighteen years of the destruction of Jerusalem, controversy between the schools of Hillel and
and in the Jewish writings is distinguished by the Shammai will find various marked allusions to
title of Gamaliel the Old. He was succeeded by them in the Gospels, and, although less frequently,
Simeon II., who perished in the destruction of in the Epistles.




502                           AN ILLUSTRATED
could not contain themselves, but gave vent the crown he now wore himself, he was into the most lively demonstrations of their duced to summon him to Laodicea to answer
admiration and love.  This sealed his doom. for his conduct. Herod was obliged to obey,
Soon after, Herod engaged Aristobulus, with and was not without anxiety for the result.
suitable companions of his own age, in a He however took care so to propitiate Anvariety of sports and entertainments at Jeri- tony beforehand, by the profusion of his gifts,
cho.  Among other things they bathed in a that on his arrival he was immediately aclake, where the young men kept immersing quitted, and the avarice of Cleopatra was in
Aristobulus, as if in sport, until he was some degree appeased by the assignment of
drowned.  Loud were the lamentations of Coele-Syria to her, in lieu of Judae, of which
Herod at this most unhappy "accident." she had always been, and soon again became
By these, and by tile grand funeral with covetous, B. C. 34.
which he honored the remains of Aristobulus,    Before his departure from  Jerusalem,
and by the trophies with which he surcharged Herod, uncertain of the result, had left prihis tomb, he sought to disguise from the vate instructions with his uncle Joseph (who
people the real character of this transaction. had married his sister Salome) to put MariBut they were not deceived.  The deed amne to death in case he was condemned,
inspired the whole nation with hatred and for he knew that Antony had heard much
horror, which even his own family shared. of her extreme beauty, and feared that he
As to Alexandra, her emotions were so over- might take her to himself, after his death.
powering that only the hope of vengeance Joseph had the great imprudence to divulge
enabled her to live.                     this secret to Mariamne herself, representing
Old Hyrcanus was at this time in Jerusa- it, however, as resulting from the excess of
lem.  He had been, and might have re- her husband's love to her.  But she rather.mained, very happily situated at Seleucia, regarded it as a proof of so savage a nature,
where he was treated by the Jews in that that she conceived an unconquerable repugquarter, who were more numerous and more nance toward him.  Soon after a rumor
wealthy than those of Judaea, as their king came that he had been put to death by Anand high-priest; in which point of view he tony; on which Alexandra, who was now
was also considered and respected by the also acquainted with the barbarous orders left
Parthian king.  But when the fears and with Joseph, was preparing to seek protection
suspicions of Herod extended even to him, with the Roman legion stationed in the city,
and, desiring to get him into his power, he when letters from Herod himself, announcing
sent, and invited him to come and spend the his acquittal and speedy return, induced
evening of his days in his own land, and them to relinquish their design.  The firewith his own family, and engaged the Par- brand of the familywas Salome, the sister
thian king to permit him to do so, - Hyrca- of Herod, and she failed not to apprise her
nus, who liked Herod, and had great confi- brother of this intention, as well as to insinudence in his gratitude, could not be dissuaded ate that too close an intimacy had subsistby the earnest remonstrances and entreaties ed between Mariamne and Joseph.  Salome
of his eastern friends; but returned to Jeru- had been, it seems, provoked to hatred of
salem, where he was well received, and until this high-born lady, by the hauteur with which
a more convenient season, treated by Herod she had been looked down upon and treated
with attention and respect.              as an inferior by her.  Although struck with
Antony was now again in Syria, and on jealousy, the king allowed his deep love for
his arrival had invited Cleopatra to join him  Mariamne to subdue him, when  all her
at Laodicvea.  Alexandra again applied to beauty shone once more upon him.  He
Cleopatra; and she took much interest in could only bring himself to question her
the matter —not from any strong natural gently, and was satisfied from her answers,
feelings -for she had herself committed and from the conscious innocence of her mancrimes as great, but in the hope of inducing ner, that she had been maligned.  AfterAntony to add Judaea to her dominions if ward, while assuring her of the sincerity and
Herod were disgraced. She therefore brought ardor of his love toward her, she tauntingly
the affair under the notice of Antony; and reminded him of the proof of that which he
as he could not but remember that Herod had given in his orders to Joseph.  This
had originally sought for the murdered youth most imprudent disclosure rekindled all the




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             503
jealousy of Herod.   Convinced that the moment of the conflict.  Herod was, howcharge which he had heard was true, he flung ever, ultimately successful, and won great
her from his arms; Joseph he ordered to be honor by a signal and effective victory, which
put to death, without admitting him to his brought the Arabians of Seir under his
presence.; and although his love for Mariamne dominion.
at this time restrained his rage against her,   The same year (B. C. 31) had opened
he put her mother Alexandra into custody, as with an earthquake so tremendous as had
the cause of all these evils.             never before been known in Judvea: it is
The  disgraceful history of Antony in said that not fewer than thirty thousand perEgypt is familiar to the reader; and it is sons were either swallowed up in the chasms
only needful to advert to one or two points in which opened in the earth, or destroyed by
which Herod and Palestine were more or less the fall of their houses.  The confusion and
involved.                                 loss which this calamity occasioned greatly
In B. C. 33 Jerusalem was " honored"  troubled the king, and not long after he
with a visit from Cleopatra, on her return  found (as far as his own interests were confrom the banks of the Euphrates, whither she cerned) a more serious matter of anxiety
had accompanied Antony on his Armenian  in the result of the battle of Actium (Sept.
expedition.  Before this. she had succeeded  2, B. C. 31), when Octavius obtained a
in  persuading  Antony -  although  he decided victory over Antony, who fled to
steadily refused wholly to sacrifice Herod to Egypt, as his last retreat.  Herod did not
her ambition - to give her the fertile terri- exhibit any blameworthy alacrity in abandontories around Jericho, the celebrated balsam  ing the patron of his fortunes.  Hel sent by
afforded by which, together with the palm- a special messenger to exhort him to put to
trees in which it abounded, furnished a con- immediate death the woman who had been
siderable revenue, the deprivation of which his ruin, seize her treasures and kingdom,
could not but have given great offence to and thus obtain means of raising another army,
Hierod.  The means which this abandoned with which either once more to contend for
woman used, durino her stay at Jerusalem, empire, or at least to secure a more advanto bring the king under the spell of those tageous peace than he could otherwise exfascinations for which, more than for her peet.  But finding that Antony paid no
beauty, she was celebrated, added, in his heed to this proposal, and neglected his own
mind, disgust and contempt to the sense of offers of service, he thought it was high
wrong; and although he received and enter- time to take care of himself, by detaching
tained her with the most sedulous attention his fortunes from  one whose utter ruin he
and apparent respect, he had it seriously in saw  to  be  inevitable.   Therefore when
consideration whether, seeing she was wholly  Octavius, early in B. C. 30, had come to
in his power, he could safely compass the Rhodes, on his way to Egypt, he went
death of one who had more than once endea- thither to him.
vored to accomplish his own.  The dread of   But before his departure he made such
Antony's vengeance deterred him, and he arrangements as showed, after his own pecuconducted the queen with honor to the fron- liar manner, the sense he entertained of the
tiers of her own kingdom, after having en- serious importance of the present contindeavored to propitiate her cupidity by ample gencies.  He placed  his mother, sister,
gifts.  But nothing could satiate her thirst wives, and children, in the strong fortress of
for gain and aggrandizement, and her plots Massada, under the care of his brother Pheto gain possession of Judaea were continued, roras.  But seeing that Mariamne and her
and could hardly have been defeated by a mother Alexandra could not agree with his
less accomplished master in her own arts mother and sister, he placed them separately
than Herod " the Great."   One time she in the fortress of Alexandrium, under the
engaged Antony to commit to him a hazard- care of a trusty Idumean named Sohemus,
ous war on her account with the Arabian king with secret orders to put them both to death,
reigning in Petra, calculating that the death if Octavius should. treat him harshly; and
of either of them would enable her to ap- that, in  concurrence  with Pheroras, he
propriate his dominions.  Herod gained one should endeavor to secure the crown for his
battle; but he lost another through the de- children.  And, fearful that the existence
faction of the Egyptian general at a critical and presence of Hyrcanus might suggest




504                           AN ILLUSTRATED
the obvious course of deposing himself and braiding him with the murder of her grand"
restoring the original occupant of the throne, father and brother.  Enraged beyond furhe was glad of the opportunity of putting ther endurance, Herod immediately ordered
him to death, with the faint show of justice her confidential eunuch to be put to the torwhich might be derived from the detected ture, that he might discover the cause of her
design of the old man (instigated by his altered conduct; but the tortured wretch
daughter Alexandra) to make his escape to could only say that it probably arose from
the Arabian king Malehus, the most active of some communication which Sohemus had
Herod's foreign enemies, and the son of that made to her.   This hint sufficed; as he
king Aretas who had formerly invaded Judoea concluded that Sohemus must have been too
for the purpose of restoring Hyrcanus to the intimate with her, or that he would not
throne which his brother had usurped.  Hyr- have revealed the secret with which he had
canus was eighty years of age when he was been intrusted.  Sohemus was immediately
thus made to experience the heartless ingrat- seized and put to death; Mariamne herself
itude of the man who owed life and all things was then accused by Herod of adultery
to his favor.                            before judges of his own selection, by whom
On his arrival at Rhodes, Herod conducted she was condemned, but with a conviction
himself with the tact of no common man. that their sentence of death would not be
When admitted to an audience, he frankly executed.  Neither would it, probably, but
acknowledged all he had done for Antony, for the intervention of Cypros the mother
and all he would still have done had his of Herod, and Salome his sister, who, fearing
services been accepted.  He even stated the he might relent, suggested that by delay
last counsel which he had given to that occasion for a popular commotion in her
infatuated man; and having thus enabled favor might be given.  She was therefore
Octavius to judge how faithful he was to his led to immediate execution, and met her
friends, he offered him that friendship which death with the firmness which became her
the conduct of Antony left him  free to race, although assailed on the way by the
offer.  Octavius was charmed by this manly violent and indecent reproaches of her own
frankness; and, mindful of Antipater's ser- mother Alexandra, who now began to be
vices to Julius Caesar, and of the part which seriously alarmed for her own safety.  She,
he had himself taken in placing Herod on however, did not long escape; for when
the throne, his overtures were received with Herod fell sick the next year (B. C. 28),
pleasure, and he was directed again to take from  the  poignancy of his remorse and
up and wear on his head the diadem which anguish at the loss of Mariamne, she laid
he had laid aside when he entered the pres- a plot for seizing the government; but it
ence.  By this significant intimation he was was disclosed to  Herod  by the officers
confirmed in his kingdom; and then and whose fidelity she endeavored to corrupt,
after he was treated with a  degree of and he instantly ordered her to be put to
consideration, not usually paid to tributary death.
kings.                                      We must return to an earlier year, to
Meanwhile Mariamne had, by her address, notice that Octavius passed through Syria on
managed to extract from  Sohemus the ac- his way to Egypt, and that Herod went to
knowledgment of the last directions con- meet him at Ptolemais, where he entertained
cerning her which he had received from  him  and his army with the most profuse
Herod.  The consequence was that although magnificence.  Besides this he presented
she concealed her knowledge of the fact, the emperor with eight hundred talents, and
she received him on his return with coldness furnished large supplies of bread, wine, and
and dislike, which offended him  highly; other: provisions, for the march through the
and, presuming on the depth of his affection desert, where the army might have been
for her, she continued long to maintain a much distressed for the want of such necesdegree of haughtiness and reserve which saries.  He accompanied the army himself
greatly aggravated his displeasure.  After through the desert to Pelusium.  On the
Herod had been fluctuating for a whole year return  of Octavius the same way, after
between love and resentment, Mariamne one the death of Antony and Cleopatra, and
day brought matters to a crisis by her pointed the reduction of Egypt to the condition of a
refusal to receive his love, and by her up- Roman province, he was received and enter



HIISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             505
tained with the same truly royal liberality and returned to her brother, before whom  she
magnificence, by which he was so gratified, cunningly ascribed her conduct to the fact
that, in return, he presented Herod with the that Costabarus, in conjunction with some
four thousand Gauls who had formed the chiefs of the Asmonean party, had entered
body-guard of Cleopatra, and also restored into a conspiracy against him.  In proof of
to him the districts and towns of which the this, she stated that he kept in concealment
principality had been divested by Pompey the sons of Babas, whom Herod had, at
and Antony.                               the taking of Jerusalem, intrusted to him
In B. C. 27, four years after the battle to be destroyed.  The sons of Babas were
of Actium, Octavius received from the flat- found in the retreat indicated by Salome,
tery of the senate the name -or rather the and put to death; and, taking all the rest
title which became a name -of Augustus, for granted, the king ordered Costabarus
and with it all the powers of the state. and his alleged associates to be immediately
That he might not, however, seem to assume executed.
all the authority to himself, he divided the    The Asmonean family being now extirempire into two parts; the quiet and peace- pated, root and branch, and no person being
able portions he assigned to the senate, to in existence whose claims to the  throne
be governed by consular and prmetorian of- could be considered superior to his own,
ficers; these were called senatorial; but Herod ventured to manifest a greater disrethe turbulent and insecure provinces which gard for the law of Moses, and more attachlay on the outskirts of the empire, he re- ment to heathenish customs than he had preserved for himself; these were called impe- viously deemed safe.  He began by abolish-'ial, and were governed by presidents and ing some of the ceremonies which the former
procurators.  This was one of the strokes required, and by introducing not a few of
of deep statesmanship which distinguish the the latter.  He then proceeded to build a
history  of Augustus  Coesar, for under magnificent theatre in the city, and a spathe appearance of leaving to the senate the cious amphitheatre in the suburbs, where he
most settled and easily governed provinces, instituted public gamles, which were celehe secured in his own hands the whole mili- brated every fifth year in honor of Angustary power of the empire, which was neces- tus.  In order to draw the larger concourse
sarily stationed in the comparatively unset- on these occasions, proclamation of the aptled imperial provinces to retain them  in proaching games was made, not only in his
subjection - such as Egypt, Syria, Phoeni- own dominions, but in neighboring provinces
cia, Silicia, and Cyprus, in the East, and and distant kingdoms.  Gladiators, wresSpain in the West.                        tiers, and musicians were invited from  all
parts of the world, and prizes of great
value were proposed to the victors.  These
ooGoO adobe      /r%4tb             games, and more  especially the combats
// ~     )between men and wild beasts. were highly
Wot/\/62  <@   L2~W2> l  displeasing to the Jews; who also viewed.... Ad i       4 with a jealous eye the trophies with which
the places of public entertainment were
adorned, regarding them  as coming within
Coin of Herod the Great.       the interdiction of idolatrous images by the
Mosaical law.  In vain  did Herod  enIn the year B. C. 25, Herod found an deavor to  overcome  their dislike.  Conopportunity of cutting off the last branch of nected with other causes of discontent, old
the Asmonean race.  His turbulent sister and new, it increased daily, and at last
Salome, having fallen out with her second grew to such a height that ten of the most
husband Costabarus, the governor of Idumsea zealous malecontents, including one blind
and Gaza, she took the liberty of sending man, formed a conspiracy, and assembled,
him  a bill of divorce, in conformity with with  daggers concealed  under their garthe Roman customs, but contrary to the ments, for the  purpose  of assassinating
Mosaical law and usage, which confined that Herod when he entered the theatre.  They
privilege to her husband (Deut. xxiv 1, 2, had brought their minds to a state of indif&c.; Matt. v. 31, xix. 7); and she then ference to the result; for they were per



506                             AN ILLUSTRATED
suaded that if they failed, their death could of his own family - as, Antipatris, from the
not but render the tyrant more odious to name of his father Antipater; Cypron, near
the people, and thus equally work out the Jericho, after his mother Cypros (who was
object they sought.  Nor were they quite descended from an Arabian family, although
mistaken.  Their design was discovered; born at Ascalon in Palestine); and Phasaeand they were put to death with the most lis, in the plains of Jericho, after his brother
cruel tortures.  But when the mob indicated Phasael.  In most of these cities he planted
their view of the matter- their hatred of colonies of his foreign soldiers, to hold the
himself, and sympathy with the intended country in subjection.
assassins - by literally tearing the informer   To extend his fame, Herod even built
in pieces, and throwing his flesh to the numerous splendid edifices, and made large
dogs, Herod was exasperated to the utter- improvements in cities beyond the limits of
most.   By torture, he compelled  some his own dominion — such as gymnasiums
women to name the principal persons who at Ptolemais, Tripolis, and Damascus; the
were concerned in this transaction, all of city walls at Bibulus; porticoes, or covered
whom were hurried off to instant death to- walls, at Tyre, Beyrutus, and  Antioch;
gether with their innocent families.  This bazaars and theatres at Zidon and Damascus;
crowning act of savageness rendered the an aqueduct at Laodicea on the sea; and
tyrant so perfectly detestible to his subjects, baths, reservoirs, and porticoes, at Ascalon.
that he began very seriously to contemplate He also made groves in several cities; to
the possibility of a general revolt, and to take others he made rich presents, or furnished
his measures accordingly.  He built new  endowments for the support of their games;
fortresses and fortified  towns throughout and by such means his fame was widely
the land, and strengthened those that pre- spread in the Roman empire.
viously existed.  In this he did more than    At Jerusalem  Herod built himself a
the original inducement required; for Herod splendid palace, on Mount Zion, the site of
was a man of taste, and had quite a passion the original fortress of Jebus, and of the cit.
for building and improvements, so that in adel which had so much annoyed the Jews
the course of his long reign the country during the Maccaboean wars.  It was in the
assumed a greatly improved'appearance, Grecian style of architecture, and two large
through the number of fine towns and mag- and sumptuous apartments in it Herod named
nificent public works and buildings which Coesareum, in honor of the emperor, and
he erected.  In this respect there had been Agrippeum, after his favorite Agrippa.
no king like him since Solomon; and if he    We receive a better idea of the largeness
could have reigned in peace, if domestic of Herod's views, however, by his building
troubles, opposition from  his subjects, and the town and forming the harbor at what
the connection with the Romans, had not he named Coesarea.  The site had formerly
called into active operation all the darker been marked by a castle called Strato's
features of his character, it is easy to con- tower, on the coast between Dora and Joppa.
ceive that his reign might have been very Here be made the most convenient and safest
happy and glorious.                       port to be found on all the coast of Phoenicia
He rebuilt Samaria, or rather completed and Palestine, by running out a vast semithe rebuilding of it which Gabinius had circular mole or breakwater, of great depth
begun.  His attention seems to have been and extent, into the sea, so as to form  a
drawn to its excellent site, and strong mili- spacious and  secure  harbor against the
tary position; and, from  the  magnificent stormy winds from the south and west, leavscale on which it was restored, we conceive ing only an entrance into it from  the north.
that he contemplated the possibility of with- This soon became a noted point of departure
drawing his court to it, in the very likely from, and entrance into, Palestine; and, as
contingency of being  unable to maintain such, is often mentioned in the Acts of the
himself at Jerusalem.  He gave the com- Apostles.  It also acquired a new imporpleted city the name of Sebaste - the name, tance as the seat of government after Judmae
in Greek, of his great patron Augustus. became an imperial province; Caesarea being
He also built Gaba in Galilee, and Heshbon then the usual residence of the procurator.
in Perea; besides many others which he    In the year B. C. 22, the want of tho
called by the names of the different members usual rains in Syria and Palestine produced




HISTORY  OF THE  BIBLE.                              507
a severe famine, which was followed by a him was produced, as only the continued
pestilence that carried off great multitudes and growing tyranny of his subsequent reign
of the people.  Herod behaved nobly on could obliterate.
this occasion.  He exhausted his treasury    The next year Herod contracted a marand even the silver plate of his table in pur- riage with another Mariamne, the daughter
chasing provisions from Egypt, and in buy- of the priest Simon.  To pave the way for
ing wool for clothing, as most of the sheep this alliance, the king removed the existing
of the country had been slaughtered in the high-priest, Jesus the son of Phabet, and
dearth.  This bounty was not confined to invested the father of Mariamne with that
*his own dominions, but extended to the once high office.  Herod next began to
neighboring Syrians.  By this conduct so build a castle, which he called Herodium,
much of gratitude and kind feeling toward on a small round hill, near the place where
-— ___ __   __ _  _II
_a —-===
ORIENTAL BUILDERS.
he repulsed the Parthians, under the cup- Of the favor and confidence of Augustus he
bearer Pacorus, when they pursued him on received proofs which were of high value to
his flight from  Jerusalem.  The situation him.  As a reward for his services in clearand the protection which the castle offered ing the country of robbers, the valuable diswere so inviting, that numbers of opulent tricts of Trachonitis, Auranitis, and Batanaea,
people began to build themselves houses beyond Jordan, were added to his dominion;
around, so that in a short time the spot was and, what was perhaps more for his personal
occupied by a fair city.                   influence and honor, he was soon after named
About this time Herod might be deemed the emperor's procurator in Syria, and orders
to have attained the summit of all his wishes. were given to the governor of that great provStrong in the favor of the emperor, he was ince to undertake nothing of importance withfeared, if not loved, by the people under his out his knowledge and advice.  Herod also
rule, and respected by the Roman governors procured from the emperor the dignity of a
and by the neighboring princes and kings. tetrarch  for his  only  surviving brother,




508                            AN ILLUSTRATED
Pheroras; for Herod himself had given him  together; and a thousand priests were so fa&
a territory in Perawa beyond Jordan, with a instructed in masonry and carpentry as might
revenue of one hundred talents, in order that enable them to expedite and superintend the
he might live in a style suitable to his birth, work.  After two years had been spent in
without being dependent on the king's suc- these preparations, the old temple was pulled
cessor.  As some acknowledgment for all down, and the new one commenced in the
these favors, Herod built a temple of white year B. C. 17.  And with such vigor was
marble at Paneas (Banias, the sources of the the work carried on, that the sanctuary, or,
Jordan), and dedicated it to Augustus. But in effect, the proper temple, was finished in
a year and a half, and the rest of the temple,
A\ ~       "        ~~containing the outer buildings, colonnades,
and porticoes, in eight years more, so as to
aQ9     Sybe then fit for divine service, according to
(               %                the king's intention, B. C. 7.  But tiM
MM~~ ~  \.*i              D        expense of finishing and adorning the whole
continued to be long after carried on from
Coin of Augustus.           the sacred treasury, until the fatal government of Gess;ius Florus, in the year A. D.
this act, and others of a similar character, were 62.  Hence, during the ministry of Christ
so highly offensive to the Jews, that, to pacify (A. D. 28), the Jews said to him, " Forty
them, Herod was obliged to remit a portion and six years hath this temple been in building,
of their tribute.                         and wilt thou erect it in three dclays?" (John
It seems likely that the reflections made ii. 20.)
upon his conduct in building heathen temples   By the first Mariamne, Herod had two
first drew his attention to the condition of sons, Alexander and Aristobulus, whom he
JEHOVAH'S temple at Jerusalem, which in sent to be educated at Rome, where they
the lapse of time had gone much out of remained three years, under the immediate
repair, and had  sustained  great damage inspection of Augustus, who  had kindly
during the civil wars.  He was then led to lodged them in his own palace.  Two years
form the bold design of pulling it down and after the foundation of the temple, Herod
rebuilding it entirely on a more magnificent went to Rome himself, to pay his respects to
scale. To this he was induced not only from  the emperor, and take back to Judaea his
the magnificence of his ideas, his love of sons, whose education was now ccmplete.
building, and the desire of fame, but also to He was received with unusual friendliness
conciliate the good opinion of his discontented by Augustus, and was entertained with much
subjects, and create a new interest in the distinction during his stay.  Soon after his
continuance of his life and welfare.      return he married the elder of the brothers
Herod made his proposal in a general to Glaphyra, the daughter of Arehelaus,
assembly of the people at Jerusalem, proba- king of Cappadocia, and the younger to
bly at the passover, in -the year B. C. 19, Berenice, the daughter of his own notorious
the eighteenth of his reign.  The people sister Salome.  Now it happened that both
were much startled by the offer.  They the young men inherited a flll share of the
recognized the grandeur of the undertaking, pride and hauteur of their mother Mariamrlne,
and the need and benefit of it; but they were and were disposed to look down upon all the
fearful that, after he had taken down the old connections of their father.  That they ever
building, he might be unable or unwilling to entertained any designs against him is not
build the new. To meet this objection, Herod probable, but it is very probable, from their
undertook not to demolish the old temple conduct, that apart from  their respect for
until all the materials required for the new  him, they deemed their right to the crown
one were collected on the spot; and on these irrefragable, derived from their mother rather
terms his offer was accepted with as much satis- than from him, and, in point of fact, much
faction as the Jews were capable of deriving greater than his own.  By corrupting her
from any of Is acts.  Herod kept his word. own daughter, who was married to one of the
A  thousand carts were speedily at work in brothers, Salome made herself acquainted
drawing stones and materials; ten thousand with their more private  sentiments, and
of the most skilful workmen were brought learned that their sympathies leaned all to




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                               509
the side of their murdered mother, and that afterward to the sons of Mariamne, B. C.
in their own domestic circles they spoke with 11.
strong abhorrence of the authors of her un-   The curious reader will find in Josephus
deserved and untimely death, and lamented a full account of all the various plots which
the various acts of cruelty of which their were laid by Antipater, assisted by his aunt
father had been guilty.  This was enough Salome and his uncle Pheroras, to bring
to determine  Salome to accomplish their about the destruction of the young plinces.
ruin, as she saw clearly that if ever they This they at last effected by a false charge
possessed power, she was likely to suffer that they designed to poison their father.
for the part she had taken in compassing On this, he brought them to trial before a
the  death  of Mariamne.  She was also council held  at Beyrutus, at which the
envious of their popularity; for the very Roman governors Saturnius and Volunmnius
same feeling which inclined them  to rest presided, and where Herod pleaded in perupon their connection with the Asmonean son against his sons with such vehemence
dynasty, inclined the Jews to regard them  that he, with some difficulty, procured their
with peculiar interest and favor as the last condemnation, although nothing could be
relics of that illustrious house.   Salome clearly proved against them but an intention
therefore took every occasion of prejudicing to withdraw to solme foreign country; where
Herod against his sons, and of turning his they might live in peace.  The time and the
paternal love and pride into jealousy and mode of putting the sentence into execution
dislike.  To this end indeed, little more were left to the king's own discretion. This
was needed than to make known to him, was not until he came to Sebaste, where, in
with some exaggeration, the true state of a fit of rage, produced in the same manner,
their feelings.                            and through the same agencies as his preThe first measure which Herod'took to vious treatment of these unfortunate young
check the pride of the two brothers was, men, he ordered them to be strangled, B. C.
three years after his return (B. C. 13), to.6.  In these two unfortunate brothers the
bring to court his eldest son Antipater, whom  noble family of the Asmoneans may be said
he had by his first wife Doris, while he was to have become utterly extinct.
in a private station, and whom he had di-   It was somewhat before this time that
vorced on his marriage with Mariamne. But Herod, being greatly in want of money, bethis measure, intended to teach them whole- thought himself of opening the tomb of
some caution, only operated in provoking David, having probably heard the story of
Alexander and Aristobulus to greater dis- the treasure which the first Hyrcanus was
content and more intemperate language than reported to have found there.  As might be
before.  In fact, they had almost insensibly expected, he discovered  nothing but the
become the heads of the Asmonean party, royal ornaments with which the king had
still very powerful in the country, and were been buried.
urged on by the necessities of that position,   In the spring of the year B. (. 5 the
and by the conviction that the popular feel- birth of the great harbinger, John the Baping was entirely on their side. As to Antip- tist, announced the approach of ONE greater
ater, he had all the ambition of his father than he, whose sandal-thong he, thereafter,
with all the artfulness of his aunt.  Openly, declared himself unworthy to loose.
he seemed to advocate the cause of the    At and for some time before the date to
brothers, and to extenuate their indiscretions, which we are now arrived. the relations of
while he took care to surround the king with Herod with Rome had become more unpersons who reported to him all their sayings pleasant than at any former period.  Not
with the most invidious aggravations.  By long before he put Alexander and Aristothis means the affection with which Herod bulus to death Herod had a quarrel with
had regarded the brothers, not only for their Obadas king of Arabia, which led him to
own noble qualities, but for their mother's march some troops into that country, and to
sake, was alienated from  them, and fixed the defeat of the banded robbers, against
upon Antipater.  Him, the father at length whom chiefly he acted, and of a party of Arabs
recommended to Augustus as his successor, who came to their relief.  This affair was
and obtained from  him authority to leave reported to Augustus in such a manner as
the crown to him in the first instance, and raised his wrath against Herod; and attend



510                              AN ILLUSTRATED
ing only to the fadt that IHerod had marched erties was required to be made upon oath,
a military force into Arabia, which Herod's under penalty  of the confiscation  of the
friends could not deny, he, without inquir- goods of the delinquents.  And the reason
ing into the provocation and circumstances, for registering  ages was, that among the
wrote to IHerod a very severe letter, the Syrians, males from  fourteen years of age
substance of which was, that he had hitherto  and females from  twelve, until their sixtytreated him  as a friend, but should hence- fifth year, were subject to a capitation or
forth treat him as a subject.  Herod sent an  poll-tax, by the Roman law.  This tax was
embassy to clear himself; but Augustus two drachmce a head, or half a stater, equal
repeatedly refused to listen to them; and so  to thirty cents of our money.*
the king was obliged for a time to submit to    Cyrenius, a Roman senator and procuraall the injurious treatment which the emperor tor, or collector of the emperor's revenue,
thought proper to inflict.  The chief of these  was  employed  to  make  the  enrolment.
was the degrading his kingdom to a Roman  This person, whom  Tacitus calls Quirinus,
province.  For soon after, Josephus inci- and describes as "an  active soldier and
dentally mentions, that "the whole nation  rigid commissioner," was well qualified for
took an oath of fidelity to Caesar and to the  an employment so odious to HeIrod and to
king jointly, except six thousand of the  his subjects, and probably came to execute
Pharisees, who, through their hostility to  the decree with an armed force.  By the
wary policy of the Romans, to prevent insurrection as well as to expedite business,
all were required  to repair to their own
cities.  Even in  Italy the consular edict
tt     X   commanded the Latin  citizens not to be
Aid                enrolled at Rome, but all in their own cities.
aierus            And  this precaution  was of course more
Coin of Tiberius.             necessary  in such turbulent provinces as
Judaea and Galilee. t
the regal government, refused to take it, and    The decree was peremptory, and admitted
were fined for their refusal by the king; but of no delay: therefore, in the autumn of
the wife of his brother Pheroras paid the fine  the year 5 of the popular era before Christ, t
for them."  As this was shortly before the  a carpenter of Nazareth in Galilee, by name
death of Pheroras himself, it coincides with  Joseph, journeyed with  his wife  Mary,
the time of this decree for the enrolment of  althoug! she was then large with child, to
which St. Luke (ii. 1) makes mention; and  Bethlehem in Judeea, that being their paterwe may therefore certainly infer that the  nal city, as they were both " of the race and
oath was administered at the same time, ac- lineage of David."  They were not among
cording to the usage of the Roman census, the first comers, and  the place  was so
in which a return of persons' ages and prop- thronged that they could not find room even
* See the case of Christ, and Peter afterward, the birth of Christ some years too late; but the
where "a stauter," the amount for both, was pro- amount of the difference has been variously esticured by a miracle. Matt. xvii. 24-27.       mated, at two, three, four, five, or even eight years.
t For this clear view of the somewhat per- The most general conclusion is that which is
plexed subject of the Census alluded to by St. adopted in our Bibles, and which places the birth
Luke, we are indebted to Dr. Hales, from whose of Christ four years before the common era, or
excellent " Analysis of Chronology" we have, more probably a few months more, according to
indeed, obtained much and various aid in the the conclusion of Hales, which we have deemed
present history.                             it proper to adopt.  The grounds of this concluI That the birth of Christ is thus given to the sion are largely and ably stated in the "Analysis,"
autumn of the year five before Christ, is an appar- vol. i. p. 83-93. As to the day —it appears that
ent anomaly, which may require a few words of the 25th of December was not fixed upon till
explanation. The Era of the Birth of Christ the time of Constantine, in the fourth century,
was not in use until A.D. 532 in the time of Jus- although there was an early tradition in its favor.
tinian, when it was introduced by Dionysius Ex- It is probable that it really took place about or
iguus, a Scythian by birth, and a Roman abbot; at the Feast of Tabernacles (say the autumnal
and which only began to prevail in the West about equinox) of B. C. 5, or at the Passover (say the
the time of Charles Martel and Pope Gregory II., vernal equinox) of B. C. 4. The former is the.
A.D. 730. It has long been agreed by all chro- opinion of Hales and others, and the latter of
nologers that Dionysius made a mistake in placing Archbishop Usher and our Bibles.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                           511
in the lodging-rooms of the caravanserai of blinded by it, they were for a while as
Bethlehem, but were obliged to seek shelter unable as the Hebrews to recognize the
in the stables of the same.   Here the ANOINTED OF GOD in the infant of Bethlehem,
woman was taken in labor, and gave birth to   The  prevalence and character of this
a male child.  That child, thus humbly expectation account for the watchfulness of
born, was the long-promised  " Desire of Herod, and for the horrible promptitude with
Nations," the " Saviour of the World" -  which he ordered the massacre of all the
JESUS  CHRIST.   Nor did he come infants of Bethlehem as soon as the inquiries
sooner than he was expected.  The Jews of the Parthian magi gave him  cause to
expected anxiously, and from day to day, suspect that THE KING or THE JEws had
the Great Deliverer of whom their prophets been born there.
had spoken; and the precise fore-calculations   The census, which was begun by Cyreof the prophet Daniel had given them  to nius, was not completed to the extent originalknow that the time of his coming was near. ly contemplated, for Herod found means to
This indeed  partly explains  the uneasy disabuse Augustus of the impression under
relations between Iterod and his subjects; which he had acted, and was restored to the
and the distaste of the latter to the kingship imperial favor and confidence.  To make
which he had taken.  For they wanted no him some amends the emperor was disposed
king, until their king Messiah should come to have consigned to him the forfeited kingto take the throne of his father David, and dom of the Nabathecans; but the painful
lead them forth, conquering and to conquer, disagreements and atrocities in the family of
breaking the nations in pieces as an iron rod Herod were about the same time brought so
breaks the vessels of the potter, and bring- conspicuously under his notice, that, with his
ing all the Gentiles to their feet.  Full of usual sagacity, he doubted the wisdom of
these magnificent ideas of their king Mes- committing the conquest and government
siab, they failed to recognize the promised of a new kingdom  to an old man who had
Deliverer, in One who came to deliver them, proved himself incapable of ruling his own
not from the Romans - but from their sins; house.
whose kingdom was not to be of this world    We have before incidentally mentioned
-and whose reign, not over lands and the part which was taken by.the wife of
territories, but in the hearts of men.   Pheroras, in paying the fines of the PhariNor was he expected only by the Jews. sees, who refused to take the oath required
He was the " Desire of Nations."  There of all the people. In consequence of this,
were strong pulsations of the universal heart, many of that powerful body began to whisin expectation of some great change, of the per that God would give the kingdom  to
advent of some distinguished personage who Pheroras; on which account Herod caused
should bring in a new order of things, of several Pharisees and some members of his
some kind or other, and who should work own family to be executed.  Further, resuch deeds and establish such dominion as garding the wife of Pheroras as the cause of
never before existed.  It was even expected all this trouble, he very peremptorily required
that this great personage should issue from  him  to divorce her.  His brother replied
Judaea; an expectation which was probably that nothing but death should separate him
derived from the more distinct anticipations from his wife, and retired in disgust to Persia,
of the Jews, if not partly from  a remote in his own territory beyond Jordan.  Thus
glimpse at the meaning of those prophecies was quite destroyed the good understanding
which referred to Messiah, and which many which had for so many years  subsisted
educated persons must have read in the Greek between the two  brothers.   Blinded by
translation of the Hebrew Scriptures.  But resentment, Pheroras readily came into the
the expectations which the nations enter- plans of Antipater: and between them  it
tained were, like those of the Jews, connected was settled that Herod should be taken off
with dreams of a universal temporal empire, by poison; that Antipater should sit on his
which the expected Messiah was to establish. throne; and that meanwhile he should conAs, however, they had not the strong national trive to be sent to Rome, to preclude any
interest in the expectation of a conquering suspicion of his part in the transaction.
king, they clung with less tenacity than the This plot would probably have succeeded
Jews to this notion of his functions, although, but for the death of Pheroras himself, which




512                            AN ILLUSTRATED
led to the discovery of the whole, and even recovery, and after having distributed presmade known to Herod the part which Antip- ents among his attendants and soldiers, he
ater had taken in compassing the death of returned to Jericho.  His sufferings were
the two sons of the first Mariamne.  It not likely to humanize his naturally savage
appeared also that the second Mariamne was disposition.   He was convinced, by the
a party in this conspiracy, in consequence of recent outbreak, that his death would occasion
which she was divorced, the name of her no sorrow in Israel, and therefore, to oblige
son was struck out of the king's will, and the nation to mourn at his death, he sent for
her father, the high-priest Simon, was de- the heads of the most eminent families in
posed from his office, which was given to Judeea, and confined them in prison, leaving
Matthias the son of Theophilus.  On these orders with his sister Salome and her husband
disclosures, Herod managed to get Antipater Alexas to put them all to death as soon as
back from Rome, without allowing him  to he should have breathed his last.  This sanbecome acquainted with what had transpired. guinary design was, however, not executed
On his arrival he was formally accused by them.
before Quintilius Varus, the  prefect of   At length Herod received full powers
Syria, who was then at Jerusalem, and was from Rome to proceed against his son Antiimprisoned until the affair should have been pater. At this intelligence, the dying tyrant
submitted to the judgment of Augustus.     appeared to revive; but he soon after atMeanwhile Herod, then in the sixty-ninth tempted suicide, and although prevented, the
year of his age, fell ill of that grievous dis- wailing cries, usual in such cases, were raised
ease of which he died, and which, by some throughout the palace for him, as if he were
singular dispensation  of Providence, ap- actually dead.  When Antipater in his conpears to have been the  peculiar lot of finement heard these well-known lamentatyrannous and proud sovereigns, and which tions, he attempted by large bribes to induce
rendered him  wretched in himself and a his guard to permit his escape; but he was
terror to all around him.  A report got into so universally hated for procuring the death
circulation that his disease afforded no chance of the sons of Mariamne, that the guard
of his recovery, in consequence of which a made his offers known, and Herod ordered
dangerous tumult was excited by two cele- his immediate execution.  On the fifth day
brated doctors, named Judas and Matthias, after, Herod himself died, shortly before the
who instigated their disciples to pull down Passover, in the seventieth year of his age,
and destroy a golden eagle of large size and and the thirty-seventh from his appointment
exquisite  workmanship, which  had  been to the throne.  Before his death was anplaced over one of the gates of the temple. nounced, Salome, as if by his order, liberated
Scarcely had this rash act been completed, the nobles confined in the hippodrome, whose
when the royal guards appeared and seized death she had been charged to execute, but
the two leaders and forty of their most dared not, had she been so inclined.  His
zealous disciples. Some of them were burnt, corpse, under the escort of his life-guard,
and others executed in various ways by composed of Thracians, Germans, and Gauls,
Herod's order.  Being suspected of having was carried with great pomp to Herodiurn,
privately encouraged the tumult, Matthias and there buried.
was deprived of his high-priesthood, and the    Herod had ten wives, two of whom bore
office given to Joazar, the brother of his wife. him no children, and whose names history
In the mean time the disease of Herod has not preserved.  As it is of some imporbecame more loathsome and intolerable.  It tance to understand clearly the combinations
appears to have been an erosion of the of relationship among his descendants by
bowels and other viscera by worms, which these different wives, the details in the note
occasioned violent spasms and  the  most below will not be unacceptable to the reader.*
exquisite tortures, until he at length became    Herod was succeeded in the kingdom of
a mass of putrefaction.  Experiencing no Judaea by his son Archelaus, whose evil
benefit from  the warm baths of Calirrhoe conduct so displeased the Romans, that they
beyond Jordan, he gave up all hopes of reduced Judaea to the form of a Roman
* The wives of Herod "the Great" were: —    II. Mariamne, the daughter of Alexandra.
I. Doris, the mother of Antipater.      she had -




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                   513
province, ruling it by procurators or gov- brother Philip's wife, and beheaded John
ernors, sent and recalled at their pleasure; the Baptist.  (See Matt. xiv. 3-10.) 3.
the power of life and death was taken out of That Herod who put the Apostle James to
the hands of the Jews, and vested in the death, and was afterward smitten by the angel
Roman governor; and the taxes being gath- of the Lord with a strange and sudden
ered by the publicans, were paid more directly death.  (See Acts xii. 2, and ver. 20-23.)
to the emperor.                              Historians consider him the grandson of the
As there are several Herods mentioned first Herod, and the father of King Agrippa,
in the New Testament, it may not be amiss before whom  Paul made his defence.  The
here to distinguish them, according to the almighty Disposer of all events, at whose
best authority which can be obtained.  1. nod empires rise and fall, and nations flourish
Herod the king of Judela (already noticed), or decay, marks with undeviating attention,
who died while Christ was an infant.  (See and a retributive hand, not only the sins of
Matt. ii. 19.)  2. His son, Herod Antipas, a people, but the turpitude of those who
the tetrarch * of Galilee, who took away his profess to govern.
1. Alexander, who married Glaphyra, the    V. Mariamne, daughter of the high-priest Sidaughter of the king of Cappadocia, by whom he mon. Herod had by her -Herod-Philip, the first
had - Tigranes, king of Armenia, and Alexan- husband of Herodias, by whom he had Salome
der, who married a daughter of Antiochus king  (the dancing lady), whose first husband was
of Comagene.                                 Philip, and her second Aristobulus, the son of
2. Aristobulus, who married  Berenice the Herod king of Chalcis.
daughter of Salome, the sister of Herod, by whom  VI. Malthace, a Samaritan woman, who was
he had —Herod, king of Chalcis, who married, mother to Archelaus the ethnarch of Judmsa, and
first, Mariamne, the daughter of Olympias (sister Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, who marof Archelaus the ethnarch); and afterward his ried first a daughter of the Arabian king Aretas,
niece Berenice, by whom  he had Aristobulus, whom he put away, and took Herodias, the wile
Berenicicus, and Hyrcanus. The eldest of these, of his brother Herod-Philip, who was still livAristobulus, married Salome (she whose dancing ing. Malthace had also a daughter, Olympias,
cost John the Baptist his head), then the widow  who married Joseph, a nephew to Herod the
of the tetrarch Philip, by whom he had Agrippa, Great.
Herod, and Aristobulus. Agrippa I., king of the    VII. Cleopatra, who was the mother of Herod
Jews, who married Cypros the daughter of (Mari- and Philip, tetrarch of Trachonitis, which last
amne's daughter) Salampso, by whom  he had married the noted Salome, daughter of HerodDrusius; Agrippa II., who was at first king of Philip and Herodias.
Chalcis, and afterward tetrarch of Trachonitis;    VIII. Elphis had a daughter called Salome,
Berenice, whose second husband was her uncle married to a son of Pheroras.
Herod, king of Chalcis; Mariamne, married first
to Archelaus son of Chelcias, and afterward to    * The title and office of tetrarch had its origin
Demetrius, alabarch of the:Jews at Alexandria, from the Gauls, who, having made an incursion
by whom she had Berenice and Agrippa; Dru- into Asia Minor, succeeded in taking from the
silla, who was first married to Aziz, king of king of Bithynia that part of it which from them
Emesa, and afterward to Felix the Roman proc- took the name of Galatia. The Gauls who made
urator of Judoea, by whom she had a son named this invasion consisted of three tribes; and each
Agrippa, who, with his wife, perished in the tribe was divided into four parts, or tetrarchates,
flames of Vesuvius.  The third son of Aristo- each of which obeyed its own tetrarch.  The
bulus the son of Mariamne, was Aristobulus, who  tetrach was of course subordinate to the king.
married Jotape, daughter to the king of Emesa; The appellation of tetrarch, which was thus origiand there were two daughters. Herodias, who nally applied to the chief magistrate of the fourth
married, first, Herod (called Philip in the Gos- part of a tribe, subject to the authority of the king,
pels), son of Herod the Great by the second was afterward extended in its application, and
Mariamne, by whom she had Salome (the dancer), given to any governors, subject to some king or
and afterward to his half-brother Herod Antipas, emperor, without regard to the proportion of the
the tetrarch of Galilee, - both her uncles. Mari- people or tribe which they governed. Thus Herod
amne, who married her uncle Antipater.       Antipas and Philip were denominated tetrarchs,
3. The third son of Mariamne was Herod, who although they did not rule as much as the fourth
died young while at his studies in Rome.     part of the whole territory. Although these rulMariamne had also two daughters: —        ers were dependent upon the Roman emperor,
4. Salampso, who married her cousin Phasael, they nevertheless governed the people within their
after having been promised to Pheroras.     jurisdiction according to their own choice and
5. Cypros, who married Antipater, the son of authority. They were, however, inferior in point
Salome, sister of Herod the Great.           of rank to the ethnarchs, who, although they did
III. HIerod's third wife was Pallas, by whom  not publicly assume the name of king, were adhe had a son, Phasael.                       dressed with that title by their subjects, as was
IV. Phiudra, who had a daughter called Rox- the case, for instance, with respect to Archelaus.
ana, married to a son of Pheroras.           (Matt. ii. 22; Jos. Antiq. xvii. 11, 4.)
33




514                            AN ILLUSTRATED
CHA P T E R XXVII.
PROPHECIES CONCERNING CHRIST. — THEIR FULFILMENT.
HAVING in the preceding pages given an 1.) A messenger was to appear before him,
accurate account of every material occur- the voice of one crying in the wilderness, to
rence related in the sacred Scriptures, from  prepare his way.  (Isa. xl. 3; Mal. iii. 1;
the creation of the world to the death of iv. 5.)  A specified period, — marked, acthe prophet Nehemiah, and thence to the cording to similar computations in the Jewish
rebuilding of the temple of Jerusalem  by scriptures, by weeks of years, each clay for a
Herod, we shall conclude the OLD TESTA- year,-was set, from the going-forth of the
MENT HISTORY by devoting a few pages here command to restore and to build Jerusalem,
to the prophecies concerning CHRIST and the after the Babylonish captivity, unto Messiah
Christian religion.                       the prince.  (Dan. ix. 25.)  A period someThe coming of a Saviour, which was the what longer was determined upon the people
hope of Israel and the expectation of the and upon the holy city. (Dan. ix. 24.)
Jews in every age, is frequently foretold After the Messiah was to be cut off, the
throughout the Old Testament Scriptures. people of the prince that should come were
They represent it as announced by the voice to destroy the city and the sanctuary; desoof God to the first human pair, and as lations, even to the consummation, were
forming, from the first to the last, the theme determined, and the sacrifice and oblation
of all the prophets.  And, however imper- were to cease.  (Dan. ix. 26, 27.)  A
feet a summary view  of such numerous king did reign over the Jews in their own
prophecies must necessarily be, a few re- land, though the ten tribes had long ceased
marks respecting them shall be prefixed to to be a kingdom; their national council, the
the more direct and immediate proofs of the members of which, as Jews, were lineally
inspiration of Scripture, derived from exist- descended from  Judah, exercised its auino facts, in order that the reader may be thority and power - the temple was standing
rather induced to search the Scriptures to -  the oblation and sacrifice, according to
see how clearly they testify of Jesus, than the law of Moses, were there duly and daily
contented to rest satisfied with the mere offered up - and the time prescribed for the
opening of the subject.                   coming of the Messiah had drawn to its
A  few  of the leading features of the close —at the commencement of the Chrisprophecies  concerning  Christ, and  their tian era.  Before the public ministry of
fulfilment, shall be traced as they mark Jesus, a messenger appeared to prepare his
the time of his appearance, the place of his way; and Josephus, in the history of that
birth, and the family out of which he was to time, speaks of the blameless life and cruel
arise, his life and character, his sufferings death of  "John  that was  called  the
and his death, the nature of his doctrine, Baptist," and describes his preaching and
and the extent of his kingdom.            baptism.   (Josephus' Antiquities, b. 18,
The time of the Messiah's appearance in c. 5, sect. 2.)  But every mark that denoted
the world, as predicted in the Old Testament, the fulness of the time, and of its signs,
is defined by a number of concurring circum- when the Messiah was to appear, was erased
stances that fix it to the very date of the soon after the death of Christ, anld being
advent of Christ.  The sceptre was not to fixed to that single period, those marks
depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver to cease could no more be restored again than time
from  among  his descendants, till Shiloli past could return.  Seventy weeks, or 490
should come. (Gen. xlix. 10.) The desire years, the time determined upon the people
of all nations, the messenger of the cove- and the  holy city, passed  away (Dan.
nant, the Lord whom they sought, was to ix. 24).  The tribe of Judah were no
come to the second temple, and to impart longer united under a king.  Banished from
to it, from his presence, a greater glory than their own land, and subjected to every opthat of the former. (Hag. ii 7-9; Mal, iii, pression, there was no more a lawgiver of




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             515
the tribe of Judah, though Judah was he From the root of Jesse a branch was to grow
whom his brethren were to serve.  Of the up, on which the spirit of the Lord was to
temple one stone was not left upon another. rest, and to which the Gentiles would seek.
The sacrifice and oblation, which none but (Isa. xi 1-10.)  It was unto David that a
priests could offer, altogether ceased when the righteous branch was to arise, a king, whose
genealogies of the tribe of Levi were lost, name was to be called the Lord our rightand when the Jews had no temple, nor eousness.  (Jer. xxii. 5, 6.)  And it was
country, nor priest, nor altar.  Ere Jeru- in Bethlehem  Ephratah, in the land of
salem  was  destroyed, or desolation  had Judah, little as it was among the thousands
passed over the land of Judaea, the expec- of Israel, that he was to come, whose goingstation was universal among the Jews that forth had been of old, from  everlasting.
their Messiah was then  to appear; and  (Micah. v. 2.)  And Jesus is he alone of
heathen as well as Jewish historians testify the seed of the woman, of the descendants
of the belief then prevalent over the whole of Abraham, of the tribe of Judah, of the
East that the  ancient prophecies bore a house of David, in whom  all the families of
direct and express reference to that period. the earth can be blessed; to whom the GenAnd the question  might now  go to the tiles seek, and who, ere the family genealoheart of a Jew, however loath to abandon gies of the Jews were lost, was shown by
the long-cherished hope of his race, how  them to be born of the lineage of David,
can these prophecies be true, if the Messiah and in the town of Bethlehem.
be not come'? or where, from the first words   The history of the life of Christ by the
of Moses to the last of Malachi, can there four evangelists is simply a record of what
be found such marks of the  time when he said and did, and his character is illusShiloh was to come, or Messiah the prince trated by his words and actions alone. Christo be cut off, as pertained to the period when tians have often tried to delineate it; and if
their forefathers crucified Jesus -  a period in the attempt their thoughts have harmonized
which closed over the glory of Judah, and with the divine records, their hearts may
which, in the continued unbelief of the Jews, well have then felt as it were the impression
has not heretofore left, for nearly eighteen of that divine image after which man was at
centuries, a bright page in their history beyond first created.  Even some who never sought
it?                                        to be the champions of the Christian faith,
Though the countrymen of Christ when he have been struck with irresistible admiration
came would not receive him, yet it was of of the life of its author. Rousseau acknowlthe Jews that Jesus was to come; and the edges that it would have been nothing less
human lineage of the Messiah is as clea'rly than a miracle that such a character, if not
marked in the prophecies as the time of hisI real, could ever have been thought of by
appearance.  The divinity of the person of fishermen of Galilee.  And Lord Byron not
the Messiah, and his taking upon himself only called Christ diviner than Socrates, but
the likeness of sinful flesh, is declared in the he has no less truly than nobly said, that
Old Testament as well as in the new   He " if ever God was lman, or man God, he was
whose name was to be called the Wonderful, both."  But the divine character is such
the Counsellor, the  Mighty God, was to as none but a di-vine hand could draw;
become a child that was to be born, a son and seeking in the prophecies what the Mesthat was to be given.  (Isa. ix. 6.)  It was siah was to be, we read what Jesus was
the seed of the woman that was to bruise the while he dwelt among men.
serpent's head.  (Gen. iii. 15.)  The line    "Thou art fairer than the children of men;
of his descent, according to the flesh, and the grace is poured into thy lips, therefore God
place of his birth, were expressly foretold. hath blessed thee forever.  The sceptre of
It was in the seed of Abraham  that all the thy kingdom is a right sceptre -  thou lovest
nations of the earth were to be blessed. righteousness and hatest iniquity.  (Psalrn
(Gen. xxii. 18.)  It was from the midst of xlv. 2, 6, 7.)  The spirit of the Lord shall
the Israelites, of their brethren, that a rest upon him, the spirit of knowledge and
prophet like  unto Moses was to  arise. of the fear of the Lord.  He shall not judge
(Deut. xviii. 15.) And he was to be not only after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove
of the tribe of Judah (Gen. xlix. 8, &c.), after the hearing of his ears.  But with
but also of the house or family of David. righteousness shall he judge the poor, and




516                             AN ILLUSTRATED
reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. prophetically describe, like a very history of
And righteousness shall be the girdle of his the facts, the sufferings and the death of
loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. Christ; his rejection  by the Jews; his
(Isa. xi. 2-5.)  He shall feed his flock like humility, his meekness, his affliction, and his
a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs with agony; how his words were disbelievedl; how
his arm, and carry them in his bosom. (Isa. his state was lowly; how  his sorrow  was
xl. 11.)  He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor severe; how his visage and his form  were
cause his voice to be heard in the streets. A  marred more than the sons of men; and how
bruised reed shall he not break, and the he opened not his mouth but to make intersmoking flax shall he not quench. (Isa. xlii. cession for the transgressors. In direct oppo2, 3.)  Thy king cometh unto thee: he is sition to every dispensation of Providence
just,  and  having  salvation, lowly, and which is registered in the records of the Jews,
riding upon an ass. (Zech. ix. 9.)  He hath this prophecy represents spotless innocence
done no violence, neither was there any suffering by the appointment of Heaven —
deceit in his lips.  (Isa. liii. 9.)  He was death  as the  issue  of perfect obedience
oppressed and afflicted, yet he opened not — God's righteous servant as forsaken by
his mouth, he was brought as a lamb to the him -  and one who was perfectly immaculate
slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers bearing the chastisement of many guilty,
is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.  (Isa.,prinkling many nations from their iniquity
liii. 7.)   I gave my back to the smiters, and by virtue of his sacrifice, justifying many by
my cheek to them that plucked off the hair; his knowledge, and dividing a portion with
I hid not my face from  shame and spitting. the great, and the spoil with the strong,
(Isa. 1. 6.)  He shall not fail nor be dis- because he had poured out his soul unto
couraged, till he have set judgment in- the death.
earth.  (Isa. xlii. 4.)  I have set my face    The prophecies concerning the humiliation,
as a flint, and I know  that I shall not be the sufferings, and the cutting-off of the
ashamed.  (Isa. 1. 7.)  He shall deliver Messiah, need only to be read firom  the
the needy when he crieth, the poor also, and Jewish  scriptures, to show  that the very
him  that hath no helper.  He shall redeem  unbelief of the Jews is an evidence against
their soul from  deceit and violence, and them, and the very scandal of the cross a
precious shall their blood be in his sight. strong testimony to Jesus.  For thus it is
Men shall be blessed in him-  all rations written, and thus it behooved Christ to sufshall call him  blessed."  Psalm  lxxii. 12, fer, according to the scriptures.  And those
14, 17.                                     things which God before had showed by the
The death of Christ was as unparalleled  mouth of all his prophets that Christ should
as his life, and the prophecies are as minutely  suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
descriptive of his sufferings as of his virtues.    That the Jews still retain these prophecies,
His growing up as a tender plant (Isa. liii. and are the means of preserving them and
2); his riding in humble triumph into Jeru- communicating them  throughout the world,
salem; his being betrayed for thirty pieces while they bear so strongly against themof silver (Zech. xi. 12), and scourged, and selves, and testify so clearly of a Saviour
buffeted, and spit upon; the piercing of his that was first to suffer and then to be exalted,
hands and of his feet, and yet every bone of are facts which give a confirmation to the
him  remaining unbroken; the last offered truth of Christianity, than which it is diffidraught of vinegar and gall; the parting of cult to conceive any stronger.  The prophehis raiment, and casting lots upon his vesture cies that testify of the sufferings of the
(Psalm xxii. 18); the manner of his death Messiah need no forced interpretation, but
and of his burial (Isa. liii. 9), and his rising apply, in a plain and literal manner, to the
again without seeing corruption (Psalm xvi. history of the sufferings and of the death of
10), were all as minutely predicted as liter- Christ.  In  the testimony of the Jews to
ally fulfilled.  The last three verses of the the existence of these prophecies, long prior
fifty-second and the whole of the fifty-third to the Christian era; in their remaining
chapter of Isaiah,-  written above seven unaltered to this hour; in the accounts given
hundred years before the Christian era, and by the evangelists of the life and death of
forming, word for word, a part of the Jewish  Christ; in the testimony of heathen authors,
as well as of the Christian scriptures, -   and in the arguments of the first opposers




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              517
of Christianity, from the mean condition of 6, 7; xlii. 6; xi, 1-5; lv. 3, 4. Jer. xxxi.
its author and the manner of his death,-   31-34.  Ezek. xxxiv. 23, 24.)  The words
we have now  more ample evidence of the of God were to be put into his mouth, and
fulfilment of all these prophecies than could whoever would not hearken unto him, God
have been conceived possible at so great a would require it of them.  He was to be
distance of time.                          given for a covenant of the people, for a light
But if there be any truth, the perception of the Gentiles, to open the blind eyes.
and acknowledgment of which should lead His law was to be put in the inward parts,
to a sense of its importance, or a feeling of or to be written not in tables of stone, but
its power, it is surely that of the cutting-off in the heart.  And the religion of Jesus is
of the Messiah, as making reconciliation for pure, spiritual, perfect, and adapted alike to
iniquity, or the death of Christ as a sacrifice all.  It is a revelation of the whole counsel
for the sins of men.  It is not merely the of God; it is a law which has to be written
knowledge of his righteous life, and of his on the heart; a kingdom which is established
ignominious death, in confirmation of the within.  The doctrine of the Gospel is altoword of prophecy, but an interest also in them  gether a doctrine according to godliness.
that every sinner needs.  There exists not This its enemies will not deny, for it is the
the man, except he be alike ignorant of the cause why they hate it.  Its very excellence
spirit within him and of the father of spirits, and perfection is a stumbling-block to them,
who could think of standing for himself, to There is not a sin which it does not reprobate,
answer for his sins, in the immediate presence nor a virtue which it does not inculcate.
of an all-holy God, and to abide the scrutiny And too pure and perfect it would indeed
of omniscience, and the awards of strict be for man, were not reconciliation made for
unmigitated justice  enforced by almighty iniquity, and redemption to be found from
power.  Nor could man of himself, in whom  its bondage.
sin has once dwelt, be ever meet, whatever    But the complete revelation of the will
his thoughts of immortality might be, for of God, which of itself would have pointed
participating in the holiness or partaking of out a highway of holiness that men could
the happiness o heaven.  And who is there never have reached, was to be accompanied
that, even in the search after divine truth, with a revelation also of the grace and mercy
can pass by Calvary, or cast but a glance of God, which might well suffice to show
toward it, and there behold in the sufferings that the light was indeed light from Heaven.
of Christ a clear prophetic mark of his And while Jesus gave new commandments
messiahlship, without pondlering deeply on unto men, he announced tidings of great joy,
the guiltiness of sin, which nothing less which it never entered into the heart of man
than the voluntary death of the Son of God to conceive.  In fulfilment of the prophetic
could expiate, and on that infinite goodness character and office of the Messiah, he puband love which found and gave the ransom, lished salvation.  Never was any anointed
whereby, though guilt could not be unpun- like Christ to preach good tidings to the
ished, the guilty might be saved?  And if meek; to bind up the broken-hearted; to
he reflect upon the manner in which this proclaim  liberty to the captive, the opening
vision and prophecy were sealed up, who of the prison to them  that are bound; to
that has a heart within him, or that can be comfort them that mourn in Zion; to give
drawn with those cords of love which are the to those who mourn for sin, or who seek for
bands of a man, can refrain from feeling the true consolation amid the bereavements or
personal application to himself of the words any of the evils of life, beauty for ashes, the
of Jesus,-  " I, if I be lifted up from the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of
earth, will draw all men unto me "?        praise for the spirit of heaviness.  And none
But the prophecies further present us with like him ever proclaimed either the acceptthe character of the Gospel as well as of its able year of the Lord, or the day of judgment
author, and with a description of the extent of our God.  (Isa. lxi. 1-3.)  What many
of his kingdom as well as of his sufferings. wise men of old sought to know, Jesus
That he was to make a full and clear revela- taught.  What they desired to see, he hath
tion of the will of God, and establish a new  revealed.  All that he taught, as well as all
and perfect religion, was frequently and expli- that he did and suffered, bore witness of him
citly foretold. (Deut. xviii. 18, 19. Isa. ix. as the promised Messiah; and that kingdom




518                             AN ILLUSTRATED
has now come nigh which the prophets saw city of Jerusalem and the sanctuary to be
afar off.                                   destroyed, desolations, even to the consumThat the gospel emanated from Judsea -   mation, and until judgment should come
that it was rejected by a great proportion of upon the desolater, were. determined; the
the Jews — that it was opposed at first children of Israel were to abide many days
by human power -  that kings have acknowl- without a king, or ephod, or sacrifice; desoedged and supported it -  that it has already lations of many generations were to pass over
continued for many ages — and that it has the land of Judr a, Jerusalem  was to be
been propagated throughout many countries trodden down of the Gentiles, and blindness
-are facts that were clearly foretold, and in part was to happen to Israel, till the times
have been literally fulfilled.  " Out of Zion of the Gentiles should be fulfilled; and a
shall go forth the law; and the word of great apostasy was to arise, and to prevail for
the Lord from  Jerusalem.  (Isa. ii. 3, 4; a long, but limited period, before the stone
Micah, iv. 2.) HI-e shall be for a sanctuary, that was to be cut out without hands was to
but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock become a great kingdom  and fill the whole
of offence to both the houses of Israel; for earth, or the last days should arrive, wherein
a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of the mountain of the Lord's house would be
Jerusalem.  Who hath believed our report, finally established and exalted above all, and
and to whom  is the arm of the Lord re- all nations  flow  into  it.  (Dan. ix. 27.
vealed?  (Isa. viii. 14, liii. 1.)  The kings Hosea, iii. 4.  Isa. lxi. 4.  Luke, xxi. 24.
of the earth set themselves, and the rulers Rom. xi. 25. 2 Thess. ii. 1-12. Dan. ii. 45.
take counsel together against the Lord and Isa. ii. 2. Micah, iv. 1.)  But already, far
against his anointedl.  (Psalm ii. 2; Matt. beyond the conception of man to have harbored
x. 17, xvi. 18, xxiv. 9-14.)  To a ser- the thought, hath the light which has come out
vant of rulers, kings shall see and arise, of Judlxa enlightened the nations: already
princes also shall worship.  The Gentiles have the scriptures been made known in a
shall come to thy light, and kings to the tenfold degree more than any other book;
brighntless of thy rising.  (Isa. xlix. 7-23.) long has he been a light to the Gentiles, and
The Gentiles shall see thy righteousness; a long have kings seen and arisen, and princes
people that know  me not shall be called rendered worship to him whom man despised,
after ny name.  Behold thou shalt call a and whom the Jewish nation abhorred.  The
nation that thou knowest not, and nations Christian faith made at first its bloodless
thcat know not thee shall run unto thee."  way throughout the world.  And  though
Isa. xi. 10, lv. 5.)  No one is now  igno- many a conspiracy has been formed, and
rant of the facts, that a system  of religion  many a bloody warfare waged against it, it
wl:ich  inculcates  piety, and  purity, and not only stands unsubdued and unshaken
love, - which releases man fiom every bur- after every assault, but t}he vain rage of its
densoime rite and from every barbarous insti- adversaries has been subservient to its extution, and proffers the greatest of blessings, tension and its triumphs.  As a matter of
— arose from the land of Judea, was re- history, the progress of Christianity is at
jected by the Jews, persecuted by Jews and least astonishing, as the fulfilment of many
Gentiles, and yet has subsisted for many prophecies, it is evidently miraculous.
ages, and has been spread into many coun-   In closing even this brief and very impertries, and  is outwardly owned  by kings feet summary of the prophecies relative to
and by people as the faith of the civilized the Christian faith and to its author, are we
world.                                      not authorized to consider ancient prophecy
The final extension of the gospel over all as bearing testimony to Jesus as the Saviour;
tle earth is the theme of many prophecies the time and the place of the birth of Christ;
(Isa. xxv. 7; ii. 2; xxxv. 1; xl. 5; xlii. the tribe and family from which he was de4; lii. 10; liv. 1-5; lx. 5; lxv. 1.  Psalm  scended; his life, his character, his sufferings,
lxxii. 8-17; ii. 8; xxii. 27, 28.  Hosea, and his death; the nature of his doctrine, ancl
1. 10.  Micah, iv. 1), while it is also clear- the fate of his religion, -  that it was to proly implied in others, that a long period was ceed from  Jerusalem, that the Jews would
to elapse before the reign of darkness was to reject it; that it would be opposed and percease, or the veil to be taken off all nations. secuted at first; that kings would nevertheless
After the Messiah was to be cut off, and the acknowledge its divine authority; and that it




HIISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             519
would spread throughout many a nation, us all things.  And if we ever read a book
even to the uttermost parts of the earth?  for any object, ought we not diligently to
Why, then, were so  many  prophecies search the Scriptures, to see how  clearly
delivered?  Why, from the calling of Abra- they testify of Christ?  And ought not
ham to the present time, have the Jews been every word of such testimony to be, like
separated, as a peculiar people, from all the all Scripture besides, profitable for doctrine
nations of the earth?  Why, from the age and for instruction in righteousness?  And
of Moses to that of Malachi, during the space may it not be profitable " for reproof and for
of a thousand years, did a succession of correction" to all who mind only earthly
prophets arise, all testifying of a Saviour things — who are eager to seek after unthat was to come?  Why was the book of profitable knowledge - who could talk, with
prophecy  sealed for nearly four hundred all volubility, of the temporal concerns of
years before the coming of Christ?  Why others or their own — who could expatiate
is there still, to this day, undisputed, if not freely, perhaps, on the properties of a beast,
miraculous evidence of the antiquity of all the quality of their food, or the beauty of a
these prophecies, by their being sacredly garment — and who, although they have had
preserved, in every age, in the custody and the Bible constantly beside them, have, for
guardianship of the enemies of Christianity? many a year, remained ignorant of the value
Why was such a multitude of facts foretold of the treasure it contains, or of the fulness of
that are applicable to Christ and to him  the testimony which God has given of his son?
alone?  Why? - but that all this mighty None surely would any longer wilfully refrain
preparation might usher in the gospel of from searching the Scriptures to see how they
righteousness, and prepare the way for the testify of Jesus, or from seeking the words
kingdom of God; and that Christians also, of eternal life which may be found in them,
in every age, might add to their "peace and were they to lay to heart the thought that
joy in believing" the perfect trust, that the second coming of Christ to judge the
however great the promises of God may be, quick and the dead, is as certain as that
they still are sure; and that he who spared the prophetic tidings of his first advent —
not his own Son, but gave him up for us all, once heard afar off - have already proved
will with him also, if his we be, freely give true.












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THE WISE MEN GUIDED BY THE STAR._ _               K_
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AN ILLUSTRATED
HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.
THE NEW TESTAMENT.
CHAPTER I.
BIRTH OF CHRIST. — TEMPTATION. - ENTERS ON HIS MINISTRY.
THE historical part of the New Testa- bered with heathen altars, to pursue the
ment is contained in the four Gospels of open path marked out by the reforming
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; and, in hand of the SON OF GOD.
a very particular manner, claims the most   From  an early period after the fall of
serious attention of every person, as it con- man, a gracious intimation had been given of
veys to us the blessed tidings of our recov- God's intention  to visit the world by a
ering that happy state which our first par- Divine Person, who should restore sinners
ents forfeited  in  paradise.  Indeed, the from  their ruined  condition, destroy the
New Testament is the best commentary on power of death and hell, and lead his folthe Old.  By a diligent comparison  of lowers to eternal felicity.  Promises to this
both together, with all the parallel passages effect were, from  season to season, given to
marked only in the margin of our com- God's chosen people; this great object held
mon Bibles, an infinitely greater knowledge a place in all the predictions of the prophets,
of Scripture will generally  be acquired and was shadowed forth in all the types and
than is commonly either thought of or be- ceremonies of the Jewish law.  The charlieved.  The truth is, there is so great a acter of this sacred Messenger was drawn
unity in all the parts of the Bible — such with  sufficient clearness, to  render him
an intimate connection in its matter, phrase- desirable with all the truly pious, and to disology, doctrines, facts, and the like —so  tinguish him, when come, to the view of
many allusions made from  one passage to every humble and earnest inquirer.
another, that there is scarcely a question    It was about four thousand years after
connected with biblical interpretation that the creation of the world, and when the
may not, by this means only, be very safely Roman empire having gained the ascendancy
and satisfactorily determined.            over all nations, a universal peace had
In  passing from  the contemplation of taken place; while Augustus C(esar was
Jewish affairs to the glorious objects pre- emperor at Rome, and Herod, by Caesar's
sented to our notice in the New Testament, authority, had been made king of Judtea;
we seem to emerge from dreary and uncom- that the period arrived for the fulfilment of
fortable shades, into the cheerful light of these gracious promises, in the birth of
day; and leave, without regret, a road ren- " the Prince of Peace."  A general expecdered  tedious  by  Jewish  ceremonies, tation seems to have prevailed among the
erowded with human traditions, and encum- Jews, that about this time the great Deliv521




522                              AN ILLUSTRATED
erer was to make his appearance; nor are time, the angel Gabriel was sent to a virgin
there wanting evidences, that such an event of the house of David, whose name was
was looked for, even  in  the  gentile  or Mary; a poor young woman, promised in
heathen world.                               marriage to Joseph, a carpenter, who was
But though the train  of divine provi- likewise of the house of David; that royal
dence had all along tended to this object, family being, at this time, reduced to a low
the appearance of the expected Redeemer, condition.  Saluting the highly-favored viras we shall see, was not to be marked by gin, the angel made known to her that she
earthly pomp.  On the contrary, as if God should bear a son, whose name should be
would show his utter disregard of what poor called Jesus; that God would give him  the
depraved mortals so highly esteem, " the throne of David, and a kingdom  without
King of glory" was to be ushered into the  end; and that this holy child should be
world in the most obscure condition; while  produced  by  the  power of the  Divine
divine honor and heavenly attention were  Spirit; on account of which he should be
to supply  the place of vain and  empty  called " the Son of God."
worldly grandeur: the carnal and the high-    Shortly after this wonderful occurrence,
minded were to be disappointed in their Elisabeth  was  honored  by  a visit from
calculations, while humble, pious souls were  Mary, who was her near relation, and both
to rejoice in his salvation.                 of them, in a divine rapture, rejoiced and
As an introduction to the event about to  praised God, on account of the approaching
take place, an angel appeared to a priest I visitation of mercy and grace toward his
named Zacharias (while offeringf incense in  people.  Nor was it long before Zacharias
the temple), informing him  that he should  witnessed, in the birth of John, the fulfilhave a son, who was to be called  John: ment of the angel's prediction; and having
that this child should be filled with the  his tongue loosed, he straightway employed
Holy Ghost from  his birth; and that he  it in divine praises, and in prophesying the
should be the forerunner of the Lord from  dawn of the gospel-day.
heaven, in order to prepare his way.  Zach-    In the mean time, the angel of the Lord,
arias, though a righteous man, being, with  appearing to Joseph  in a dream, removed
his wife Elisabeth, far advanced in years, from his mind all suspicion with respect to
seemed to hesitate through unbelief; where- the character of Mary his espoused wife;
upon the angel, declaring his name to be  shortly after which, in consequence of a
Gabriel, assured the priest that he should  decree from  the Rloman emperor, for the
be " dumb, and not able to speak," till the  taxing (or enrolling) of all his subjects, in
fulfilment of this prediction; thus at once  the several cities of their respective famiconfirming the truth of the message, and  lies, Joseph and Mary repaired together to
chastisingo the unbelief of Zacharias.       Bethlehem,t the city of David, to whose
In the sixth month from  this period of family they both belonged.  The inn at this
* The Gospel of St. Luke mentions the fact, was twice governor of Syria, once three years
that, about the time of the birth of Christ, an  before Christ down to the birth of Christ (A.U.
edict was issued by the Roman emperor to have  750-753), and about six to eleven years after the
an enrolment or census taken in Palestine. This  birth of Christ (760). A double legation of Quiis stated to have been done when Cyrenius (Qui- rinius in Syria has recently been made almost
rinius) was governor of Syria. A chronological certain by purely antiquarian researches from two
difficulty is found in connection with the state- independent testimonies, viz., from a passage in
ment of Luke, arising from the time when it is Tacitus (Anrnales iii. 48), as interpreted by A. W.
alleged that Cyrenius was governor, who, accord- Znmpt, and from an old monumental inscription
ing to Josephus, entered upon his presidency some discovered between the Villa Hadriani and the Via
eight or ten years subsequently to the birth of Tiburtina, which, according to the celebrated antiChrist.                                      quarians Mommsen and Bergman, must be referred
Several hypotheses have been offered for the to Quirinius, and which teaches his second governsolution of the difficulty referred to, i. e., the orship." —Lange's Commentarry on Luke, p. 32.
apparent discrepancy between the account of                                        A.B.
Josephus and that of Luke. But without giv-    t A city of Judah, situated on an eminence
ing these various solutions, some of which are overlooking Tekoah, at the distance of nine miles
very plausible, if not entirely satisfactory, it will south, and about six miles south-,west, of Jerusaanswer the purpose of this note to refer to one lem. It was also called Ephrath (Gen  xxxv.
approved by Dr. P. Schaff in the words following; 16-19) and Ephratah (Ruth iv. 11). Thoug'h a
viz., "the assuilpeitn that Cyrenius (Quirinius) city of no great note, it was celebrated as the




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                                      5i23
place being  crowded with  strangers, there    Such were the lowly circumstances under
was found no other accommodation for this which the divine Saviour made his appearhumble pair, Ghan a stable; and here the ance in our world.  But though disregarded
long-promised  infant was born, and, being  by men, his birth passed not unnoticed nor
wrapped in swaddling-clothes, was laid in a unsung  by angels.  The event was madle
manger. *                                       known to a company of shepherds, by one
birthplace of David (1 Sam. xvi. 1), and it be- he passed over the ruins of houses and fields that
came famous as the birthplace of the Messiah had just then been demolished, and parks of olive
(Mic. v. 2; Matt. ii. 5-8).  The village of Beth- and fig trees which had been cut down by order
lehem, in 1784, was supposed to contain six hun-  of the pacha, for the alleged rebellion and flight.
dred men capable of bearing arms; but war and  It is now called Beet-la-hm, and contains about
tyrannical government have reduced it to a mis- 3,000 professing Christians.
erable condition.  Mr. Whiting, an American
missionary, visited it in 1834, when it had just    * There has been not a little discussion among
suffered severely from oppressive despotism; and  critics and commentators as to the meaning of the._ 
BETHLEHEM.
words inn and manger, referred to in the account    Dr. W. M. Thomson, in the account of his
of Christ's nativity. It is generally conceded that visit to Bethlehem, contained in "The Land and
by inn is to be understood a caravansary or kLahn the Book," referring to the prevailing tradition
in which travellers are simply lodged.         that the place of the nativity of the Saviour was a
In respect to the meaning of the word moiqpr, cave, says, "It is not impossible, to say the least,
greater diversity of opinion has prevailed. Many but that the apartment in which our Saviour was
think it was an enclosed space either in front or born was in fact a cave. It is my impression that
behind the house, which agrees with the primary  the birth actually took place in an ordinary house
sense of the word. Others adopt the signification of some common peasant, and that the babe was
stable, which is thought to be confirmed by the laid in one of the mangers, such as are still found
authority of many of the early fathers, who call in the dwellings of the farmers of this region.
the place of Christ's nativity a cave. They, how-    It is common to find two sides of the one
ever, make a distinction between cave and man- room, where the native farmer resides with his
ger, understanding by the latter a crib.  Dr. cattle, fitted up with these mangers, which are
Bloomfield thinks that manger means a hovel or made of small stones and mortar, in the shape of
shed covered over head, but open on one side, which, a box. When cleaned up, as they often are in
in a climate like that of Judtea, would be no bad  summer, they do very well to lay little babes in.
shelter.                                        Our own children have slept in them." -A. B.




524                            AN ILLUSTRATED
of these celestial messengers, who was sud- received timely notice by an angel, and the
denly joined by a multitude of the heavenly heaven-protected infant was now in Egypt.
hosts, praising God, and saying, " Glory to    The death of Herod (who was succeeded
God in the highest, and on earth peace, good by his son Archelaus) being made known to
will toward men."  This intelligence, thus Joseph, by an angel he returned with Mary
wonderfully communicated, carried the shep- and the young child, and dwelt in Nazareth,
herds in haste to view the infant, and pro- a city of Galilee, where " the child grew and
duced a report which struck with astonishment waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom;
all who heard it.                          and the grace of God was upon him."
In conformity with the Jewish law, the From this place Joseph, the supposed father,
child Jesus was circumcised, at eight days and Mary, the mother of Jesus, went yearly
old, and, some time afterward, presented to Jerusalem, to the feast of the passover.
before the Lord, in the temple at Jerusalem. On one of these occasions, when he was
On this occasion, two memorable testimonies twelve years old, having accompanied them
were borne to his character, as the Messiah. to the feast, he was left behind, on the return
Old Simeon, a devout man, who waited for of his parents, who travelled a day's journey
the consolation of Israel, took the holy infant under the supposition that Jesus was in comin his arms, and blessing God, said, " Lord, pany with somle of their relations.
now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,    When, however, after discovering, their
according to thy word; for mine eyes have mistake, they returned to the city to make
seen thy salvation i " - while Anna, an aged inquiry, he was found in the temple, " sitting
widow of great piety, coming into the temple in the midst of the doctors, both healing
at the same time, "gave thanks likewise them, and asking them questions," while the
unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them  uncommon wisdom  of his youthful mind
that looked for redemption in Jerusalem."   astonished all who heard him.  " Wist ye
In the mean time a new and uncommon  not," said he to his parents, when they had
star had appeared in the heavens, which  thus found him, "that I must be about my
served as a signal that the star of Jacob had  Father's business? "  He then went down
arisen upon the world, and as a guide to- with them  to Nazareth, and was subject to
certain persons called "wise men." who  them; "incretasing in wisdom  and stature,
came from the East to Jerusalem, to inquire and in favor with God and man."
after him who was " born king of the Jews. "    While thus the early palrt of the life of
When Herod the king had received informa- Jesus was spent at Nazareth in Galilee,
tion of these things, he determined, if possi- John, who was designed as his forerunner in
ble, to crush at once the child whom he the ministry, was raised to maturity in that
considered as the rival of his family.  Ac- part of Judaea which was called the desert,
cordingly, he requested of the wise men, or the wilderness.  In this retired situation,
that when they had found the object of their in the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius
search, they should bring him word, that he Pilate  being governor of Judala, Herod,
also might join in paying him adoration.   tetrareh of Galilee, and Anuas and Caiaphas
On leaving Jerusalem, the Eastern sages being high-priests, John received a divine
found, to their joy, that the star which they commission; in consequence of which, he
had seen before they set out on their journey, went forth into the country about Jordan,
had again appeared! It now became their preaching the necessity of repentance for the
guide to Bethlehem, and stood over the remission of sins; exhorting the people to
house where the holy family at this time the practice of righteousness; directing their
resided.  Having worshipped the wonderful attention to the Messiah, who was shortly to
babe, and, according to the Eastern custom, follow him; and baptizing all who gave evimade an offering of gold, frankincense, and dence of the power of his doctrine on their
myrrh; and being warned in a dream  of hearts; hence he was called  "John the
Herod's bloody intention, "they departed Baptist."
into their own country another way."  The    The appearance of this preacher, who was
tyrant, thus baffled in his purpose, caused all clothed in raiment of camel's hair, with a
the children to be destroyed in Bethlehem  leathern girdle about his loins; the doctrines
and the neighboring country, "from  two which he so earnestly inculcated; and the
years old and under;" but Joseph had strict sanctity and self-denial of his life, ex



HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              525
cited great attention among the people, and Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and
drew crowds to his baptism.  In the mean him only shalt thou serve."
time, to the multitudes who attended his   The infernal enemy, thus baffled in all his
ministry, he failed not to declare the superi- attempts, was compelled to leave the conority of the approaching Messiah; informing queror; angels came and ministered to his
the people, that while -he himself baptized wants; and Jesus went forth from his rewith water only, a mightier One would come tirement, to enter on the glorious work of
after him, who should baptize with the Holy blessing, reforming, and  redeeming lost
Ghost.                                     man.
While John was thus employed, Jesus,   While the Redeemer was thus secluded
who had hitherto lived in retirement, being from the world, the report of John's ministry
now about thirty years of age, made his and baptism having excited the notice of the
appearance at the River Jordan, and claimed Jewish council, messengers were sent from
the ordinance of baptism at the hands of his that body to learn who this strange charservant.  On this occasion, God was pleased acter might be.  To. their inquiry on this
to introduce his Son to the world; for upon point, John answered, that he was not the
his being baptized, and going up out of the Christ, nor the prophet Elijah (who in their
water, the heavens were opened, the Holy opinion was to revisit the earth); but that
Ghost descended upon him like a dove, and he was come as " the voice of one crying
the voice of the eternal Father proclaimed, in the wilderness, make straight the way of
" This is my beloved Son, in whom  I am  the Lord " — according to the prophecy of
well pleased."                            Isaiah; declaring, at the same time, that
Immediately after this solemnity, Jesus there was one who had appeared among the
was conducted, by an impulse of the Holy people, the latchet of whose shoes he was not
Spirit, into the wilderness, where, in a state worthy to loose.
of seclusion from the world, he spent forty    On the next day, Jesus having now redays in fasting and communion with God, as turned from  the desert, John saw him  apa preparation for the great work of the proaching, and took occasion to point him
ministry, which he was about to undertake. out to the people, under the character of
Here he was assaulted with three powerful " the Lamb of God, which taketh away the
temptations from  the devil, each of which sin of the world; " announcing him  as the
was repelled by an appeal to the written person of whose coming he had before given
word of God.                               notice, and testifying, in plain and positive
First, he was tempted to turn stones into terms, that he was the Son of God.  Again,
bread, that he might thus at once prove his on the following day, looking on the divine
power, as the Son of God, and allay his Saviour as he was walking at some little dishunger.  But he answered, " It is written, tanee, he repeated his former expression,
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by " Behold the Lamb of God! "' in consequence
every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of which, two of John's disciples attached
of God."  Secondly, the devil requested that themselves to Christ, and became his folhe would prove himself to be under the pro- lowers.
tection of Heaven, by casting himself down    One of these disciples was Andrew; the
from  the pinnacle (or battlements) of the other, though not named, was probably John,
temple; but Christ showed the wickedness who afterward wrote one of the Gospels, and
of tempting, or rashly presuming on divine is distinguished by the title of " the beloved
providence, by answering, "It is written, disciple."   Shortly  afterward  they were
Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."  joined by three others, viz., Simon Peter
Thirdly, he was promised by this impudent (who is called Cephas); Philip, of Bethtempter, all the kingdoms of the world, if saida; and Nathanael, of whom Jesus testihe would fall down and worship him, to fled that he was an Israelite, indeed, in whom
which, with holy indignation, Jesus answered, there was no guile.  With these disciples
"Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, our Lord attended a marriage in Cana*  of
Cana of Galilee is a village, consisting grow there.  The hills in the distance are
of a few miserable huts.  The ground rises gray and barren. The ruins of a church are
gently toward the village: it is stony, and shown to the traveller: it is said to have been
partially covered with short grass: olive-trees erected by the Empress Helena on the spot where




526                               AN ILLUSTRATED
Galilee, where he wrought his first public who accommodated the traders by changing
miracle, by turning water into wine; thus money.  Filled with holy indignation to see
supplying the need of the guests, and con- the house of God thus profaned, he drove
firming the faith of his disciples.           them forth from the temple with a scourge of
From  Cana, Jesus went to Capernaum, small cords, pouring out the money of the
a city of Galilee; and thence, after a short exchangers, and overturning  the tables at
stay, to Jerusalem, where he attended the which they were sitting.
feast of the passover, for the first time after    The miracles which were performed by our
his entrance into  the ministry.   On this Lord, during this feast of the passover, inoccasion he found the temple occupied as a duced numbers to believe in him, and excited
place of traffic by some who sold oxen, sheep, the attention of many others.  Among these
and doves, for the sacrifices, and by others was Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, who
the nuptial feast was celebrated, of which we have purpose of being filled with water."  " These
an account in John ii. 1-10; and there is also vessels are formed of clay, hardened by the heat
exhibited a stone vessel, which is gravely said to of the sun, and are of a globular shape and large
have been one of those used on that occasion. at the mouth, not unlike the bottles used in our
When Dr. Clarke visited Cana, in walking among  country for holding vitriol, but not so large.
the ruins, he observed large massy pots of stone, Many of them have handles attached to the sides:
answering to the description given by the evange- and it was a wonderful coincidence with Scripture,
list.  They were not preserved or exhibited as that the vessels appeared to contain much about
relics, but were lying about, disregarded by the the same quantity as those which, the evangelist
modern inhabitants, as antiquities with the use of
which they were unacquainted.  From their appearance, and the number of them, it is quite
evident that the practice of keeping water in large
stone pots, each holding from eighteen to twentyseven gallons, was once common in this country. 
About a quarter of a mile from the village is a
spring of delicious water, close to the road, whence
all the water is taken for the supply of the inhabitants. Here pilgrims usually halt, as the source                       /
of the water which our Saviour, by his first mira- I
cle, converted into wine. At such places, it is
usual to meet, either shepherds reposing with their
flocks, or caravans halting to drink. There being 
a few olive-trees near the spot, travellers alight, 1, -             K
spread their carpets, and, having filled their pipes,
Modern Egyptian potter. (From an original sketch.)
informs us, were employed on occasion of the celebration of the marriage which was honored by
the Saviour's presence; viz., three firkins, of
about twelve gallons each.  It is a further re/markable circumstance, that, in the Holy Land,
it rarely happens that men are employed for the
purpose of drawing water; but it is a duty en,
Egyptian potters at work. (From an ancient Egyptian
painting, at Thebes. Champollion.)
pahlting, at Thebes. Champollion.)     Etarly Egyptian and Assyrian pottery. (Brit. Museum.v
generally smoke tobacco and take coffee; always tirely devolving on the females, and shows strongly
preferring repose in those places to the accommo- that such a practice has been continued from the
dations which are offered in the villages. While earliest ages." (Gen. xxi. 31, xxiv. 11-30. Exod.
Mr. Rae Wilson was sitting upon the shattered ii. 16.)  The females were barefooted, and very
wall which enclosed "the well of Cana, six fe- miserable.  They were all veiled with a large
males, having their faces veiled, came down to the calico sheet which they wrapped in folds around
well, each carrying on her head a pot for the them.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              527
made a visit to Jesus by night, in order to ple, many of whom were disposed to receive
have a private conference with him on the the heavenly message; and being humbly
subject of his doctrines and the nature of and earnestly applied to by a nobleman in
that kingdom which had been lately spoken behalf of his son, who was sick at Caperof.                                        naum, the compassionate Saviour gave the
In answer, therefore, to his first address, healing word, and the young man was rethe great Teacher assured hni that it was stored.
absolutely necessary, in order to the enjoy-   While in the country of Galilee (where,
ment of the kingdom of God, that a man we are told, he had come " in the power of
should be "born again;" or that such a the spirit"), Jesus entered into a synagogue
renewal of the heart should be experienced as at Nazareth, and stood up to read.  The
might be termed "a new birth."  Having fur- book of the prophecy of Isaiah was delivered
ther informed him that this divine change was to him, and he opened to a prediction which
to be effected by the influence of the Holy pointed immediately to himself.  This pasSpirit, our Lord went on to instruct him in sage, he declared to the congregation, was
the doctrine of salvation, by faith in the Son that day fulfilled.  But some of his remarks
of God; and closed his discourse by showing gave such offence to the Nazarenes, that they
the difference between the follower of evil violently thrust him out, and led him to the
and thefollower oftruth -a discourse which, brow  of the mountain on which the city
eventually, appears to have made a salutary stood, designing to cast him down headlong
impression on the mind of Nicodemus.      from  the  precipice.   This, however, he
The passover being ended, Jesus left miraculously avoided, by passing through the
Jerusalem  and went into  other parts of midst of them and going his way.
Jucla, where he employed his disciples in    Leaving Nazareth * after this outrage,
baptizing, and was followed by great num- Jesus took up his abode in Capernaum,
bers of people; and when an account of where he went on to preach the necessity of
this was brought to John the Baptist, that repentance as a preparation for that divine
faithful herald, so far from being displeased kingdom which was now at hand.  Here, as
at the rising glory of his Master, rejoiced in he walked by the Scn of Galilee, he saw
the prospect, and again took the occasion to Simon Peter, and Andrew his brother, who
set forth the superior excellence of the person were fishermen, and who it seems had reand ministry of the Son of God.            turned for awhile to their former employThe course of John was now  near its ment.  These he now called to become his
close; for about this time, having reproved constant attendants, as well as James and
Herod for taking away his brother Philip's John, the sons of Zebedee, whom he found
wife, he was imprisoned by the tetrarch, and engaged in the same occupation.
not long after was, by his order, put to death.    These fishermen (who were henceforward
A more particular account of this event will to be employed in catching men) let down
be given hereafter.  In the mean time, Jesus their nets at the direction of Christ, and
departed from Judm a on a journey to Gall- enclosed such a multitude of fish as struclk
lee; and passing in his way through the them with astonishment and awe; and haycountry of Samaria, he held a conversation ing brought their vessels to the land, they
with a woman of that country, which pro- forsook all and followed their Master.
duced a happy change in her character, and    The ministry of our Lord at Capernaum
through her means many of the Samaritans was marked with signal and wonderful inwere brought to hear his word, and to believe stances of his power and goodness.  While
in him as the promised Messiah.            be was in the synagogue, there appeared a
Arriving in Galilee, he proclaimed " the man in the congregation possessed with the
gospel of the kingdom of God " to the peo- spirit of a demon, who cried out in a fearful
* A city of Zebulon in Galilee, about seventy whom are Mohammedans, but mostly of several
miles north of Jerusalem. it stood low in public sects of ignorant and superstitious professors of
estimation for the character of its inhabitants Christianity. The Roman Catholicshave a church
(John i. 46), yet it became famous as the residence here called the " Church of the Annunciation,"
of Jesus until he entered on his ministry (Matt. i. the most magnificent of any in the land, except
23; Luke ii. 51, iv. 16). Nazareth still exists with that at Jerusalem.
a population of from 3,000 to 4,000, some of




528                             AN ILLUSTRATED
manner, and acknowledged him to be "the discourse, which is generally termed'" the
Holy One of God."  At the word of Jesus sermon on the mount," - a discourse replete
the man was straightway released fiom the with those heavenly doctrines and precepts
fury of this foul spirit.   Coming  from  which form  so distinguishing a character of
the synagogue into the  house of Simon his holy religion.
Peter, he found the mother of Peter's wife    On coming down from  the mountain, be
lying ill of a fever, and taking her by the was addressed by a man afflicted with the
hand " he rebuked the fever," which imme- leprosy, in compliance with whose humble
diately left her, and she arose restored to petition Jesus put forth his hand and healed
health.                                     him.   Afterward  he  entered  again into
The fame of these miracles drew together Capernaum, where. he  was attended  by
in the evening great numbers of people, who crowds, who came to hear him and to be
thronged the house where Jesus had taken cured of their diseases.  Among others, a
up his lodging, bringing with them  those man sick of the palsy was brought forward,
that "were sick with divers diseases," and but because of the multitude  about the
" many that were possessed with devils," door he was let down on his bed through the
toward all of whom  the gracious Saviour roof of the house.   This remarkable inmanifested the kindness of his heart by stance of faith met the approbation of our
delivering them from their various maladies. Lord, who pronounced the cure of the sick
The voice of fame, however, did not occasion man by saying, " Son, be of good cheer;
our Lord to forget the exercises of devotion, thy sins be forgiven thee."
nor did his labors cause him to neglect them;    Some of the scribes and Pharisees who
for we are told that, rising up early the next were present on this occasion considered this
morning, " he departed into a solitary place, declaration as blasphemy; but, to show them
and there prayed."                     I   that he had indeed the power to forgive sins,
The blessings of the ministry and miracles Jesus addressed the paralytic man, saying,
of Christ were. not confined to Capernaum. " Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy
"He  went about all Galilee, teaching in way into thine house."  The word of Christ
their synagogues, and preaching the gospel was immediately obeyed, and " he departed
of the kingdom, and healing all manner of to his own house, glorifying God."  Shortly
sickness and all manner of disease among after this wonderful event, Matthew (otherthe people."  His fame also went through- wise called Levi), a publican, or tax-gatherer,
out the  country of Syria, whence they was called by Christ to become his disciple
brought the afflicted to experience the effects and attendant; and such was the influence
of his healing power.  " And there followed of this call that he immediately left his emhim," we are told, " great multitudes of ployment and followed Jesus.
people, from  Galilee, and from  Decapolis,    The time of the passover * being now
and from Jerusalem, and from  Judma, and again near at hand, Jesus went up to Jerusafrom beyond Jordan."                        lem, in order to be present at the feast.  Here
But though our Redeemer was thus com- he performed a remarkable cure on a poor
passionate to the bodies of men, to heal their afflicted man, who had labored under an
souls and to reform  their conduct was his infirmity for thirty-eight years.  This helpgreat.object.  He availed himself, therefore, less creature was lying near a pool called
of the opportunity which the vast crowd col- Bethesda,t to which numbers of diseased
lected together now afforded to deliver a persons resorted, on account of a super* This is simply called, by the evangelist, "a reddish color, due, as the tradition then ran, to
feast of the Jews;" though it seems probable that the fact that the flesh of the sacrifices was anit was the feast of the passover.           ciently washed there before offering. See, howt BETHESDA, the Hebrew name of a reservoir ever, the comments of Lightfoot on this view in
or tank, with five "porches," close upon the his Exercit. on St. John, v. 2. Eusebius' statesheep-gate or "market" in Jerusalem (John v. ment is partly confirmed by the Bordeaux Pil2). The porches —i.e., cloisters or colonnades- grim  (A.D. 333).  The large reservoir called
were extensive enough to accommodate a large the Birket Israil, within the walls of the city, close
number of sick and infirm people, whose custom  by the St. Stephen's Gate, and under the northit was to wait there for the " troubling of the wa- east wall of the Haram area, is generally considter." Eusebius describes it as existing in his ered to )be the modern representativeof Bethesda
time as two pools, the one supplied by the period- The little that can be said on the subject goes
ical rains, while the water of the other was of a rather to confirm than to invalidate this tradition.




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HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    529
natural virtue produced in the water by the mercy was performed; and as the Jews saw
going down of an angel, at certain seasons, the man who had been healed carly no his
into the pool.   The first who stepped in bed, they took occasion'to find fault, anld to
after the stirring of the water was healed of persecute Jesus as a breaker of the Sabbath.
his disorder; but this poor man, having no This produced a defence on the part of Christ,
one to assist him at such seasons, still missed in which we find him  declaring himself the
the opportunity of a cure.  The compassion- Son of God -  asserting his authority over
ate Jesus, however, found him, and admin-  the living and the dead    and appealing to
istered to him  that relief which he sought in undeniable evidences to prove and establislh
vain at the pool of Bethesda.                 the divine character to which he laid claim.
It was the sabbath day when this act of   Not long after this, our Lord again ineurA:= Aii~ ~ ~ ~~i~l,,
POOL OF BETHESDA.
red the censure of the Pharisees, for healing adversaries, served  to  incense  them  the
on the Sabbath.  In a synagogue in Galilee, more, and they communed  together and
he found a man whose  right hand was took counsel how they might destroy him.
withered: he restored the hand to sound-    In consequence of these malicious designs,
ness, and defended his conduct; but his Jesus retired to the Sea of Tiberias,* where
arguments, though  they  confounded  his he continued to teach the multitudes that
One other proposed identification must be noticed, upon a stone near me, drew a little coolness from
viz., that of Dr. Robinson (i. 342, 343), who sug- the soil; while the simple train of reflections
gests the "fountain of the Virgin," in the valley which naturally sprung up firom the scene around
of the Kedron, a short distance above the Pool of me added much to my enjoyment. At a great
Siloam.- Snitli's Dictionary.          A. B. distance to the north was the mountainous hori* REFLECTIONS AT TIBERIAS. -The com- zon, on the summit of which stands Safet, glisposure which came over my feverish spirits at this tening with its noble castle. It is not improbably
hour was inexpressibly refreshing: I laid myself supposed that our Saviour had this spot in his
down upon the ground, and, resting my head- eye, and directed the attention of his disciples to
34~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~i~s




530                              AN ILLUSTRATED
resorted to him, and to heal all who were    The names of these twelve apostles were
diseased.  Here too, after having spent a Simon, surnamed Peter, and Andrew  his
whole night in prayer on a mountain, he brother; James and John, the sons of Zebcalled  together his disciples, from  among edee; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew
whom  he chose twelve, ordaining them  as the publican, and Thomas, surnamed Didapostles, or special messengers, who were to ymus; James, the son of Alpheus, and
hold the highest offices in the church, and to Judas (or Jude) his brother; * Simon the
whom he gave authority not only to preach Canaanite, surnamed Zelotes; and Judas
in his name, but to heal diseases and to cast Iscariot, who proved the betrayer of his
out devils.                                  Master.
CHAPTER II.
MIRACLES. -  TRANSFIGURATION. -  BLESSES LITTLE CHILDREN.
HAVING appointed the twelve apostles to DEATH!  At the gate of the city of Nain he
their high office, our Lord, attended by the met a train of mourners, attending the corpse
whole company of his disciples and a great of a young man, who was the only son of his
multitude from  different parts; stood in a mother, and she a widow.  Jesus had complain, and repeated, in substance, a consid- passion on the disconsolate parent: he spoke
erable part of his sermon on the mount, after to her a  word  of encouragement; and,
which he entered into Capernaum, where he addressing the corpse as it lay on the bier,
restored  to health the servant of a Roman  commanded the young man to arise.  His
centurion,t and then, leaving Capernaum, he word was attended with life: "he that was
entered into the city of Nain.               dead sat up and  began to speak, and he
Hitherto we have seen the great Saviour delivered him to his mother."
of men displaying his power in  healing    This astonishing miracle struck the multidiseases and expelling demons: we are now  tude with awe, and a rumor concerning this
to behold him  exercising his authority over great prophet " went forth  throughout all
it, when he said, "A city that is set on a hill can- off a little from the shore in Simon Peter's boat.
not be hid;" for it is in full view from the Mount But there is not now a single boat upon the lake
of Beatitudes as well as from this place; and, in- to remind us of its former use. Yonder, on the
deed, seems to command all the country round to  right must have been the very spot where, in the
a great extent. Tracing, at a glance, the margin  middle of their passage from this side toward Bethof this simple lake, on the opposite or eastern  saida and Capernaum, the disciples were affrighted
side, the eye rests on the inhospitable country of at seeing Jesus upon the water - when he gently
the Gadarenes — inhospitable to this day. But upbraided the sinking faith of Peter - when he
that which awakens the tenderest emotions in  said to the winds and waves, "Be still!"- and
viewing a scene like this is the remembrance of the sweet serenity which now rests upon the surOne, who, formerly, so often passed this way; and face is the very same stillness which then sucnever passed without leaving, by his words and ac- ceeded. Here, finally, it was that Jesus appeared,
tions, some memorial of his divine wisdom and  the third time after his resurrection, to his dislove. Here, or in this neighborhood, most of his ciples (John xxi.), and put that question to the
mighty works were done; and in our daily reli- zealous, backslidden, but repentant Peter, " Sigious services we have read, with the most intense mon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? " — one quesinterest, those passages of the gospel which refer tion thrice repeated; plainly denoting what the
to these regions. However uncertain other tradi- Saviour requires of all who profess to be his;
tional geographical notices may be, here no doubt and followed up by that solemn charge, " Feed
interrupts our enjoyment in tracing the Redeem- my lambs —feed my sheep."
er's footsteps.  Here Jesus called the sons of    Called also Lebbeus, whose surname was
Zebedee, from mending their nets, to become Thaddeus.
" fishers.of men." Here he preached to the multitudes crowding to the water's edge, himself putting    t A captain over a hundred soldiers.




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~~-~-      JSUS BLSSINGTHE  Cli DRE








HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                     51
Judaea, and throughout all the region round by a striking parable, the impropriety of his
about."  In the mean time, the disciples of censure, and  pronounced  the sins of the
John resorting to their master in prison and  penitent woman forgiven.
giving him  an account of these miracles, he    After this, accompanied  by his twelve
sent two of his disciples to Jesus, with an apostles, "he went throughout every city
inquiry whether he was indeed the expected and village, preaching'Aid showing the glad
Messiah.  It does not seem  probable that tidings of the kingdom  of God."   Certain
this step was taken in consequence of any women also, " who had been healed of evil
doubt in the mind of John; but, for what- spirits and infirmities," attended him, and
ever purpose it might have been intended, assisted in supplying his wants. Among these
our Lord returned an appropriate  answer, was Mary Magdalene, out of whom, we are
and then bore his testimony to the character told, he had cast seven devils.
of this faithful and eminent servant of God.    Havinr  healed  a poor creature who was
After an awful warning to the cities of blind and dumb, and possessed by a demon,
Chorazin,  Bethsaida,  and  Capernaum  -  Jesus was accused by the Pharisees, of castwhere most of his mighty works had been  ing out devils through Beelzebub, the prince
done -  and a gracious invitation to laboring  of devils.  This wicked and absurd charge
and heavy-laden sinners, to come and find  he clearly confuted; and warned them  that
rest in his service, our Lord entered into the  their sinful malice in thus sinning against the
house of Simon, a Pharisee, being invited by  Holy Ghost would never be forgiven.  Some
the owner to eat with him; and here an  of the scribes and Pharisees then required
occurrence took place, which served further of him  a sign from  heaven; but he refused
to manifest the abundant grace of the Re- to gratify their vain curiosity; and having
deemer's heart.                               delivered  many  solemn  admonitions, and
A woman who had been a notorious sinner, much divine instruction, he departed to the
but who was now a real penitent, humbly  seaside, where  he taught the people in a
approached with an alabaster-box of ointment, series of parables, which he afterward exstooped, weeping, at the feet of Jesus, and, pounded more fully to his disciples.
washing them  with her tears, wiped them         He who had power over demons, diseases,
with  the hairs of her head, and anointed  and death, could also control the winds and
them with the ointment.  The condescension  the  seas.  An  instance  of this occurred,
of Christ in suffering this freedom  from  a when going on board a vessel with his disciperson of her character, met the disapproba- ples, in order to pass over the lake of Tibetion of the Pharisee; but Jesus showed him  rias,* there arose a great tempest, and the ship
* Tiberias, one of the principal cities of Gal- was taken by the Saracens under the caliph Omar;
ilee, was erected by the tetrarch Herod Antipas, and though it passed into the hands of the Chriswho gave it this appellation in honor of the Em- tians during the crusades, the Mahometans reperor Tiberius. It was this Herod who beheaded  gained the possession of it toward the close of the
John the Baptist (Matt. xiv. 3-11), and who  fourteenth century.  Widely scattered ruins of
sought the life of CHRIST himself (Luke xiii. 31). walls and other buildings, as well as fragments
He probably resided in Tiberias, which may be of columns, indicate the ancient extent of Tibethe reason why the Saviour never visited this rias. The stone of these ruins is described by the
place. It was situated near the Sea of Galilee, on Rev. William Jowett as being " very black, so that
a plain of singular fertility, which was - greatly  there is nothing about them of the splendor of
increased by assiduous cultivation.  Josephus antiquity -nothing but an air of mourning and
describes this region as a perfect paradise, blessed desolation. In this circumstance they differ so
with a delicious temperature, and producing the greatly from the magnificent antiquities of Egypt
fruits of every climate under heaven, not at stated and Greece, as to leave the most sombre impresperiods merely, but in'endless succession through- sion on the fancy: they are perfectly funereal."
out the year. The neglect of agriculture in mod-    The modern town of Tiberias, which is delinern times has, of course, made it less productive; eated in our engraving, is, by the natives, called
but the mildness of the climate, and the richness Tabaria, or Tabbareeah; it occupies part of the
of the soil, are still extolled by travellers. When  site of the ancient city, and is situated at a short
the Romans made war upon the Jews, Tiberias distance to the west from the Sea of Galilee. It is
surrendered without waiting for a siege: on this surrounded with walls and towers, which at first
account, the Jews remained unmolested; and after view are very imposing: on a nearer approach,
the destruction of Jerusalem, this city became however, their insignificance is apparent. A few
eminent for its academy, over which a succession cannon would put them  down in an instant,
of Jewish doctors presided until the fourth cen- though to an assault from the natives they would
tury. In the early ages of Christianity, Tiberias present, probably, a very long and effectual resistwas an episcopal see: in the seventh century it ance.  One-fourth of the space within the walls




532                               AN ILLUSTRATED
was covered with the waves.  In the midst fear of some other calamity, induced  the
of the storm, Jesus was asleep in the hinder wicked Gadarenes earnestly to request that
part of the vessel; but the. disciples, over- Jesus would leave their country; and thus
whelmed with fear, broke in upon his slumber, they lost the benefits and blessings of his
crying out, " Master, Master, we perish!'  ministry; for he accordingly departed firom
He arose firom his pillow, and gently reprov- the coast of Gadara, and returned to the city
ing their want of faith, " rebuked the winds of Capernaum.
and the sea, and there was a great calm! "      While in the house of Matthew, who had
Arriving in the country of the Gadarenes made an entertainment for his master, he
(or Gergesenes), on the other side of the received an application from the ruler of the
lake, he was met by two men, coming out synagogue, by the name of Jairus, who fell
from among the tombs, who, though possessed  at his feet, begging that he would come and
with devils, and raging with madness, cried heal his little daughter, then lying at the
out, acknowledging Jesus to be the Son of point of death.  Before he arrived at the
God.  From  these unhappy creatures  he ruler's house, the spirit of the damsel had
expelled the infernal spirits, suffering them, fled; but Jesus, taking her by the hand,
at their own request, to take possession of a awoke her from  the sleep of death, and reherd of swine, which were feeding near the stored her to the astonished and rejoicing
seaside; whereupon the whole herd ran vio- parents.
lently down into the sea, and perished.          After several other miracles of mercy and
The loss of the swine, and probably the goodness, and a considerable time spent in
is stated by Dr. Richardson to be unoccupied by  sacred edifices which were erected by the Em.
house or building; and many parts of the town  press Helena: it is said to occupy the identical
are in a ruined and filthy condition. The popu- spot on which stood the house of the apostle
lation has been computed at one thousand five Peter, who, previously to his becoming a disciple
hundred or two thousand persons; eighty houses of JEsus  CHRIST, had been a fisherman on the
are occupied by Christians, and one hundred and  lake
The Sea of Galilee, which is seen in the back-ground of our engraving, derives its name from
iE  Ea~           __~l          its situation on the eastern borders of the province
____;,.:_____    ___t  V iof Galilee; it was anciently called the Sea of Chinl5......        ~''nereth, or Chinneroth (Num. xxxiv. 11; Josh.,'~,                   x l?4-9 l atec\{$@\\o xii. 3), from its vicinity to a town of that name.
l]~,1 12gl X XiIn 1 Mace. xi. 67, it is called the water of Geni         l        nesar, and in Luke v. 1, the Lake of Gennesaret,
~~    [~ % iXiIfrom the neighboring land of that name. Its most
common appellation is the Sea of Tiberias, from
the contiguous town of Tiberias, which has been.5,i A.described in the preceding paragraphs.
Egyptian fisherman. (From a painting.)
This capacious lake is from  twelve to fifteen
miles in length, and from six to nine in breadth;
along the shore its depth varies, and in some parts
it may be sixty feet. The water is perfectly fresh,
Fishing-nets and tackle. (From the Nineveh marbles.)  and is used by the inhabitants of Tiberias to drink,
and for every culinary purpose. The waters of the
fifty by Turks, but the largest portion (amounting  northern part of this lake abound with delicious
to two hundred) is tenanted by Jews of all nations, fish. It is remarkable that there is not a single
who come here to spend the rest of their days. boat of any description on the Sea of Tiberias at
On the north side of the town, not far from the present, although it is evident from the gospel hislake, there is a Greek church, the architecture of tory that it was much navigated in the time of
which exhibits much of the character of those Jesus Christ.




_ _           A         _~~~~~__
THE Di AH     O         A      I,T OF IlJOHN[I!E llllll
THE, DAUGHTER OF HERODIAS RECEIVING THE RtEAD OF JOHN' THE BAPTIST.








HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                             533
proclaiming the good news of salvation,   Thus commissioned, the apostles went forin different parts of the country, where he ward into the work; nor did their master
observed the multitudes as sheep without a remain inactive: " He departed thence, to
shepherd, Jesus determined that the gospel teach and to preach" in the different cities
should be more diffusively publishel.  Ac- of the Jews.
cordingly, having called together his twelve   In the mean time, John the Baptist had
apostles, and addressed them with a discourse ended his mortal race, having fallen a sacrifilled with suitable instruction, advice, and flee to the pride of Herocl, and the crueliy
encouragement, he sent them forth, by two of his unlawful wife Herodias.  At Herocl's
and two, to preach the kingdom of Gol birth-night feast, the daughter of this Heroamong "the lost sheep of the house of dias so pleased the king, by her expertness
Israel," and to work miracles through his in dancing, that he promised, with an oath,
power.                                  to give her whatsoever she might alsk.  The
=5=: — __ z _      _     _       _
-— ~ —  -- _    --.  — ~ — ----- --   -
- ~- -— ~-~-~~ —---            -~ —— ~ —-  — ~ —-----— ~ —LAKE AND TOWN OF TIBERIAS.
occasion was seized by the wicked Herodias, food, and likely to suffer for the want of it.
who instructed her daughter to ask the head But a lad present having five barley loaves
of John the Baptist. This was accordingly and two small fishes, these were so increased,
done; and the bloody gift was presented to under the wonder-working hands of Christ,
the damsel in a charger.                 that five thousand men, besides a number of
On the return of the twelve apostles, and women and children, were amply supplied,
their report to Christ, he took them with him and twelve baskets were filled with the fragto a desert place, there to spend some little ments which remained.
time in retirement. Thither, however, the This miracle, so pleasing to the multitude,
people quickly followed him; and in this produced a determination, on their part, to
wilderness, the situation of the multitude make Christ a temporal king; but, far from
drew forth a new instance of the Redeemer's acceding to these views, he dismissed the
power and goodness. They were without crowd, and sending his disciples on before




534                             AN ILLUSTRATED
him, in a vessel, he retired to a mountain, basketfuls of the fragments being afterward
and spent the evening in prayer.           gathered up.
While Jesus was thus engaged in secret   From the place above mentioned, Jesus
devotion, the disciples were tossed on the passed over to Dalmanutha, in the coasts of
water by a tempestuous wind.  But about Magdala, where he was besa  by the Pharithe fourth watch of the night (or three sees and Sadducees, who demanded of him
o'clock  in the  morning), they saw  him  a sign from heaven, but met as they deserved,
approaching the vessel, walking on the waves. with a refusal and reproof. Going thence to
Struck with the sight of what appeared to the city of Bethsaida, he restored a blind
them to be a spirit, " they cried out for fear." man to sight; after which, we find him visitBut Jesus quickly removed their apprehen- ing the towns of Caesarea Philippi.  In this
sions; and Peter, in the forwardness of his journey our Lord entered into a private
heart, obtained leave to meet him  on the conversation with his disciples, on the subject
water.  Soon, however, his fear overpowered of his own person and character; and firom
his faith, and, beginning to sink, he was that time began to give them some intimation
dependent on the hand of his master for concerning his approaching sufferings, and
deliverance from death.                    his resurrection from the dead.
Landing  on  the  coast of Genesareth,   The disciples had heretofore seen their
Jesus was, in a little time, surrounded by Lord, great indeed in power, but 1Qwly in
numbers bringing the sick in beds, to be appearance.  It remained for some of them
healed.  In  the mean time, many of the to witness a splendor in his person, infinitely
people who had been miraculously fed by transcending the pomp of the greatest earthly
Christ, followed him to the city of Caper- king.  Taking with him three of his chosen
naum. But Jesus, taking occasion to reprove followers, Peter, James, and  John, and
their selfish motives, directed their attention ascending a high mountain, for the purpose
to that food which would nourish the soul; of private devotion, it came to pass, while
declaring himself to be the bread of God engaged in prayer, that he was suddenly, and
which came down from heaven, to give life in a glorious manner, transfigured in their
to the world.  The heavenly discourse which presence. His frace shone as the sun, and his
he delivered, gave offence to some of his raiment became white and dazzling.  At the
carnal followers, while it exhibited the only same time also, appeared two glorified saints,
means of restoring lost sinners to spiritual Moses and Elijah, who entered into a converlife and eternal felicity.                 sation with Jesus, concerning his approaching
After reproving the Pharisees for their death, which was to be accomplished at
hypocritical attention to mere external cere- Jerusalem.
monies, while they overlooked inward purity   It seems to have been the night-season
and a righteous conduct, we find our Lord when this wonderful event took place.  The
departing into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. three disciples, fatigued with the labors of
Here, at the humble entreaty of a Syrophce- the day, had  sunk  down to sleep, but
nician woman, in behalf of her daughter, awakened with the splendor of the light,
who was grievously distressed by a demon, they beheld the glorious scene; while, as it
he delivered the afflicted creature from her passed off, a bright cloud overshadowed them,
calamity; and then, leaving these coasts, and a voice from  the cloud  proclaimed,
came near to the Sea of Galilee, where, "This is my beloved Son, in whom  I am
for a while, he rested himself on a moun- well pleased; hear ye him! "
tain.                                        On coming down from the mountain, the
To this place the  multitudes  quickly next day after the transfiguration, we find
resorted, bringing with them  the lame, the Jesus healing a youth, who from  his childblind, the dumb, the maimed, and many hood had been afflicted with lunacy and a
others, and laying them at the feet of Jesus dumb spirit; and some time afterward, at
to be healed.  Here, too, his power and com- Capernaum, direct:ng Peter to go to the sea,
passion were again manifested, in a miracu- and take from  the mouth of the first fish
lons supply of food; the fainting multitude, which should come to his hook, a piece of
to  the number of four thousand, beside money, for the purpose of paying tribute to
women and children, being fed from  seven the tax-gatherers.
loaves and a few small fishes; and seven   In the way to Capernaum, the disciples,




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               535
not yet fully acquainted with the spiritual quence and secret contempt of Jesus, pronature of their Master's kingdom, had held posed a plausible question, but with a design
some dispute among themselves, who should to involve him  in a difficulty.  He begged
be the greatest.  Jesus, therefore, knowing to be informed what he imust do for the
what had passed, took occasion to warn them  attainment of eternal life.  Had the question
against a vain ambition; inculcating on their been proposed With an humble and teachable
minds a spirit of genuine humility, as the disposition, our Lord would doubtless have
proper temper to be possessed by his servants, given a direct and  explicit answer; but
and pointing out the necessity of renouncing knowing the proud and captious temper of
all objects which might be inconsistent with the scribe, he replied in a way which inight
the service of God, though dear to the feel- tend to humble or silence him.  He thereings, as the hand, the foot, or the eye, to the fore referred hilm to the demands of the law,
body.                                       upon obedience to which the scribe placed
After discourse of this sort, and much his dependence, assuring him  a complete
more, in which our Lord instructed his dis- compliance with those claims of perfect love
ciples in the proper manner of dealing with to God and man would secure to him  the
each other, as members of his church, and, blessing desired.  " This do, and thou shalt
pressed on them a ready disposition toward live; " as if he had said, "Perform, puncthe forgiveness of injuries; we find him  tually and perpetually, without interruption
appointing, in addition to the twelve apostles, or imperfection, all the injunctions of the holy
seventy disciples, whom "he sent two and and spiritual law of God, and eternal life
two before his face, into every city and place, shall be thine; but remember  that the
whither he himself would come."            least deviation or'defect will ruin thee forIn the mean time, going up to Jerusalem, ever." X
to the feast of tabernacles, Jesus entered    The scribe, willing to stand on his own
into the temple and taught.  On this occa- defence, and to evade conviction, proposed
sion much division and contention ensued another question -" Who is my neighbor? "
amnong the people.  Some, offended at his It should seem  that he, like all others who
faithful dealing, " sought to take him;" seek salvation by their own doings, was de" but his hour was not yet come."  Some sirous of narrowing the demands of the law
believed in him, as the promised Messiah, as much as possible, and reducing the numand others rejected him.  At length the ber of those to whom the duties of love were
Pharisees sent chief-priests and officers to owing.  Our Lord wisely took this occasion
apprehend him; but, overpowered with the of confuting the prevalent notion that neighforce of his words, they returned without bors were only such persons as lived near
him, declaring, " Never man spake like tzis each other, or were connected by the ties of
man."                                       blood or religion.  He therefore showed, by
After another instructive lecture, on the a parable, that we ought to extend our kindfollowing day, and a disputation with the ness to all our fellow-creatures in distress,
Jews, we have an account of the return of of whatever nation or profession, even to
the seventy disciples to their master, with those who have been separated from us by
the report of their success.  While engaged party quarrels and distinctions.
in discourse with these disciples, a certain    " A  certain traveller," said our Lord,
lawyer (or expounder of the Jewish laws), "going from  Jerusalem  to Jericho, t was
came forward, and with much self-conse- set upon by thieves, who not only rifled him
X In this manner, St. Paul speaks (Gal. iii. 10), and Levite as passing this way. The road to
"For as many as are of the works of the law," Persea, beyond Jordan, also passed this way,
that is, who seek justification by it, " are under whence it was one of the most frequented roads of
the curse;" for it is written, " Cursed is every Palestine. How fitly the road firom Jerusalem to
one that continueth not in all things which arc Jericho was made the scene of this interesting
written in the book of the law to do them."  story will appear when it is understood that this' Jericho was at this time a very important road has always been infested by numerous daring
city; indeed, it would seem from Josephus to and desperate robbers; and its character is so
have been next in consequence to Jerusalem itself. notorious, even at the present day, in this respect,
At this place also twelve thousand priests and that travellers are rarely allowed by the governor
Levites were stationed, with a view to the rotation of Jerusalem to proceed to Jericho and the Dead
of service at Jerusalem. Hence the peculiar pro- Sea without an escort. Josephus intimates, and
priety with which our Lord introduces the priest Jerome says, that the savage mountainous wilder



536                               AN ILLUSTRATED
of his clothes and money, but so dangerously at a certain time, Jesus was entertained at!
wounded him, that they left him almost ex- the house of these pious women, Mary took
piring on the ground.  By chance a priest her seat at the feet of the divine teacher, in
came that way, and saw  the poor wretch  order to receive instruction; while Martha,
weltering in his blood: but the sight did  suffering herself to be over-anxious in making
not affect him, he passed along unconcerned. provision, complained of her sister's neglect,
Next came a Levite, as void of tenderness in not rendering her assistance.  It was on
and humanity as the priest.  At last the  this occasion  that Christ gave to Martha
groans of the poor wretch stirred up the cu- that memorable admonition, so worthy of
riosity of a Samaritan to see the cause, which  attention from the human family in general:
he no sooner discovered, but, moved with  ":Martha,  Martha, thou  art careful and
compassion, he went to him, raised his head, troubled about many things.  But one thing
recalled his fainting spirits, and closed his is needful.   And  Mary hath chosen  that
gaping wounds with healing balsams; then  good part which shall not be taken away
mounting  him on his own beast he gently  from her."
conveyed the man to the first inn, where at    A great part of the gospel records, which
his own cost he entertained him while he staid  yet remain to be noticed, consist in a detail
with him, and at his departure promised the  of the discourses delivered by Chbrist to his
host to be at whatever further expense should  disciples, together with reproofs to the hypobe incurred."   Our blessed Saviour apply- critical scribes and Pharisees, and a number
ing this parable to the lawyer, asked him whichl  of interesting parables.  A  brief notice of
he thought was neighbor to the poor traveller. the most remarkable of these objects, as we
The lawyer replied, " Undoubtedly he that pass on, is all that the limits of our history
was kind, and careful of him."   Then says will allow.
he to the lawyer, " Go thou and do likewise."    In answer to the request of his disciples,
Hereby plainly intimating, that no distance  we find our Lord  giving them  instructions
of country or religion  destroyed  the true  cn the subject of prayer, and encouraging
notion  of neighborhood, but every person  them to the exercise of this sacred privilege.
with whom we converse in peace and charity  When a certain Pharisee, with whom  Jesus
is that neighbor, whom  we are to love as dined, founJ fault because he did not use
ourselves.                                    the ceremony of the elders, by first washing,
Two sisters, Martha and Mary, who make  he took occasion to expose the vain pretenees
a considerable figure in the sacred history, and hypocrisy of these people, who, while
now present themselves to our notice.  While, they were superstitiously nice in small matness through which this road passed had acquired from hill to hill, and which were re-echoed through
the name of the bloody way. The monks however all the valleys; while the bold projecting crags of
have restricted this name, or rather that of the rock, and the dark shadows in which every thing
"Valley of Abdonim " (blood), to a small round, was buried below, the towering height of' the
grassy valley, which they have fixed upon as the cliffs above, and the fbrbidding desolation which
place where the supposed facts of this parable  everywhere reigned around, presented a picture
took place. That the region is well suited for a that was quite in harmony throughout all its
scene of robbery and murder will appear by the parts. It made us feel most forcibly the propriety
following, from Mr. Buckingham: -             of its being chosen as the scene of the dreadful
"The whole of this road from  Jerusalem to tale of compassion which we had so often admired
Jericho is held to be'the most dangerous about for its doctrine, independently of its local beauty.
Palestine; and, indeed, in this portion of it, the In these gloomy solitudes, pillage, wounds, and
very'aspect of the scenery is sufficient, on the one death would be accompanied with double terror
hand, to tempt to robbery and murder, and on from the frightful aspect of every thing around.
the other; to occasion a dread of it in those who  Here the unfeeling act of passing by a fellowpass that way. It was partly to prevent any acci- creature in distress, as the priest and Levite are
dent happening to us at this early stage of our said to have done, strikes one with horror, as an
journey, and partly perhaps to calm our fears on act almost more than inhuman. And here, too,
that score, that a messenger had been. despatched  the compassion of the Good Samaritan is doubly
by our guides to an encampment of their tribe virtuous, from  the purity of the motive which
near, desiring them to send an escort to meet us must have led to it, in a spot where no eyes
at this place. We were met here accordingly by were fixed on him to draw forth the performance
a band of about twenty persons, on foot, all of any duty, and frojn  the courage which was
armed with matchlocks, and  presenting  the necessary to admit of a man's exposing himself,
most ferocious and robber-like appearance that by such delay, to the risk of a similar fate to
could be imagined.  The effect of this was that from which he was endeavoring to rescue a
heightened by the shouts which they sent forth fellow-creature."




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L~AZAttcUS AT TH~E RIOH Ma~N'S HOUSE.








HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              537
ters, passed over judgment and the love of confession, to his injured parent, who received
God: and warning his disciples against such him with joy and feasting, while the elder
principles, he exhorted them not to fear the brother, murmuring   at his reception, refused
displeasure of man, but to stand in awe of to unite in the pleasure and festivity of the
him who has power to cast into hell, as well day.
as to kill the body.                         This parable, which seems evidently to
Occurrences which, in a religious light, represent, in the person of the younger
might appear unimportant, afforded occasion brother, the publicans and sinners, and in
to this heavenly teacher, for the most impor- that of the elder, the scribes and PIharisees,
tant religious instruction.  Thus, when one contains also important instruction for us.
of the company desired him to interfere in In the younger brother we may see the sad
the settlement of an inheritance, Jesus cau- fruits of sin and dissipation, both in a temtioned him, as well as the congregation in poral and spiritual point of view, as well as
general, to " beware of covetousness; " and, the happy result of a return to God; while
in an impressive parable, represented the -the disposition and conduct of the elder, still
folly and final wretchedness of those who feel serve to mark the character of the selfsecure of happiness in the possession of righteous, wherever they are found.
earthly plenty, and are disposed to "eat,    The parable of the unjust steward, which
drink, and be merry," while they are "not follows that of the prodigal, is intended to
rich toward God."                          admonish us, so to use the possessions of
Our Lord was now, it seems, on another this world (called  " the mammon of uncircuit through Galilee; where, in one of the righteousness ") as to secure the fiiendship
synagogues, he released from her affliction a of the distressed, especially among the fiiends
woman who had been bowed together with of Christ; in other words, to use these
her infirmity for eighteen years; after which, worldly things to the glory of God and the
we are informed of his returning toward good of men.  And in the next parable
Jerusalem, teaching  in the different cities which comes under our notice, two characters
and villages on the way.                   are represented, in their different states,
Being at the table of one of the Pharisees, both in this world and in that beyond the.
in the course of this journey, Jesus improved grave.
the season by the parable of the Wedding    This is the parable of the rich man and
Supper; setting forth, under figures, the Lazarus the beggar: the former living in
rich provision of the gospel, and represent- splendor and plenty, but forgetful of God
ing the vaious success of his ministers in and religion; the latter lying, an afflicted
delivering the gracious invitation to sinners. outcast, at the rich man's gate, but blessed
On leaving the house, multitudes followed  with the favor of Heaven.  Such was the
himn; and the publicans and sinners drawing  state of things in this world; but greatly was
near to hear him, the self-righteous scribes it reversed in the other! The beggar dying,
and Pharisees murmured at his condescen- " was carried by the angels into Abraham's
sion to these people.  Our Lord defended  bosom," while, in hell, the rich man lifting
his conduct on this occasion, in three para- up his eyes in torment, saw the blessedness
bles, the last of which, called the parable of of the once-afflicted Lazarus.
the Prodigal Son, is so very interesting and    After just mentioning the healing of the
important, that we must not omit a brief ten men who were diseased with leprosy;
sketch of its contents.                    the parable of the importunate widow, which
A  certain man is represented as having was designed to encourage us to perseverance
two sons; the younger of whom, having re- in, prayer; and that of the Pharisee and
ceived his portion, went into a distant country, publican, showing the contrast between proud
where he " wasted his substance with riotous self-righteousness and humble penitence,living."  Reduced by poverty and famine we hasten on to the feast of the dedication, at
to a state of wretchedness, he became a Jerusalem, where we find our Lord restoring
keeper of swine, to a citizen of that country; to sight a man who had been blind from his
but happily, in this situation, " he came to birth.
himself," and took the resolution to try once    This miracle, though attested in the clearmore the kindness of a father. Accordingly, est manner, had no effect toward removing
he returned, with a humble and penitent the prejudice and enmity of the Pharisees.




538                             AN ILLUSTRATED
It was wrought on the sabbath day, and pay attention is the resurrection of Lazathis, in their esteem, afforded some pretext rus.  This man was the brother of Martha
for opposition.   They accused  Jesus  of and Mary, who have been already introduced
profaning the sabbath, and cast the man to our notice.  Of this little family (who
(who had now become his disciple) out of resided in the town of Bethany), it is testithe synagogue.   This opposition became fled, that they were all beloved of Jesus.
still more violent, when Christ, in a discourse Yet Lazarus, though loved of his Lord, was
held with the Jews, in the porch of the sick, and eventually died of his illness.  In
temple, declared, "I and my Father are the mean time a message from the two sisters
one."  They even took up stones to stone had reached the Saviour, mentioning the
him; " but he escaped out of their hands, sickness of his friend; but continuing some
and went again beyond Jordan,"  where time where he was, he did not reach the
many resorted to him, and believed on him.  house of mourning till four days after the
We must not omit to mention here, among death and burial of Lazarus.
other instances of his goodness, the gracious    This circumstance, however, offered no
regard shown to helpless infancy, by the difficulty to him who was " the Resurrection
Redeemer; who, when some persons pres- and the Life."  Accompanied by a train of
ent brought young children to him, that mourners, and the sisters of the deceased,
they might share in his favor, " took them  with whom he wept on this occasion, he came
up in his arms, put his hands upon them, to the sepulchre; and the stone which covand blessed them."  Then, departing thence, ered the mouth being removed, Jesus, after
he went on to some other. place which he addressing his heavenly Father, " cried with
had designed to visit.                     a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth! "  His
In the way, he was accosted by a young word was attended with life-giving power:
ruler, who, in an earnest manner, desired  the grave resigned its prisoner; " and he
to know what he should do to inherit eternal that was dead came forth," bound  with
life.  The result of the conversation showed, grave-clothes, and his head wrapped with a
that this amiable youth, with all his morality, napkin.  " Loose him," said Christ, " and
was incapable of renouncing the world for let him go."
Christ, and  Jesus improved  the serious    From that day forth, the Jews, convinced
occasion, by delivering a general caution of his miraculous power, but still cherishing
against setting the  heart on the perishing their enmity against him, " took counsel
riches of this world; assuring his disciples, together to put him  to death."  On this
that those who had forsaken all for him, account "Jesus walked no  more openly
should, in some sense, be great gainers, even among the Jews," till the time appointed
in this life; and that in the world to come, for his suffering; but went, with his discithey should have life everlasting.         ples, into the country near the wilderness, to
The next event to which we shall here a city called Ephraim.
CHAPTER III.
LAST PASSOVER. -  ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM. -  THE AGONY. -  THE TRIAL.
THE passover, which now drew near, was from the place of his retreat, in order to
the season appointed in the divine purpose meet the fate which he well knew  awaited
for the death of Jesus Christ - himself the him, and of which he informed his disciples
great passover, the  atoning  sacrifice for in the journey to Jerusalem.*
the sins of men.  He departed, therefore,   On leaving Jericho, where they called on
JERUSALEM. - "Beautiful  for situation, Zion," to the heart of every devout Israelite:
the  joy of the whole  earth, was  Mount for thither "the tribes of the Lord went up




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    539
the way, Jesus was addressed by two blind have mercy on us "   The compassionate
men (one of whom was known by the name Saviour restored their sight, and they folof Bartimeus, the son of Timeus), who cried lowed  him  with  thankful hearts, glorying
out to him, " Jesus, thou  son of David, God.
to give thanks unto the name of the Lord; " and walls, and it again became the capital of a
" there " also were " set thrones of judgment, the kingdom. The Christian monarchy of Jerusalem
thrones of the house of David."  (Psalm xlviii. was of short duration.
2, cxxii. 4, 5.) Jerusalem  is situated near the    Godfrey was succeeded by his brother Baldwin,
centre of Palestine, among the mountains, about who died in 1118. In the year 1188, Saladin,
thirty-seven miles from the Mediterranean Sea, sultan of the East, captured the city, which was
and twenty-three from  the River Jordan. The restored to the Latin princes by Saleh Ismael,
most ancient name of this city was Salem (Gen. emir of Damascus, and fifty years afterward they
xiv. 18); and it was afterward called Jebus, from  lost it to the sultans of Egypt, who held it until
one of the sons of Canaan (Josh. xviii. 28). Being 1382. Selim the Turkish sultan reduced Egypt
a very strong position, it resisted many attempts and Syria, including Jerusalem, in 1517; and it
of the Israelites to subdue it, until at length itwas still continues under the Turkish dominion,
reduced by David (2 Sam. v. 6-9), after which it " trodden down of the Gentiles," in literal fulfilreceived its present name, and was also called the ment of our Lord's prediction.
City of David.                                   This  city occupies an  irregular  square
After its destruction by the Chaldneans, Jeru- between two miles and a half and three miles
salem was rebuilt by the Jews on their return  in circumference.  The walls by which it is
from the Babylonish captivity, about the year surrounded are flanked at irregular distances by
B. C. 536. They exerted themselves much in order square towers, and have battlements all around
to restore its former splendor; and Herod the on their summits, with loop-holes for arrows or
Great expended vast sums in its embellishment. musketry close to the top. The walls appear to
At length it was taken, A. D. 72, by the Romans be about fifty feet in height, but are not surrounded
under Titus, who ineffectually endeavored to save by a ditch: within them are seen crowded dwellits celebrated temple; the foundations of which ings, remarkable in no respect, except being
were ploughed up by the Roman soldiers. Thus, terraced by flat roofs, and generally built of stone.
agreeably to the predictions of the prophets, " Zion The mosque of Omar is the most elegant edifice
was ploughed as a field, and Jerusalem became of the Turks in Jerusalem. It occupies the site
heaps " (Jer. xxvi. 18; Mic. iii. 12); and, con- of the great temple of Solomon, and is held in
formably to the prophecy of Jesus Christ, not one such profound veneration by the Mussulmans as
stone was left upon another which was not thrown to have become forbidden ground to any Jew or
down (Matt. xxiv. 2).  As, however, the Jews Christian, who, if detected entering its precincts,
continued to return, the emperor Hadrian planted must either adopt the Mussulman faith or forfeit
a Roman colony there, and erected a city on his life.  Two modern travellers, however (the
part of the former site of Jerusalem, which he late Mr. Burckhardt, and M. Badhia under the
called IElia Capitolina, and exerted himself to assumed name of All Bey), succeeded in obtainobliterate all traces both of Judaism  and Chris- ing a view of the interior of this building, in the
tianity. But in the reign of Constantine, the first garb of Moslems; and subsequently it was visited
Christian emperor, it resumed its ancient name, and examined in detail, four several times, by Dr.
which it has retained to the present day. Julian  Richardson, whose skill as a physician had prothe apostate, who, after his father, succeeded to cured for him that extraordinary privilege.  The
the throne of his uncle Constantine, endeavored to elevated platform or terrace upon which it stands
rebuild the temple; but his design (and that of is bounded by embankment-walls, and others of
the Jews whom he patronized) was frustrated, ancient construction, forming a level area of795 feet
A.D. 363. An earthquake, a whirlwind, and a fiery in length by 750 feet in breadth. The church of the
eruption, compelled the workmen to abandon their Holy Sepulchre is erected on the site of the magdesign.                                       nificent ancient church which was destroyed by fire
The subsequent history of Jerusalem may be some years ago: it has been rebuilt by various sects
narrated in few words. In A. D. 613 it was taken of Christians, who have separate portions of the
by Cosrhoes, king of Persia, who slew ninety building allotted to them for the performance of
thousand of the inhabitants; and, to the utmost their respective services. The general plan of the
of his power, demolished whatever the Christians former building is stated to have been preserved
had venerated. In A. D. 627 the emperor Herac- with such exactness, that the descriptions of it
lius defeated Cosrhoes, and Jerusalem was recov- given by former travellers are equally applicable to
ered by the Greeks. The caliph Omar, the third in the modern edifice.  The Greek, Armenian, and
succession from Mohammed, was its next' con- Latin Christians, severally have their convents:
queror; A. D. 636 he captured it from the Chris- the principal is that of Saint Salvador, which is
tians after a siege of four months;  and it con- occupied by monks of the Franciscan order, who
tinned under the caliphs of Bagdad until A. D. 868, hospitably entertain pilgrims of all Christian
when it was taken by Ahmed, a Turkish sover- nations. It will accommodate about two hundred
eign of Egypt. During the space of 220 years it persons, and is so completely enclosed by lofty
was subject to several masters, Turkish and Sara- walls as to resemble a fortress.
cenic; and in 1099 it was taken by the crusaders    The population  ordinarily resident in Jeruunder Godfrey of Bouillon, when the standard of salem  may be stated at 12,000; but it is conthe cross was triumphantly displayed upon its siderably  increased by the pilgrims who flock




540                                AN ILLUSTRATED
In the crowd which gathered around whlileall his disciples and followers united in
Jesus in passing through Jericho, was a man  crying, "Hosanna to the son of David!"
by the name of Zaccheus, a chief man among    The heart of Jesus, however, was far from
the publicans, and rich. Being low of stature, being elated with this triumph.  "When he
he ran before the multitude, and climbed a was come near, he beheld the city, and wept
sycamore-tree, in order to have a sight of this over it!"   He saw  the approaching doom
great prophet.  He was not, however, con- of this devoted place, when God, in righteous
cealed from  the eye of Christ, who called indignation, would give it up to the power
him down from the tree, and graciously de- of the Roman armies; and, in a prophecy didlaredl, that salvation had come to his house; rected to the city, he foretold that doom.
while Zaeeheus, under a divine influence,    Having entered into the temple, and again
professed his intention to give half his goods expelled the profane rabble of traders and
to the poor, and his readiness to restore four- money-changers, who, it seems, had resumed
fold to  any person who  might have been their seats,t he healed  the blind and the
defrauded by his dealings.                     lame, who came to him  there; though his
Six days before the passover, Jesus came wonderful works, and the shoutings of the
to Bethany," where, being at supper in the children in the temple, cryng, "Hosanna
house of Martha, with  his  disciples and  to he Son of David," sorely displeased the
Lazarus, Mary expressed her holy affection  chief priests and scribes, who  " sought to
by pouring on his head an alabaster box of destroy him, and could not find what they
preeious ointment, anointing his feet also, might do; for all the people were very
and wiping them with her hair; and this act attentive to hear him."
Jesus declared  was the  anointing of his   In the course of his public exercises, Jesus
body to his approaching burial.                having addressed his heavenly Father, prayHaving come to the M1ount of Olives, he ing that God would glorify his own name, a
sent two of his disciples to procure a colt voice from  heaven declared, "I have both
(the foal of an ass) on which, though never glorified it, and will glorify it ag in.   This
before ridden by man, he made his entry  voice was mistaken by somne for t huLnder;
into the city of Jerusalem; thus fulfilling a others said an angel had spoken to him; but
prophecy respecting the Messiah, in  Z-ch. Jesus assured themn that this voice had come,
ix. 9.  In the mean time, the multitude that not on his account, but for th ir sakes, that
surrounded him i~pread their garments in the they might profit by this divine testimony.
way, and cutting branches friom  the trees,    After many discourses and admonintions
strewed them in the road, according to the delivered to the scribes and Pharisees, who
usual custom of expressing joy, on the arrival endeavored, but in vain, "to entangle him
of a great prince.  Many also from  Jeru- in his talk," as well as several parables,
salem met hnim with branches of palm-trees; which we here pass over, we find our Lord, in
thither at certain seasons of the year, particularly  and in conseqence of which, it contains a full proat Easter, when they are crowded into the several portion of the sort of objects to which the attenconvents.                                      tion of pilgrims is usually directed: these are the
* BETHANY, as we are informed (John xi. 18), tomb of Lazarus, with the ruins of the house he is
was "nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs supposed to have occupied, arid also the houses of
off."  The place is not mentioned, at least under his sisters, and of Simon the leper. That which
this name, in the Old Testament; but it occurs is shown as the house of Lazarus is a ruin, the
several times in the Talmudical writings. It is stones of which are very large, and of a solid and
situated to the east of the Mount of Olives, on the sombre cast of architecture, and which the Rev.
road to Jericho. Its situation is pleasant and some- V. Monroe (" Summer's Ramble in Syria," vol.
what romantic, being sheltered by the Mount of i., p. 189) conjectures to have formed pa)t of the
Olives on the north, and abounding with trees convent built by Fulco, king of Jerusalem. Near
and long grass. It is now a poor village, inhabited these ruins is the alleged tomb of Lazarus, thus
by Arabs;  and the cultivation of the adjacent noticed by th e same writer: " The exterior do.    orsoil is much neglected. It seems, however, about way of the torah of Lazarus is formned artificially
our Saviour's time to have enjoyed some kind of of stone-work; but the steep, narrow, and winding
trade (perhaps in olives, figs, and datds, which staircase which leads below  is cut in the living
abounded in this neighborhood), as the Jewish rock, as well as the grave itself."
writers mentioa "1the shops of Bethany," which    t It does -not appear probable that this transacwere, as they inform us, destroyed three, years tion, recorded so late in two of the evangelists, is
before Jerusalem. Bethany is at present chiefly the same with that mentioned by John so early in
noticed on account of its mention in the gospels; the public ministry of Christ.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    541
a prophletic way, informing his disciples on the Saviour, preparing to eat the last passover
subject of the destruction of Jerusalem; the with his disciples; while Judas Iscariot, one
certainty of that calamitous event, and the cir- of the twelve apostles, makes a bargain with
cumstances which would attend it.  He fore- the chief priests and captains, to betray him
tells also the spread of the gospel; represents, him into their hands.  Thirty pieces of silver
in the parable of the five talents, and in that was the price of his Master's blood; and from
of the ten virgins, the state of the visible that time "he sought opportunity to betray
church on earth; and closes his discourse him in the absence of the multitude."
with an account of the great day of judgment;    At the supper of the  passover, which
when he, as the king, will sit upon the Jesus informed his disciples was the last he
throne of his glory, and pass on the righteous should eat with them  on earth, he made a
and the wicked their final sentence.          declaration that one of them would betray
We next take  a view  of our divine  him; and intimating to Judas that he was
_~ -~~ ~   - -------  - -- ------ -- — ~ —---— _ _. _-:-.=
OLIVE-TREES STANDIG IN TEE GARDEN OF GETHISEMIANE.
acquainted with his design, the traitor went   Judas being now gone, Jesus entered on
out in order to accomplish his purpose.  On  a long discourse fitly adapted to the situthis memorable night, Jesus instituted what ation of his disciples under the melancholy
is termed the Lord's Supper; giving to his prospect of parting with their Lord.  This
disciples the bread, in token of his body, was closed by.a fervent prayer in their bebroken for his people; and then the wine, half; and then he went out with his disciples,
representing his blood, shed for the remission and, crossing the Brook  Kedron, entered
of sins.  At this passover too, our Lord into a garden called Gethsemane,* where he
gave a notable example of humble con- had often before retired.  Here he gave his
deseension, by girding himself with a towel, disciples notice of his being about to be
and washing the feet of his disciples.       taken, even on that night, when they would
OLIVE-TREES NOW STANDING IN THE GAR- places in the vicinity of Jerusalem which is visited
DEN OF GETHSEMANE (see engraving).- The by every Christian pilgrim. This deeply interestGarden of Gethsemane is one of those sacred ing spot is situated between the foot of the Mount




542                              AN ILLUSTRATED
all be scattered from him, as sheep when the high-priest.  After a mock trial before the
shepherd is smitten (Zech. xiii. 7).         Jewish council-  where he suffered the most
This declaration roused the zeal of Peter, shameful treatment -  he was pronounced
who, too full of confidence, avowed  his worthy of death; but, as the Jews had not
determination never to forsake his master; now the power of life and death in their
but Christ assured  him, that before  the hands, he was sent to Pontius Pilate, the
cock should crow twice on that night, Peter Roman governor, in order that this sentence
would thrice deny that he knew him.  The might be confirmed.
event, as we shall see, proved the knowledge    We must not, however, omit to take
which Jesus had of Peter's weakness, and notice of Peter, while his Master stood arserved as a warning to him ever afterward.  raigned before the council.  While all the
And now, taking with him  three of his other  disciples,  except John, had  fled,
disciples, Peter, James, and John, and re- Peter, following  at a distance, obtained
tiring from  the rest, Jesus began to feel admittance into  the  palace of the highthat severe anguish of mind, which was the priest.  Here he was three times charged,
consequence of his taking our sins, and  by some present, with being a disciple of
standing in the place of transgressors.  Nor Jesus, and three times he denied the charge.
was this all.  Having withdrawn a small But when, on the third denial, the cock crew
distance from the three disciples, he fell on his a second time, " Jesus turned and looked
face in prayer, and being in an agony, " his on Peter."   His  heart was inimediately
sweat was as it were great drops of blood  smitten; he remembered his Lord's predicfalling down to the ground."  In this con- tion, and "he went out and wept bitterly."
flict of soul, there appeared an angel from     In the case of Peter there was hope; but
heaven, strengthening him; after which he in that of Judas there was none.  When
returned  and joined the company  of his the traitor saw that his Master was condisciples.                                    demned, his guilty soul was stung with reIn the mean time, Judas, with a band of morse; " he brought again the thirty pieces
armed men, approached, with lanterns and  of silver to the chief priests and elders,"
torches;  and giving them  the  appointed  and declaring that he had "betrayed  the
token, by kissing his Master, they took hold  innocent blood," he cast them  down in the
on the unresisting Jesus, and having bound  temple, and departing in despair, went and
him; they led him  away to Caiaphas, the  hanged himself.
of Olives and the Brook Kedron: it was a place who consider any attempt to cut or injure them
frequently resorted to by Jesus Christ and his as an act of profanation. Should any one of' them,
apostles.  Thither Judas proceeded, accompanied  indeed, be known to pluck any of the leaves, he
by a number of officers, to betray him; and here would incur a sentence of excommunication. Of
the Saviour endured his "agony and bloody  the stones of the olives, beads are made, which the
sweat." (Luke, xxii. 39-49. Matt. xxvi. 36-56. monks of the Latin convent regard as one of' the
Mark, xiv. 32-46.  John. xviii. 1-12.)  This most sacred objects that can be presented to a
garden is surrounded by a coarse low wall, of a Christian traveller.
few feet in height, and about the third part of an    The ridiculous gravity with which the precise
acre in extent. When Mr. Catherwood was here places are shown where the most affecting and
in 1834, taking the drawings for his beautiful important incidents  in our Saviour's history
panorama of Jerusalem, it was planted with olive, occurred cannot entirely destroy the interest we
almond, and fig trees. Eight of the olive-trees are  feel, when we imagine ourselves to be near the
so large, that they are said to have been in exist- spot where the disciples and their Lord so often
ence ever since the time of Jesus Christ. Although  met to converse about the things pertaining to his
we are informed by Josephus that Titus cut down  kingdom, and to receive instruction in the mysall the trees within one hundred furlongs of the  terious plan of redemption which was then opencity, yet it is not improbable that these trees ing so gloriously upon a ruined world.
(which are unquestionably of very remote anti-    The prospect from the Garden of Gethsemane
quity) may have arisen from  the roots of the is one of the most pleasing in the vicinity of Jeruancient trees; because the olive is very long-lived, salem. The walls of the city are very distinctly
and possesses the peculiar property of shooting up seen hence, at the extreme edge of a precipitous
again, however frequently it may be cut down. bank.  Through  the trees, the bridge over the
The trees now standing in the Garden of Geth- Kedron is clearly perceptible; and the Turkish
sernane are of the species known to botanists as burial-ground is a marked point, from the tombs
the Olea Europce: they are wild olives, and appear being mostly white, with turbans on the top, to
pollarded from extreme age, and their stems are indicate the Moslem faith of the individuals whose
very rough and gnarled: they are highly venerated remains are there interred.
by the members of the Roman communion here,




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             543
CHAPTER IV.
CHRIST'S CONDEMNATION. -  CRUCIFIXION. -  RESURRECTION. -  ASCENSION.
FROM  the  bar of Pilate, Jesus was and maxims of worldly craft, disposing them
passed to Herod, the tetrarch of Galilee -   to value nothing which is not grateful to
who happened at that time to be in Jerusa- present sense or fancy, that God should put
letn -  and from Herod he was returned to his own beloved Son into so very sad and
Pilate.  His trial then proceeded; and, not- despicable a condition; that salvation from
withstanding the persuasion of the governor death and misery should be procured by so
that Jesus was innocent, the voice of the miserable a death; that eternal joy, glory,
multitude and of the chief priests prevailed; and happiness, should issue from these founand Pilate, having scourged him, delivered tains of sorrow and shame; that a person
him up to their fury.  The most cruel in- in external semblance devoted to so opprodignities followed.  They crowned him with brious usage  should be  the  Lord  and
thorns, mocked him, spit upon him, smote Redeemer of mankind, the King and Judge
him  on the head, and'ultimately led him  of all the world; let, I say, this doctrine be
away to be crucified.                     scandalous and disdainful to some persons
Pilate had, indeed, shown a desire to tainted with prejudice; let it be strange and
deliver Christ from the sentence of condem- incredible to others blinded with self-conceit;
nation, and, as it was the custom  at the let all the inconsiderate, all the proud, all the
passover to release a prisoner, he proposed profane part of mankind, openly with their
him as the object of favor on this occasion; mouth, or closely in  heart, slight and
but such was the malice of his enemies, reject it: yet to us it must appear grateful
that they cried out for the death of Jesus, and joyous; to us it is a faithful and most
and for the release of Barabbas, who was credible proposition, worthy of all acceptation,
a murderer and a robber; and such was that Jesus Christ came into the world to
the time-serving spirit of Pilate, that he save sinners, in this way of suffering for
could not resist the wishes of the multitude. them."  In such a light as this must every
The place of execution was called Cal- true Christian look upon the cross of his
vary, a little without the city of Jerusalem; blessed Redeemer.
and thither Jesus was conducted, bearing    The cruel mode of punishment by crucihis cross.  It was the third hour of the fixion appears to have been in use from the
day (or nine o'clock in the morning) when, earliest recorded period of history.  Possibly
arriving at the place, they crucified Jesus it was the invention of some barbarous tribe
Christ, nailing his hands and feet to the to prevent the escape of a captive, by fastencross, and raising him  up  between  the ing him to a tree; or used to inflict death on
heavens and the earth; while, full of divine an enemy, by leaving him exposed upon a tree,
compassion on his murderers, he prayed, to be a prey to birds and beasts, or to die
"Father, forgive them, for they know not of hunger.  In time, however, it was adoptwhat they do!"  At the same time also, ed by the most civilized nations of antiquity.
they crucified two thieves — who had been Among the Carthaginians, persons of all
brought along with Jesus —the one on his ranks, even commanders of armies, were
right hand, and the other on his left.    subject to it: among the Romans, however,
The cross of Christ is one of the most it was considered as the punishment of
interesting objects which can be presented to slaves, and inflicted  on that class only.
the Christian reader.  An eminent divine With reference to the Hebrews, it seems
says of it: " Let it be to the Jews a scandal, doubtful whether crucifixion was a mode of
or offensive to their fancy, prepossessed with punishment practised by them in ancient times.
expectations of a Messiah  flourishing  in The putting the sons of Saul to death, as
secular pomp and prosperity; let it be folly recorded 2 Sam. xxi., has been adduced as
to the Greeks, or seem absurd to men puffed an argument that it was; and the term
up and corrupted in mind, with fleshly notions " hanged on a tree," which is used, Acts x.




544                              AN ILLUSTRATED
39, to describe crucifixion, seems to favor painters; and certainly instruments of such
such a view.                                dimensions would be unnecessary for the
Whatever the original form of crosses may purpose.  Pone crucem  servo, "Put the
have been, we cannot tell; but in the course cross to the slave," is an expression used by
of timue they were made of two pieces of Juvenal.  It is probable, therefore, that it
wood, and they have been divided by anti- was the real cross which our Saviour carried,
quaries into three kinds: 1, the crux decus- and that he was nailed to it before it was
sata, or cross divided like the letter X, raised and fixed in the ground; which is in
and usually called St. Andrew's cross; 2, accordance with the general opinion.
the crux commissa, or joined cross, consisting    The manner in which this was done has
of an upright piece of timber, with a trans- been thus graphically described: " When
verse piece on the extreme top, at right angles the malefactor had carried his cross to the
with the first, like the letter T; and 3, the place of execution, a hole was dug in the
crux immissa, or let-in cross, in which the earth in which it was to be fixed; the criminal
transverse piece of timber is let into the up- was stripped; a stupefying potion was given
right, but placed somewhat below the top him; the cross was laid on the ground; he
of the upright, in this form t.  It is the was distended upon it, and four soldiers,
latter cross on which our Saviour is usually  two on each side, at the same time were
represented to have suffered, and though  employed in driving four large rnails Gtlrough
there may not be any absolute authority for his hands and feet.  After they had deeply
ascertaining the precise form of the cross used  fixed and riveted these nails in the.wood,
on this occasion, yet the circumstance of an  they  elevated the  cross with the sufferer
inscription being placed over his sacred head upon it; and in order to infix it the more
renders the conjecture probable.            firmly and securely in the earth, they let it
It is said by St. John (xix. 17), that violently fall into the cavity they had preJesus went forth " bearing his cross."  Ac- pared to receive it.  This vehement precipicordingly we find painters representing our tation of the cross must have occasioned a
Saviour bearing the entire cross on which he most dreadful convulsive shock, and agitated
suffered.  This, however, if we take into the whole frame of the malefactor in a dire
consideration the great weight the cross is and most excruciating manner.  These sevthought to have been, fromn its size, and from  eral particulars were observed in the cruciits being made of the hardest wood, generally fixion of our Lord.  Upon his arrival at
of oak, could scarcely b-e possIble; and painters Calvary, he was stripped; the medicated cup
themselves have also been practically sensible was offered to him; he was fastened to the
of this; for the same painter who represents cross; and while they were employed in
Christ bearing his cross, gives a representa- piercing his hands and his feet, it is probation of one shorter and nmore portable, than ble that he offered to Heaven that most
that which he exhibits in a painting of the benevolent and affecting prayer for his mur.
crucifixion.  But this, some imagine, may derers,' Father, forgive them, for they know
be correct.  They think that the cross which not what they do.'"
our Saviour carried was a representation of   Of whatever size the cross on which our
the cross of actual crucifixion; and that it was Redeemer paid the penalty of our transgresusual for prisoners to bear such, to suggest sions might have been, we learn from St.
to the people in the streets through which they Mark that it was of great weight.  He intiwere conducted the kind of punishment they mates to us, in a parallel passage to that of
were about to undergo.  Lipsius, on the St. John, that the soldiers, finding that
contrary, explains that the heaviest part of Jesus, exhausted by his sufferings, was no
the cross, the perpendicular beam, was either longer able to bear his cross, laid hold of
fixed in the ground before, or was ready to one Simon, a Cyrenian, who happened to
be set up when the condemned person arrived; be passing, and compelled him to bear it
and he contends, that the part which the for the sufferer (Mark xv. 21).  The praeprisoner carried was the large cross-beam to tice of a prisoner bearing his own cross, at
which the arms of the crucified were fastened. least among the Romans, very probably arose
There are others, again, who think that the friom the deep disgust and horror w'th which
crosses of the ancients were not so lofty, they looked upon this instrument of punlarge, and massive, as those depicted by ishment; the  prisoner, accordingly, was




/                                                  ___~~~~~~7;-~=
K             ji~ —----— ~~-~
JESUS PRAYING  IN THE GARDEN~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~








HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              545
condemned to bear his own instrument of driven into his hands and feet; or, as was
torture.                                  sometimes the case, of being fastened to the
Previous to crucifixion, it was the custom  cross with ropes.  The cross was then eleto scourge the sufferer, after which he was vated, and afterward the legs were broken,
stripped naked; and it is probable, as we and wounds were inflicted with a spear or
have seen, that he was laid down on the other sharp  instrument, to hasten death.
cross for the purpose of having the nails But this was not invariably done;  and as,
_ll.......tI,,i 
INTE IOR OF T HE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHIE, AT JERUSAEII.
in the ease of its omission, death would not himself unworthy to suffer in the same posi.
ensue for a length of time, guards were tion with his beloved Master.
placed to prevent the relations and friends   In leading to his death a person confrom giving them any relief, taking them demned to crucifixion, it was usual to carry
away while alive, or removing their bodies an inscription before hinm, stating the  rinme
after they weredead. Sometim their bodies crucifixption befor whih he suffered. To the charge of
tookl place with the head downward; and St. Jesus, no crime could be laid; but to his
Peter is said to have suffered death in this cross they fastened this inscription: " TurI
way, at his own express desire, deeming IS THE KING OF THE JiEws," Luke xxiii. 38.
35




546                            AN ILLUSTRATED
The sentence was written in three differ- when Jesus cried with a loud voice, " Eloi,
ent languages, and the reason which has Eloi, lama, sabachthani! " —that is, " My
been given for this is, that none might be God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me  "
unapprised of its contents.  It was written - thus showing that his soul was in pangs,
in Greek, which was the general language as well as his body.  After a little space, he
of commerce in Western Asia, and which cried again with a loud voice, and commendwould be familiar to many Jews from Eu- ing his spirit into the hands of his Father,
rope, Egypt, and elsewhere; it also was " he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."
written in the Syriac, called " Hebrew," the    At this awful event, the veil of the temple
vernacular language of Palestine; and it was rent in twain from the top to the bottom;
was written in Latin, probably for the use the earth quaked, and the rocks were torn
of the Romans, many of whom would as- asunder; the graves, too, of many of the
semble at Jerusalem  during the paschal saints were opened, and the dead, arising,
week.                                     appeared to many in the city of Jerusalem.
To advert to the many passages of holy These fearful tokens gave a solemn check to
writ which point to the cross of Christ as the feelings of the multitude that attended,
the foundation of a sinner's hope, would and produced on the minds of several a conextend our work beyond the assigned limits. viction that Jesus was the Son of God.
It must suffice, therefore, to say, that it is the   Thus expired this wonderful Sufferer! -
sum and substance of the Bible, and that, a ransom for sinners, a Saviour to all who
if we would be saved by it, we must look to truly believe in his name.  And now, as the
it with an eye of faith, as eagerly and fixedly next day was the sabbath of the Jews, as
as the Israelites of old, when bitten by the the bodies were not to remain on the cross on
fiery serpents, looked to the brazen serpent that day, and as they were making preparae
which prefigured the cross - erected by tlon for its approach, they petitioned Pilate
Moses to effect their cure.  There alone is that the legs of the crucified might be broken,
our hope of redemption.                   and that they might be taken away.  The
The punishment of crucifixion, it has been soldiers, therefore, having broken the legs
said, was so common among the Romans, of the two mlalefactors, when they came to
that, by a Very usual figure, pains, afflitions, Jesus and found that he was already dead,
troubles, &c., were called crosses.  Hence, forebore to perform the operation on him;
our Saviour says, that his disciples must take but one of them, to insure his death, pierced
up their cross, and follow him  (Matt. xvi. his side w'th a spear, whence there issued
24).  The cross, therefore, is the sign of blood and water.
ignominy and suffering, yet it is the badge   When the evenilng  was come, Joseph of
and glory of the Christian.  Christ is the Arimathea, a rich man and a counsellor, and
way we are to follow; and there is no way one who " waited for the kingdom of God,"
of attaining that glory and happiness whieh hav'ng begged of Pilate the body of Jesus,
are promised in the gospel, but by the cross took it down from the cross, and, assisted by
of Christ.                                Nicodemus, wrapped it in fine linen, with a
While under the agonies of the cross, the quantity of spices, after the Jewish mode of
Redeemer manifested his filial affection by burying.   Thus prepared, they laid the
committing his mother to the care of the sacred body in Joseph's own new  tomb,
beloved John; and in the same situation, he wh'ich was hewn out of a rock, in a garden
gave a signal instance of the power and free- near at hand, and rolling a large stone to the
ness of his grace, toward one of the thieves, door of the sepulchre, they departed.
who hung beside him.  The heart of this   At the same time, several pious women
poor creature was smitten with conviction and who followed Jesus from Galilee, and who
repentance, and, addressing a prayer to the from  a distance had beheld the mournful
dying Saviour, he received the soul-cheering scene of his sufferings, being present at his
answer, " To-day shalt thou be with me in burial, and seeing how the body was depositparadise."                                ed, " returned and prepared spices and ointAbout the sixth hour (or middle of the ments," intending after the Sabbath to visit
day) a supernatural darkness covered the the sepulchre for the purpose of embalming
-whole land, which continued till the ninth the body of their Lord.  The chief priests
hour (or three o'clock in the afternoon), and Pharisees, on their part, took a different




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HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                     547
course.  By  the authority  of Pilate, they had fled from the sepulchre and related their
sealed the stone at the mouth of the tomb, tale of wonder to the chief priests, who,
setting  around it a guard of soldiers, to pre- alarmed at the consequences that might folvent any attempt by the dcisc'ples of Jesus low, hired these wretched creatures to say
to steal him away, and thus pretend that their that the disciples came by night, and stole
Master was risen.                             away the body of Jesus while they were
Such was the state of things, till the com- asleep.  This absurd report was accordingly
mencement of the third day, being the first propagated, and prevailed among the Jews
day of the week.  Early in the morning of as a fact.
that day, Mary Magdalene, with Salome, and    It is proper we should here take notice of
another female disciple by the name of Mary, the case of Thomas, called Didymlus, who,
coming to the sepulchre for the purpose (as not being with  the disciples when Jesus
before mentioned) of embalming the body made his appearance among them as above
of Christ, found the stone removed from the mentioned, declared that he would not believe
door.  Scenes the most awful and glorious in the reality of his resurrection unless he
had just before been exhibited.  A  great should see and feel the print of the nails in
earthquake shook  the place; the angel of his hands, and the effect of the wound in his
the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away side.  Accordingly, about eight days after,
the stone and sat upon it; and while the when the disciples were all together, Jesus
keepers, struck with terror, became as dead  again appearing among them  presented his
men, Jesus, awaking from the sleep of death, hands and his side to Thomas, with a reproof
arose and left the tomb.                      - for his unbelief; while the astonished disciHis first appearance after this great event ple, overpowered with conviction, exclaimed,
was to Mary Magdalene, who stood weeping  " My Lord and my God."
at the sepulchre when Peter and John, who    "After these things, Jesus showed himself
had made a visit to the place, had departed. again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias,"'
Afterward  he appeared to  a company of where  several of them  were employed  in
women on their return from  the sepulchre; fishing, and then, by appointment, he met
then to two of the disciples on their way to  the eleven apostles on a mountain in Galilee,
a village called Emmaus, a few miles from  where he delivered to them the great gospel
Jerusalem.  The reports, however, of these commission, to  go  forth  and  "teach  all
witnesses of the resurrection met with but nations, baptizing them  in the name of the
little credit with the rest of the disciples, till Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Jesus, on the evening of the same day, pre- Ghost;"  pronouncing  at the  same  time,
sented himself among them, and confirmed  " He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be
their faith by appealing to his lately wounded saved; but he that believeth not shall be
hands and feet.                               damned.'
In the mean time, the affrighted guards    Forty days was the time pre-ordained for
* THE REsURRECTION. -- Twice had the sun    But who is this that commeth from  the tomb,
gone down on the earth, and all as yet was quiet with dyed garments from the bed of death? He
at the sepulchre: Death held his sceptre o'er the that is glorious in his appearance, walking in the
Son of God; still and silent the hours passed on; greatness of his strength? It is thy Prince, 0
the guards stood by their posts; the rays of the mid- Zion! Christian, it is your Lord! He hath trodnight moon gleamed on their helhets and on their den the winepress alone; he hath stailed his raispears; the enemies of Christ exulted in their ment with blood; but now, as the firstborn from
success; the hearts of his firiends were sunk in the womb of nature, he meets the morning of his
despondency and sortow; while the spirits of glo- resurrection.  He arises, a conqueror fiom  the
ry waited with anxious suspense to behold the grave; he returns with blessings from tile world of
event —wondering at the depth of the ways of spirits; he brings salvation to the sons of men.
God. At length, the morning star, arising in the Never did the returning sun usher in a day so
east, announced the approach of liglht; the third glorious   It was the jubilee of the universe!
day began to dawn on the world, when on a sud- The morning stars sang to-ether, and all the sons
den the earth trembled to its centre, and the pow- of God shouted for joy! The Father of Mercies
ers of Heaven were shaken; an angel of God looked down from his throne in the heavens with
descended; the guards shrunk back from  the complacency; he beheld his world restored -he
terror of his presence, and fell prostrate on the saw his work that it was good. Then did the
ground.  His countenance was like lightning, desert rejoice; the face of nature was gladdened
and his raiment was white as snow; he rolled before him, when the blessings of the Eternal deaway the stone from the door of the sepulchre, scended, as the dews of heaven, for the refreshing
and sat on it.                                of the nations.




548                             AN ILLUSTRATED
our Lord's continuance upon earth after his hands and blessed them.  While he was
resurrection.  These days being now almost doing this, and his apostles were placed in
expired, the apostles, according as they had an adoring posture, he was parted from them
been ordered, with  some of their select in the midst of the day, being gradually
friends, returned to Jerusalem, and there taken up in a shining  cloud, and triumassembled themselves in a private place, as phantly carried into heaven, where he now
they had always done after the crucifixion sitteth at the right hand of God his Father,
of their Master.  Here our blessed Lord "to  whom  be honor, glory, and power,
appeared to them for the last time; and after for ever and ever.  Amen."
instructing them  in many particulars con-   In this illustrious manner did the GREAT
cerning the kingdom  of God, and the man- REDEEMER of mankind depart, after having
ner in which they were to behave themselves finished the grand work about which he was
in propagating the doctrine of the gospel, he sent into the world; a work which angels
put them in mind that, during his abode with with joy described was to happen, and which
them in Galilee, he had often told them that through all eternity to come, at periods the
all things written in the law, the prophets, most immensely distant from the time of its
and the Psalms, concerning him were to be execution, will be looked back upon with
exactly accomplished.  At the same time inexpressible delight by every inhabitant of
" he opened their understandings; " that is, heaven;  for  though  the  minute  affairs
he removed their prejudices by the operation of time may vanish together and be lost
of his Spirit, cleared their doubts, improved when they are removed far back by the endtheir memories, strengthened  their judg- less progression of duration, yet this object
ments, and enabled them to discern the true  is such that no distance, however great, can
meaning  of the Scriptures. He then remind- lessen it.  The kingdom of heaven is erected
ed them that both Moses and the prophets on the incarnation and sufferings of the Son
had foretold that the Messiah was to suffer of God, and theefore no mortal whatever
in the very same manner he had suffered; can forget the foundation on which his hapthat he was to rise from the dead on the third  piness stands established; nor will any fail
day as he had done; and that repentance  of obtaining a seat in those mansions, proand remission of sins was to be preached in  vided he preserves a proper subjection to
the  Messiah's name  among all nations, Him who reigneth for ever and ever, and
beginning with the Jews.  He told them that whose favor is better than life itself.
they were to testify unto the world the exact   It may not be improper, in this place, to
accomplishment in him of all things foretold  admit a few  reflections on the life of the
concerning the  Messiah; and closed his blessed Jesus — a life the greatest and best
instructions to them  by giving them  a par- that was ever led by man, or was ever the
ticular charge, that they should not depart subject of any history, since the universe
from Jerusalem  until they had received that was called from  its original chaos by the
miraculous effusion of the Holy Ghost which powerful word of the Almighty.
he had promised and would shortly send    The human character of the blessed Jesus
down upon them. He likewise gave them to is entirely different from  that of all other
understand, that after the descent of the men  whatever; for  whereas  they  have
Holy Ghost upon them  they would have selfish passions deeply rooted in their breasts,
juster notions of those matters, and be suf- and are influenced by them in almost every
ficiently enabled to be the authentic witnesses thing they do, Jesus was so entirely free from
of his life and  actions throughout the them, that the most severe scrutiny cannot
world.                                    furnish one single action, in the whole course
After our blessed Lord had thus fortified of his life, wherein he consulted his own
his apostles for the important work they interest only.  No; he was influenced by
were going to undertake, he led them  out very different motives: the happiness and
of the city to that part of the Mount of eternal welfare of sinners regulated his conOlives which was nearest to Bethany.  On duct; and while others followed their respectheir arrival there, he gave  them  some tive occupations, Jesus had no other business
further instructions relative to the measures than that of promoting the happiness of the
they were to follow in order to propagate sons of men.  Nor did he wait till he was
his gospel, after which he lifted up his solicited to extend his benevolent hand to the




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                            549
distressed: "he went about doing good," and have discovered the degeneracy and corrupalways accounted it " more blessed to give tion of human nature, and shown themselves
than to receive; " resembling God rather than to have been nothing more than men; but
man.  He went about doing good; benevo- it was otherwise with Jesus. HEe was supelence was the very life of his soul: he not rior to all the men that ever lived, both with
only did good to objects presented to him  regard to the purity of his manners, and the
for relief, but he industriously sought them  perfection of his virtues.  He was holy,
out, in order to extend his compassionate harmless, undefiled, and separated from sinassistance.                              ners.
It is common for persons of the most   Whether we consider him as a teacher, or
exalted faculties to be elated with success as a man, "he did no sin; neither was
and applause, or dejected by censure and guile found in his mouth."  His whole life
disappointments; but the blessed Jesus was was perfectly free from spot or weakness; at
not elated by the one nor depressed by the the same time it was remarkable for the greatother.  He was never more courageous than est and the most extensive exercises of virtue.
when he met with the greatest opposition But never to have committed the least sin,
and cruel treatment; nor more humbled in word or in deed, never to have uttered
than when the sons of men worshipped at any sentiment that could be censured, upon
his feet.                                the various topics of religion and morality,
He came into the world inspired with the which were the daily subjects of his disgrandest purpose that ever was formed, that courses, and that through the course of a
of saving from eternal perdition, not a single life filled with action, and led under the obnation, but the whole world; and in the servation of many enemies, who had always
execution of it, went through the longest access to converse with him, and who often
and heaviest train of labors that ever was came to find fault, is a pitch of perfection
sustained, with a constancy and resolution, evidently above the reach of human nature;
on which no  disadvantageous  impression and consequently he who possessed it must
could be made by any accident whatever. have been divine.
Calumny, threatenings, bad success, with   Such was the person who is the subject
many other evils constantly attending him, of the evangelical history.  If the reader, by
served only to quicken his endeavors in this reviewing his life, doctrine, and miracles, as
glorious enterprise, which he unweariedly they are here represented to him, united
pursued even till he finished it by his death. in one series, has a clearer idea of these
The generality of mankind are prone to things than before, or observes a beauty in
retaliate injuries received, and all seem to his actions thus linked together, which taken
take a satisfaction in complaining of the separately do not appear so fully; if he
cruelties of those who oppress them; where- feels himself touched by the character of
as the whole of Christ's labors breathed Jesus in general, or with any of his sermons
nothing but meekness, patience, and forgive- and actions in particular, thus simply delinness, even to his bitterest enemies, and in eated in writing, whose principal charms are
the midst of the most excruciating torments. the beauties of truth: above all, if his dying
The words, " Father, forgive them, for they so generously for men strikes him with adknow not what they do," uttered by him  miration, or fills him with joy in the prospect
when his enemies were nailing him to the of that pardon. which is thereby purchased
cross, fitly express the temper which he for the world: let him  seriously consider
maintained  through  the whole course of with himself what improvement he ought to
his life, even when assaulted by the heaviest make of the divine goodness.
provocations.  He was destined to suffer-   Jesus, by his death, hath set open the
ings here below, in order that he might raise gates of immortality to the sons of men; and
his people to honor, glory, and immortality, by his word, spirit, and example, graciously
in the realms of bliss above; and therefore offers to make them meet for the glorious
patiently, yea joyfully, submitted to all that rewards in the kingdom  of the heavenly
the malice of earth and hell could inflict. Canaan, and to conduct them into the inherHe was vilified, that we might be honored; itance of the saints in light.  Let us, therehe died, that we might live for ever and ever. fore, remember, that being born under the
To conclude: the greatest and best men dispensation of his gospel, we have, from our




550                             AN ILLUSTRATED
earliest years, enjoyed the best means of perfectly intelligible to every capacity; and
securing to ourselves an interest in that favor the whole is manifestly adapted to establish
of God, which is life; and that loving-kind- in us a proper sense of the great obligations
ness, which is better than life.            we lay under both to God and Christ.
We have been called to aspire after an    The gospel places religion not in abstruse
exaltation  to the felicity of the heavenly speculation, and  metaphysical subtleties;
mansions exhibited to mortal eyes in the man not in outward show, and tedious ceremony;
Jesus Christ, to fire us with the noblest am- not in superstitious austerities and enthusiasbition.  His gospel teaches us that we are tic visions; but in purity of heart and holimade for eternity; and that our present life ness of life.  The sum of our duty (according
is to our future existence, as infancy is to to  our great  Master  himself)  consists
manhood.  But as in the former, many in the love of God and of our neighbor.
things are to be learned, many hardships to According to St. Paul, in denying ungodlibe endured, many habits to be acquired, ness, and wordly lusts; and in living soberly,
and that by a course of exercises, which in righteously and godly in this present world.
themselves though painful, and possibly use- According to St. James, in visiting the
less to the child, yet are necessary to fit him  fatherless and widow in affliction, and in
for the business and enjoyments of manhood. keeping ourselves unspotted from the world.
So while we remain in this infancy of human  This is the constant strain and tenor of the
life, things are to be learned, hardships to gospel.  This it inculcates most earnestly,
be endured, and habits to be acquired, by a and on this it lays the greatest stress.
laborious discipline, which, however painful,   It may be asked if the Christian relimust be undergone, because necessary to fit gion is only a view of the law of nature, or
us for the employments and pleasures of our merely a refined system  of morality?  To
riper existence, in the realms above, always which we answer, that it is a great deal
remembering that whatever our trials may  more than either.  It is an act of grace, a
be, in this world, if we ask for God's assist- stupendous plan of Providence, for the reance, he has promised to give it.  Inflamed, covery of mankind from a state of degradatherefore, with the love of immortality and  tion and ruin, to the favor of the Almighty,
its joys, let us submit ourselves to our heav- and to the hope of a happy immortality
enly teacher, and learn of him  those graces, through a mediator.
which alone can render life pleasant, death    Under this dispensation, true religion condesirable, and fill eternity with ecstatic joys. sists in a repentance toward God, and in
We cannot close the solemn scene of the  faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as the perlife of our dear Lord  and Saviour with  son appointed by the supreme Authority of
greater propriety than by making a few ob- heaven and earth, to reconcile apostate man
servations on the nature of his religion, and  to his offended Creator.  And what hardconsidering the great benefits which will in- ship is there in all this?  Surely none.
fallibly result to all, who shall, by faith, Nay, the practice of religion is much easier
receive and embrace his holy doctrine.      than the servitude of sin.
The religion of Christ is the perfection    It certainly must be allowed by all that
of human nature, and the foundation of uni- our rational powers are impaired and the
form, exalted pleasure: of public order, and  soul weakened by sin.  The animal pasprivate happiness.  Christianity is the most sions are strong, and apt to oppose the dicexcellent and the most useful institution, tates of the spirit of God: objects of sense
having " the promise of the life that now is, make powerful impressions on the mind.
and of that which is to come."  It is the We are, in every situation, surrounded with
voice of reason; it is also the language of many snares and temptations.  In such a
scripture: " the ways of wisdom  are ways disordered state of things, to maintain an
of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." undeviating path of duty, cannot be efAnd our blessed Saviour himself assures us, fected by poor weak man.  There are, howthat his precepts are easy, and the burden ever, generous aids afforded us to persevere
of his religion light.                     in the ways of the Lord.
The Christian religion comprehends all   The gracious author of nature has planted
we ought to believe, and all we ought to in the human breast a quick sense of good
practise: its  positive rites are few, and and evil; a faculty which strongly dictates




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  551
right and  wrong; and  though  by' the resembles a serene day, enlightened  and
strength of appetite and warmth of passion, enlivened with the brightest rays of the sun.
men are often hurried into immoral prae- Though all without may be clouds and darktices, yet in the beginning, especially when ness, there is light in the heart of a pious
there has been the advantage of a good edu- man.  " He is satisfied from himself, and is
cation, it is usually  with reluctance and filled with peace and joy in believing."  In
opposition of mind.   What inward strug- the concluding scene (the awful moment of
gles precede!  What bitter pangs attend dissolution) all is peaceful and serene.  The
their sinful excesses!  What guilty blushes immortal part quits its tenement of clay,
and uneasy fears!  What frightful pros- with the well-grounded hopes of ascending
peets and pale  reviews!   "Terrors  are to happiness and glory.
upon them, and a fire not blown consumeth    Nor does the gospel enjoin any duty but
them."  To make a mock at sin, and- to what is fit and reasonable.  It calls upon
commit iniquity without remorse, requires all its professors to practise reverence, subgreat length of time, and much painful mission, and gratitude  to  God; justice,
labor; more labor than is requisite to attain  truth, and universal benevolence to men:
that habitual goodness which is the glory of and to maintain the government of our own
the man, the ornament of the Christian, and  minds.  And what has any one to object
the chief of his happiness.                 against this'?  From the least to the greatThe soul can no more be reconciled to est commandment of our dear Redeemer,
acts of wickedness and injustice, than the there is not one which impartial reason can
body to excess, but by suffering many bitter find fault with.  "His law is perfect; his
pains and cruel attacks.                    precepts are true and righteous, altogether."
The voice of conscience may, indeed, be NMot even those excepted, which require us
stopped  for a time, by false principles: to love our enemies, to deny ourselves, and
its secret whispers may be drowned by the to take up our cross.  To forgive an injury
noise of company, and stifled by the enter- is more generous and manly than to revenge
tainments of sense; but this principle of it; to control a licentious appetite than to
conscience is so deeply rooted in human indulge it;  to  suffer poverty, reproach,
nature, and, at the same time, her voice is and even death itself, in the sacred cause
so clear and strong, that the sinner's arts of truth  and integrity, is much wiser and
will be unable to lull her into a lasting better, than, by base compliances, to make
security.                                   shipwreck of faith and a good conscience.
When the hour of calamity arrives, when    Thus in a storm at sea, or a conflagration
sickness seizes, and death approaches the on the land, a man with alacrity abandons
sinner, conscience now  constrains him  to his lumber to secure his jewels.  Piety and
listen to her accusations, and will not suffer virtue are the wisest and most reasonable
the temples of his head to take any rest. things in the world; vice and wickedness
" There is no peace to the wicked; " the the most irrational and absurd.
foundations of peace are subverted, they are    The all-wise Author of our being hath so
at utter enmity with their reason, with their framed our natures, and placed us in such
conscience, and with their God.             relations, that there is nothing vicious but
Not so is the case of true religion.  For what is injurious; nothing virtuous but what
when religion, pure and genuine, forms the is advantageous to our present interest, both
tempers, and governs the life, conscience with respect to body and mind.  Meekness
applauds, and peace takes its residence in and humility, patience and universal charity,
the breast.  The soul is in its proper state. and grace, give a joy unknown to transThere is order and regularity both in the gressors.
faculties  and  actions.   Conscious  of its    The divine virtues of truth and equity are
own integrity, and secure of divine approba- the only bands of friendship, the only suption, the soul enjoys a calmness not to be ports of society.  Temperance and sobriety
described.  But why do we call this happy are the best preservatives of health and
frame calmness only?  It is far more than strength; but sin and debauchery impair
mere calmness.  The air may be calm, and the body, consume the substance, reduce us
the  day  overcast with  thick  mists and to poverty, and form  the direct path to an
clouds.   The  pious  and  virtuous mind immature and untimely death.




552                             AN ILLUSTRATED
To render our duty easy, we have the ings, would signify nothing; and duty and
example, as well as the commands, of the obligation would be words without a meanblessed Jesus.  The masters of morality ing.  The spirit assisteth in a manner agreeamong the heathen gave excellent rules for able to the frame of human nature; not
the regulation of men's manners; but they controlling the free use of reason, but by aswanted either the honesty, or the courage to sisting the understanding, influencing the will,
try their own arguments upon themselves. and moderating the affections.  But though
It was a strong presumption that the yoke of we may not be able to explain the mode of
the scribes and Pharisees was grievous, when his operations, the Scriptures warrant us to
they laid " heavy burdens upon men's shoul- assert, that when men are renewed and preders," which they themselves refused to touch pared for heaven, it is " through sanctification
with one of their fingers. Not thus our great of the spirit," and " belief of the truth."
law-giver, Jesus Christ the righteous.  His How  enlivening the thought! — how encourbehavior was in all respects conformable to aging the motive! We are not left to strughis doctrine. His devotion toward God, how  gle alone with the difficulties which attend
sublime and ardent! — benevolence toward the practice of virtue in the present inmpelmen, how great and diffusive! He was in feet state. The merciful Father of our spirit
his life an exact pattern of innocence; for he is ever  near to help our infirmities, to
" did no sin; neither was guile found in his enlighten the understanding, to strengthen
mouth."  In the Son of God incarnate is good resolutions, and, in concurrence with
exhibited the brightest, the fairest resem- our own endeavors, to make us conquerors
blance of the Father, that heaven and earth over all opposition.  Faithful is he to his
ever beheld, an example  peculiarly per- promises, and will not suffer the sincere and
suasive, calculated to inspire resolution, and well disposed to be tempted above what they
to animate us to use our utmost endeavors to are able to bear. What can be desired more
imitate the divine pattern, the example of than this?  To promote the happiness of his
"the Author and Finisher of our faith,"  people, every thing is done that is requisite,
of him  "who loved us and gave himself for his grace is all-sufficient, his Spirit is able
us."  Our profession and character as Chris- to conduct us through this vale of tears, to'
tians oblige us to make this example the never-fading bliss.
model of our lives. Every motive of decency,   We should also remember, that the great
gratitude, and interest, constrains us to tread doctrine of the gospel, concerning the prothe paths he trod before us.               pitious mercy of God to all penitents, through
Wire should also remember that our burden  Christ Jesus, greatly contributes to the conis easy; because God, who " knoweth where- solation of Christians.  Let it be granted,
of we are made, who considereth that we that the hope of pardon is essential to the
are but dust," is ever ready to assist us. religion of fallen creatures, and one of its
The heathen themselves had some notion of first principles, yet, considering the doubts
this assistance, though guided only by the and suspicions which are apt to arise in a
glimmering lamp of'reason.  But what they mind conscious of guilt, it is undoubtedly a
looked upon as probable, the gospel clearly great and inestimablle favor, to be relieved
and strongly asserts.   We there hear the in this respect, by the interposition of divine
apostle exhorting, " Let us come boldly to assistance.  This is our happiness.  We are
the throne of grace, that we may obtain fully assured, that upon our true repentance,
mercy, and find grace to help in time of we shall, " through the mediation of Christ,"'
need."  We there hear the blessed Jesus receive the "full remission of sins," and be
himself arguing in this convincing manner: restored to the same state and favor with our
"If ye, being evil, know how to give good Maker, as if we had never transgressed his
gifts unto your children, how  much more laws.  Here the gospel triumphs.  With
shall'your heavenly Father give the Holy these assurances it abounds. Upon this head
Spirit to them that ask him?"              the declaration of our blessed Saviour and
We would not here be understood to mean, his apostles are so express and full, that
that the agency of the spirit is irresistible, every one who believes them, and knows
and lays a necessitating bias on all the facul- himself to be a true penitent, must banish
ties and affections.  Were this the case, pre- every doubt and fear, and rejoice with joy
cepts and prohibitions, promises and threaten- unspeakable.  "Come unto me all ye that




HISTORY  OF THE  BIBLE.                              553
labor, and are heavy-laden, and I will give immortality is very sparingly mentioned, and
you rest" (Matt. xi. 28).  "All manner obscurely represented, but the doctrine of
of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto our Saviour hath " brought life and immormen " (Matt. xii. 31). " Be it known unto tality to light."  In the gospel we have a
you therefore men and brethren, that through distinct account of another world, attendced
this man is preached unto you the forgive- with many engaging circumstances; about
ness of sins; and by him all that believe are which the decisions of reason were dark and
justified from all things, from which we could confused.  We have the testimony of the
not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts Author of our religion, who was raised from
xiii. 38, 39.) What grace and favor is this! the dead, and who afterward, in the presence
Who can dwell upon the transporting theme of his disciples, ascended into heaven.  In
too long!  Now our way is plain before us, the New Testament it is expressly declared,
and the burden we are to bear is made cornm- that good men, " when absent from the body,
fortably easy.                             are present with the Lord."  Here we are
Consider this, all ye who have never yet assured of the resurrection of the body in a
regarded religion, but pursued a course of glorious form, clothed with immortal vigor,
vice and sensuality all your lives long. suited to the active nature of the animating
Though your conduct has been base to the spirit, and assisting its most enlarged operalast degree, your case is not desperate.  Far tions and incessant progress toward perfecfrom it. The God whom you have so highly tion. Here we are assured that " the rightoffended commiserates your errors, is ever eous shall go into life everlasting," that they
ready to extend his pardoning mercy to his shall enter into the'heavenly Canaan, where
most degenerate creatures, upon their faith no ignorance shall cloud the understanding,
and repentance, and "is in Christ Jesus no vice disturb the will.  In these regions
reconciling the world to himself, not imput- of perfection, nothing but love shall possess
ing unto [penitent] sinners their trespasses. the soul; nothing but gratitude employ the
Let the wicked [therefore] forsake his way, tongue; there the righteous shall be united
and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and to an innumerable company of angels, and
let him return unto the Lord, and he will to the general assembly and church of the
have mercy upon him; and to our God, for first-born.  There they shall see their exhe will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah lv. 7.) alted Redeemer, at the right hand of OmAnother particular, which renders the nipotence, and sit down with him  on his
Christian religion delightful is its leading throne; there they shall be admitted into
us to the perfect, eternal life of heaven.  It the immediate presence  of the  supreme
cannot be denied but that we may draw from  Fountain of life and happiness, and, beholdthe light of nature strong presumptions of a ing his face, be changed into the same image,
future state.  The present existence does not from glory to glory.
look like an entire scene, but rather like the    Here language -  here imagination fails
infancy of human nature, which is capable of us.  It requires the genius, the knowledge,
arriving at a much higher degree of maturity; the pen of an angel, to paint the happiness,
but whatever solid foundation the doctrine of the blissful scene of the New Jerusalem,
a future state may have had, in nature and which human eyes cannot behold, till this
reason, certain it is, through the habitual mortal body shall be purified from its corrupneglect of reflection, and the force of irregular tion, and dressed in the robes of immortality:
passions, this doctrine was, before the coming " Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
of our blessed Saviour, very much disfigured, have entered into the heart of man, the
and in a great measure lost, among the sons things which God hath prepared for them
of men.                                   that iove him."  1 Cor. ii. 9.
In the heathen world, a future state of   What is the heaven of the heathen when
rewards and punishments was a matter of compared with the heaven of the Christians?
mere speculation and uncertainty, sometimes The hope, the prospect of this, is sufficient
hoped for, sometimes doubted, and sometimes to reconcile us to all the difficulties that may
absolutely denied. The law of Moses, though attend our progress, sweeten all our labors,
of divine original, is chiefly enforced by alleviate  every grief, and  silence  every
promises of temporal blessings; and, even murmur.
in the writings of the prophets, a future    But why, says the libertine in the gayety




554                             AN ILLUSTRATED
of his heart, should there bie any difficulties penetrable.  This hath set the great truths
or restraints at all? God hath made nothing of religion in a clear and conspicuous point
in vain.  The appetites he hath planted in of view, and proposed new  and  powerful
the human breast are to be gratified.  To motives to influence our minds, and to deterdeny or restrain them is ignominious bond- mine our conduct.  Nothing is enjoined to
age; but to give full scope to every desire be believed but what is worthy of God,
and passion of the heart, without check or nothing to be practised but what is fiiendly
control, is true manly freedom.             to man.  All the doctrines of the gospel are
In opposition to this loose and careless rational and consistent; all its precepts are
way of reasoning, let it be considered, that truly wise, just, and good.  The gospel conthe liberty of a rational creature doth not tains nothing grievous to an ingenuous mind;
consist in an entire exemption from  all con- it debars us fiom nothing but doinog harm to
trol, but in following the dictates of reason, ourselves, or to our fellow-creatures; and
as the governing principle, and in keeping  permits us to range anywhere but in the
the various passions in due subordination. paths of danger and destruction.  It only
To follow the regular notion of those affec- requires us to act up to its excellent ccmtions which the wise Creator hath implanted  mands, and to  prefer  to  the  vanishing
within us, is our duty; but as our natu- pleasure of sin, the smiles of a reecnciled
ral desires, in this state of trial, are often  God, and " an eternal weight of glory."
irregular, we are bound to restrain their    Surely no man who is a real friend to the
excesses, and not indulge them, but in a cause of virtue, and to the interest of manstrict subserviency to the integrity and peace kind, can ever be an enemy to Christianity,
of our minds, and to the order and happiness if he truly understands it, and seriously reof human society established in the world. fleets on its wise and useful tendency.  It
Those who allow the supreme command to  conducteth us to our journey's end, by the
be usurped by sensual and brutal appetites. plainest and securest path; where the "steps
may " promise themselves liberties," but are are not straitened, and where he that runneth
truly and absolutely the " servants of cor- stumbleth not."
ruption."  To be vicious is to be enslaved.    We ought daily to adore the God of naWe behold with pity those miserable objects ture for lighting up the fun, that glorious,
that are chained in the galleys, or confined  though imperfect image of his own unapin dark prisons and loathsome dungeons; proachable lustre; and appointing it to gild
but how much more abject and vile is the  the earth with its various rays, to cheer us
slavery of the sinner!  No slavery of the with its benign influence, and to guide and
body is equal to the bondage of the mind; direct us in our journeys and our labors.
no chains press so closely, or gall so cruelly, But how incomparably more valuable is that
as the fetters of sin, which corrode the very  " day-spring from on high which hath visited
substance of the soul, and fret every faculty. us, to give light to them that sit in darkness,
It must, indeed, be confessed, that there and in the shadow of death, and to guide
are some profligates, so hardened by custom, our feet into the way of peace "    Oh
as to be past all feeling; and, because in- Christians, whose eyes are so happy to see,
sensible of their bondage, boast of this insen- and your ears to hear, what abundant reason
sibility as a mark of their native freedom, have you to give daily and hourly praise to
and of their happiness.  Vain men!  They your beneficent Creator!  When, therefore,
might extol with equal propriety the peculiar your minds are delighted with contemplating
happiness of an apoplexy, or the profound the riches of the gospel; when you reflect (as
tranquillity of a lethargy.                 you certainly must do) with wonder and joy
Thus have we endeavored to place, in a on the happy means of your redemption;
plain and conspicuous light, some of the when you feel the burden of your guilt
peculiar  excellences of the Christian re- removed, the freedom of your address to the
ligion; and hence many useful reflections throne of grace encouraged, and see the proswill naturally arise in the mind of every pect of a fair inheritance of eternal glory openattentive reader.  It is the religion of Jesus ing upon you; then, in the pleasing transports
that hath removed idolatry and superstition, of your souls, borrow the joyful anthem of the
and brought immortality to light, when con- psalmist, and say with the humblest gratitude
cealed under a veil of darkness almost im- and self-resignation, " God is the Lord who




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              556
showeth us light; bind the sacrifice with after: whereas vice is ruinous to all our
cords, even to the horns of the altar." most valuable interests; spoils the native
Adore  "God, who  first commanded the beauty and subverts the order of the soul;
light to shine out of darkness," that by the renders us the scorn of man, the rejected
discoveries of his word, and the operations of God, and, without timely repentance, will
of his Spirit, he hath " shined in your hearts, rob us of a happy eternity.  Religion is the
to give you the knowledge of his glory, as health, the liberty, and the happiness of the
reflected from the face of his Son."       soul; sin is the disease, the servitude, and
Let us, therefore, who live under the destruction of it.  It will perhaps be said,
gospel, the most gracious dispensation be- that the sons of vice and riot have pleasure
stowed  by God to mankind, " count all in sensual indulgences.   This we allow;
things but loss, for the excellency of the but must observe, that it is altogether of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord; " and lowest kind - empty, fleeting, and transient;
not suffer ourselves, by the slight cavils of " like the crackling of thorns under a pot, so
unbelievers, to be " moved away from  the is the mirth of the wicked."  It makes a
hope of the gospel."  Let us demonstrate noise and a blaze for the present, but soon
that we believe the superior excellency of vanishes away into smoke and vapor.
the Christian dispensation, by colforming to    On the other hand, the pleasure of reliits precepts.  Let us show that we are Chris- gion is solid and lasting, and will attend us
tians in deed and in truth; not by endless through all, even the last stages of life.
disputes about trifles, and the transports of a When we have passed the levity of youth,
blind  zeal, but by abounding  in those and have lost all relish for gay entertain"fruits of righteousness, which are, through ments; when old age steals upon us, and
Christ, to the praise and glory of God."    stoops toward the grave, this will cleave fast
From what has been said, we may clearly to us, and give us relief.
perceive how groundless all those prejudices   Clad in this immortal robe, we need not
are which some conceive against religion, as fear the awful summons of the king of
if it were a peevish, morose thing, burden- terrors, nor regret our retiring  into the
some to human nature, and inconsistent with chambers of the dust.  Our immortal part
the true enjoyment of life.  Such sentiments will wing its way to the arms of its Reare too apt to prevail in the heat of youth, deemer, and find rest in the heavenly manwhen the spirits are brisk and lively, and the sions.  And though our earthly part, this
passions warm  and impetuous; but it is tabernacle of clay, returns to its original
wholly a mistake, and a mistake of the most dust, and is dissolved, -  our joy, our condangerous tendency.  The truth is, there is solation, our confidence is, that " we have a
no pleasure like that of a good conscience; building of God, a house not made with
no real peace but what results from a sense hands, eternal in the heavens."
of the divine favor.  This alone can sup-   Such will be the happy consequences at
port the mind under all the various and tendant on all those who strictly adhere to
unequal scenes of the  present state  of the Christian religion, and diligently, through
trial.  This lays a sure foundation of an the course of their lives, follow the precepts
easy, comfortable life, of a serene, peaceful laid down by their divine Master, the great
death, and of eternal joy and happiness here- Saviour and Redeemer of the world.
MIRACLES, PARABLES, AND DISCOURSES OF JESUS.
Oun Saviour's miracles were exceedingly them are specifically mentioned. The follownumerous, various, and benevolent, in their ing is, therefore, only a list of those more parcharacter, but only a very small number of ticularly noted of the miracles of Christ;



556                                    AN ILLUSTRATED
MIRACLES.                                  PLACES.             RECORD.
WVater turned into wine........                                    Cana..   John ii. 1-11.
The Capernaum nobleman's son cured....      Cana.            John iv. 46-54.
Surprising draught of fishes.........Sea of Galilee,  Luke v. 1-11.
Demoniac cured.........Capernaum  Mark i. 22-28.
Peter's mother-in-law healed........                               Capernaum    Mark i. 30, 31,
Leper healed....                                                    Capernaum    Mark i. 40-45
Centurion's servant healed                                          Capernaum         Matt. viii. 5-13.
Widow's son raised from the dead                                    Nain.            Luke vii. 11-17.
Tempest calmed.........Sea of Galilee, Matt. viii. 23-27.
Demoniacs of Gadara cured......                                     Gadara            Matt. viii. 28-34
Man sick of the palsy cured.......                          Capernaum         Matt. ix. 1-8.
Jairus' daughter raised to life........                            Capernaum         Matt. ix. 18-26.
Sight restored to two blind men......                          Capernaum         Matt. ix. 27-31.
Dumb demoniac cured.~Capernaum                                                       Matt. ix. 32, 33.
Woman diseased with issue of blood healed    ]                      Capernaum         Luke viii. 43-48.
Diseased cripple at Bethesda cured.......   Jerusalem.    John v. 1-9.
Man with a withered hand cured........                             Judea.    Matt. xii. 10-13.
Demoniac cured.........  Capernaum   Matt. xii. 22, 23.
Five thousand fed                                                    De........ capolis.   Matt. xiv. 15-21.
Canaanite woman's daughter cured.......                            Near Tyre         Matt. xv. 23-28.
Man deaf and dumb cured.........Decapolis.   Mark vii. 31-37.
Four thousand fed.........    Decapolis.        Matt. xv. 32-39
Blind man restored to sight.........Bethsaida.    Mark viii. 22-26.
Boy possessed of a devil cured........                             Tabor.    Matt. xvii. 14-21.
Man born blind restored to sight.......                             Jerusalem.    John ix.
WVoman of eighteen years' infirmity cured....                    Galilee.       Luke xiii. 11-17.
Dropsical man cured.....                                            Galilee.    Luke xiv. 1-6.
Ten lepers cleansed.......Samaria.   Luke xvii. 11-19.
Lazarus raised from the grave to life.......Bethany.                               John xi.
Two blind men restored to sight.......                              Jericho           Matt. xx. 30-34.
Fig-tree blasted.........Olivet.   Matt. xxi. 18-21,
The ear of Malchus healed.........Gethsemane   Luke xxii. 49-51.
Wondrous draught of fishes.........  Sea of Galilee,  John xxi. 1-14.
Parable, a comparison  or similitude, in- cient on  record  (Judg.  ix. 7-15).   Our
geniously   and   impressively  representing  Saviour'sparables are mnost instructive (Matt.
moral or religious truth (Matt. xiii. 3, 10,  xiii. 53, 54); and the following are the prin18, 23).  Jothan's parable is the  most an- cipal recorded —
SUBJECT OF PARABLE.                               PLACE.             RECORD.
1. Building on rock and sand                                       Galilee M.          Matt. vii. 24.
2. Blind leading the blind                                         Galilee.       Luke vi. 39.
3. Two debtors.                                                   Galilee.  - vii. 41.
4. Evil spirit returning.                                          Galilee..       Matt. xii. 43.
5. Sower and the seed...                                          Galilee..    - xiii. 3.
6. Tares in the field.                                            Galilee,.   - - 25.
7. Growth of seed.                                                Galilee..       Mark iv. 26.
8. Grain of mustard-seed.                                         Galilee..   Matt. xiii. 31.
9. Leaven in meal.                                                Galilee.    - - 33.
10. Treasure hid in the field......  Galilee..                        44.
11. Pearl of great price.......                                Galilee..             -    45.
12. Net cast into the sea.........    Galilee.            -  -  47.
13. Good householder.......  Galilee..    - - 52.
14. New cloth on an old garment..Galilee..    - ix. 16.
15. New wine in old bottles..                                       Galilee..                  17.
16. Bread of life.......   Galilee..    John vi. 32.
17. Lost sheep......   Galilee..    Matt. xviii. 12.
18. The Lord and unmerciful servant.....    Galilee..                              -  -  23.
19. Good Samaritan.....  Jerusalem.    Luke x. 30.
20. Rich fool..                                                    Galilee.    - xii. 16.
21. Lord and his servants.....   Galilee..                                           - - 36.
22. Barren fig-tree...                                               Galilee..   - xiii. 6.
23. Ambitious guests..                                             Galilee..xiv. 7.
24. Great supper..                                                  Galilee..   - 16.
25. Building a tower..Galilee..  -  28.
26. IKing going to war.                                            Galilee..         -  -  31.
27. Lost sheep, with additions..                                    Galilee.             - xv. 3.
28. Lost piece of silver..                                         Galilee..   - - 8.
29. Prodigal son..Galilee.     -11.
30. Unjust steward..                                               Galilee,.   - xvi. 1.
31. Rich man and Lazarus.....   Galilee.                    - - 19.
32. Master and servant..                                           Galilee..    - xvii. 7.
33. Unjust judge and widow..Jerusalem.   - xviii. 1.
34. Pharisee and publican..Jerusalem.                                                          9.
35. Laborers in the vineyard..                                     Beyond Jordan, Matt. xx. 1.
36. Ten pounds for trading..                                        Jericho.           Luke xix. 11.
37. Two sons..Jerusalem. Matt. xxi. 28.
38. Husbandmen and vineyard..Jerusalem                                                   - - 33.
39. Marriage-feast..Jerusalem.   - xxii. 1.
40. Ten virgins..Jerusalem.  - xxv. 1.
41. Talents for trading..Jerusalem                                                          - 14.
42. Sheep and goats..                                               Jerusalem.              - 31.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                       557
The following list of the remarkable discourses of Christ will illustrate his wisdom and
his doctrine:
DISCOURSES.                            PLACE.            RECORD.
Conversation with Nicodemus.                                Jerusalem.     John iii. 1-21.
the Samaritan woman.                       Sychar..        John iv. 1-42.
Discourse in the synagogue.                                Nazareth.     Luke iv. 16-31.
Sermon on the mount.                                       Near Nazareth, Matt. v., vi., vii.
Ordination charge to the apostles....   Galilee..      Matt. x.
Denunciations against Chorazin..                         Galilee..     Matt. xi. 20-24.
Discourse concerning healing the infirm man at Bethesda  Jerusalem.        John v.
on his disciples plucking ears of corn on the sabbath  Judeea..  Matt. xii. 1-3.
Refutation of charge of working miracles by agency of Beelzebub.   Capernaum.  Matt.'xii. 22-37.
Discourse on the bread of life.                             Capernaum.      John vi.
-  concerning internal purity.Capernaum.                              Matt. xv. 1-20.
_-__- against giving or taking offence, and forgiving of injuries    Capernaum.  Matt. xviii.
-  at the feast of tabernacles.                       Jerusalem.     John vii.
-on occasion of the adulteress.....               Jerusalem.     John viii. 1-11.
concerning the sheep....                 Jerusalem.     John x.
Denunciation against the scribes and Pharisees....      Pera..        Luke xi. 37-45.
Discourse on humility and prudence......              Galilee..     Luke xiv. 7-14.
Directions how to attain heaven........era tt. xix. 16-30.
Discourse on the sufferings of Christ....               Jerusalem.     Matt. xx. 17-19.
Denunciations against the Pharisees.......   Jerusalem.              Matt. xxiii.
Predictions of the ruin of Jerusalem......  Jerusalem.             Matt. xxiv,
Discourse of consolation......      Jerusalem.     John xiv-xvi.
— on the way to Gethsemane.....                   Jerusalem.     Matt. xxvi. 31-36.
----.with Peter after his resurrection..                Galilee.        John xxi. 5-32.
---  with his disciples before his ascension..       ount Olivet    Luke xxiv. 50-53.
CHAPTER V.
FROMI THE ASCENSION  TO THE MARTYRDOM  OF STEPHEN.
THE blessed Saviour of the world having  will continue to govern  to the end of the
fulfilled all things prophesied of his mission  world."
here on earth, and having, in a most solemn    The apostles and disciples of our Lord
manner, taken leave of his disciples, visibly  (among whom was Mary the mother of Jesus,
retired before their eyes to eternal rest in his and some other pious women who had attendFather's kingdom.  With hearts full of grief ed him  in his ministry) being greatly comand admiration they deplored the loss of the forted by this divine message, immediately
presence of their dear-loved Lord; and, with returned  to Jerusalem, where they  spent
longing eyes, paid their last attendance till their  time  in  acts of religious  worship,
he disappeared.  They continued, for some assembling  daily in a certain upper room,
time, fondly looking toward the place where which  they  had  made choice of for that
their Lord was gone, till at length two angels purpose.
in the shape of men, and gloriously appar-    Peter had  thought it necessary  that a
elled, appeared before them, and delivered a proper person should be chosen to supply the
message of consolation to this effect: " For- place of the perfidious Judas, that the number
bear, O Galileans, your further admiration: of the apostles might be twelve, as was
your gracious Lord, whom  even now  you  originally  appointed by their Master.  To
beheld ascending to heaven, shall one day effect this, in one of their assemblies (which
come to judge the world in as glorious a consisted of one hundred and twenty) Peter
manner as he has now  departed from you. addressed himself to his fellow-apostles in a
He hath not absolutely left you, but is gone speech the substance of which was to this effect:
to take possession of that kingdom which he  " Ye know, brethren, what the royal prophet




558                               AN ILLUSTRATED
David (Ps. xli. 9) foretold, and which has of those two thou hast chosen, that he
been punctually fulfilled, concerning Judas, may take part of this ministry and apostlewho was of our society, a fellow-disciple, and  ship, firom  which Judas, by  transgression,
an apostle chosen with us.  For a sum  of fell" (Acts i. 24, 25).  Having said this,
money he betrayed his Master to his enemies, they proceeded to draw  lots, which happenafter which, being troubled for what he had ing to fall on Matthias, he was accordingly
done, he returned the money to the priest, elected  into  the  number of the  twelve
who, not daring to put it into the treasury, apostles.
bought a field with it for the interment of    The number of the apostles being now
strangers.  This fact, and the fate of Judas, complete, on the day of Pentecost,* they all
were universally known to all that dwelt in assembled together at their accustomed place,
Jerusalem, and therefore the field that was in order to perform  their religious duties.
bought with that money was vulgarly known  While they were thus employed, a prodigious
by the name of the Field  of Blood.  To noise (much like the rushing of a mighty
Judas, therefore, belongs that which is men- wind)  suddenly  filled  all the house  in
tioned by the holy psalmist (Ps. lxix. 25, which they were, and a kind of fiery vapor,
and cix. 8), not by way of execration, but or exhalation, formed in the figure of a man's
of prediction: t:hat, as he should come to a tongue, but divided a little at the tip, sat on
desperate miserable end, so the office which  the head of each; whereupon they were all
he had held with the rest of the twelve, immediately filled with the Holy Ghost, and,
should be bestowed on another.  It is then  by its divine inspiration, were enabled  to
our duty, according to this prophecy, to make speak in several different languages.
choice of some one of these persons that are    At this time there were at Jerusalem many
present (and  who have continued with us Jews and proselytes, who had come thither
ever since our Lord undertook the charge from different parts of the world, to the celeand care of us, till his ascension into heaven) bration of the feast.  When these, therefore,
that he may succeed Judas in the apostle- were informed of the great miracle which
ship."                                        had taken place with the apostles, and were
The proposition made by Peter was unani- convinced of the truth of it by hearing them
mously approved of by the assembly; upon  speak  the  languages of their  respective
which two candidates were immediately nomi- countries, they were greatly astonished, and
nated, namely, Jonas, surnamed Barnabas, know  not what to make of so s:ngular an
and Matthias, one of the seventy disciples. event.  Sonle  of them argued among theml
The choice of one of these two was to be selves to this effect: "How have these men,
determined  by  lot, previous to which the who are natives of Galilee, and have conapostles solemnly invoked the divinedirection  tinued  all their lives there, acquired this
in the following words: " Thou, LOrd, which knowledge? For in our respective languages
knowest the hearts of all men, show whether we hear them  preaching  the doctrine of
PENTECOST (Ex. xxiii. 16), "the feast of the wheat-harvest, at this festival.  It was the
harvest, the first-fruits of thy labors" ( Fx. xxxiv. offering of these two loaves which was the distin22; Deut. xvi. 10), " the feast of weeks" (Num. guishing rite of the day of Pentecost. They were
xxviii. 26, cf. Lev. xxiii. 17), "the day of first- to be leavened.  Each loaf was to contain the
fruits."  The second of the great festivals of the tenth of an ephah (i. e. about 3- quarts) of the
Hebrews. It fell in due course on the sixth day finest wheat-flour of the new crop (Lev. xxiii. 17).
of' Sivan, and its rites, according to the Law, The flour was to be the produce of the land. The
were restricted to a single day. The most im- loaves, along with a peace-offering of two lambs
portant passages relating to it are, Ex. xxiii. of the first year, were to be waved before the Lord
16, Lev. xxiii. 15-22, Num. xxviii. 26-31, Deut. and given to the priests. At the same timle a
xvi. 9-12. The time of the festival was cal- special sacrifice was to be made of seven lambs
culated from  the second day of the Passover, of the first year, one young bullock and two rams,
the 16th of Nisan.  The Law  prescribes that as a burnt-offering (accompanied by the proper
a reckoning should be kept from "the morrow  meat and drink offerings), and a kid for a sinafter the Sabbath" (Lev. xxiii. 11, 15) to the offering (Lev. xxiii 18, 19).
morrow after the completion of the seventh week,    There is no clear notice in the scriptures of any
which would of course be the fiftieth day (Lev. historical significance belonging to Pentecost.
xxiii. 15, 16; Deut. xvi. 9). The fifty days for- But most of the Jews of later times have regarded
mally included the period of grain-harvest, com- the day as the commemoration of the giving of
mencing with the offering of the first sheaf of the the law on Mount Sinai. - Bible Dictionary.
barley-harvest in the Passover, and ending with                                       A. B.
that of the two first loaves which were made from




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               559
Christ, and the wonderful things God hath death.  Hear what David the royal psalmist
wrought by him.  This certainly must imply says: I have set the Lord always before me;
something of very great moment."   But because he is at my right hand, I shall not
others were of a different opinion, and, in a be moved.  Therefore my heart is glad, and
scoffing manner, ridiculed the miracle, at- my glory rejoiceth; my flesh also shall rest
tributing the powers possessed by the apostles in hope.  For thou wilt not leave my soul in
to arise from  inebriation: " These men," hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One
said they, " are full of new wine."        to see corruption.  Thou wilt show me the
To destroy this calumny, and to open the path of life; in thy presence is fulness of
eyes of the yet deluded and perverse Jews, joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures forPeter, in the name of the rest, addressed the evermore. Give me leave, bretlhren, to speak
multitude in a most admirable speech, the freely concerning David, who thus prophesubstance of which was to the following sied.  He died like other men, had a solemn
effcct: " Ye men of Judea, and all that at interment, and we have his monument this
this time see and hear what the Lord hath day to sliow, and whence he never arose.
done, be assured these things are not the Therefore, he spake not of himself, but by
effect of wine: ye know in your consciences way of prediction of the Messiah, whom he
it cannot be so, since it is but the third hour knew would infallibly spring from  lis loins,
of the day. *  But this is the completion of and be a prtnee and ruler of his church.
a famous prophecy of Joel, who saith, In the These words of his were prophetic, and literlast days I will pour out my spirit upon all ally verified in the resurrection of Jesus,
flesh; your sons and your daughters shall whose soul did not continue so long in a state
prophesy, your young men shall see visions, of separation as that his body should We corand your old men shall dream dreams. (See rupted; and accordingly God raised him up
Joel ii..28.)  All ranks and qualities of men in three days, of whbch all we apostles were
shall receive the effusion of the Spirit of God, eye-witnesses. He having, therefore, assumed
and those who were never brought up in the his regal state and office in heaven, and God
schools of the prophets, shall be enabled to having given him power to send the Holy
preach the gospel of Christ wherever they Ghost, he hath now punctually fulfilled his
go.  And after that there shall be fearful promise in sending it C11 us in the most exand astonishing sights and prodigies, and tensive manner; one great effect of which
many great slaughters in Judica, as forerun- Nyourselves can testify, by having, heard us
ners and prognostics of the destruction which speak languages which, a short time before,
shall befall this people for their crucifying we did not understand.  This great and imC(hrist, and from which the only way te rescue portant truth, therefore, I now proclaim  to
yourselves is, to repent and acknowledge you, that God the Father hath raised up that
him, which is the design of this miraculous Christ, whom ye Jews have crucified, and
descent of the Holy Ghost.  Observe and that he now sits on the right hand of him in
attend, ye men of Israel, for you are chiefly the kingdom of heaven."
concerned in this great affair.  This Jesus    This speech, or rather sermon, of Peter's,
of Nazareth being demonstrated to be sent so wrought upon the minds of the people,
from God by the mlghty works he did among that they called out most passionately to
you, all which you know to be true; him, I him and the rest of the apostles, requesting
say, being permitted to fall into your hands, their advice what measures they should puryou apprehended and barbarously crucified; sue, in order to shake off that guilt with
him, whom God, by his determinate council, which they had been so long loaded.  Peter
had given to retrieve you from your lost con- readily complied with their request, and in
dition, ye, with profane hands, have slain. a most tender and affectionate address, told
This same Jesus, whom ye thus treated, hath them, that in order to lay aside their infiGod raised again, delivering him  from  the delity, they must, with true contrition, aopower of death; and, besides many other knowledge their sins, enter upon the Chris
things, the prophecies concerning him  re- tian profession with a firm resolution of never
quired that he should not long lie under falling from it; and that they must receive
* That is, nine o'clock, the time of morni   baptism fiom the apostles, who were authorprayers, to which the Jews generally went fast- ized to proclaim remission of sins to all true
ing.                                       penitents.  "Repent and be baptized every




560                            AN ILLUSTRATED
one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for walk."  No sooner were these words spoken
the remission of sins, and ye shall receive than the poor cripple was made whole.  His
the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For the promise joints became straight and his nerves strong,
is unto you and to your children, and to all so that he went with the apostles into the
that are afar off, even as many as the Lord temple, " walking, and leaping, and praising
our God shall call."  (Acts ii. 38, 39.)   God."
In consequence of this affectionate address,   The poor man, who had sat daily, for a
those who were really touched with what long time, asking alms at the door of the
Peter had said immediately renounced their temple, was universally known by the peoformer course of life, and proved the sinceri- ple, who seeing him  walking and praising
ty of their hearts by receiving baptism.  On  God, were amazed at the greatness of thle
that day were converted to the faith  of cure; they therefore flocked in great numChrist about three thousand people, who con- bers round the apostles, by whom  the poor
tinued assiduous in hearing the apostles teach, man kept close, being unwilling to part with
and in bringing their goods liberally for the those from whom  he had received so clisrelief of the distressed.  Nor were the con- tinguished a benefit.  Peter, observing the
verts only impressed with fear and reverence, astonishment of the multitude, and thinking
but a general surprise took place among all it a convenient opportunity of increasing the
that saw these strange and early operations number of his followers, addressed himself
of the Holy Ghost, which were still further to  them  in  a long  and very pertinent
confirmned by several miracles performed by  harangue, the substance of which was to this
the apostles.                              effect: " Ye men of Israel, why do you
The gospel thus gaining ground, those that look upon this cure as a thing strange?  Or
received it assembled together for the service  why do you attribute any thing to us in this
of God, constantly observing the times of matter, as if it were in our power to perform
public prayers, and receiving the sacrament so great a miracle?  The God of our fathers
of the Lord's supper; they distributed to  gave this power to Jesus, whom you delivthe necessities of the poorer sort as freely as ered to Pilate to be crucified, releasing a
God had given them ability, spending their known murderer and a thief, and putting to
time in acts of devotion and charity, and  death him, who came to give life to the
exercising works of mercy to all.  By the world; whom God hath been pleased to raise
pious examples of these many others were friom the dead, and make us witnesses thereof.
induced to join them, which gave the apos- Be assured, it is by belief in him that this
tles a fruitful harvest of their ministry, and man hath been recovered from his lameness.
by their repeated exhortations, others were The man you all well know, having, for
daily rescued from the wicked and dangerous many years, seen him  a begging cripple;
converse of the perverse Jews, and heartily  and the faith we have in the power of him
embraced the doctrine of Christ.           on whom we believe hath'wrought' the reAfter this wonderful reformation among markable cure at which you all so greatly
the people in consequence of Peter's dis- wonder.  I do imagine, brethren, that such
courses, that apostle, accompanied by John, among you who rejected Christ did it through
went one day to the temple about three ignorance, not knowing  him  to  be the
o'clock in the afternoon, which was one of Messiah; and that the like was the case with
the times generally set apart for prayer.  As your rulers.  But by these means the many
they entered in at the gate of the temple prophecies in the scriptures, that the Messiah
toward the east in Solomon's porch, which should be put to death, have been fulfilled.
was called the beautiful gate, they saw a Do you, therefore, amend your lives, that
poor cripple, who had been lame from his your past offences may be pardoned, and
birth, lying there, and begging alms of those that, at the second coming of Christ for the
who passed him.  As soon as the cripple delivery and rescue of the faithful, you may,
saw Peter and John, he looked up in their by repentance, be admitted into the number
faces anld earnestly begged charity of them; of the elect.  The Christ you have persecutupon which Peter, looking steadfastly at ed, and of whose resurrection we have been
him, said, " Silver and gold have I none, eye-witnesses, hath now  entered upon his
but such as I have give I thee; in the name sovereignty in Heaven, whereby hath been
of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and fulfilled all the prophecies concerning hinm,




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              561
particularly that of Moses, who truly said Nazareth, whom ye crucified, and God most
unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord miraculously raised again.  This is he that
your God raise up unto you of your breth- was prophesied of under the title of a refuse
ren, like unto me, and him shall ye hear in stone, rejected by you, the chief of the Jews,
all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. and treated with contempt; but is now, by
And it shall come to pass, that every soul his resurrection, enthroned in power, and is
which shall not hear that prophet shall be indeed become the ruler and kingll of the
destroyed from among the people.  And not church, the prime foundation-stone of the
only Moses, but all the prophets, from  whole fabric.  In him alone must, alvation
Samuel, as many as have spoken,* have fore- now be hoped for by all; nor can ye expect
told the coming of the Messiah, with the to be saved unless you readily receive and
destruction of those who should reject, and heartily embrace his doctrine."
the especial mercies to them  that should    The council, seeing with what courage and
believe in him.  Ye are the particular per- freedom of speech the apostles behaved themsons of whom the prophets foretold, and to selves, and withal considering that their ecluwhom  the promise and covenant which God cation alone could not have raised them above
made with Abraham (that in his seed all the the capacity of other men (being neither
nations of the earth should be blessed) did  skilled in the learning of the Jews, nor, as
primarily belong.  Ye are the heirs of this men of distinction, instructed in their laws),
covenant, and God hath been pleased to were greatly astonished; and still more
make the first overtures of mercy to you, so when they recollected that the two apostles
that ye  might receive the gospel of his were of those who had attended Jesus in his
beloved  Son, and repent of the iniquities lifetime, and saw the man on whom they hald
which ye have done unto him."  This was wrought the miraculous cure stand by them
the purport of St. Peter's speech on this ready to attest the truth of it.  From  these
occasion; and such was its efficacy, that it considerations, they knew not for some time
converted so many of his hearers as to make how to act, till at length they resolved to hold
the whole number amount to no less than a private conference among tlemselves, and
five thousand.                            for that purpose ordered the apostles to withWhile Peter was instructing the people, draw.  As soon as they were gone, the counthe captain of the temple," at the insti- cil entered  into  debate  on  the subject,
gation of the priests and Sadducees, came arguing with one another to this effect: "As
with an armed force, suddenly seized the two to the men, we have nothing to accuse them
apostles, and conducted them to prison.  The of; for that they have performed a great
next morning the great sanhedrim met, and miracle is apparent to many, and the man
having ordered the apostles to be brought that was healed is a living  witness of the
before them, demanded by what power they truth of it.  Since, therefore, they have not
had wrought that miracle upon the lame been guilty of any breach of our laws, to preman, and who it was that gave them authority vent their further seducing the people (who
to preach to the people?  In answer to are too apt to be led away by them) we will
these questions, Peter, beino endued with an call them  in, and forbid them, upon severe
extraordinary presence of mind and elocution penalties to preach Christ and his gospel any
of tongue, spoke to this effect: " Ye rulers more."  In consequence of this resolution,
of the people, and elders of Israel, we are the two apostles were called in, and cornthis day examined before you concerning manded not to talk privately or teach puban action, which is so far from being criminal, liely any thing concerning the faith of Christ.
that it is an act of special mercy.  Be as- But the Christian heroes, whose commission
sured, that the miraculous cure performed on was from a higher power than any on earth,
the lame man was wrought by no other means slighting this interdict and all their threats,
than by invoking the name of Jesus of made answer, "That since they had re* The account of the prophets is here begun ing God, and some were sent on messages to the
from Samuel, because the schools of the prophets people (for all were not called to the prophetic
were first instituted and erected by him; and not office), and therefore it is added, as mnany as have
that there was no prophet before him. The sons spoken; that is, as many out of the schools of the
of the prophets spent the greater part of their prophets as were divinely called to the prophetic
time in studying the law, and praising and serv- office.




562                            AN ILLUSTRATED
ceived a command from  Heaven to declare of this good man, one Ananias, with his wife
to all nations what they had heard or seen, Sapphira, resolved to devote all they had to
it was certainly their duty to obey God rather the service of the church; in consequence
than them."  This was a fair appeal to the of which they sold their estate: but afterconsciences of their very judges; but their ward altering their minds, jointly agreed to
judges, instead of being satisfied with it, keep some part of the money, intending
would probably have proceeded  to some thereby to impose upon the apostles.  Anagreater violence, had not the people's vene- nias going first into the presence of the
ration for the apostles put a restraint upon apostles, with great assurance and seeming
their malice.  All, therefore, that they dared cheerfulness, produced the money and laid
to do was to repeat and enforce their men- it at their feet.  But Peter, who by divine
aces; having done which, they ordered them  inspiration knew the cheat, in a holy indigto be discharged.                         nation and abhorrence of so vile an act of
As soon as the two apostles were dismissed, sacrilege, reprehended him in words to this
they returned with great joy to their breth- effect: " How, 0 Ananias, hath Satan perren, who with infinite satisfaction heard the suaded thee thus to attempt to deceive the
report of all that had passed.  They then Holy Ghost, in purloining part of that which
unanimously glorified God, who by his holy thou hadst consecrated to Godl's service and
prophet David had foretold what was now  the use of his church?  Before thy land
come to pass: that the Jews should oppose was sold, was it not wholly thine?  And
Christ, say false things of him, deny and when it was sold, didst thou not receive the
crucify him  first,  and, when  God had full price for it?  Was it not then in thy
raised him from the dead, oppose the preach- full power to perform thy vow'? Thy iniing of him; that the princes and governors, quitous conduct in concealing a part of the
Herod and Pontius Pilate, should conmbine money is not only an injury to the church,
against him, and the rulers should, in coun- but to God, who knew thy private vow, that
cil, endeavor to suppress the propagation of it was consecrating of all, and not this part
his doctrine.  " And now, Lord," said they, only which thou hast brought to us."  These
"behold their threatenings, and grant unto piercing words, together with the horrors of
thy servants that with all boldness they may conscious guilt, so impressed the mind and
speak thy word, by stretching forth thy hand heart of Ananias, that he fell down dead on
to heal, and that signs and wonders may be the spot, to the great astonishment and terror
done by the name of thy holy child Jesus." of all present, and his body was immediately
No sooner had they concluded their prayer taken away for interment.   About three
than the house in which they were was hours after, his wife Sapphira went to the
shaken with a mighty wind, in like manner assembly, not in the least suspecting what
as it had been before on the day of Pente- had happened to her sacrilegious consort.
cost; whereupon they were  instantly re- Peter asked her whether the sum which her
plenished with fresh measures of the Holy husband had brought was the whole for
Ghost, and, notwithstanding all the threats which their estate was sold.  To this she
of the Jewish rulers, found themselves in- answered in the affirmative; upon which
vigorated to preach the gospel of Christ with Peter reprehended her in words to this
more boldness and resolution than ever.   effect: " How durst you both combine to
The charity at this time among believers provoke God, to try whether he will punish
was very large and extensive.  Such as had this your impious firaud or not?  That you
houses, or possessions of any kind, sold may see how highly God resents your sacrithem, and deposited the money in the hands legions intentions, behold the men are comof the apostles, to be by them distributed in ing in who have buried your dead husband,
due proportions according to the necessities and now they shall do as much for you."
of their brethren.  This a certain Levite (a No sooner had he spoken these words than
native of:Cyprus, called Joses, but by the Sapphira fell dead at his feet, and the samle
apostles surnamed Barnabas, or " the Son of persons that had buried Ananias carried her
Consolation ") did with great readiness and out from the assembly, and laid her by him.
singleness,of heart, selling the estate of These remarkable instances of the divine
which he was possessed, and giving the wrath filled all the converts with fear and
whole produce to the apostles.  In imitation trembling, and prevented, in a great measure,




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                             563
that hypocrisy and dissimulation by which whom they had the night before committed
others might have flattered themselves with to prison, were then in the temple, preaching
deceiving the church.                    and instructing the people. In consequence
Miracles of severity were not, however, of this, the captain of the guard, with some
much practised by the apostles.  Acts of other officers, immediately went to the temple,
mercy were their proper province, and heal- and entreated the apostles to go before the
ing the diseased and freeing the possessed, a council, not daring to offel any violence to
great part of their employment.  In the them, for fear of being stoned by the peoexecution of this business the divine power pie.
so far attended them, that even the shadow    As soon as the apostles appeared before
of Peter passing by cured the sick, who, in their judges, the high-priest demanded how
the open streets, were laid on beds and they durst presume to preach a doctrine,
couches, on purpose to receive the benefit of which so lately had been interdicted them.
his salutary influence.  Nor were these mar- To which Peter, in the name of the rest,
vellous cures confined to the inhabitants of returned them an answer to this effect: " We
Jerusalem only, but the people of several certainly ought to obey God rather than man.
neighboring towns and villages brought thither And though you have so barbarously and
their sick, their lame, and possessed, all of contumeliously treated the blessed Jesus, yet
whom were, by the apostles, relieved from their God hath raised him up to be a prince and
respective infirmities.                   Saviour, to give both repentance and remission
The fame of these cures, and the great of sins.  And of these things both we, and
success which Christianity gained by the the miraculous power which the Holy Ghost
miracles and preaching of the apostles, reach- hath conferred on all Christians, are witing the ears of the high-priest, and some nesses."
others of the Sanhedrim (who were of the    This answer greatly exasperated the counsect of the Sadducees), they were highly cil, and they began to consult among themincensed against the apostles, and therefore selves in what manner they should punish
caused them to be apprehended, and thrown them.  Their first resolution was, to put them
into the common prison.  But that very to death, but this was over-ruled by the wise
night they were released from their confine- advice of a certain Pharisee, named Gamaliel,
ment.  The prison-doors, though fastened  a man of the most distinguished reputation,
with the utmost caution, opened of them- and universally respected.  After ordering
selves at the approach of a messenger from  the apostles to withdraw, he advised the
the courts of heaven, who commanded the council to proceed in the affair with great
apostles to leave the dungeon, repair to caution, lest bad consequences might attend
the temple, and preach the glad tidings of the their resolutions.  He told them that several
Gospel to the people.                     persons had  formerly raised parties, and
Early the next morning the council again  drawn great numbers of people after them;
assembled, and, thinking the apostles were but that all their schemes had miscarried,
in safe custody, despatched their officers to and their designs rendered abortive, without
the prison, with orders to bring them imme- the interposition of that court.  That they
diately before them.  The officers accord- would, therefore, do well to let the apostles
ingly went to obey their orders, but, behold, alone; for, if their doctrines and design.s
when they came to the prison, they could were of human invention, they would come
not find theapostles.  In consequence of this to nothing; but if they were of God, all
they returned to the council, telling them, their powers and policies would be of none
that the doors of the prison were shut,'indeed, effect, and sad experience would too soon
and the keepers all upon their guard, but as convince them  that they had  themselves
for the persons whom  they were sent for, opposed the counsels of the Most High.
there was not one of them to be found.  This   This speech so far diverted the indignation
intelligence greatly surprised the council, of the council, that they changed the sentence
who wondered how it could be, that the pris- (at first designed against the apostles' lives)
on being shut, and the guard at the doors, into a corporal punishment.  They therefore,
the prisoners should escape.  But, while after remanding them  into court, ordered
they were in this state of perplexity, a mes- them  to be immediately scourged, which
senger arrived with news, that the men, being done, they strictly charged them not to




564                              AN ILLUSTRATED
preach any more in the name of Jesus, and, eminent among you for wisdom, and other
with this charge, gave them their liberty.   good gifts, that we may appoint (that is,
But this punishment and injunction had consecrate, or ordain) to the office of dealittle effect on the disciples of the blessed cons in the church, and intrust them  with
Jesus.  They returned  home in triumph, the care of distributing to those who want
rejoicing that they were thought worthy to out of the public stock.  In the choice of
suffer in so righteous a cause, and to undergo these, let it be observed, that they be pershame and reproach for so kind and power- sons well versed in the knowledge of divine
ful a Master.  Nor could all the opposition matters, that they may give assistance to us
of man, blended with the malice of the power occasionally in preaching the word, and reof darkness, discourage them  from  perform- ceiving proselytes to the faith, by baptism.
ing their duty to God, or lessen their zeal And by these means we shall be less interfor preaching, both in public and private, rupted in our daily employment of praying,
the doctrine of the gospel.                  and preaching the gospel."
The great increase of believers, and the    This proposal was highly satisfactory to
ready access to the common fund for the the whole assembly, who immediately nomrelief of the poor, made the institution of inated  seven  persons, namely,  Stephen,
another order of men in the Christian church Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Pharhighly necessary.  Among the great num- menas, and Nicolas.  These seven they preber of converts were some Jews, who, by sented to the twelve apostles, who, by
having been long in foreign countries, had prayer, and laying  their hands on them,
disused  the  Hebrew, and  spoke only the ordained them to the office of deacons.*   Of
Grecian  tongue, so that they were  con- these seven, the most eminent for the gifts
sidered by the common Jews as if they had and graces of the Holy Spirit was Stephen.
been foreigners.  These people complained  HIe preached the gospel with a noble courto the apostles, that, in the distribution of age and resolution, and confirmed it with
the charity-money, an undue preference was miany public and unquestionable miracles
given to the Hebrew  widows, while theirs amono the people, insomuch, that by his
were too frequently neglected.  In  conse- meians the Christian religion gained ground
quence of this complaint, the apostles as- abundantly.  Converts came in apace; and
sembled together the whole  multitude  of great numbers of the priests themselves laid
their disciples, when Peter, in the name of aside their prejudices and  embraced  the
the rest, addressed them  in words to this gospel.
effect:  "It is  not reasonable  that we    The great zeal of Stephen for propagatshould neglect the preaching of the gospel, ing the gospel, and the success that attended
by undertaking the care of looling after his endeavors, soon awakened the malice of
thie  poor.   Therefore, brethren, do  you his adversaries, who procured some moemennominate to us seven men, who have shown bers t of the most learned synagogues, then
themselves to be faithful, trusty persons, in Jerusalem, to dispute with hlim.  But
- The names of these seven deacons are all at Philippi, in Macedonia: and of Nicolas, that,
of Greek extract, whence we may infer, that, vely either by design or indiscretion, he gave rise to
probably, they were all natives of Greece, and that, the infamous sect of Nicolaitans, and therefore no
consequently, by their designation, the church Christian church has ever yet paid any honor to
was desirous to give full satisfaction to the com- his memory.
plaint of those whose widows had been before    i As there were people of all nations, proseneglected. Of the first two of these, viz., Stephen  lytes to the Jewish religion, dwelling at Jerusaand Philip, the sacred history has given us a suf- lem, it is reasonable to imagine that they had
ficient account, but of the rest we have nothing synagogues, or places appointed for prayer, for
certain, except we will admit of what the Latins hearing the law, and pious exhortations in their
tell us of Prochorus, viz., that on the 9th of Au- own languages. The Jews tell us, that there
gust he suffered martyrdom  at Antioch, after were no less than four hundred and eighty of
having made himself famous for his miracles: of these in Jerusalem, which were so many inferior
Nicanor, that on the 10th of January lhe suffered churches, and subordinate to the temple, as their
in the Isle of Cyprus, after having given great cathedral. These synagogues very probably were
demonstrations of his faith and virtue: of Timon, built and maintained by the several nations, or
that on the 19th of April, he was first thrown into degrees of people that resorted to them, and from
the fire, and, when he had miraculously escaped these they had their names, as the synagogue of
thence, he was fixed upon a cross at Corinth  of Libertines, that is, of such as were denizens of
Parmenas, that on the 23d of January he suffered Rome, of the Cyrenians, the Alexandrians, &c.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  565
when  they found their disputants baffled, possession, which should descend to his posand unable to withstand the force of those terity, though at this time he had no child.
arguments with which the divine wisdom         "God also indicated to him that his seed
had inspired Stephen, they betook them- should sojouln in a strange land; the peoselves to vile practices.  Having procured ple of which should make them  bonddmen,
some profligate men to accuse him of blas- and treat them  cruelly four hundred years.
pherny, they caused him to be apprehended; After which, he would judge that nation,
and, in a tumultuous manner, took him  be- bring out his people, who should serve him
fore the Sanhedrimn, in order to obtain a for- in this place, as an earnest of which he gave
mal sentence against him.                   him the covenant of circumcision; and afterWhile Stephen stood before the council, ward a son, whom Abraham circumcised the
the judges, and all the people then present, eighth day, calling his name Isaac, who
beheld a lustre and radiancy in his counte- begat Jacob, and Jacob begat the twelve
nance, not unlike the appearance  of an patriarchs.
angel.  This, however, did not so far intirni-    "But these, moved with envy, sold their
date the  Sanhedrim  as to prevent them  brother Joseph into Egypt, where the Alfirom listening to the accusation of the false- mighty protected him, delivered himl from
witnesses, who charged him with blasphemy, all his afflictions, endued him  with wisdom,
in foretelling the destruction of the temple, and gave him favor in the sight of Pharaoh,
and the change of the Mosaic rites and  the monarch of Egypt, who made him govceremonies.   " T'his  man,"  said  they, ernor both of his house and kingdom.
"eeaseth not to speak blasphemous words    "Soon after this exaltation of Joseph,
against this holy place and the law.  For the countries of Egypt and Canaan were
we have heard him say, Jesus of Nazareth  afflicted with a terrible famine, and our fishall destroy this place, and shall change  thers found no sustenance, either for themthe customs which Moses delivered us."      selves or flocks.  But as soon as Jacob heard
The high-priest, having heard the accu- the welcome tidings that there was corn in
sation against Stephen, asked him, whether Egypt, he sent our fathers thither to puror not he was guilty of thus prophesying the  chase bread for the people of his household.
destruction of the temple, and change of And in their second journey thither, Joseph
the  Jewish religion?  In  answer to this made himself known to his brethren, and
question, Stephen matde a very grave and also informed Pharaoh of his country and
severe oration, the substance of which was relations.   After which  Joseph's  father,
to the following effect:-                   with his whole house, consisting of threescore
" Hearken  unto  me, ye descendants of and fifteen souls, went down into Egypt,
Jacob; the Almighty, whose glory is from  where both Jacob and our fathers died, and
everlasting, appeared to our father Abraham, were carried to Sychem, and deposited in
before he sojourned in Charran, even while the sepulchre purchased of the sons of EmL11he dwelt in iIesopotamia, commandinog him  mor the father of Sychem.
to leave his country and relations, and retire    " But as the time for fulfilling  the prominto a land which he would show' him.       ise made to Abraham approached, the peo" Abraham obeyed the divine mandate; ple multiplied in Egypt, till another king
he left the land of the Chaldtaans and pitched  arose, who was not acquainted with the merhis  tent in Charran; whence, after his its of Joseph, and the great things he had
father was dead, he removed into Canaan, done for that country.  This prince used
even the land you now inhabit; but he gave our fathers with cruelty, and artfully athim no inheritance in this country, not even  tempted to destroy all the male children.
so much as to set his foot upon.  [le prom- At this time Moses was born, and being exised, indeed, he would give it him for a ceeeding fair, was nourished three months
But it is to be observed of these synagogues, that countries. St. Paul was of the province of Cilithey were not only places ofreligious worship, but I cia, and as it is reasonable to think that he
a sort of colleges or schools likewise, where per- studied in a college, either belonging to the counsons were instructed in the law and traditions of try where he was born, or proper to his quality
thie Jews. The Jews at this time were dispersed as a freeman of' Rome, there seems to be no inin several foreign parts, and from these they sent congruity in supposing that he might possibly be
their youth to Jerusalem to be educated in the one, either of those Libertine or Cilician disputsynagogue, or college, peculiar to their respective ants, who entered the lists with St. Stephen.




566                            AN ILLUSTRATED
in his father's house; but as it was danger- your brethren, like unto me.  Him  shall ye
ous to conceal him there any longer, he was hear.'
hid among the flags on the bank of the river;   "And this prophet is the same who was
when the daughter of Pharaoh found him, in the church in the wilderness, with the angel
and educated him as her own son.          which spake unto Moses in Mount Sinai, and
"Thus Moses became acquainted with all with our fathers; the same who received the
the learning of Egypt, and was mighty both lively oracles to give unto us; he whom our
in word and deed; but when he was forty fathers would not obey, but thrust him from
years old he thought proper to visit his them, and were desirous of returning to their
brethren, the children of Israel; and seeing state of bondage- commanding Aaron to
an Egyptian smite a Hebrew, he assisted make them gods to go before them, and prethe suffering person, and slew the Egyptian; tending that they knew not what was become
supposing that his brethren would have been of Moses, who delivered them  from  tlhe
persuaded that from  his hand, with the as- slavery of Egypt.  They now made a calf,
sistance of the Almighty, they might expect offered sacrifices to it, and rejoiced in the
deliverance; but they conceived no hopes work of their own hands.  From these idolaof this kind.                             trous proceedings they lost that divine pro"The next day he again visited them, tection which had hitherto attended them as
and seeing two of them  striving together, the prophets have recorded.' O ye houses
be endeavored to make them friends:  Y Ye of Israel! have you offered unto me slain
are brethren,' said he to them,' why do ye beasts and sacrifices, by the space of forty
injure one another?'  But he who did his years in the wilderness?  Yea, ye took up
neighbor wrong, instead of listening to his the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of
advice, thrust him away, saying,'By what your god Remphan: figures which ye made
authority art thou a judge of our actions? to worship them: I will carry you away
Wilt thou kill me as thou didst the Egyp- beyond Babylon.'
tian yesterday?'                            " Our fathers were possessed of the taber"Moses, at this answer, fled from Egypt, nacle of witness in the wilderness, being
and sojourned in the land of Media, where made according to the pattern Moses had
he begat two sons.  And at the end of forty seen in the mount.  This tabernacle our
years, the angel of the Lord appeared unto fathers brought in with Jesus into the posseshim in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, out of sion of the Gentiles, who were driven out by
the middle of a bush burning with fire: this the Almighty, till the days of David, a favorwas a sight which surprised Moses; and as ite of the Most High, and who was desirous
he drew near to view more attentively so un- of finding a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
common a thing, God called unto him, saying, But Solomon built him a house.' I am the God of thy fathers, the God of   " We must not, however, think that the
Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God Almighty will reside in temples made with
of Jacob.'  At which Moses trembled, and hands; as the prophet beautifully observed,
turned aside his face.  But the Lord said to'Heaven is my throne and earth is my foothim,' Put off thy shoes from thy feet, for the stool: what house will ye build me? saith the
place where thou standest is holy ground. I Lord; or where is the place of my rest?
have long seen the afflictions of my people, Hath not my hand made all these things?'
which are in Egypt; I have heard their cries,   "Ye stiff-necked, ye uncircumcised  in
and am now descended from heaven to deliver heart and ears, will ye forever resist the
them.  Come, therefore, I will send thee into Holy Ghost?  Ye tread in the paths of your
Egypt.'                                   fathers; as they did, so do you still continue
"Thus was that Moses whom they refused to do.  Did not your fathers persecute every
sent by God to be ruler and deliverer, by the one of the prophets? did not they slay them
hand of the angel who appeared to him  in who showed the coming of the Holy One,
the bush.  Accordingly he brought them out whom  ye  yourselves have  betrayed and
after he had showed signs and wonders in the murdered?  Ye have received the law by
land of Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the the disposition of angels, but never kept it."
wilderness, forty years.  It is this Moses   This speech, but particularly the concluthat told our fathers,'A prophet shall the dingpart of it, incensed the council to such
Lord your God raise up unto you, and a degree against Stephen, that they made use




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                           567
of the most bitter invectives, and resolved to clothes of the witnesses, who usually stripped
chastise him by no less a punishment than themselves to throw the first stones (as the
death.  But Stephen was totally regardless law directed) at the person who was to suffer
of what they said or did, having his mind by their evidence.  Not satisfied with this,
employecd in the delightful prospect of heaven, Saul, out of his passionate concern for the
and the appearance of the blessed Jesus traditions of the ancients, and his natural
standing at the right hand of God.  The inveteracy on that account, against the advovisionary prospect of this heavenly scene so cates of the gospel, resolved to persecute all
enraptured his soul, that he could not help he could who professed the new religion.
communicating it to the council. " Behold," He accordingly applied to the Sanhedrim for
said he, " I see the heavens opened, and the a commission for this purpose, which was no
Son of Man standing at the right hand of sooner granted than he immediately proceeded
God."  On saying these words, the resent- to carry it into execution.  Having proper
ment of the council against him was so un- assistance, he broke open houses, seized upon
governably increased, that raising a loud all who looked like the disciples of Jesus,
clamor, and stopping their ears against all and unmercifully dragged them to prison,
cries for mercy, they immediately dragged where he caused them to be scourged and
him away without the city, and stoned him  otherwise ignominiously punished.  These
to death.  While Stephen was undergoing acts of cruelty he exercised wherever he
this punishment, he first devoutly recom- went; so that most of the believers, except
mended his soul to God, and then earnestly the apostles, were forced to leave Jerusalem,
prayed for his murderers, that the sin they and disperse themselves in the regions of
were committing " might not be laid to their Judola and Samaria, Syria and Phoenicia,
charge;" having done which, he quietly Cyrus and Antioch, &c.
resigned his soul into the hands of Him who   In consequence of this, the glad tidings
gave it.  His remains were decently interred of the gospel (which had till now been conby devout men (proselytes to the Christian fined to Judna, and many professors of'it
faith) who made great lamentation  over obliged to hide themselves in secret places)
him.                                     were preached to the Gentile world, and an
Among  the many that were  enraged ancient prophecy was fulfilled which says,
against Stephen, one particular person who " Out of Sion shall go forth the law, and the
had but too great a hand in his death, was a word of the Lord from Jerusalem."  Thus
young man of Cilicia, named Saul.  This did the Almighty bring good out of evil, and
person, out of his great officiousness to have cause the malicious intentions of the wicked
Stephen executed, undertook to look to the to redound to his honor and praise.
CHAPTER VI.
PHILIP THE EVANGELIST. -  CONVERSION OF SAUL.
AMONG those who fled from Jerusalem  in and in a short time was attended by a
consequence of the violent persecution by prodigious number of converts.  In the city
Saul, was Philip the deacon, the next in lived a person named Simon, who, by his
order after Stephen.  He directed his course sorcery and magical arts, had so strangely
toward Samaria, preaching the gospel at gained the veneration of the people, that
various places in his way, and at length took they considered his diabolical illusions as real
up his residence in that city.  His labors operations of the power of God.  Simon,
here were crowned with success; he con- seeing great numbers of his admirers fall off
firmed the doctrine he preached by the per- from him, and embrace the doctrine preached
formance of many distinguished miracles, by Philip, pretended to be a convert like



568                             AN ILLUSTRATED
wise, and (in hopes of obtaining some share which, on inquiry, he found belonged to a
of the miraculous gifts, which he could not eunuch, the treasurer of Candace, queen of
but admire in Philip) was baptized by him  Ethiopia, who being a proselyte to the Jewwith some others who had embraced the doc- ish religion had been to pay his devotions attrine of Christ.                           Jerusalem, and was then upon his journey
The great success which attended Philip home.  When Philip approached the chariot
at Sam aria being made known to the apostles he was directed by the Spirit of God to stop
at Jerusalem, they sent Peter and John to and speak to the person within it.  This he
confer the gifts of the Holy Ghost on the new  accordingly did, and found the treasurer comconverts.  Simon, the magician, perceiving mendably employed in reading a passage of
that a power of working miracles was con- the prophet Isaiah.  Philip, after apologizing
sequent to all those on whom  the apostles for interrupting him, asked if he clearly unlaid their hands, offered to give them money derstood what he was reading; upon which
if they would invest him with a like power. the treasurer candidly acknowledged he did
But Peter, knowing the insincerity of *his not, and besought him to get into the chariot
heart, rejected  his offer with  scorn  and and instruct him.  Philip readily obeyed,
detestation; and severely rebuked him  in and when he came to examine the passage
words to this effect: "Thy money (said the which had so much perplexed, and engaged
great apostle) perish with thee.  As thy the attention of the treasurer, he found it to
heart is full of hypocrisy and deceit, thou be the following: " He was led as a sheep
shalt never be invested with any part of this
divine privilege, for thy design in desiring
these gifts is to advance thy own credit and
esteem among men, and not to enlarge the
kingdom of Christ.  Repent, therefore, and
humble thyself before God for this wicked
and impious proposal, that the thoughts of
thy heart may be forgiven thee; for I perceive that thy temper and disposition of mind
is still vicious and corrupt; that thou art yet    Royal attelnant or eunuch. (ineels marbles.)
bound by tile chains of iniquity, and in a to the slaughter, and like a lamb dumb before
state displeasing to Gcod, and dangerous to              opened not his mouth; in his
thyself."                                 the shearer he opened not his mouth; in his
This severe rebuke from  Peter greatly humiliation his judgment was taken away,
This  severe rebum e from  Peter greaoiey and who shall declare his generation?  For
affected the mind of Simon; his conscience his life is taken firomn the earth.'"  This test
flewin hst face, ankl he earnestly entreatel  the treasurer desired Philip to explain, asking
the apostles to make inrcession  for him to him whether the prophet spoke this of himthe throne of grace, that the Almighty might
pardon his sins, and not inflict on him those
heavy judgments which Peter had intimated
were likely to fall on him for his enormous
transgressions.
The two apostles, having confirmed the
doctrine preached by Philip in Samaria, left
that city and returned to Jerusalem, in their
way to which they expounded the doctrine
of Christ in several considerable villages, and   Female attendant. (From an ivory.)
were so successful, as to bring over a
prodigious number of sincere proselytes.   self, or of some other person?  Philip took
Soon after Peter and John left Samaria, this opportunity of preaching to him the gosPhilip received orders from a heavenly mes- pel of Jesus Christ, and clearly pointed out
senger to quit that city, and go southward to him that not only the sense of the passage
into the road which led from Jerusalem  to in question, but likewise several others in the
Gaza.  Philip immediately obeyed the divine ancient prophets, was fully accomplished in
mandate; but he had not travelled far before his person, and the transactions that had
he espied a chariot with a splendid retinue, taken place during his stay on earth.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                      569
While Philip was expounding the doctrine  and passing through lie preached in: all the
of Christ to the Ethiopian, they happened  cities, till he came to Caesarea."  (Acts viii.
to come unto a certain water; and the eunuch,36-40.)
said, " See, here is water; what doth hinder    In the mean time, Saul was very active in
me to be baptized?"   And  Philip  said, persecuting the believers of Christ in Jeru"If thou believest with all thy heart, thou salem and its neighborhood; but such was his
mayest.'   And he answered and said, "I fiery zeal against the faithful, that he resolved
believe  that Jesus  Christ is the  Son  of to carry his cruelty and resentment still furGod."   And he commanded the chariot to ther. He therefore applied to the Sanhedrim,
stand still, and they went down into the and obtained a commission fiorn that court,
water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he to extend his persecution to Damascus, and
baptized him.  "And when they were come to bring such believers as he might find in
up out of the water, the spirit of the Lord  that city bound to Jerusalem.*
caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw           Saul, pleased with the horrid power with
hint no more, and  he went on  his way which he was invested by the Sanhedrim,
rejoicing.  But Philip was found at Azotus; left Jerusalem, and prosecuted his journey
_ ___-2__...          ____ _ --- --
RUINS OF C SAREA.
toward Damascus, being fully resolved to  mercy to him  as well as those he went to
execute  his commission with  the  strictest persecute, to fiustrate his intentions.  When
severity.  But it was the divine will, in  he came near Damascus, a refulgent light,
- DAMASCUS is one of the most ancient, and of representing the "Pharpar" of Scripture. Achas at all times been one of the most important, cording to Josephus, Damascus was founded by
of the cities of Syria. It is situated in a plain of Uz, the son of Aram, and grandson of Slhem.
vast size and of extreme fertility, which lies east It is first nmentioned in Scripture in connection
of the great chain of Anti-Libanus, on the edge with Abraham (Gen. xiv. 15), whose steward was
of the desert. This fertile plain, which is nearly  a native of the place (xv. 2). We may gather
circular, and about thirty miles in diameter, is firom the name of this person, as well as from
due to the River Barada, which is probably the the statement of Josephus, which connects the
"Abana" of Scripture. This streamn, rising high city wivh the Aramtneans, that it was a Shemitic
up on the western flank of Anti-Libanus, forces settlement. Nothing more is known of l)amascus
its way through the chain, running for some time until the time of D)avid. Certain localities in
among the mountains, till suddenly it bursts Damascus are shown as the site of those Scripthroug(h a narrow cleft upon the open country  tural events which especially interest us in its
cast of the hills, and diffuses fertility far and history. A "long wide thoroughfare," leading
wide. Two other streams, the Wady Helbon up- direct from  one of the gates to the Castle or
on the north, and the Awvaj upon the south, which palace of the Pacha, is "called bv the guides
flows direct from  Hermon, increase the fertility'Straight'" (Acts ix. 11); but the natives know
of the Damascene plain, and contend for the honor it among themselves, as "the Street of Bazaars."




570                             AN ILLUSTRATED
far exceeding the brightness of the sun,   Encouraged with this assurance, Ananias
darted upon him, at which he was greatly repaired to the house where Saul was, and,
amazed and confounded, falling, together laying his hands on him, delivered a message
with his horse, prostrate on the ground. to this effect: " That the Lord Jesus, who
This light was accompanied with a voice, in had appeared to him in his journey, had sent
the Hebrew language, saying, " Saul, Saul, him not only to restore his eyesight, but likewhy persecutest thou me?"  To which Saul wise to bestow upon him the gifts and graces
replied, "Who art thou, Lord?"  He was of the Holy Spirit, such as might qualify
immediately answered, "I am Jesus whom  him  for the ministry to which he was then
thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick appointed."  No sooner had Ananias finished
against the pricks."  As if he had said, his speech, than thick films, like scales, fell
"All thy attempts to extirpate the faith in from ntSaul's eyes, and he received his sight;
me will prove abortive, and, like kicking immediately after which he was baptized, and
against the spikes, wound and torment thy- continued some days with the disciples at
self."                                     Damascus, preaching in the synagogues, and
Saul was now sufficiently convinced of his proving that Jesus was the Messiah.
folly in acting against Jesus, whom he was
now assured to be the true Messiah.  He
therefore, trembling with fear, said, "Lord,
what wilt thou have me to do?"  On which
a voice replied, " Arise, and go into the
city, and it shall be told thee what thou must
do."  Those who accompanied Saul were             A.
struck with fear and amazement, wondering 
that they should hear a voice, and yet see no                1
man speak, while Saul himself was so dazzledl
and overpowered by the light, that he quite         Syrian Merchant. (Damascus.)
lost his eyesight. His companions, therefore,
led him by the hand into the city of Damas-   After staying some time at Damascus,
cus, where he continued three days totally Saul retired into the neighboring parts of
blind, nor did he, in the whole time, take the Arabia Petrma, where he first planted the
least refreshment.                         gospel; and, in the beginning of the next
At this time there dwelt in the city a cer- year, returned  to  Damascus.   Here he
tain disciple, named Ananias, whom  the applied, with the utmost assiduity, to the
Lord, in a vision, commanded to go and find great work of the ministry, preaching Christ
out one Saul of Tarsus (then lodging at the daily in the synagogues, and confuting all
house of one Judas, a Jew), and, by laying those who argued against his doctrine.  He
his hands on him, to remove his blindness. was, indeed, remarkably zealous in his preachAnanias was startled at the name of the ing, and blessed with a very extraordinary
man, and, to excuse himself, alleged his method of reasoning, whereby he undeniably
violent persecutions of the church, and with proved the fundamental points of Christianity.
what a wicked intent he was then come to This irritated the Jews to the highest degree;
Damascus.  But to this the vision told him, and at length, after about three years' conthat he was appointed, by the Divine Being, tinuance in the city, they found means to
to be a powerful instrument in the propaga- prevail on the governor of Damascus to have
tion of the gospel, both among the Jews and him apprehended and confined.  But they
Gentiles, and that, how much soever he bad knew it would be difficult to take him, as he
persecuted Christianity heretofore, he was had so many friends in the city; they therenow to become a zealous defender of it, and fore kept themselves in continual watch,
even to die in testimony of its truth.     searching all the houses where they thought
The house of Judas is shown, but it is not in St. Paul was let down by a basket (Acts ix. 25;
the street "Straight."  That of Ananias is also 2 Cor. xi. 33) is also shown.
pointed out.  The scene of the conversion is   BEYr, OOT, distant about fifty-eight miles, N.W.
confidently said to be an open green spot, is the seaport of Damascus. Population 112,600,
surrounded by trees, and used as the Christian of whom about 12,000 are Christians, and 5,000
burial-ground. The point of'the walls at which Jews. -Bib. Dictionary.       A. B.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                      571
he  might conceal himself, and  likewise with great boldness to the people; and hisobtained a guard from the governor, to attend  sermons were so powerful, and disputations
the different gates of the city, in order to  with  his opponents so unanswerable, that
prevent his escape.   In  this distress his they, like the Jews at Damascus, formed
Christian  friends were far from  deserting  designs against his life.  But as soon  as
him; they tried every method that offered  this was known to the brethren, they conto procure his escape; but finding it impos- ductedl him to Csesarea, whence he set sail
sible for him  to pass through  either of the to his own city, Tarsus, and continued, for
gates of the city, they let him down from one some years, preaching the gospel with great
of their houses in a basket over the wall, by  success in various parts of Cilicia and Syria.
which means the cruel designs of his enemies    The church, at this time, was free from
were rendered abortive.                        persecution,  and  flourished  exceedingly,
Saul having thus escaped from  his mali- upon which Peter took the opportunity of
cious persecutors in Damascus, repaired to  making a general visitation to all the reJerusalem, where, at first, he was but coolly formed  places  in  Judrea,  Galilee,  and
received  among  many  of the  disciples. Samaria.  In his progress he arrived at a
They were not insensible of his former con- town called  Lydda, where he cured one
duct, and  were therefore doubtful of the  Jtlneas of a paralytic disorder, which  had
sincerity of his heart, till at length Barnabas, confined him to his bed for eight years; and
who was privy to the circumstances that had  firom  this  miracle  all the inhabitants of
attended him both before and after his con- Lydda, as well as a neighboring town called
version, introduced him to the apostles, and, Saron, were prevailed on to  embrace the
having clearly related to them  every parti- doctrine of Christ.   From  Lydda he was
cular that had  passed, they admitted him  entreated by two messengers to go over to
into their communion.  He continued some  Joppa,*  on  account of one  Tabitha,  a
time at Jerusalem, during which he preached  Christian woman, venerable for her  piety, JOPPA, a town on the S.W. coastof Pales- not only restored to the Jews, but its revenues,
tine, the port of Jerusalem in the days of Solo- whether from land or from  export duties, were
mon, as it has been ever since. According to bestowed upon the second Hyrcanus and his heirs.
Josephus, it originally belonged to the Phcenicians When Herod the Great commenced operations, it
(Ant. xiii. 15, ~ 4). Here, writes Strabo, some say was seized by him, lest he should leave a hostile
Andromeda was exposed to the whale. Japho or strong-hold ii his rear, when he marched upon
Joppa was situated in the portion of Dan (Josh. Jerusalem, and Augustus confirmed him  in its
xix. 46) on the coast towards the south. Having possession. It was afterwards assigned to Archea harbor attached to it - though always, as still, a laus, when constituted ethnarch, and passed with
dangerous one — it became the port of Jerusalem, Syria under Cyrenius, when Archelaus had been
when Jernsalem became metropolis of the kingdom  deposed. When Joppa first became the seat of a
of the house of David, and certainly never did  Christian bishop is unknown.  It was taken posport and metropolis more strikingly resemble each  session of by the forces of Godfiey de Bouillon
other in difficulty of approach both by sea and  previously to the capture of Jerusalem.  Saladin,
land. Hence, except in journeys to and from  in A.D. 1188, destroyed its fortifications; but
Jerusalem, it was not much used. But Joppa was Richard of England, who was confined here by
the place fixed upon for the cedar and pine wood, sickness, rebuilt them. Its last occupation by
from Mount Lebanon, to be landed by the servants Christians was that of St. Louis, A.D. 1253, and
of Hiram king of Tyre. It was by way of Joppa, when he came, it was still a city and governed by
similarly, that like materials were conveyed from  a count. After this it came into the hands of the
the same locality, by permission of Cyrus, for the Sultans of Egypt, together with the rest of Palrebuilding of the second Temple under Zerubbahel estine, by whom it was once more laid in ruins.
(1 K. v. 9; 2 Chr. ii. 16; Ezr. iii. 7).  Here Jo- Finally, Jaffa fell under the Turks, in whose posnah, whenever and wherever he may have lived  session it still is.
(2 K. xiv. 25), "took ship to flee from the pres-    The American missionary, Dr. Thomson, who
ence of his Maker."  Here, lastly, on the house- visited Joppa (Jaffa) in 1857, says, " Twenty years
top of Simon the tanner, " by the sea-side," St. ago, the inhabitants of city and gardens were about
Peter had his vision of tolerance.  These are the 6,000; now, there must be 15,000 at least, and
great biblical events of which Joppa has been commerce has increased at a still greater ratio.
the scene. In the interval that elapsed between the Several sources of prosperity account for the exOld and New Dispensations it experienced many istence and rapid increase of Jaffa.  It is the
vicissitudes.  It had sided with Apollonius, and natural landing-place of pilgrims to Jerusalem,
was attacked and captured by Jonathan Macca- both Christians and Jews; and they have created
baus (1 Mace. x. 76). It witnessed the meeting a considerable trade.  The Holy City itself has
between the latter and Ptolemy (ibid. xi. 6). By also been constantly rising in importance during
Pompey it was once more made independent, and the present generation. Then there are extensive
comprehended under Syria; but by Caesar it was soap-factories here and in adjacent cities, much




572                               AN ILLUSTRATED
and diffusive charity, who was lately dead. quest him to raise her from  the dead, but
Peter complied with the request of the mes- by their tears, and great commendations of
sengers, and immediately accompanied them  her charity, sufficiently testified their wishes
to Joppa.  On his arrival at the house, he that he would do it.  Peter was not insenfound the body in an upper chamber ready sible of their meaning, and was willing to
prepared for interment, and surrounded by grant what he knew would give them general
a number of mournful widows, who showed  satisfaction.   Having,  therefore,  ordered
him  the coats and garments wherewith she them to withdraw, he first knelt down, and
had clothed  them, the monuments of her prayed for some time, with great fervency;
liberality.   They durst not, however, re- after which, turning himself to the body, he
_. ~. --    -— ~-~ ——:':'-._ —'
TOPPA.
said. "Tabitha, arise.    Upon  this, the be resided in the house of one Simon, 
good woman instantly opened her eyes, and tanner.
Peter, taking her by the hand, raised her    During his stay at Joppa, he one day reup, and presented her alive to her friends tired to the top of the house, about noon,
and relations.  This miracle gained Peter to pray.  After he had finished his devoa prodigious number of converts, and en- tions he found himself hungry, and called
couraged him, for a considerable time, to for meat; but, while the people were precontinue his abode at Joppa, during which  paring his dinner, he fell asleep, and beheld,
of which is exported from this port to all the cultivated  It is celebrated for its gardens and
cities along the coast, to Egypt, and even to Asia orchards of delicious fruit, such as the orange,
Minor through Tarsus. The fruit-trade is quite lemon, apple, apricot, quince, plum, &c.- A. B.
considerable. Add to this that silk is now being




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               573
in a vision, a large sheet, or table-cloth, let very readily  attended their pleasure, and
down, as it were, by the four corners from  desired to know the occasion of their sendheaven, wherein were creatures of all kinds, ing for him."
clean and unclean, and, at the same time,   The replly Cornelius made in answer to
a voice said to him, "Arise, Peter, kill and this was to the following effect  " Four
eat."  But the apostle, being tenacious of days ago, being fervently employed in the
the rites and institutions of the Mosaic law, duties of fasting and prayer, an angel friom
declared his aversion to such a proceeding; heaven appeared to me, declaring that my
upon which the voice rejoined, that what prayers and  almns were come  up  as  a
God had pronounced clean, he ought by no memorial before the throne of the  Most
means to account common or unclean. This High; and at the same time orderedl me to
representation was made to him three several send to Joppa for one Simon Peter, who
times, after which the sheet was taken up, lodged in the house of a tanner near the
and the vision disappeared.                 seaside, and who would give me further inforWhen Peter awoke he could  not help nmation in the mysteries of salvation.  Acseriously reflecting on the vision  he had cordingly I made no hesitation to obey tilhe
beheld; and while he was wondering within heavenly messenger; I sent immediately for
himself what might be the event, tie was thee, and now thou art come, and we are
interrupted  by  three  messengers, who, met together, I desire to hear what instrucknockingl at the gate, desired to speak with i tions thou hast to communicate."
him.  They were accordingly admitted, and    From this relation of the Roman officer,
as soon as they saw Peter they acquainted  Peter delivered a discourse to the assembly,
him with their business, which was to the fol- which he began by declaring that he perlowing purport: that" Cornelius, a Roman, ceived plainly God had made no distinction
captain of a company in the Italian legion,@ i of persons and people, but that the pious
then at Coesarea, a person of eminent virtue, and godly of all nations were to meet with
piety, and charity, had, by an immediate acceptance.  He told them  that peace and
command from  God, sent to him, begging I reconciliation between God and man was a
that he would return with them to give him  doctrine published by the prophets of old,
some instructions on so important and sin- and of late, since the time of John the Bapgular an occasion.'   Peter detained the tist, preached through Galilee and Judcla;
mlessengers that night; but the next day he that of this peace Jesus of Nazareth was the
set out with them  accompanied by some only Medliator between God and man, as
of his brethren, and the day following ar- appeared by the divine powers and graces
rived at Cmoesarea.                         wherewith he was invested, and which he
Cornelius, being in expectation of his I constantly exercised in doing good to mancoming, had invited his friends and relations kindcl; that of his life and actions, more
to his house, and as soon as Peter entered, especially of his crucifixion by the Jews,
he fell down at his feet to worship him, but and resurrection from the dead, of his apthe apostle, rejecting that honor as being pearing to his disciples, and even eating and
due to God alone, raised hilm  up, and then  drinking with them  after his resurrection,
told the company that, " though they must he and the rest of the apostles were chosen
know it was not lawful for a Jew to converse witnesses; that from  him they had received,
(more especially on the duties of religion) before his ascension, a command and comnwith those of another nation; yet since God mission to publish to all nations, that he
had taught him  to make no distinction, he  was the person, whom  God had ordained to
- The cohort of the Romans, which we call I trix, the Ferrea, the conquering, the iron bhand,
band, was a body of infantry, consisting of five &c, bv reason of the great valor, which, in some
hundred men, ten of which bands made a legion; sharp engagements, these had shown; sometimes
and the manner in which the Romans distin- from the countries they were chiefly quartered in.
guished and denominated their bands and legions as the German and Pannonian band, &c., and
was very various.  Sometimes it was from the sometimes from the parts whence they were gathl
order of places, and so they were called the first ered, as this of Cornelius is called the Italian
or second band, according to their rank and pre- band, because it was raised out of that country
cedency; sometimes from the commanders they and was a body of forces well known for their
were under, as the Augustan and Claudian band, | gallantry and great exploits, among the writers
&c., because persons of that nanme did lead them; of the Roman history.
sometimes from their own behavior, as the Vie



574                             AN ILLUSTRATED
be the great Judge of the world; that all and the peculiar form of their commonwealth,
the prophets, with one consent, bore witness rendered them very different from the inhab.
of him; and that whoever believed in his itants of other countries; a separation which
name would certainly receive the remission in after ages they contracted into a much
of sins.                                   narrower compass.  They were also tenaWhile Peter was thus speaking, the Holy ciously proud of their external privileges in
Ghost came down upon the whole audience, being the descendants of Abraham; and
and inspired them  with gifts and graces, therefore looked upon the rest of the world
fitting them  for several conditions in the as reprobates, refusing to hold any conversachurch.  The Jews who accompanied Peter, tion with them, or even to treat them with
were greatly astonished to see that the gifts common civility.
of the Holy Ghost were poured upon the    It is therefore no wonder that they were
Gentiles; which being observed by Peter, highly displeased with Peter; nor would he,
he told them he knew no reason why those in all probability, have been able to defend
persons should not be baptized (having re- his conduct in a satisfactory manner, had he
ceived the Holy Ghost) as well as they. not been charged with a peculiar commission
He accordingly gave orders that they should from God for extending the privileges of the
be baptized, which being done, he staid gospel to the Gentile world.  To satisfy
with them several days, in order to confirm  them, however, of the propriety of his conthem in the holy faith they had so happily  duct, he first gave them a plain and minute
and earnestly embraced.                    narrative of the whole affair, together with
The conduct of Peter on this occasion  the occasion of it; and then took occasion
was considered in various  lights by the from the whole, to draw this inference: that,
brethren at Jerusalem, who being but lately  " since God had been pleased to bestow on
converted to the Christian faith, were zeal- these Gentiles the same privileges, and malks
ously attached to the religious ceremonies of of conversion, that he had done on his select
the Mosaic institution, and therefore most of disciples, it would have been direct disobethem severely charged Peter, on his return  dience in him  to the divine will, had he
to Jerusalem, as being too familiar with the denied them  admission into the church, or
Gentiles.  How powerful is the prejudice of refused them his instructions and conversaeducation! The Jews had, for many ages, tion. "
conceived an inveterate hatred to the Gentiles,   From  this representation the whole audiconsidering them as persons not approved of ence were perfectly satisfied, and their disby the Almighty, who had chosen the Jews pleasure against Peter was turned into praise
for his peculiar people.  The law of Moses, and thanksgiving to God, for having comindeed, enjoined them  to be kind to their municated the same mercy to the Gentiles as
own nation, in preference to all others; and he had done to the Jews; namely, " repentthe rites and institutions of their religion, ance unto life eternal "
CHAPTER VII.
PERSECUTION BY HEROD. -LABORS OF BARNABAS AND SAUL.
AFTER the general dispersion which took some disciples, who were born in Cyprus
place in consequence of the martydom of and Cyrene,f having travelled through sevStephen, and the persecutions that followed, eral countries, and hitherto preached to the
X This was a city of great note, and once of Lybia (properly so called), and, as it was the
such power as to contend with Carthage for some principal city, it sometimes gave the name of Cypre-eminences. It stood on the western parts of renaica to the whole country, which by the sacred




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    575
Jews only, at length came to Antioch,* where, Antioch determined to make a collection for
hearing  of the  conversion  of Cornelius their brethren in Judea, which, on the apand others, they applied themselves to the proach of the dearth, they accordingly did,
Greeks who lived in that city, and, by the and sent it to the elders at Jerusalem  by the
blessing of God, daily made great numbers hands of Barnabas and Saul.
of converts.  Intimation of this being given     About this time Herod  Agrippa, the
to the apostles at Jerusalem, they despatched grandson of Herod the Great, in order to
one Barnabas, a pious man, and endued ingratiate himself with the heads of the obwith many excellent gifts, to assist the dis- stinate Jews, raised a most violent persecuciples, and confirm the believers in that city. tion against the Christians, in the commenceThe success of the gospel in so large a ment of which he ordered James, the son of
place as Antioch, gave great satisfaction to Zebedee, and brother of John, commonly
Barnabas. who, after continuing there some called " the Great,": to be put to d(eath.
time, and exhorting the people to hold fast Finding this cruel act was acceptable to the
the possession of that faith they had newly chief-priests and rulers, he resolved to extend
embraced, departed  thence to Tarsus, in his cruelty to Peter. He accordingly caused
order to find out Saul, whom he considered, him to be apprehended and put into prison,
from the fame he had heard of him, as a designing, immediately after the feast of the
necessary person to assist him  in facilitating  passover, to bring him forth to the Jews,
the further promulgation of the gospel. Hay- and, if they desired it, to have him executed.
ing found out Saul, he returned with him, But the Christians were incessant in their
in a short time, to' Antioch, where, for the prayers to God for his safety; nor were their
space of a whole year, they daily resorted in  prayers and solicitations in vain.  Herod
the most public places, preaching and ex- was persuaded in his own mind, that he
pounding the doctrine of their great Master; should soon accomplish his design, and sacriby means of which they soon gained over filee Peter to the insatiable cruelty of the
such a prodigious number of converts, that Jews.  But the night before this intended
in this city the disciples of Jesus were first execution, a messenger from  the courts of
distinguished  by the honorable  name  of Heaven visited the gloomy horrors of the
Christians.t                                 dungeon, where he found Peter asleep beThe extensive circulation of the gospel at tween two of his keepers.  The angel raised
Antioch opened an intercourse between the him  up, and taking off his chains, ordered
Christians of that city and those of Jeru- him to gird on his garments, and follow him.
salem. Many people resorted from the latter Peter obeyed, and having passed through
place to the former, and among them was the first and second watch, they came to the
one person named Agabus, who foretold, iron gate leading to the city, which opened
that there would shortly be a great famine to them  of its own accord.  The angel also
in many parts of the Roman empire, which  accompanied him through one of the streets,
accordingly happened in the fourth year of and then departed.  On this Peter, who had
the reign of the emperor Claudius.  In con- hitherto been confused, thinking all that had
sequence of this prophecy, the Christians of passed was no more than a dream, came to
writer is paraphrastically called Lybia about enemies, Galileans, Nazarenes, and mez of the sct:
Cyrene (Acts ii. 10). The city itself is famous but now by the conversion of so many heathens,
in Holy Writ for being the birthplace of that both in Casarea and Antioch, the believing Jews
Simon, whom the Jews compelled to bear our and Gentiles, being all made one church, this
Saviour's Cross.                             new name was given them, as being more express* This Antioch (to distinguish it from sixteen ive of their common relation to Christ, their great
other cities, which, in Syria and other countries, Lord and Master.
bore that name) was frequently called Antiochia
Epidaphne, from its neighborhood to Daphne, a    t He is commonly called the Great to distinvillage where the temple of Daphne stood. It guish him from another of the same name, who
was built, as some say, by Antiochus Epiphanes; was bishop of Jerusalem, and called the Less.
as others, by Seleucus Nicanor, the first king of He had his first instruction, together with John,
Syria after Alexander the Great, in memory of his from the Baptist; but how he disposed of himself
father Antiochus, and was, after that, the royal after our Lord's ascension does not appear. That
seat of the kings of Syria.                  he was very zealous and industrious in propagatt Before this they were called among them- ting the gospel, appears evident from  Herod's
selves brethren, saints, disciples, believers, and those making choice of him for the first sacrifice (after
that called on the name of Christ; and among their the death of Stephen) to the fury of the people.




576                               AN ILLUSTRATED
himself, and perceived that it was no vision, to bring about an accommodation.   Thoughl
but that his great and beloved Master had Herod was highly displeased with them, yet
really sent a messenger from  above, and he so far listened to his chanmberlain as to
released  him  firom  prison.   He therefore appoint a day for holding a public conference
repaired to the house of Mary, the mother of with the ambassadors; at which time, being
John, surnamned Mark, where several dis- dressed in his royal robes, and seated on a
ciples were met together, and sending up throne, he made a long harangue on thell
their prayers to [leaven for his deliverance.  occasion.  The fawning  multitude, thinking
As he stood knocking without, a maid-ser- to ingratiate themselves in  his favor, and
vant of the house, named Rhoda, knowing please the tyrant's  pride with  flatterinag
his voice, ran in, and acquainted the company applause, shouted out, " It is the voice of a
that Peter was at the door.  At first they  god, and not of a man.'  This gratified the
would not pay any attention to what she pride of Herod, who, assuming  to himself
said; but on her persisting in the truth of that praise which belonged only to God? was
what she asserted, they concluded  that it instantly struck by an angel with a  ortiltimust have been his angel.  Their dcou)ts, cation in his bowels, which, in a short tilse,
however, were soon removed by the entrance  put a period to his existence.
of Peter, at the sight of whom they were all    The tyrant Herod  being thus removed,
greatly astonished.  Peter beckoning them  the gospel greatly flourished and increased,
to hold their peace, related the whole par- new converts daily thronging to be adcmitted
ticulars of his miraculous escape from prison, to the faith.
and, after ordering7 them to acquaint Jaimes,    About this time Barnabas and Saul, havand the other brethren, with this good news, lang discharged their trust in dlisposing  of the
withdrew himself to a place of more retire- contributions raised in Antioch tbr the benefit
ment and security.                            of the Christians in Jerusalem  and Judc'a,
Early the next morning the officers went returned to that city, taking with them John,
from  IHerod to the priSOn, with orders to  surnamed Mark,* a person well calculated
bring Peter out to the people, who were to assist them  in  the propagation of the
gathered together to behold his execution. gospel.
But when they came to the prison, they were    Barnabas and Saul had not been long
informed  by the keepers that Peter had  returned to Antioch, when God, bly soIme
made his escape.  The officers immediately  particular inspiration, gave them  to underreturned with this intelligence to Heicrod, who  stand, that he had  appointed them  to calrry
was so irritated at his being disappointed in  his word into other places.  This was likewise
his wicked design, that he commanded the revealed to the m-embers of the church then
keepers to be put to death, as supposing  at Antioeh, who, in  consequence thereof,
them  accessory to his escape; after which betook themselves to fisting and prayer, andl
he left Jerusalem, and retired to Cresarea.    Simeon, Lucius, and  Malaneen (all of whomin
While Herod was in Ca3sarea, a misunder- were endued with the spiiit of prophecy),
standing took place  between him  and the having laid their hands on them, sent tlhemn
inhabitcants of Tyre and Sidon, against whom  away to preach the gospel wherever tlhey
he was about to declare  war.  But they, might be directed by divine inspiration.
dreading his power (and knowing that in this    On  their departure  fiorn  Antioch they
time of scarcity their country was in a great went first to  Seleueia,t whence they took
measure dependent. on Herod's dominions shipping for Cyprus, and began their minims
for its support), sent ambassadors to Blastus, terial office in the city of Salamis,4 where
Herod's chamberlain, requesting  him  to they  preached  in  the synagogues,  and
intercede in their behalf, and, if possible, employed  Mark,  who was  of their corn* This person, who is sometimes called John- iterranean Sea, and was so called fiom Seleucus
Mark, and at other times simply Mark, or John, its founder.
is very fiequently confounded with the Evange-    $ This was once a famous city in the Isle of
list St. Mark. He was a cousin and disciple of Cyprus, opposite to  Seleucia, on the Syrian
Barnabas, and the son of a Christian woman coast; and, as it was the first place in these parts
called Mary, at whose house in Jerusalem the where the' -ospel was preached, it was, in the:
apostles and disciples often assembled.      primitive tines, made the see of' the primate, or
t This city lay on the west, or rather a little metropolitan of the whole island. In the rei,:n
north-west of the city of Antioch, upon the Med- of the emperor Trajan, it was destroyed Ly tile




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    577
pany, in several offices of the church which that Saul changed his  name to that of
they could  not conveniently attend them- Paul,t which he ever after retained.
selves.                                         After staying some time in the Island of
From Salamis they proceeded to Paphos,*  Cyprus, Paul and his companions went to
the residence of Sergius Paulus, the pro- Perga in  Pamphylia, t where Mark (not
consul, or governor of the island, a man of choosing any longer to prosecute so wandergreat wisdom  and prudence, but unhappily  ing a course of life) took his leave, and
seduced by the wicked artifices of Bar-Jesus, returned to Jerusalem
an impostor, who styled himself Elymas, or    From  Perga they went to Antioch in
the magician.  The governor being informed  Pisidia, 1[ where, going into the synagogue
of the doctrine preached by Saul and Bar- on the sabbath day, they sat themselves
nabas, was desirous of hearing it, and there- down to hear the performance of divine worfore sent to them  for that purpose.  They  ship.  After the lessons, one out of the law,
accordingly attended, but while Saul was and the other out of the prophets (it being
delivering a discourse to him  and the com- the custom for the Jewish doctors to expound
pany present, the sorcerer (who stood by the  some part of the scripture for the instruction
pro-consul) used all the arguments he could  of the people), the chief persons of the
to prevent his being converted to the faith. assembly sent to Paul and his companions,
This being observed by Saul, he turned him- to know whether either of them would preach
self to the sorcerer, and severely chastised  a sermon  of exhortation  to the audience.
him in words to this effect: "0  thou vile  This was an offer highly satisfactory to Paul,
sorcerer! Like the devil, by whom  thou  who, after intimating  his acceptance of it,
workest, thou art an enemy to all goodness. arose, and delivered a discourse to the peoWilt thou persist in sorcery, in defiance of  ple in words to this effect:the faith of Christ, which comes armed with    "Hearken, all ye descendants of Jacob,
a much greater  power of miracles  than  and ye that fear the Almighty, to the words
those  to which thou  falsely  pretendest'? of my mouth.   The God of Israel made
Thou  shalt soon  feel the vengeance  of choice of our fathers, and loved them, when
Heaven; for thou that perversely holdest out they had no city of their own to dwell in,
against the light of the gospel, shalt lose thy but were strangers and slaves in Egypt,
sight, which, by the power of God, shall for bringing them thence with a mighty hand,
a time be taken from thee."  No sooner had  and a stretched-out arm; fed them  in the
Saul uttered these words than the sorcerer wilderness forty years, and would not suffer
was struck blind, and implored some of the his anger to rise' against them, though they
company to conduct him  to his habitation. often provoked him in the desert.  On their
This miracle convinced the pro-consul of the  arrival in the land he promised their fathers,
truth of the doctrine he had heard, and he  he destroyed the nations that inhabited it,
immediately became a convert to the faith. and placed them  in that fruitful country,
And from this event it is supposed by some  dividing it to them  by lot.
Jews, and rebuilt, but, after that, being in the time names of the provinces which they conquered.
of Herodius, sacked, and razed, to the ground by  St. Austin more than once asserts, that he took
the Saracens, it never recovered its former splen- it from a principle of humility, by a small variador, though out of its rnins is said to have arisen tion changing his former name (whereby a proud
Famagusta, which was the chief place of the isle, haughty king of Israel was called) into that of
when the Turks took it from the Venetians, in Paulus, which signifies little; and that, in conthe year 1570.                               formity to this, he calls himself " less than the
* Paphos was another city of Cyprus, lying least of the apostles."  But the most rational acon the western (as Salamis did on the eastern) count of the matter seems to be that of Origen,
track of the island. It was once famous for hav- namely, that he, being of Jewish parentage, and
ing in it a celebrated temple dedicated to Venus, born in Tarsus, a Roman city, had, at his cirwho, thence, is called, by ancient writers, the cumcision, two names given him, Saul, a Jewish,
Paphian Queen.                               and Paul, a Roman name, and that when he
t It is very observable, that all along, before  preached to the Jews, he was called by his Jewthis circumstance of the apostle's life, St. Luke ish, and when to the Gentiles (as he did chiefly
calls him by the name of Saul, but ever after by after this time) by his Roman name.
that of Paul. Hence some imagine, that he assumed that name to himself, in memory of his    t Pamphylia was a province of the lesser Asia,
converting Sergius Paulus; just as the ancient not far from Cyprus.
Roman generals were accustomed to adopt the   I1 This lay a little to the north of Pamphylia.
37




578                           AN ILLUSTRATED
"When they were settled in the land, he had swayed the sceptre of Israel a certain
gave them judges during four hundred and time, died, was deposited in the grave, and
fifty years, till Samuel the prophet  But his flesh saw corruption; but the great Son
on their desiring a king, he placed over of David, whom the Almighty raised from
them Saul the son of Cis, a Benjamite, who the dead, never saw corruption.
reigned about forty years. After his death    ":Be it therefore known unto you, men
he placed David on the throne of Israel, and brethren, that through this Saviour is
giving him  this testimony' I have found preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.
David the son of Jesse, a man after mine It is by his merits we are justified from all
own heart, which shall fulfil all my will things, which was impossible by the law of
And according to his promise the Almighty Moses.  Be careful, therefore, lest what
hath raised up to the sons of David a was foretold by the prophets come upon
Saviour Jesus, which is Christ the Lord, you:'Behold, ye despisers, and wonder
the  baptism  of repentance  having  been and perish; for I work a work in your days,
preached before his coming by John.  And a work which you shall in no wise believe,
as his forerunner executed his office, he though a man declare it unto you.' "
asked his followers, Whom think ye that I   This discourse was so well received by
am? You must not mistake me for the great numbers of the people, that when they
Messiah; he will soon follow me; but I am  got out of the synagogue, they besought
not worthy to perform the meanest office for Paul that he would deliver it again on the
him.                                     next Sabbath.  Paul promised to comply
" To you, therefore, ye descendants of with their request, which he accordingly did,
Abraham, and all others who fear the Al- and on that day almost all the inhabitants
mighty, is this word of salvation sent.  For of the city flocked to hear him.  This irrithe inhabitants of Jerusalem, and rulers of tated such of the  Jews as were strong
Israel, being ignorant of him, and the voices enemies to the  gospel; nor could  they
of the prophets, though read every sabbath refrain from  showing their malice on the
in their synagogues, fulfilled their predic- occasion.  They several times not only intions by condemning the immaculate Son of terrupted, but peremptorily  contradicted
the Most High.  They found, indeed, no Paul while he was preaching, and at length
fault in him, though they earnestly desired  uttered   many  blasphemous  expressions
Pilate that he might be slain.           against the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
" 6When every thing that had been written  But their opposition could not daunt the
by the prophets concerning him was fulfilled, apostles, who boldly answered them as folthey took him from the tree, and deposited lows-: "It was necessary that the word of
his body in the chambers of the grave. God should first have been spoken to you;
But death had no power to detain him; his al- but seeing ye put it from you, and judge
mighty Father raised him from the habitations yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo,
of the dead.  After which he was seen dur- we turn to the Gentiles.  For so hath the
ing many days by his disciples who attend- Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee
ed him from Galilee, and were the witnesses to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou
chosen by Omnipotence, of these great and shouldst be for salvation unto the ends of
miraculous works.  And we now  declare the earth."
unto you glad tidings, namely, that the    When the Gentiles heard this, they were
promise made by the Almighty to our fore- greatly rejoiced, and glorified the name of
fathers,  he hath performed to us their God for his beneficent mercy revealed in the
children, by raising Jesus from  the dead. gospel; and all who had any care or thought
The prophet David also said, Thou art my of the life to come immediately embraced
son, this day have I begotten thee.  He also the doctrine of Christ.  This increased the
foretold that he should return  from  the malice and fury of the Jews, who, by false
chambers of the dust, and no more be sub- and artful insinuations, prevailed on some
ject to corruption: I will give you (said he) of the more bigoted and honorable women
the sure mercies of David.  And again, to bring over their husbands to their party:
Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see the consequence of this was, that Paul and
corruption.  Now this prophecy must relate Barnabas were driven out of the city, on
to the Messiah, for David himself, after he leaving which they shook the dust off their




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             579
feet, in testimony of the sense they had of they cried out, " The gods are come down
the ingratitude and infidelity of their op- to us in the likeness of men."  Accordingly
pressors.                                they called Barnabas Jupiter, on account of
From Antioch, Paul and Barnabas went to his venerable gravity, and Paul they named
Iconium, where they entered into the syna- Mercurius, "because he was the chief
gogue of the Jews, and, according to their speaker."
usual custom, preached to the people; the   It was not long before the fame of this
consequence of which was that many, both miracle was spread throughout the city; in
Jews and Greeks, became proselytes to the consequence of which almost all the inhabits
Christian religion.  From  this success the ants gathered themselves together, and pretwo  apostles  continued  some  time  at ceded by the priest of Jupiter, and oxen
Iconium, during which the number of con- dressed in garlands, went to the house where
verts daily increased, and, to confirm them in the apostles resided, intending to offer sacrithe faith, God added his testimony to their fiee before them.  But as soon as Paul and
preaching, by enabling them to work mira- Barnabas understood their intentions, they
cles.  But though they had gained a consid- were greatly affected at their superstitious
erable number of inhabitants to the faith, design; and rending their clothes to express
yet there were many who continued in their their grief and abhorrence of the action, ran
infidelity: the whole leaven of Jewish malice out to the multitude, whom Paul addressed
began again to show itself, and the unbe- in words to this effect: " Ye men of Lystra,
lieving  Jews,  having  stirred  up  the ye are mistaken in the object of your worship;
Getltiles  against the  apostles, at length for though we have done many miracles in
prevailed on the multitude to stone them. the name and by the power of Christ, yet we
But the apostles, having timely notice of are no more than men, and subject to the
their designs, fled from the city to Lystra same passions with yourselves, and preach
and Derbe (two other cities in the province unto you the glad tidings of salvation, that
of Lycaonia), where they preached the gos- ye may forsake the vanities of this world,
pel to the inhabitants, as also to those who and return to the living God, who created
dwelt in the countries adjoining.        the heaven and the earth, the sea, and all the
While they were at Lystra, a happy cir- creatures they contain.  This Omnipotent
cumstance occurred both for the promulga-  Being suffered all nations formerly to walk
tion of the gospel, and the conversion of a in their own ways, though he never left himpeople who had greatly been devoted to self without witness, doing the greatest good
paganism.  As Paul was one day preaching to the children of men, it is he that sendeth
to the multitude, he saw among them a man rain from heaven, and crowneth the year with
who had been lame from his mother's womb, fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with joy
and had never walked.  From the earnest and gladness."
attention which the cripple gave to the dis-   This argument had the desired effect, the
course, Paul (who had for some time taken people, though with some difficulty, being
particular notice of him) perceived that he persuaded to lay aside their idolatrous intenhad faith, and therefore thought proper to tions   And surely no argument could be
add the cure of his body to that of his soul, more properly adapted to answer the wishes
knowing that it would not only be beneficial of the inspired preacher.  Is it possible that
to him, but would likewise confirm the faith any human being can survey the several
of all who should believe in his doctrine. parts of the creation, and not discover in
And that the miracle might be wrought in every place evident traces of an Infinite
the most conspicuous manner, Paul, in the wisdom, power, and goodness?  Who can
midst of the congregation, said in an audible survey universal nature, and not at once see
voice to the man, " Stand upright on thy and admire its great Author, who has disfeet;" which words were no sooner pro- posed of all created things with such order
nounced than he arose, " and leaped and and regularity as to display in the clearest
walked."                                 manner his own power and glory?  Behold
The people who beheld this miracle well the sun! how justly is that source of light
knew that it could not be wrought by any and heat placed in the centre of the planehuman power; but having been initiated in tary choir, that each may enjoy its destined
the superstitious customs of the heathens, share of its prolific beams; so that the earth




580                            AN ILLUSTRATED
is not burnt by a too near approach, nor   They did not, however, continue long at
chilled by the northern blasts from too great iDerbe, but returned to Lystra, Iconium, and
a recess, but impregnated with fruits and Antioch, confirming the Christians of those
flowers by the happy influence of a vital places in the faith, earnestly persuading them
heat, and crowned with luxuriant plenty by to persevere, and not to be discouraged at
the benign influences of the season.  Who those troubles and persecutions which they
can  contemplate the wonderful properties must expect would attend the profession of
of the air, and not reflect on the divine the gospel.  And that the affairs of the
wisdom that formed it?  If we survey the church might be conducted with more reguearth, we there discover the footsteps of an larity, they ordained elders and pastors,
Almighty Being, who hath filled it with a to teach, instruct, and watch over them;
5reat variety of admirable and useful crea- having done which, they left them to the
tures, all of which are maintained by the protection of the Almighty, to whose care
bounty of his hand.  It is he that clothes they recommended  them  by  prayer and
the grass with a delightful verdure, that fasting.
crowns the year with his loving-kindness,   From Antioch they passed through Pisiand causes the valleys to stand thick with dia, and thence went to Pamphylia; and,
corn.  It is he that maketh the grass to having preached to the people at Perga, they
grow  upon the mountains, and herbs for went down to Attalia, and returned, by sea,
the service of man   He adorns the lilies to Antioch in Syria, whence they had set
of the  field, that neither toil nor spin, out on this holy expedition.  On their arriwith a glory  that excels the  pomp and val here, they immediately assembled the
grandeur of Solomon's court.  Hle " shut church together, and  having  given  an
up the sea with doors," and said, " Hitherto account of their success, what miracles God
shalt thou come and no farther, and here had wrought by their hands, and a large
shall thy proud waves be stayed."  It is "door of faith," he, by their ministry, had
the Almighty Being that arrests the storm, opened to the Gentiles, they suspended their
and smooths the tempestuous billows of the farther travels for the present, and for a condeep; that delivereth the mariner from all siderable time took up their abode with the
his troubles, and bringeth his ship into the disciples in that city.
desired haven of safety.  How reasonable,   During their stay here, the church was
therefore, is it that we should worship and greatly disturbed by means of some persons
adore this Omnipotent, this kind Creator, coming from Judea, who taught the people
and not transfer the honors due to him alone that there was no salvation without circumto frail mortals, much less to dumb idols, the cision, and the observance of other legal
work of men's hands!                      ceremonies.  This doctrine was strongly opAfter Paul had performed the miracle on posed by Paul and Barnabas; in consethe lame man, he and Barnabas continued quence of which, after many conferences and
to persevere in the execution of their impor- disputations, it was at length proposed, that
tant commission, declaring, wherever they the decision of the matter should be referred
went, the glad tidings of salvation to all to the general assembly of the apostles at
who believed in the doctrine of Christ  But Jerusalem.  This the whole church readily
the malice of their enemies still pursued agreed to: and having deputed Barnabas
them: some inveterate Jews, who had come and Paul, together with some others, to go
from Antioch and Iconium, so exasperated with the message, they conducted them  part
and stirred up the multitude against them, of the way, and the two apostles, in passing
that they took Paul, whom, just before, they through Phoenicia and Samaria, took care to
would have adored, and stoned him; after relate what success they had met with in
which they dragged him  out of the city, the conversion of the Gentiles, to the great
supposing him to be dead.  But when the joy and comfort of all the brethren in those
disciples went to the place where he was parts.
(probably to inter his body) he rose up, and    On their arrival at Jerusalem  they were
went into the city for that night, and the kindly received by the apostles and elders
next day departed, with Barnabas, to Derbe, of the church, to whom, after reciting the
where they preached the gospel, and con- great success they had met with in the propaverted many to the faith.                 gation of the gospel, they delivered the mes



HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              581
sage on which they were sent.  They told set it up: that the residue of men might
them, that when the Gentile proselytes, or seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles
others uncircumcised, came into the faith, upon whom  my name is called, saith the
some Jewish converts, of the sect of the Lord, who doeth all these things.'  WherePharisees, said that such could not be ad- fore it is my conclusion and determination,
mitted into the church of Christ without cir- that we should not compel those to be circumcision; that great disputes had arisen on cumcised, who from  Gentiles turn Christhis head, and that the matter was referred tians, but content ourselves if they believe.
to the church at Jerusalem.               We who are Jews need not fear that this
In consequence of this intelligence a coun- will bring a contempt upon Moses or the
eil was immediately summoned to deliberate laws of the Jews, since the contrary appears
on the matter, and great disputes took place by the Christian practice; for even where
on the occasion.  At length, Peter, rising those proselytes of the Gentiles are, the
from  his seat, addressed the audience in books of Moses are continued among them,
words to this effect: " It is well known to being read in the synagogues every sabyou all, that some time since God made bath day, to signify their respect to the
choice of me first to preach the gospel to the law."
Gentiles; and God, who knew the sincerity    This determination  being unanimously
of their hearts, testified that they were ac- agreed to, it was next resolved to send some
ceptable to him  and fit to be baptized, proper persons with Paul and Barnabas to
bestowing on them  the gift of the Holy Antioch, in order that they, having been
Ghost, as he had before upon us, making no present, might give a satisfactory account
difference between us and them.  By this of the  result of the apostles' embassy.
one act the matter is already sufficiently They  accordingly  made  choice  of two,
determined.  Why then  do ye press this namely, Judas, surnamed  Barnabas, and
thing so contrary to the will of God?  And Silas, men of distinguished reputation, and
why would ye wish to impose on the Gentile well respected by all Christians.  These,
converts the performance of the Mosaic law, accompanied by Paul anlld Barnabas, prowhich belonged not to them, and which we ceeded to Antioch, taking with  theml  a
Jews were so farfrom being able to perform, decree drawn up by the council, which was
that our conduct could not be justified? It to this effect: " Forasmuch as we have
is from the gospel that we expect salvation heard that certain which went out from  us
and justification, through faith and obedience have troubled you with words, subverting
to Christ, and not by an observation of the your souls, saying ye must be circumcised
IMIosaic law: whence it is plain, that if the and keep the law; to whom we gave no
Gentiles believe, they have the same way to such commandment: it seemed good unto us,
salvation as ourselves."                  being assembled with  one accord, to send
When Peter had concluded his observa- chosen men unto you, with our beloved
tions, Paul and Barnabas, in confirmation Barnabas and Paul': men  that have hazof what he had said, declared what miracles arded their lives for the name of our Lord
God had done by them  in the conversion Jesus  Christ.   We have  sent therefore
of the Gentiles, which they said was another Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the
argument and testimony fiom. heaven, that same things by mouth.  For it seemed good
no difference ought to be made between to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon
them and the Jews.                        you no greater burden than these necessary
Upon this James stood up, and spoke to things; that ye abstain from meats offered
this effect: "Men and brethren, Peter hath to idols, and fiom  blood, and from  things
sufficiently demonstrated that it was the will strangled, and from fornication: from which
of God the Gentiles should, without scruple, if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well.
have the gospel preached to them, and be  Fare ye well."  (Acts xv. 24-29.)
baptized.  And this is agreeable to what   With this decree they immediately rehatLh been foretold by the old prophets, par- paired to Antioch, whither they had no
ticularly Amos:' In the latter days I will sooner arrived than the Christian converts,
return, and will build again the tabernacle both Jews and Gentiles, assembled together
of David which is fallen down; and I will in order to know the issue of their embassy.
build again the ruins thereof, and I will As soon as they were met, Paul and Barna



582                             AN ILLUSTRATED
bas presented to them  the decretal epistle, as if it had been unlawful for him  to holh
which they caused to be read in the hearing conversation with  uncircumcised  persons;
of the whole congregation.  The contents of notwithstanding he knew, and was fully sat.
the decree, which were ultimate, gave the isfied that our blessed Saviour had broken
highest satisfaction to the Gentile converts, down the wall of partition between the Jew
who greatly rejoiced at finding themselves and Gentile.
discharged from the burden of the law, and    Peter, by thus acting against the light
confirmed in their Christian liberty.       of his own mind and judgment, condemned
While Judas and Silas were at Antioch what he had approved, and destroyed the
(being both men of excellent gifts in the superstructure he had before erected: at the
interpretation of the Scriptures), they eua- same time he confirmed the Jewish zealots in
ployed their time in confirming believers in their gross errors, filled the minds of the
the truth of Christianity, and, after a short Gentiles with scruples, and their consciences
stay, were, with all kindness and civility, with fears.
dismissed by the church, in order to return    Paul, who was not ignorant of what perto Jerusalem.  But Silas, for some reasons, nicious influence the example of so great an
was unwilling to depart so soon, choosing  apostle might be, especially when he saw
rather to tarry with Paul and Barnabas. Barnabas carried away with the stream  of
This he accordingly did, and those three, his indiscretion, was greatly irritated at his
together with several others of the brethren, conduct, and, iri the presence of the whole
employed themselves in instructing such as church, severely rebuked him, for endeavorhad already received the Christian faith, ing to impose that yoke on the Gentiles,
and in preaching to others who had not yet which he, though a Jew, thought himself at
embraced it.                                liberty to shake off.
Soon after the determination of the coun-    A few days after this, Paul and Barnabas
cil at Jerusalem, Peter went thence to An- resolved to leave Antioch, and visit those
tioch, where, using the liberty which the  places in which they had some time before
gospel had given him, he for some time con- planted Christianity among the Gentiles.  In
versed familiarly with the Gentile converts,  this intended excursion, Barnabas proposed
eating with them, and living with ththem in the taking with them John Mark; but the
same manner they did.  This he had been  proposition was highly disapproved by Paul,
taught to do by the vision of the sheet let on account of Mark's having deserted them
down from  heaven; this had been lately  at Pamphylia.  In consequence of this, a
decreed at Jerusalem; this he had before warm dispute took place between them, the
practised with regard to Cornelius and his issue of which was, that they determined to
family, and justified the action to the satis- separate.*   Accordingly, Barnabas, accomfaction of his brethren; this he had likewise panied by Mark, went to Cyprus, which was
done after his arrival at Antioch, till some his native country; and soon after, Paul,
Jewish Christians  (still tenacious of the I having chosen Silas for his companion, set
ceremonial law) coming thither from Jerusa- out on his intended visitation of the several
lem, Peter, fearful of offending or displeasing places in which he had before propagated
them, withdrew himself from  the Gentiles, Christianity.
* Hence we may learn not only that these two such eminent servants instrumental to the
great lights in the Christian church were men of benefit of his church, since both of them thencethe like passions with us, but that God, upon this forward employed their extraordinary industry
occasion, did most eminently illustrate the wisdom  and zeal, singly and apart, which till then had
of his providence, by rendering the frailties of been united, and confined to the same places.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    583
CH APTER VIII.
PAUL AND SILAS VISIT CHURCHES. -  PAUL AT ATHENS. -IN  EPHESUS.
WnHEN Paul left Antioch, after his separa- in lawful and indifferent matters, to conform
tion from Barnabas, he and his companion  himself to the tempers and dispositions of
Silas travelled over the provinces of Syria  all, that he might thereby further succeed in
and Cilicia, confirming the churches, and  his ministry, and the sooner establish that
leaving  with each  a copy of the  decree, doctrine he was sent to propagate.
which a short time before had been passed by    After staying a short time at Lystra, they
the council at Jerusalem.  From  these parts passed  through  Phrygia t and  Galatia,:
they sailed to Crete,* where Paul propagated  where the apostle Paul was entertained with
the gospel, and constituted Titus pastor of the greatest kindness and veneration by the
the island, leaving him to settle those affairs people, who looked upon him  as an angel
of the church, which time would not permit sent immediately from  heaven   Hence he
the apostle to do.                            intended  to have continued  his  progress
From Crete, Paul and Silas returned to through the proconsular. Asia, but was proCilicia, and thence went to Lystra.  Here  hibited from so doing by a particular revelathey met with a young man named Timothy, tion   In  consequence of this he went to
whose father was a Greek, but his mother Mysia,ll and after attempting in vain to go
a Jewish convert, by whom  he had been  into Bithynia,~ proceeded to Troas,~ where,
brought up under all the advantages of a soon after his arrival, he had a vision, compious and religious education, especially with  manding him to direct his course for Macedoregard to the holy Scriptures, which he had  nia.**  Paul made immediate preparations
studied with the greatest assiduity and- suc- for obeying these orders, being fully assured
cess.  This person Paul designed as a com- it was the Lord who had called him to preach
panion of his travels, and a special instru- the gospel in that country.
ment in the ministry of the gospel.  But    Paul and his companions, having embarked
knowing that his being uncircumcised would  at Troas, sailed to the Island of Samothraprove a stumbling-block  to the Jews, he cia,tt and, the next day, landed at Neapocaused him to be circumcised; being willing, lis,$$ a port in Macedonia, whence they
* This was one of the richest and best islands ed on the west by Phrygia, on the east by the
in the whole Mediterranean Sea. It is said at River Halys, on the north by Paphlagonia, and
one time to have contained no less than a hundred  on the south by Lycaonia.
considerable towns or cities, whence it had the   I1 Mysia is another small province of Asia
name of Hecatompolis.  From  the goodness of Minor, bonunlded on the east by Phrvgia, on the
the soil, and temperature of the air, it was like- west by Troas, on the north by Bithynia, and
wise styled Macorios, or the Happy Island. At on the south by the River Hermus.
present it is commonly called Candia, from its    ~ Bithynia is likewise a region of Asia Minor,
principal town, which bears that name. It is and received its name from one of its kings, named
situated opposite the mouth of the Egoean Sea, Bythinus; but in what age he reigned we are not
or Archipelago; and while it continued in the informed.
hands of the Venetians was an archbishop's see;    ~ Troas was a small country belonging to
great, rich, and populous; but since it came into Phrygia Minor, and situated to the west of S~sia,
the possession of the Turks (which was in the upon the Hellespont. It took its name from its
year 1669) it has lost all marks of its former principal city, which was a seaport, and situated
grandeur.                                     about four miles fiom old Troy.
t Phrygia is a province of Asia Minor, hav-      This is a lar,-e province in Greece, and was
ing Bithynia to the north, Galatia to the east, anciently called Emmathia, but, from the kin; 
Lycia to the south, and Mysia to the west. The of Macedon, it was afterward called Macedonia,
inhabitants of this country, who are said to have which name it has ever since retained.
been the inventors of augury, and other kinds of   tt Samothracia is a small island in the JEgean
divination, were anciently more superstitious than Sea, lying to the west of Troas, opposite the coast
the other Asiatics, as appears from the rites which of Thrace, whence it received its name.
they used in the sacrifice of Cybele, and other   it Neapolis was a seaport, and stood very near
heathen goddesses.                            to Thrace. At first it belonged to that province,
$ Galatia is a province of Asia Minor, bound- but was afterward taken into Macedonia.




584                               AN ILLUSTRATED
travelled  to Philippi,*  a  Roman  colony, not suffer the devil to acknowledge him, lest
where they continued some days.               his false and lying tongue should prejudice
At a small distance from  Philippi the the truth in the minds of men), commanded
Jews had a proseuche, or place of devotion, the spirit, in the name of Jesus, to  come
which was much fiequented by the devout out of her.  Accordingly  the evil spirit
women of their religion, who met there to obeyed, and at that instant left the damsel.
pray and hear the law.  In this place Paul    This miraculous cure proving a great loss
and his companions preached the glad tidings to her masters, who had acquired large sums
of the gospel, and, by the influence of the from her soothsaying, they were vehemently
Holy Spirit, made many converts.  Among incensed against the apostles.  They therethese was a certain woman named Lydia, a fore caused Paul and Silas to be apprehended
seller of purple in Philippi, but a native of and carried before the magistrates of the city,
Thyatira,t whom  they baptized, with  her to whom  they accused them of introducing
household; in return for which she invited  many innovations, which were prejudicial to
them  to lodge in her house during their the state, and unlawful for them  to comply
abode in that city.                           with, as being Romans.
As Paul and his companions were one    The magistrates, being concerned for the
day going, as usual, to the before-mentioned  tranquillity of the state, and fearful of all
place of devotion, they were met by a certain  disturbances, were very  forward to punish
damsel, who was possessed with a spirit of the offenders, against whom  the multitude
divination, by means of which her masters testified; and therefore they commanded the
acquired considerable advantage.  This wo- officers to  strip  them, and  scourge  them
man followed Paul and his companion, cry- severely  as seditious  persons.  This  was
ing out, " These men are the servants of the accordingly  done, after which  they  were
Most High God, which show us the way of committed to close custody, and the jailer,
salvation."  Paul, at first took no notice of having received a strict charge to keep them
her, not being willing to multiply miracles in the utmost security, not only thrust them
without necessity.  But when he saw  her into the inner prison, but likewise made their
following them  several days together, he feet fast to the stocks.
began to be troubled; and therefore, in    But neither the obscure dungeon, nor the
imitation of his great Master (who would pitchy mantle of the night, can intercept
* Philippi was one of the chief cities of Mace- cepting the motsellim's palace, there is scarcely
donia, lying to the west of Neapolis. It was a decent house in the place. The streets are naroriginally called Dathos, but afterward took its row and dirty, and every thing indicates poverty
name from Philip, the famous king of Macedon, and degradation.  We had a letter of introducwho repaired and beautified it.  In process of tion to Economo, the bishop's procurator, and a
time it became a Roman colony, and the inhabit- principal man among the Greeks of this town.
ants enjoyed the privileges of Roman citizens,..    He says the Turks have destroyed all
and were governed by the Roman laws. These remnants of the ancient church; and even the
indulgences were conferred on them both by Julius place where it stood is now unknown. At presand Augustus Coesar, very probably, in memory cunt there are in the town one thousand houses for
of the two great battles that were fought in the which taxes are paid to the government."  (Meplains adjacent, the first between Julius and moir of the Rev. P. Fisk. Boston, Mass. 1828.)
Pompey the Great, and the second between It appears, from Hartley, that the Greeks occupy
Augustus and Mark Antony on the one side, and three hundred  houses, the Armenians thirty.
Cassius and Brutus on the other.              Each of them has a church. The town is embosomed in poplars and cypresses. The traveller
t This ancient city still survives as an inhabit- last named observes, " The sacred writer of the
ed site, under the Turkish name of Ark-hissar, Acts of the Apostles informs us that Lydia was
or the White Castle. It cannot however compare a seller of purple in the city of Thyatira; and the
with the two other inhabited sites, being greatly discovery of an inscription here, which makes
inferior to Pergamos, and immeasurably so to mention of' the dyers,' has been considered imSmyrna. In ancient remains it is poorer than portant in connection with this passage, I know
anyiof the seven. It is situated about twenty- not if other travellers have remarked, that even
seven miles to the north of Sardis, and is thus at the present time, Thyatira is famous for
noticed by Pliny Fisk, the American missionary: dyeing. In answer to inquiries on the subject, I
"Thvatira is situated near a small river, a branch was informed that the cloths which are dyed scarof the Caicus, in the centre of an extensive plain. let here are considered superior to any others
At the distance of three or four miles it is almost furnished by Asia Minor; and that large quanticompletely surrounded by mountains. The houses ties are sent weekly to Smyrna  for the purposes
are low; many of them of mud or earth. Ex- of commerce."




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                           585
the beams of divine joy and comfort from the he saw, that all his prisoners were escaped,
souls of pious men.  Their minds were all he was going to put a period to his life, which
serenity; and at midnight they prayed, and being observed by Paul, he hastily called
sung praises to God so loud, that they were out, "Do thyself no harm, for we are all
heard in every part of the prison.  Nor here."  The keeper was as much surprised
were their prayers offered to the throne of at this as he had been before terrified at the
grace in vain: an earthquake shook the thoughts of their escape; and calling for a
foundations of the prison, opened the doors, light, he went inmmediately into the presence
loosed the chains, and set the prisoners at of Paul and Silas, fell down at their feet,
liberty.                                 took them from the dungeon, brought them
This convulsion of nature roused the jailer to his own house, washed their stripes, and
from his sleep; and concluding, from what then besought them to instruct him in the
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TBYATIR A.
knowledge of that God who was so mighty tyrannized over Paul and Silas with the most
to save.  Paul readily granted his request, cruel usage, now  treated them  with the
telling him, that if he believed in Jesus greatest respect, and showed them the highChrist, he and his whole house might be est marks of kindness.
saved.  Accordingly, the jailer, with all his   Early the next morning the magistrates
family, were, after a competent instruction, (either having heard what had happened, or
baptized, and received as members of the reflecting on what they had done as too harsh
Christian church. How happy a change and unjustifiable) sent their sergeant to the
does the doctrine of the gospel make in the jailer, with orders immediately to discharge
minds of men! How  does it smooth the Paul and Silas.  The jailer joyfully delivroughest tempers, and instil in their minds ered the message, and bade them depart in
the sweetest principles of civility and good- peace; but Paul, in order to make the manature! He, who but a few moments before gistrates sensible what injury they had done




586                            AN ILLUSTRATED
them, and how unjustly they had punished deliver him  up to an incensed multitud~.
them without examination or trial, refused But in this they were disappointed, he with
to accept of their discharge, alleging, " that his companions being removed thence by the
they were not only innocent persons, but Christians, and concealed in some other part
denizens of Rome; that, as they had been of the city.  This disappointment increased
illegally scourged and committed to prison, their rage, and they determined to be retheir delivery should be as public as was the venged on Jason, who had concealed them.
injury, and attended with a solemn retraction I Accordingly they seized him, with some others
of what they had done."                    of the brethren, and carried them before the
The magistrates were greatly terrified at mnagistrates of the city, accused them  with
this message, well knowing how dangerous it disturbing the peace of the empire, and
was to provoke the formidable power of the setting up Jesus as a king, in derogation of
Romans, who never suffered any freeman to the emperor's dignity and authority.  In
be beaten uncondemned.  They therefore consequence of this accusation, both the
went to the prison, and very submissively people and magistrates became their enemies;
entreated them to depart without any further and though Jason was only accused of hardisturbance.  This small recompense for the boring Paul and his companions, yet the
cruel usage they had received was accepted magistrates could not be prevailed on to disby the meek followers of the blessed Jesus: miss Jason and his brethren till they had
they accordingly left the prison, and retired I given security for their future appearance.
to the house of Lydia, in which were a   As soon as the tumult was over, those
great number of converts.  To those they Thessalonians who had been converted sent
related all that had passed, and after some away Paul and his companions, by night, to
conference with them, they took their leave Beraea, a city about fifty miles to the south
and departed.                              of Thessalonica.   Here also Paul's great
From  Philippi, Paul and his companions love for his countrymen the Jews, and his
travelled toward the west, till they arrived at earnest wishes for their salvation, excited him
Thessalonica, * the metropolis of Macedonia. to preach to them in particular. Accordingly,
Here Paul preached in the synagogues of he entered into their synagogue, and exthe Jews three sabbath days successively, plained the gospel to them, proving, from the
proving, from than predictions of the Old Tes- scriptures of the Old Testament, the truth
tament, that the Messiah was to suffer, and of the doctrine he advanced.  The Jews
to rise again; and that the blessed Jesus here were of a more ingenuous and candid
was the Messiah spoken of by the prophets. temper than those of Thessalonica; and as
Some of his hearers, among whom  were they heard him, with great reverence and
several women of rank and quality, believed, attention, expound the Scriptures, so they
and were converted to the faith, but the searched diligently, whether his proofs were
greater part of the Jews disapproved of his proper and pertinent, and consonant to the
doctrine.                                  sense of the text to which  he referred.
During their stay at Thessalonica, they Having done this, and found every thing
lodged in the house of a certain Christian agreeable to what Paul had advanced, many
named Jason, who entertained them  very of them believed; and some Gentiles (among
courteously.   But the Jews, in  general, whom were several women of quality) followwere so incensed against' them, that they ing their example, became obedient to the
would not suffer them to continue at rest. faith.  The news of this remarkable success
They refused to embrace the gospel them- being carried to Thessalonica, the Jews of
selves, and therefore envied its success, and that place were so incensed, that great numdetermined to oppose its progress.  Accord- bers of them  went to Berama, and raised
ingly they gathered together a great number tumults in that city; in consequence of which
of lewd and wicked people, who beset the Paul, to avoid their fury, was obliged to
house of Jason, intending to take Paul, and leave the place, but Silas and Timothy, who,
* Thessalonica was anciently called Thesma, others think it took its name from Thessalonica,
from the sea to which it adjoins. It is the opin- the wife of Cassander, and daughter of Philip.
ion of some that it received the latter name in It is at present called Salonichi, has a safe harmemory of the victory which Philip King of bor for the benefit of commerce, and is an arche
Macedon obtained over the Thessalonians; but bishop's see of the Grecian church.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                     37
perhaps, were either less known, or less    While Paul continued at Athens, expectenvied, remained behind,                     ing the arrival of his companions, he walked
Paul, leaving Bersea under the conduct of up and down to take an accurate survey of
certain guides, it was imagined that he de- the city, which he found wretchedly overrun
signed to retire by sea out of Greece, that with superstition and idolatry.  The inhabit.
his restless enemies might cease their perse- ants were remarkably religious and devout;
cution; but the guides, in conformity  to they had a great number of gods whom they
Paul's direction, conducted them to Athens   adored; false, indeed, they were, but such
where they left him, after receiving orders to as they, being  destitute of revelation, actell Silas and Timothy to repair to him as counted true; and so very careful were they
soon as possible.                            that no deity should want due honor from
_~~~~- -- _.    -          -  --- -
-..
----— ~             _      _ ~
--,   ---           --                 =-,, —-i —----
ATHENS. -T- HE AREOPAGUS. 
them, that they had an altar inscribed, "to    These  superstitious practices greatly afthe unknown God."t                            flitted Paul, in  consequence of which he
* Athens was once the most celebrated city for lie places, without names on them, and others
learning of any in the world. It was situated on to unknown gods, is evident from the testimony
a gulf of the _Egeai Sea, which comes up to the of Laertius, who informs us that when a great
isthmns of the Peloponnese, or Morea, in that plague raged at Athens, and several means had
district of Greece called Attica, and was the par- been attempted for the removal of it, they were
ent of that dialect which was esteemed the purest advised by Epimedes, the philosopher, to build
and finest Greek. Cicero calls it the fountain an altar, and dedicate it to the proper and pecnwhence civility, learning, and laws were derived to liar god to whom sacrifices were due; and the
other nations.                               Athenians, not knowing by what name to call
t That the Athenians had altars in their pub- him, erected an altar with this inscription: "To




588                              AN ILLUSTRATED
exerted all his endeavors to convert the peo- common parent; and in the course of his
ple.  He disputed on the sabbath day in the providence he has so ordered it, that either
synagogues of the Jews; and at other times by nature or revelation we should use such
took all opportunities of preaching to the means as may, in the end, lead us to the
Athenians the coming of the Messiah to save knowledge of himself, and promote  our
the world.                                  eternal happiness, for he is everywhere presThis doctrine was equally new and strange ent, and none of our thoughts can be hidden
to the Athenians; and though they did not from him.  Nay, be not surprised, for one of
persecute Paul as the Jews had done, yet your own poets has expressly declared, that
his preaching Jesus was considered, by the we are the offspring of the Supreme Being,
Epicurean* and  Stoic philosophers, as a and therefore, we are not to form  carnal
fabulous legend.   The generality  of the notions of his perfection, as if he could be
people, however, considered it as a discovery represented in a human shape.  It is true,
of some new gods, which they had not yet God, in his infinite mercy, drew a veil over
placed in their temples; and though they those ages of ignorance; but now he hath
were not unwilling to receive any new deities, made his will known, and, therefore, those
yet, as the Areopagus t was to judge of all who have been long slaves to their lusts and
gods, to whom  public worship might be al- passions are commanded to turn freom  the
lowed, they took him before the members of evil of their ways, in order to obtain the
that court to give an account of his doe- divine favor.  And this is the more necessatrine.                                      ry, because he bath fixed, by an unalterable
Paul, being placed before the judges of decree, that when the universal friame of
this high assembly, explained the nature of nature shall he dissolved, he will raise manthe doctrine he taught in a very grave and  kind firom the grave, and rewaid or punish
elegant speech, the substance of which was them according to their works here below.
to this effect: " Ye men of Athens, I am  As a proof of this he has alrenady raised up
here brought as a prisoner into your supreme  Christ fionm the dead, anld, as be has become
tribunal, as one who sets forth strange doe- the first-fiuits of tho-e who slill sleep, so he
trines; and yet, from the observations I have  has ordered that by him all nmh11ani   shall be
made since I arrived in your city, I find  judged.  Such is the dccitline I cleliveri unto
you so much attached to superstition, that you  you, and I leave you to jiudge e:hether or
know  not what you worship, nay, that you  not I have acted as an inlpostor.)
even have such a number of idols, that    That part of Paul's disecuise in wl-ich he
you cannot find names for them; for one of mentioned the rrecuiirecion ga gareat offence
your altars has upon it an inscription to the  to some of the plilosopbhers, who mceled and
unknown God.   That the  true God  of derided himn; while others, nmre molest, lut
heaven and earth is, in a great measure, not sati(fiAd with the proofs he hald given,
unknown to you is very evident, and that is gravely said, "We would hear thee again
the Being whose works I now publish to you. of this matter."  After this, Paul left the
By him was all nature created; and as he court, but not without some success, for a
fills immensity with his presence, so he can- few of his auditors (among whom were Dionot be circumscribed by temples made with  nysius, one of the senators, and Daimraris, a
hands.   Our worship, as men, can add  lady of considerable rank) believedcl   his doenothing to his perfections; for all we have, trine, and attended his instructions.  Thus
and all we enjoy, is the unmerited gift of his boldly did this intrepid servant and soldier
inexhaustible bounty.  When he created us of Jesus Christ assert the cause of his divine
out of nothing, he appointed that we should  Master among the great, the wise, and the
consider ourselves as children of the same learned; and thus did he reason, witll the
the gods of Asia, Europe, and Africa, to the    t The Areopagus was a celebrated court or
strange and unknown god;" by which, as some senate, where justice was administered to all ranks
imagine, they intended the God of theJews, who of people by judges learned in the law. It was
had given such wonderful deliverances to his situated on Mars' hill, an eminence without the
own people.                                 city, and many of the inhabitants of Athens spent
The Epicureans among the Greeks and much of their time in it, disputing with each
Romans were much the same as the Sadducecs other on speculative points, and asking news
among the Jews; for both denied a divine provi- concerning the progress of the Roman arms in
dence and a future state.                   different parts of the world.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    589
most distinguished strength and eloquence, Rome.  Paul, having instructed these two
on the nature of God, and the manner in in the Christian faith, took up his lodgings
which he has commanded his creatures to with them  (and made their house his princiworship him even in spirit and in truth.      pal place of residence) during his stay at
During Paul's stay at Athens, Timothy  Corinth.  Every Sabbath day he preached
and Silas (according to the orders they had in  the  synagogues, laboring to convince
received) came to him  from  Thessalonica, both Jews and Greeks that Jesus was the
with an account that the Christians there had true Messiah.
been under persecution from  their fellow-    A  short time after Paul had been at
citizens ever since his departure.  This gave Corinth, Timothy and Silas arrived thither
great uneasiness to Paul, and at first inclined  from  Thessalonica, with the joyful news of
him  to visit them in person, in order to con- the steadfast adherence of the Christians in
firm  them  in the faith they had embraced. that city to the truth, of the gospel.  This
But reflecting  on  the consequences that was a matter of great consolation to Paul,
might ensue if he went himself, he sent who thereupon wrote his first epistle to the
Timothy and Silas to comfort them, and put Thessalonians.  In this epistle "he highly
them  in mind of what he had before told applauds their courage and zeal in the belief
them, namely, that persecution would be the of the Christian religion, and exhorts them
constant attendant on their profession.      to a  noble  constancy  and  perseverance
After the departure of Timothy and Silas, amidst their afflictions: he commends them
Paul left Athens, and went to Corinth,* for their charity to the believers in Macewhere he met with a certain Jew, named  donia, and  gives them  many  instructions
Aquila, lately come from  Italy, with Pris- concerning conversation, and leading a good
cilla his wife, because Claudius had made  life: he exhorts them  to the practice of all
an edict for banishing all the Jews from  purity and holiness; to avoid  idleness; to
* The large and wealthy city of Corinth was for philosophv or science; hunt its wealth attractthe metropolis of Achaia, and situated upon the  ed to it the arts, which assisted to enrich and agisthmus of the samne name, which joins the Pelo- grandiz e it, till it became one of the very finest
ponnesus to the continent.  Its situation was cities in all Greece.  The Corinthian order of
highly favorable for that commerce which ulti- architecture took its name from that rich and
matelyv rendered it one of the most wealthy and  flowery style which prevailed in its sumptuous
luxurious cities of the world.  For, being be- edifices, - its temples, palaces, theatres, and portween two ports, the one of which was open to  ticoes.
the eastern and the other to the western navirgat-   The Corinthians having ill-treated the Roman
or, while its geographical situation placed it, as ambassadors, their city fell a prey to the Romans,
it were, in the centre of the civilized world, it with all its treasures and worlks of art, and was
became the point where the merchants from the  totally destroyed by Mummius. It lay a long
three quarters of the globe met and exchanged  while desolate, till it was rebuilt by Julius Caesar,
their treasures.  It was also celebrated for the by whom  it was peopled with a colony of RoIsthmian games, to which the apostle makes mans; and, favored by its admirable situation, it
some striking  and remarkably appropriate allu- was soon restored to a most flourishing consion, in his Epistles to the Corinthians. Nor dition.  " The ancient manners," says Hug,
should it be unnoticed that in the centre of the "abundantly returned: Acro-Corinth was again
city there stood a famous temple of Venus in which  the Isthmian I)ione, and an intemperate life was
a thousand priestesses of the goddess ministered to commonly called the Corinthian mode of life.
licentiousness, under the patronage of religion. Among all the cities that ever existed this was
From such various causes, Corinth had an influx of accounted the most voluptuous; and the satirist
foreigners of all descriptions, who carried the rich- could only jocularly seem to be at a loss whether,
es and the vices of all nations into a cityin which in this respect, he should give the preference to
the merchant, the warrior, and the seaman could  Corinth or to Athens."
enjoy them for his money. Devoted to traffic,   Corinth still exists as an inhabited town, under
and to the enjoyment of the wealth which that the name of Corantho. It is a long, straggling
traffic secured, the Corinthians were exempt place, which is well paved, and can boast of some
from the influence of that thirst for conquest and tolerably good buildings, with a castle of some
military glory by which their neighbors were ac- strength, which is kept in a good state of defence.
tuated; hence they were seldom engaged in any There are still some considerable ruins, to attest
war, except for the defence of their country, or in the ancient consequence of Corinth, and the taste
behalf of the liberties of Greece: yet Corinth  and elegance of its public buildings. The exfurnished many brave and experienced command- tensive view from the summit of the high mouners to other Grecian States, among whom it was tain which commands the town, and which was
common to prefer a Corinthian general to one of the Acropolis (Acro-Corinth) of the ancient city,
their own or any other State. As might be ex- is pronounced by travellers to be one of the finest
pected, Corinth was not remarkably distinguished in the world.




590                             AN ILLUSTRATED
be diligent in their callings, and not im- shook his garments, and told them, that
moderate in their grief for the dead; and since they were determined to draw  down
concludes with  instructions to them  con- the vengeance of Heaven upon their own
cerning the doctrine of the'resurrection, heads, he was absolutely guiltless and innothe manner of Christ's coming to judge cent, and would thenceforth address himself
the world, and the obligation all were under to the Gentiles.  Accordingly he left them,
to make a timely preparation for so solemn and repaired to the house of one Justus, a
an event."                                religious proselyte, where, by his preaching
After the arrival of Timothy and Silas at and miracles, he converted great numbers to
Corinth, Paul preached the doctrine of Christ the faith, among whom were some few Jews,
with fresh ardor to the Jews; but they, particularly Crispus, the chief ruler of the
instead of attending to what he said, opposed synagogue, and two others of considerable
him, and what they could not conquer by fair distinction, who, with their families, were
argument, and force of reason, they en- baptized, and admitted members of the Chris
deavored  to carry by noise and clamor, tian church.
blended with blasphemous and opprobrious   Paul was greatly perplexed in his mind on
language.  In consequence of this, Paul, account of the perverseness and obstinacy of
to testify his abhorrence of their behavior, the Jews, and began to despair of being able
THE MODERN CITY OF CORINTH, VIEWED FROM THE BAY.
to convince them of the impropriety of their made a general insurrection against him, and
behavior, or to bring them to an effectual dis- having taken him into custody, carried him
cernment of the truth of his doctrine.  But before Gallio, who at that time was prohe  was  encouraged to  persevere in the consul of  Achaia.  The accusation they
attempt by a heavenly vision, in which he laid against him was, that he had attempted
was told, that notwithstanding the bad sue- to introduce a new religion contrary to what
cess he had hitherto met with, there was was established by the Jewish law, and pera large harvest to be gathered in that place: mitted by the Roman powers. But, as Gallio
that therefore he should not be afraid of his apprehended  that this was a controversy
enemies, but preach the gospel boldly, for that which did not fall under the cognizance
he might be assured of the divine protection of the civil judicature, he would not have
in all his undertakings.  In consequence of any concern in it, and therefore ordered
this, and in certain hopes of success, Paul his officers to drive them out of the court.
continued at Corinth for the space of one Upon this the Gentiles took Sosthenes, a
year and six months, teaching the word ruler of the synagogue, and one of Paul's
of God with various success to the people.   chief accusers, and beat him publicly before
Some time after Paul had received encour- the tribunal; but this did not give the prow
agement from the heavenly vision, the Jews consul the least disturbance.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             591
Paul continued at Corinth  some time prayers in his behalf, and made his request
after this incident, and before his departure to God in theirs, he concludes with divers
thence, wrote his second epistle to the Thes- precepts, especially to shun idleness and illsalonians.  In this epistle "he endeavors company, and  not to be weary in well
to confirm their minds in the faith, and to doing."
animate them  courageously to endure per-   After Paul had planted the church of
secution from  the unbelieving Jews, a lost Corinth, he left that city, and taking with
and undone race of men, whom  the divine him  Aquila and  Priscilla, embarked  at
vengeance was ready to overtake: he rectifies Cenehrea, whence they sailed to Ephesus.
the misinterpretation which  false teachers Here he preached some time in the synahad made of some passages in his former gogue of the Jews; but being resolved to
epistle, relative to the clay of judgment, as if attend the celebration of the passover at Jeruit was just at hand, and shows what events salem, he set sail for Cmsarea, leaving behind
(especially that of the coming and destruc- him   Aquila and Priscilla, to whom  he
tion of the man of sin) must precede the promised to return (if God would permit) as
approach of that day.  Having craved their soon as possible.  From Cosarea, Paul proRUINS OF THE TEMPLE OF DIANA, AT EPHESUS.
seeded to Jerusalem, and after having visited powerful zeal. After being fully instructed
the church there, and kept the feast of the in the faith by Aquila and Priscilla, he
passover, went to Antioch.  Here he staid passed over into Achaia, being furnished
some time, and then traversed the countries with recommendatory letters by the churches
of Galatia and Phrygia, taking his course of Ephesus and Corinth.  He was of great
toward Ephesus, and confirming the new-con- service in Achaia, by watering what Paul
verted Christians in every place  through had planted, confirming the disciples, and
which he passed.                           powerfully convincing many others of the
During the time Paul spent in this large Jews that Jesus was the true and only
circuit, Providence took care of the churches Messiah promised in the sacred writings.
of Ephesus and Corinth by means of one    "While Apollos was thus employed, Paul
Apollos, an eloquent Jew of Alexandria, and returned to Ephesus, where he took up his
well acquainted with the law and writings of abode for a considerable time. The first thing
the prophets.  This man, going to Ephesus, he did after his return was to examine certhough he was only instructed in the rudi- tain disciples (in number about twelve)
ments of Christianity, and John's baptism, whether they had received the Holy Ghost
yet taught with great courage, and a most since they believed?  And they said unto




~592                            AN  ILLUSTRATED
him, We have not so much as heard whether those who applied this powerful name regur
there be any Holy Ghost.  And he said larly and with commission, and others, who,
unto them, Unto what then were ye hap- of their own heads, and for ill designs,
tized?  And they said, Unto John's bap- dared to usurp it; for the demoniac, falling
tism.  Then said Paul, John verily baptized upon the exorcists, tore off their clothes,
with the baptism of repentance, saying unto wounded their bodies, and scarce suffered
the people, that they should believe on him  them to escape with their lives.
which should come after him, that is, on    When this singular event came to be
Christ Jesus.  When they heard this, they known among the Jews and Gentiles in
were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." Ephesus, they were filled with such a rev(Acts xix. 3-6.)  After the apostle had erential fear, that none dared to mention the
prayed and laid his hands on them, they re- name of Jesus, but with the most profound
ceived  the  gift  of tongues and  other respect; and many, who had addicted themmiraculous powers.                        selves to the study of magic, acknowledged
After this, Paul entered into the Jewish their sins, and publicly burnt their books,
synagogues, in which (for the  first three the value of which was estimated at no less
months) he daily contended and disputed than fifty thousand pieces of silver.  So
with the Jews,  endeavoring, with  great efficacious was the gospel of Christ in these
earnestness and resolution, to convince them  parts!
of the truth of the Christian religion.  But   While Paul was diligently pursuing his
when, instead of meeting with success, he ministry at Ephesus, Peter was preaching
found they were inflexible in their obstinacy the gospel to the Jews in several provinces
and infidelity, he left the synagogue, and of the lesser Asia; whence, travelling easttaking those with him  whom  he had con- ward, he at length came to the ancient city
verted, instructed them, and others who re- of Babylon in Chaldaea.  Here he staid
sorted to him, in the school of one Tyrannus. some time, and hence wrote his first epistle
Here he continued to preach the gospel two (which is called a catholic or general epistle)
years, by which means the Jews and prose- to the converted Jews who were dispersed in
lytes had an opportunity of hearing the glad various parts of Chaldaa.  Peter introduces
tidings of salvation; and as miracles were this admirable epistle with a solemn thanksthe clearest evidence of a divine commission, giving to God for their call to Christianity,
God was pleased to testify the truth of the whereby they  had obtained a lively hope
doctrine Paul preached, by a variety of of an eternal inheritance in heaven; after
miraculous operations, many of which were which he recommends them  to the practice
of the most peculiar and extraordinary nature; of several virtues, as a means to make their
for he not only healed those diseased persons calling and election sure, namely, " that
that camte to him, but if handkerchiefs or they should live in a constant worship and
aprons were only touched by him, and applied fear of God, and imitate their master Jesus
to the sick, or those possessed with evil Christ, in holiness and purity; that they
spirits, they were instantly cured.        should be diligent hearers of the gospel, and
In the city of Ephesus and its neighbor- grow  up to perfection by it; that they
hood were many vagabond Jews, who went should  lead exemplary  lives among  the
about from one place to the other, pretending Gentiles, abstaining from carnal lusts, and
to cure diseases, and cast out devils by their behaving themselves with modesty, thereby
exorcisms.  Among these were seven broth- to convince their enemies that calumnies
ers (the sons of one Sceva, a Jewish priest), would be unreasonable; that they should
who, observing with what facility Paul effect- behave themselves well under their respeced his miraculous cures and dispossessions tive relations, submitting themselves to their
of evil spirits, attempted themselves to do governors, whether superior or inferior to
the like; and. to add greater force to their themselves in point of circumstances; that
proceedings, instead of the usual form  of servants should obey their masters, wives be
incantation (which was in the name of the subject to their husbands, and  husbands
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), they honor their wives; that they should all love
invoked the name of Jesus over a demoniac. one another fervently and unfeignedly, bear
But here it pleased God to make a most afflictions  patiently, live in  union, and
distinguished and visible difference between sympathize with each other in their afflic



HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    593
tions.  And lastly, that the ministers and consistent with the sentiments and abilities
pastors of the several churches should take  of so great an apostle.  The language is
special care of the flocks committed  to their simple, and every expression so formed, as
charge; teach them  diligently, and govern to convey a thorough idea of his meaning to
them gently, not seeking their own gain and the weakest capacity.  All the arguments
profit, but the salvation of the souls of the he makes use of to teach them  patience are
people."   This is the purport of Peter's drawn from  the sacred writings, and are
epistle to the converted  Jews;  and  the consistent with  the doctrines of true reliwhole is written with a fervor and zeal truly gion.
CHAPTER IX.
PAUL LEAVES EPHESUS. --- RETURNS TO JERUSALEM.-  IS ARRESTED.
PAUL, having been at Ephesus * about nia, and after going thence to Jerusalem, in
two years, resolved to return into Macedo- order to celebrate the feast of pentecost, to
* EPHESUS.  RUINS OF THE TEMPLE OF was enabled, with divine assistance, to establish
DIANA (see engraving). - Ephesus was a celebrat-  the faith of Christ, and to found a flourishing
ed city on the coast of Asia Minor, situated be- Christian church. Of his great care of the Ephetween Smyrna and Miletus, on the sides and at sian community strong proof is extant in the
the foot of a range of mountains which overlooked  affecting charge which he gave to the elders,
a fine plain watered and fertilized by the River whom he had convened at Miletus on his return
Cayster.  Among other splendid edifices which  fiom Macedonia (Acts xx. 16-38); and still more
adorned this metropolis of uonia was the magni- in the epistle which he addressed to them from
ficent temple of I)iana, which was two hundred  Rome. Ecclesiastical history represents Timothy
and twenty years in building, and was reckoned  to have been the first bishop of Ephesus; but
one of the seven wonders of the world.  This there is greater evidence that the apostle John
edifice having been burnt by the incendiary He- resided here toward the close of his life; here,
rostratus, B. C. 356, in the foolish hope of im- also, he is supposed to have written his Gospel,
mortalizing his name, it was afterward rebuilt and to have finally ended his life.
with increased splendor at the common expense    The Ephesian church is the first of the " apocof the Grecian States of Asia Minor. The re- alyptic churches" addressed bythe apostle John in
mains of ancient Ephesus have been discovered  the name of Jesus Christ. " His charge against
by learned modern travellers at the Turkish  her is declension in religious fervor (Rev. ii. 4);
village of Ayasaluk.  The ruins delineated in and his threat in consequence (ii. 5) is a total exour engraving comprise all that is supposed now  tinction of her ecclesiastical brightness. After a
to exist of this far-famed structure, which in the protracted struggle with the sword of Rome and
time of St. Paul had lost nothing of its magnifi- the sophisms of the Gnostics, Ephesus at last
cence.  Here was preserved a wooden statue gave way. The incipient indifference censured
of Diana, which the credulous Ephesians were by the warning voice of the prophet increased to
taught to believe had fallen from heaven (Acts a total forgetfulness; till at length the threatenxix. 35), and of this temple small silver models ings of the Apocalypse were fulfilled, and Ephewere made, and sold to devotees. (Acts xix. 24.) sus sunk with the general overthrow of the Greek
Nero is said to havie plundered this temple of empire, in the fourteenth century."  The plough
many votive images, and great sums of gold and has passed over this once celebrated city; and in
silver.  This edifice appears to have remained March, 1826, when it was visited by the Rev.
entire in the second century; though the wor- Messrs. Arundell and Hartley, green corn was
ship of Diana diminished and sunk into insignifi- growing in all directions amid the forsaken ruins;
cance in proportion to the extension of Christian- and one solitary individual only was found who
ity. At a later period, " the temple of the great bore the name of Christ, instead of its once flourgoddess Diana, whom Asia and all the world" ishing church.  Where assembled thousands
worshipped (Acts xix. 27), was again destroyed once exclaimed, " Great is Diana of the Epheby the Goths and other barbarians; and time has sians! " the eagle now yells, and the jackal moans.
so completed the havoc made by the hand of man, The sea having retired from the scene of desothat this mighty fabric has almost entirely dis- lation, a pestilential morass, covered with milud
appeared.                                    and rushes, has succeeded to the waters, which
During three years' residence in this city brought up the ships laden with merchandise from
(Acts xx. 31), the great apostle of the Gentiles every country.  The surrounding country, how38




594                              AN ILLUSTRATED
proceed in his journey, which he had long disturbances at Corinth, hatched and fomentintended, to  Rome.   In  consequence  of ed by a number of false teachers crept in
these resolutions, and as a necessary prepara- among  the converts of that city, who ention to carry them  into execution, he sent deavored  to  draw  them  into parties and
Timothy and Erastus beforei him into Mace- falitions, by persuading some to be for Paul,
donia,  while  himself  staid  behind   at and others for Apollos, the different persons
Ephesus, in order to settle some matters from  whom  they  had received instructions
that were necessary to be adjusted previous relative to the Christian  faith.  In conseto his departure.                             quence of these disturbances they committed
Soon after Timothy and Erastus had left great disorders,  and  celebrated the  holy
Ephesus, Paul received -information of some sacrament very irreverently.   They were....-.    _     2~    _,.-_~.  ~_~~.~...~ —-~. —----- _ 
EPHESUS.
addicted to fornication, and one in particu- proper manner for their misconduct, Paul
lar, had run into incest, by marrying his wrote his first Epistle to the Corinthians, in
father's wife.  They were unjust and fraud- which he   shows the inequality of Christ's
ulent in their dealings; they went to law  ministers, and their insufficiency for the work
at heathen  tribunals, and  among  them  to which thiey are ordained, without the diwere found some, who were bold and profli- vine assistance; orders the incestuous person
gate enough to deny the resurrection.        to be excommunicated, lest his example should
To quell these schisms and factions which infect others; blames their litigious law-suits,
had taken place, and to chastise them in a as thinking it much better to refer their difever, is both fertile and healthy; and thin the adjacent ae thrown in the way of the industrious cutihills would furnish many delightftil situations for vator by a despotic government, oppressive agas,
villages, if the difficulties were removed which and wandering banditti.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                   595
ferences to some of their own body; pro- together, and pathetically  represented  to
pounds the first institution of the sacrament, them  how inevitably they must be reduced
and a previous examination of their lives to to a state of poverty, if they suffered Paul to
bring them to a right use of it; and having bring their temple and goddess into contempt
added several things concerning  a decent by persuading people, as he did, that they
behavior both of men and women in their were no gods which were made with hands.
churches - concerning the gifts of the Holy
Ghost, the excellence of charity, the gift of
tongues, and prayer in an unknown language,
he proves the truth of the gospel, and the
certainty of a future resurrection, almost to
a demonstration.
It was about this time also that Paul wrote
his Epistle to the Galatians.  He had received information that, since his departure
thence, several impostors had crept in among
them, who strongly insisted on the necessity
of circumcision and other Mosaic rites, and
greatly  disparaged  his  authority.  Paul
therefore, in this epistle, reproves them with
some necessary warmth and severity for suffering themselves so easily to be imposed
upon by the crafty artifices of seducers.  He  The Ephesian Diana. (From a ma dal of Ephesus.
largely refutes these Judaical opinions wherewith they were infected, and, by several ar-   This speech of Demetrius fired them with
guments, proves that the slavery of the law  a zeal which they could no longer contain;
brought a curse with it; was destructive of so that they cried out with one voice, " Great
their Christian liberty, and incapable of pro- is Diana of the Ephesians! "  They should,
curing their justification in the sight of God. indeed, have considered that if their goddess
Among these reproofs and arguments, how- was able to defend herself against the doeever, he intermixes several exhortations full trines preached by Paul, neither she nor the
of paternal and  apostolic  charity; and, temple was in any danger; whereas if Paul
toward the conclusion, gives them  many ex- was able to destroy their gods, it was in vain
cellent rules and directions for the conduct for them  to resist him.  But interest and
of their lives and conversations.           superstition, meeting in the minds of a bigoted
A  short time before Paul left Ephesus, a multitude, admitted  of no reason.  They
circumstance occurred which occasioned a were all fired with a zeal for their goddess,
general disturbance throughout the city, and and determined, if they could find Paul, to
had' nearly proved fatal to him and his ad- expose him  to the beasts in the theatre, it
herents.  In the celebrated temple of Diana being customary in those days, at the celewas an image of that goddess, which the bration of their public games and festivals, to
idolatrous priests persuaded the people was expose such as they deemed criminals to the
made by Jupiter himself, and dropped down ravage of wild beasts for the diversion of the
from heaven; for which reason it was held in  spectators.  The whole city was filled with
great veneration, not only at Ephesus, but the tumult; and the crowd, missing Paul,
throughout all Asia. In consequence of this, laid hold on Gaius and Aristarchus, two
the people procured silver shrines, or figures Macedonians of Paul's company, and hurried
of the temple and Diana, of such a size as to them into the theatre, with a design to throw
carry in their pockets, either for curiosity or them to the wild beasts.  Paul, who was at
to stir them up to devotion.  This proved the this time in a place of security, hearing of
source of a great deal of business to the silver- the danger to which his brethren were
smiths of Ephesus, of whom one Demetrius exposed, was very desirous of venturing after
was the chief.  This man plainly pereeiv- them, in order to speak in their behalf; but
ing that Christianity tended to the subversion he was at last dissuaded from it not only by
of idolatry, and consequently to the ruin of the Christians, but also by the Gentile govtheir gainful employment, called all the artists ernors of the theatrical games, who were his




596                              AN ILLUSTRATED
friends, and who assured him  that he would released without any hurt.  But the escape
only endanger himself without rescuing his of Paul was so remarkable that he mentions
friends.                                    it as a remarkable  deliverance.   "We
The noise and confusion of the multitude had," says he, " the sentence of death in
was now prodigious, most of them not know- ourselves, that we should not trust in ouring the reason for which they were come selves, but in God, who raised the dead,
together; and therefore some said one thing, who delivered us from  so great a death."
and some another.  In  this  distraction, And in another place he tells us, " he
Alexander, a Jewish  convert, was singled fought with beasts at Ephesus;" alluding
out by the multitude, and by the instigation either to the design of the enraged mulof the Jews was going to make his defence, titude of throwing him  to the wild beasts
in which doubtless he would have laid the in the theatre, though their intention was
whole blame upon Paul; but the multitude not executed, or to the manners of the
perceiving him  to be a Jew, and therefore people, who justly  deserved  the  charsuspecting he was one of Paul's associates, acter of being savage  and brutal to the
raised another outcry for near two hours to- highest degree.
gether, wherein nothing could be heard but
L' Great is Diana of the Ephesians! "  This
confusion brought the town-clerk, or recorder
of the city, who kept the register of the
games, into the theatre, to suppress, if possible, so uncommon a tumult.  Having with
great difficulty obtained silence, he calmly
and discreetly told them, " that it was sufficiently known to all the world what a mighty
veneration the inhabitants of Ephesus had for  Fighting with wild beasts. (From Mazois's Pompeii.)
their great goddess Diana, and the famous
image which fell down from Jupiter, so that   Soon after the tumult was suppressed at
there needed not any disturbance to vindicate Ephesus, Paul, having called the church
and assert it; that they had seized on persons together, and constituted  Timothy bishop
who were not guilty either of sacrilege or of the place, took his leave, and departed
blasphemy against their goddess; that if De- by Troas to Macedonia, where, having inmetrius and his company had any just charge structed sonime and confirmed others in the
against them, the courts were sitting, and principles of a sound faith and holy life, he
they might enter their accusation; or if the continued his preaching all over the councontroversy was about any other matter, try, even as far as Illyricum.*  During this
there were proper judicatures to determine journey, Paul met with many troubles and
it in; that therefore they would do well to dangers;  "without  were fightings,  and
be pacified, having done more already than  within fears:"  but God, who comforteth
they could answer, and being in danger of those that are cast down, revived his spirits
incurring a severe punisment, if they should  by the arrival of Titus, who gave him  a
be called to an account (as very likely they  pleasing  account of the good  effects his
might be) for that day's riotous assembly."  epistle had produced at Corinth, and what
This speech had the desired effect: the great reformation it had wrought among the
multitude were convinced  that they had converts of that city.  But, as several vainacted very improperly, and  therefore re- glorious  teachers  still persisted  in their
paired to their respective habitations; and contumacy, vilifying his authority, and misGaius, Aristarchus, and  Alexander were representing his words and actions; char* This is a province of Europe, lying to the that he must have travelled into Syria, Phoenicia,
north or north-west of Macedonia, along the Arabia, Cilicia, Pamphylia, Pisidia, Lycaonia,
Adriatic Sea, now called the Gulf of Venice. It Galatia, Pontus, Paphlagonia, Phrygia, Troas,
was commonly distinguished into two parts; Ly- Asia, Caria, Lysia, Ionia, Lydia, the Isles of Cyburnia to the north, where now lies Croatia; and prus and Crete, Thracia, Macedonia, Thessalia,
Dalmatia to the south, which still retains its and Achaia. So, justly and without ostentation
name. St. Paul tells us, that "from Jerusalem, might he say, that in relation to the other aposand round about unto Illyricum, he had fully ties, "he labored more abundantly than they all."
preached the gospel of Christ (Rom. xv. 19). So (1 Cor. xv. 10.)




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              597
ging him  particularly with levity, in not He also points out the effects of original sin,
going there according to his promise; with and the power it has even among the reseverity in his dealings with the incestuous generate; and, through the whole of the
person; with imperiousness in his writings, epistle, intermixes many admirable instrueabjectness in his person, and some small tions and exhortations to the duties of a
tincture of irreligion in  overthrowing the holy and religious life such as the Christian
Mosaic law (all which he understood from  doctrine doth naturally tend to produce."
Titus), he thought it necessary to write a    Paul, having gathered considerable alms
second epistle to the Corinthians.  In this both in Macedonia and Achaia, resolved to
epistle " he excuses his not going directly leave Corinth, in order to carry them  into
to Corinth, for fear of occasioning  them  Judoea for the relief of the Christians in
sorrow, and giving himself uneasiness, in those parts.  His first intention was to go
being obliged to treat with severity those through Syria, as being by far the nearest
who had not yet amended their faults.  He way; but having received information that
commends their zeal against the incestuous the Jews of that country had formed a conperson, but now that he had suffered enough spiracy against his life, he altered his course,
for his transgression, allowed them  to be and determined to go through Macedonia.
reconciled to him.  He justifies his own Accordingly, leaving Corinth, he proceeded
conduct, vindicates the dignity and ministry to Philippi, where he staid some time, in,
of the gospel, and proves its great excellence order to celebrate the feast of the passover.
above the law.  He declaims against those  Hence he took shipping, and in five days
false teachers who made it their business to landed at Troas, where he continued a Week.
traduce and vilify him, and threatens them  On the sabbath, which was the last day of
with his apostolic authority whenever he his staying  there, he  preached  to  the
shall arrive among them.  He then speaks Christians of the place, who had assembled
of himself with some advantage, and though  together in order to receive the sacrament;
he mentions his supernatural gifts and rev- and, as he intended leaving them the next
elations, yet seems to glory most in his morning, he continued  his harangue till
extraordinary laborings and sufferings for midnight.  The length of his discourse, and
the gospel.  And lastly, he exhorts them  the time of night, caused some of his hearers
all to the works of penance and mortifica- to be so fatigued as to fall asleep.  Among
tion, lest when he arrived thither he should these was a young man named Eutychus,
be obliged to exert his authority against who, sitting in a higher window, so forgot
offenders; and particularly cautions them  himself that he fell thence to the ground,
to have their alms in readiness, that they and was taken up dead.  This circumstance
may not be a hinderance to him when he being made known to the apostle, he stopped
shall arrive at Corinth."                  his discourse, and going to the young man,
After Paul had travelled through the by prayers to the throne of grace, restored
principal places in Macedonia and Achaia, him to life and health.  How indefatigable
confirming those who had been converted, was this great apostle in doing good! how
and bringing over others to the faith, he closely did he tread in the steps of his great
proceeded to Corinth, where he took up his Master, who " went about doing good! "
residence for the space of three months. He preached and wrought miracles wherever
During his abode here he wrote his famous he went.  Like a master-builder, he either
Epistle to the Romans, which  he sent laid a foundation or raised the superstructure.
by Phebe, a deaconess of the church of He was " instant, in season and out of seaCenchrea, near Corinth.  In  this epistle son," and spared no pains in endeavoring to
"he states and determines the great con- secure  the  eternal welfare of his fellowtroversy between the Jews and the Gentiles, creatures.
relative to the obligation of the rites and    After performing  this  miracle,  Paul
ceremonies of the Mosaic law, and those resumed his discourse, and, having spent the
main and material doctrines of Christianity whole night in these holy exercises, early
which depend on it, such as that of Chris- the next morning he took his leave, and
tian liberty, the use of different things, &c. travelled on foot to Assos,* whither he had
4 Assos is a seaport-town, situate on the south- against the Island Lesbos. By land it is a great
west part of the province of Troas, and over deal nearer Troas than it is by sea, because of a




598                               AN ILLUSTRATED
before sent his companions (among whom  where he did not know what particular snfwas Luke) by sea.  From Assos they sailed ferings would befall him, only that he had
to  Mitylene; * then, passing  by Chios, t been foretold by those who were endued with
arrived at Samos, $ and proceeded to Tro- prophetic gifts of the Holy Ghost, that in
gyllium, 1I whence, after staying  one day, every city bonds and afflictions would attend
they went to Miletus, ~ not putting  in  at him; but that he was not concerned at this,
Ephesus, because the apostle was resolved, being willing to lay down his life whenever
if possible, to be at Jerusalem at the feast of the gospel required it, and fully determined
Pentecost.                                    to serve, with the strictest fidelity, his great
Soon after Paul arrived at Miletus he sent Lord and Master.  Here he made a short
to Ephesus, to assemble together the pastors pause, and then resumed his discourse in
and elders of the churches in that city.  On words to this effect: "I well know that you
their arrival, he delivered to them  a very will see  my face  no more; but for mly
long and  pathetic  discourse, wherein  he encouragement and  satisfaction, ye  yourreminded them  with what uprightness and selves can bear me witness, that I have not,
integrity, with what affection and humility, by concealing any part of the Christian docand with what great danger and trouble, he trine, betrayed  your souls.   And  as for
had  been  conversant among  them, and  yourselves, whom  God hath  made bishops
preached the gospel to them, ever since his and pastors of his church, you should be
coming into those parts: that he had not careful to feed, guide, and  direct those
failed to acquaint them  both publicly and  Christians under your inspection, and be infiprivately, with whatsoever might be profitable  nitely tender of the welfare of souls, for
to their souls, urging both Jews and Gen- whose redemption  the blessed  Jesus laid
tiles to repentance  and reformation, and a down his own life.  All the care, therefore,
hearty reception of the faith of Christ: that possible for you  to  use is no more than
now he was determined to go to Jerusalem, necessary; for after my departure heretical
promontory that runs a great way into the ocean, geometry, theology, the Turkish, Latin, French,
and must be doubled before we can come to Assos, and ancient and modern Greek languages. - A. B.
which was the reason that the apostle chose    $ Samos is another isle in the Archipelago,
rather to walk it.                            lying south-east of Chios, and about five miles
* Mitylene was one of the principal cities of from the Asiatic continent. It is famous among
the Isle of Lesbos, seated in a peninsula, with a the heathen writers for the worship of Juno; for
commodious haven on each side, and soon be- one of the sibyls, called Sybilla Samia; for Pherecame so considerable as to give name to the cydes, who foretold an earthquake that happened
whole island (at present called Metelin) many  there, by drinking of the waters; and, more esyears ago. The island (which is one of the lar- pecially, for the birth of Pythagoras, who excelled
gest in the Archipelago) was, in former times, re- all the seven wise men, so renowned among the
nowned for the many eminent persons it had pro- Greeks. It was formerly a free commonwealth,
duced; such as Sappho, the inventress of Sapphic  and the inhabitants were so powerful that they
verses; Alcoeus, a famous lyric poet; Pittacus, managed many prosperous wars against their
one of the seven wise men of Greece; Theophras- neighbors; but at present the Turks have reduced
tus, the noble physician and philosopher; and  it to such a mean and depopulated condition, that
Arion, the celebrated musician; and the Turks, a few pirates dare land and plunder as they please;
who have it now in possession, think it still a so that ever since the year 1676 no Turk has
place of consequence enough to deserve a fortress ventured to live upon it, for fear of being carried
and garrison to defend it.                    into captivity by those rovers.
t Chios, modern Scio, is an island in the    II Trogyllium  is a cape, or promontory, on
Archipelago. It lies over against Smyrna, and is the Asiatic coast, opposite to Samos, and much
not above four leagues distant from the Asiatic below Ephesus, having a town of the same name.
continent. It was celebrated by Horace for the    ~ Miletus was a post-town on the coast of
wine and figs that came thence. It is referred to Asia Minor, in the province of ancient Caria. It
by St. Paul in the account of his return voyage is memorable for being the birthplace of Thales,
from  Troas to Cesarea.  (Acts xx. 21.)  At one of the seven wise men of Greece; and more
that time, Chios enjoyed the privilege of freedom. memorable for being the place where St. Paul,
Its length is about thirty-two miles, and in breadth  when on his way from Philippi to Jerusalem,
it varies from eight to eiahteen miles. It has met the elders of the Ephesian Church (Acts xx.
always been celebrated for its beauty and fruitful- 17), and addressed to them his farewell counsels.
hess.  In modern times it has been painfully  The city where the Christian apostle was now
known for the dreadful suffering of its inhabit- waiting was more ancient than Ephesus, though,
ants in the Greek war of independence in 1822. in the age of St. Paul, inferior to it in political
Before this desolating calamity, it contained one and commercial eminence. Even Homer menof the best colleges in the Turkish empire, with  tions the " Carian Miletus " as a place of renown,.professorships in chemistry, rhetoric, mathematics, and Herodotus calls it the chief city of Ionia.
A. B.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  599
teachers will appear in the church, to the well of the pastors and elders of Ephesus,
great danger of the souls of men, seeking he with his attendants left Miletus, and going
by every crafty method and pernicious doe- on board a ship sailed with a fair wind to
trine, to gain proselytes to their party, and, Coos.*  The day after their arrival here,
by those means, fill the church of Christ they proceeded to Rhocles,t and from Rhodes
with schisms and factions.  Watch ye, there- to Patara,$ where meeting with a ship bound
fore, and remember with what tears and for Phoenicia they went on board, and, passsorrow I have, during three years, warned ing Cyprus, sailed to Syria, and landed at
you of these things.  And now I recommend Tyre, the place where the ship was to unlade
you to the divine favor and protection, and her burden.
to the rules and instructions of the gospel,   Paul staid at Tyre seven days, in the
which, if properly adhered to, will undoubt- course of which he was advised by some
edly dispose and perfect you for that state Christians of the place not to go up to Jeruof happiness which the Almighty hath pre- salem.  But this advice Paul would by no
pared for good men in the mansions of eter- means take; upon which the disciples, accomnity.  Ye well know that I have from  the panied by their wives and children, attended
beginning dealt faithfully and uprightly with him out of the city, and when they came to
you; that I have not had any covetous the seashore Paul knelt down and prayed
designs, or ever desired the riches of other for them in the same manner he had done
men; nay, I have labored with mine own before at Miletus.
hands, to support myself and my compan-    From Tyre, Paul and his companions sailed
ions: you ought, therefore, to support the to Ptolemannis,ll  where they staid one day,
weak and relieve the poor, rather than be I spending their time in conversation with the
yourselves chargeable to others, according to I disciples of that place.  The next day they
that incomparable  saying  of  the  great Iwent to Caesarea, and visited Philip, one of
Redeemer of mankind,' It is more blessed the seven deacons, who had been sent by the
to give than to receive.'"  If we minutely apostles to preach the gospel in Samaria and
attend to the whole of this apostle's preach- other places.  This Philip. had four virgin
ing and writing, we shall find  that he daughters, all of whom  were endued with
strenuously inculcates  not only points of the gift of prophecy; and on this account,
faith, but also  practical duties, without together with Paul's great regard for Philip,
which our faith would be in vain.           he resided at his house during his stay at
After Paul had finished his farewell dis- Cesarea.
course to the bishops and pastors of Ephesus,   While Paul was at Philip's house, there
he knelt down, and, by way of a final con- came thither a prophet, named Agabus, from
elusion, joined with them fervently in prayer; Judaea.  This person,.after the manner of
which being over they all melted into tears, I the old prophets (who often prophesied by
and with the greatest expression of sorrow Isymbols or significant expressions), took
attended him  to the ship, grieving in the Paul's girdle, and binding it about his own
most passionate manner on account of his hands and feet, said, in the presence and
having told them  that they should see his hearing of the whole company, " Thus saith
face no more.                               the Holy Ghost, so shall the Jews at JeruAfter Paul had taken this affecting fare- salem bind the man who owneth this girdle,
* This was an island in the Archipelago, lying navigation; for a college, in which the students
near the south-west point of Asia Minor, and hav- were eminent for eloquence and mathematics;
ing a city of the same name. It was formerly for the clearness of its air; for its pleasant and
celebrated for the birth of Hippocrates the fa- healthy climate, which induced the Roman nobilmous physician, and Apelles the famous paint- ity to make it a place of their recess; and, more
er; for a stately temple dedicated to Apollo, and especially, for its prodigious statue of brass, conanother to Juno; for the richness of its wines, secrated to Apollo, or the sun, and called his
and for the fineness of a stuff made here, which Colossus. This statue was seventy cubits high,
was perfectly transparent, and called vestimenta and stood astride over the mouth of the harbor,
coa.                                        so that the ships sailed between its legs.
t Rhodes lies south of the province of Caria      This is a seaport of Lycia, formerly beautiin lesser Asia; and among the Asiatic isles was fled with a good harbor, and many temples,
accounted for dignity next to Cyprus and Les- whereof one was dedicated to Apollo.
bos. It was remarkable among the ancients for   II A seaport of Syria, between Tyre and
the expertness of its inhabitants in the art of Cresarea.




600                            AN ILLUSTRATED
and shall deliver him into the hands of the they were come to make their oblation accordGentiles."  On the prophet's saying these ing to law.
words, not only the companions of Paul, but   The time of offering these oblations was
likewise all the Christians present, were seven days, near the close of which certain
greatly troubled, and earnestly besought him  Jews from Asia (who had there been strong
that he would not go up to Jerusalem.  To opposers to Paul's doctrine), finding him in
which Paul replied, "What mean ye to the temple, began to raise a tumult, and,
weep, and to break mine heart? for I am  seizing on him, called to their brethren the
ready not to be bound only, but also to die Jews to assist them, declaring that he was
at Jerusalem  for the name of the Lord the person who  had  preached  doctrines
Jesus. "                                  derogatory to the Jewish nation, and destrucWhen the disciples found that Paul's tive to the institutions of the law of Moses.
resolution was not to be shaken, they did not This accusation, though  absolutely false,
importune him any further; in consequence occasioned such a universal disgust among
of which he and his companions left Coesarea, the people to Paul, that they immediately
and prosecuting their journey arrived safe at fell on him  and dragged him out of the
Jerusalem, where they were kindly and joy- temple, shutting the doors to prevent his
fully received  by the Christians of that returning into that holy place. After they
city.                                     had got him out of the temple they treated
The day after Paul and his companions him with great indignity, and would certainarrived at Jerusalem, they went to the house ly have killed him, had not Claudius Lysias,
of James the apostle, where the rest of the the commander of the Roman garrison in the
bishops and governors of the church were castle of Antonia, come with a considerable
assembled together.  After mutual saluta- force to his assistance. Lysias conducted
tions, Paul gave them a particular account him to the castle, in the way to which Paul
of the success with which God had blessed begged permission to speak to him; but the
his endeavors in propagating Christianity governor (supposing him to be an Egyptian,
among the Gentiles, for which they all joined who not many years before had raised a
in glorifying God.  Having done this, they sedition in Judoea, and headed a party of
told Paul that he was now come to a place four thousand profligate wretches) seemed to
in which there were many thousands of Jew- refuse him that favor, until Paul informed
ish converts, who were all zealous for the him  that he was a Jew of Tarsus, and a
law of Moses, and who had been informed freelnan of a rich and honorable city, and
that he taught the Jews whom he converted  therefore humbly hoped that he would not
to renounce circumcision and the ceremonies deny him the privilege of vindicating himself.
of the law; that as soon as the multitude The governor consenting to this request,
heard of his arrival they would all assemble Paul, standing upon the stairs that led into
together to see how he behaved himself in the castle, after making signs for the multi,
this matter; and therefore, to prevent any tude to be silent, made a speech to them in
disturbance, they thought it advisable for the Hebrew language, the substance of which
him to join himself with four men who were was to the following effect: —
then going to discharge a vow; to perform    "Listen, ye descendants of Jacob, to a
the usual rites and ceremonies with them; person of your own religion, and like yourto be at the charge of having their heads selves a child of Abraham; born in Tarsus,
shaved; and to provide such sacrifices as the and brought up in this city, at the feet of
law directed: whereby it would appear that Gamaliel, and fully instructed in the law
the reports spread of him were groundless, delivered by Moses to our forefathers, and
and that himself was an observer of the formerly as zealous for the temple worship as
Mosaic institutions.                     ye are at present.
Paul readily agreed to follow the advice    " Nay, I persecuted unto death all who
given him by his brethren; in consequence believed in Jesus, seizing on all I could find,
of which, taking with him the four persons both men and women, and casting them into
who were to discharge their vows, he went prison.
into the temple, and told the priests, that,   "But as I was pursuing my journey to
as the time of their vow was now expired execute this commission, and was arrived
and their purification regularly performed, near Damascus, there appeared, about mid



HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                                601
day, a light from  heaven shining round to his death; I even kept the raiment of
about me.                                   those that slew him.'  But the Lord replied,
" Terrified at so awful an appearance, I' Depart, for I will send thee far hence unto
fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying the Gentiles.'
unto me,'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou    The Jews had been very quiet, and paid
me?'  To which I answered,' Who art great attention to Paul's speech till he came
thou, Lord?'  And the voice replied,'I to this part of it: his mentioning the comam  Jesus of Nazareth whom  thou perse- mission he had received to preach the gospel.
cutest.'                                    to the Gentiles, threw  themn into the most
"Afterrecoveringfrom the terror with which violent outrage, and they cried out with one
my mind was filled, I answered,' What shall voice, "Away with such a fellow from the
I do, Lord?'  And the Lord said unto me, earth; for it is not fit that he should live."' Arise, and go into Damascus, and there it And, the more to express their indignation,
shall be told thee of all things which are they threw off their clothes and cast dust into
appointed for thee to do.'                  the air, as though they intended that moment' The brilliancy of the glory deprived me to stone him.
of sight; so that my companions led me by    When Lysias, the captain of the guard,
the hand to Damascus, where one Ananias, found to what a violent degree the people
a person well respected by all the Jews of were incensed against Paul, he ordered him
that city, visited me, and said,'Brother to be taken within the castle, and that he
Saul, receive thy sight.'  And in a moment should be examined by scourging till he
mly eyes were opened, and I saw him  stand- confessed the reason of the uncommon rage
intr before me.  When he saw that my sight shown against him by the people.*  Accordwas restored, he said to me,'The God of ingly the lictor bound him, and was going
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, hath appointed  to put the orders he had received into executhee to know  his will, to see the great tion, when Paul asked the centurion who
Messiah, the Holy One of God, and hear I stood by whether or not it was lawful to
the voice of his mouth; for thou art chosen scourge a citizen of Rome before any sentence
to be a witness to all the nations of the earth  had been passed upon him.  But the centufor those surprising things thou hast seen and! rion, instead of answering his question, immeheard.  Why, therefore, tarriest thou here diately repaired to Lysias, beseeching him to
any longer?  Arise, and be baptized, and be careful how  he proceeded against the
wash away thy sins, calling on the name of prisoner, because he was a Roman.  On
the Lord.'                                  this information, Lysias went immediately
" After this glorious vision and miraculous into the prison, and asked Paul whether he
power of the Most High, when I was returned  was really a free citizen of Rome.  Being
from Damascus to Jerusalem and offering up answered in the affirmative, Lysias said he
nmy prayers in the temple, I fell into a trance, had himself procured that great privilege by
and again saw the Great Son of David, who a large sum  of money; upon which Paul
said unto me,'Depart quickly from  Jeru- answered, " But I was freeborn." t  On
salem, for the descendants of Jacob  will receiving this account, Lysias commanded
refuse to believe thy testimony concerning the centurion not to scourge him, being terrime.'  And I answered,'Lord, they know  fled at what he had already done, namely,
how cruelly I used thy saints and followers; his causing to be bound with chains a free
that I imprisoned and beat them  in every denizen of the Roman empire.  The next
synagogue whither I went.  Nay, when they day he ordered his chains to be taken off;
shed the blood of thy holy martyr Stephen, I and that he might thoroughly satisfy himself
was also one of the spectators; I consented of the cause of so unusual a tumult, convened
* As Lysias did not understand Hebrew, he were supposed guilty to confess what they had done,
could not tell what the purport of St. Paul's what were their motives, and who were accessories
speech to the people was; but, by their mad and to the fact.
outrageous behavior, he guessed that he must have    t It is probable that Paul's father might have
said someting very provoking, either against the been rewarded with the freedom of the city for his
law or the dignity of their nation, and therefore fidelity and bravery in some military service,
was willing to know the truth of it from himself. emoluments being then conferred, not on those
Scourging was a method of examination used by who had most interest with men in power, but on
the Romans, and other nations, to force such as those who had most merit from their actions.




602                              AN ILLUSTRATED
the members of the Sanhedrim, before whom  see, even as his father was before him, and
he conducted Paul in order to undergo an that the great offence taken against him was
examination by that tribunal.                his belief of a future resurrection.  This
Paul was not in the least terrified at the declaration threw the whole court in confasight of so considerable and powerful an sion, by exciting the regard of the Pharisees,
assembly.  Without waiting for any ques- who favored the doctrine of the resurrection,
tions being asked him, looking earnestly at and incurring the resentment of the Sadduthe council, he coolly said, "Men and breth- cees, who strongly opposed it.
ren, I have lived in all good conscience    The dissensions between these two sects on
before God until this day."    M But, how- this occasion arose to such a violent degree,
ever this expression might tend to show the that Lysias, fearing lest Paul should be torn
true state of his mind, Ananias the high- in pieces between themn, commanded the
priest was so offended at it that he corn-  soldiers to take him  firom  the bar, and remanded those who stood next him  to strike conduct him to the castle.  This was accordhim  on the face; at which Paul replied, ingly done, and to comfort him after all his
" God shall smite the thee, thou whited wall."t fiights and fears, God was pleased to appear
On this, some of the spectators, looking  to him  that night in a vision, encouraging
sternly at Paul, cried out, " Revilest thou  him to constancy and resolution, and assurlin
God's  high-priest?"   In  answer to this, him that, as he had borne testimony to his
Paul told them he did not know that Ananias cause at Jerusalem, so, in despite of all his
was high-priest, not supposing it possible that I enewmies, he should live to do the like at
a person who would give such unjust orders Rome.  "Be of good cheer, Paul: for as
could be invested with so sacred a character. thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so
But, since it was so, he confessed it was must thou bear witness also at Rome."'
very wrong to revile him, God himself hav-   The next morning the Jews, whose envy
ing commanded that " no man should speak  and malice were increased against Paul by
evil of the rulers of the people."           the dilatory proceedings of the Sanhedrim,
Paul, perceiving that the council consisted determined  to use a quicker method of
partly of Sadducees and partly of Pharisees putting a period to his life.  In order to
(in order to elude the malice of his enemies), this, about forty of the most turbulent among
made open declaration that he was a Phari- them entered into a wicked conspiracy,
* The apostle, by here using the words "a good  judge, sitting as one that would pass sentence
conscience," does not mean a conscience void of accordinog to law, and yet commanding him to be
all error and offence, because he owns himself i punished for speaking the truth, and so condemnto have been guilty of a great sin in persecuting| ing the innocent, contrary to the law of nature, as
the Church of Christ (1 Tim. i. 13). His meaning, well as that of Moses.
therefore, is such a conscience as was consistent   Ananias was the son of Nebedeus, succeeded
with the ideas he entertained at different periods Joseph son of' Camydus, and preceded Ismael son
of his life, namely, before and after his conversion. of Phabi. He was nominated to the office by
The sense, therefore, of this passage may be thus Herod king of Chalcis, in A. D. 48; and in A. D.
explained: "While I was persuaded that the 52 sent to Rome by the prefect Quadratus to
Christian religion was false, I persecuted it with  answer before the Emperor Claudius a charge of
the utmost vigor; but, as soon as I came to per- oppression brought by the Samaritans. This
ceive its divine institution, I declared for it, and  circumstance led interpreters of an earlier period
have ever since maintained it, even to the hazard. to believe that Ananias had on that occasion
of my life. The religion of the Jews I did not for- been deposed, and that, when Paul appeared before
sake out of any hardships that it required, or any him, he was only temporarily administering the
prejudice I had conceived against its precepts; office, or possibly merely retained the honors
nor did I embrace that of the Christians upon any ary title of an cx-high-priest. But he pleaded
other account than a full conviction of its truth his cause with entire success when he was in
and veracity. I was a good Jew, in short, as Rome, and then returned to Jerusalem, where
long as I thought it my duty to be so; and when I he was, no doubt, allowed to retain his office
I thought it my duty to be otherwise, I became a without interruption. This is the opinion of
zealous Christian  in all which God knows the recent writers. There are historical records which
sincerity of my heart, and is witness of my sustain the conclusion that Ananias was at that
uprightness."                                time the ruling high-priest, a fact indicated by
t " A whited wall" was a proverbial expression the designation, hi/qh-priest, as given, Acts xxiii.
denoting a hypocrite of any kind, and the pro- 2, 4. He was deposed a short time before Felix
priety of it appears in this: that as the wall had a left the province. At last he was assassinated
fair outside, but dirt or stones within, so the high- by the Sicarii at the beginning of the last Jewpriest had the outward appearance of a righteous ish war. - Lange's Comn. on Acts.  A. B.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    603
which  they  ratified  with  an  imprecation treated him, and conspired against his life;
never to eat or drink until they had killed that the measures he had taken were dePaul.  Having formed this inhuman resolu- signed to secure him  from  the violence of
tion, they went to the Sanhedrim  and  ac- the multitude; and that he had ordered his
quainted them  with their design, to effect enemies to appear before him at CTesarea,
which they advised, that some of the mem- that he might judge what was the cause of
bers should solicit Lysias to bring  Paul their being so incensed against the person
again before them, under pretence of inquir- whom  he had sent to him  under military
iln  more accurately into his case, and that, protection."
before he reached the court, they would not   The guards, having received these orders
fail to waylay and despatch him.             from Lysias, conducted Paul the same night
This wicked plot was readily approved of to  Antipatris,  and the next morning to
by the Sanhedrim; but its execution was Cesarea?.  Ontheirarrivalthere, theyimmlehappily frustrated by Paul's nephew, who, diately gave Lysias's letter to Felix, who,
having discovered their intentions, went im- after having read the contents, asked Paul
mediately to his uncle, to whom  he related  some questions relative to the place of his
the whole affair.  Paul communicated the birth, and the manner of his life.  Finding,
intelligence to Lysias, who immediately corn- by his answers, that Paul was a native of
manded two parties of foot and one of horse, Cilicia, Felix told him  that as soon as his
to be ready by nine o'clock, in order to con- accusers came thither from  Jerusalem, he
duct him  to  Caesarea, where Felix, the  would give him a fair and candid hearing;
Roman  governor, then  resided.   At the  and in the mean time gave orders that he
same time Lysias despatched a letter to  should be secured in that part of his palace
Felix, the substance of which was, "that called Herod's  hall, where  he should be
the person whom he had sent to him  was a supplied with every article that was necessary
freeman of Rome; that the Jews had ill during his confinement.
* CsAREA. (Acts viii. 40, ix. 30, x. 1, 24, xi.    " Cesarea," says Dr. Thomson, missionary in
11, xii. 19, xviii 22, xxi. 8, 16, xxiii. 23, 33, Palestine, "has always been invested with peculiar
xxv. 1,4, 6, 13). - The passages just enumerated  interest to my mind, not so much for its own
show how important a place this city occupies in  eventful history, nor because it was once the
theActsof the Apostles.  Caesarea'was situated  capital of Palestine; but chiefly on accountof
on the coast of Palestine, on the line of the great honorable and most important connection with
road friom Tyre to Egypt, and about half way the Apostolic Church. It was here that the good
between Joppa and Dora. The journey of St. Cornelius fasted, prayed, gave alms, which came
Peter from Joppa (Acts x. 24) occupied rather up before God as a memorial, until an angel of the
more than a day. On the other hand St. Paul's I Lord appeared, and diretedl him to send unto
journey from Ptolemais (Acts xxi. 8) was accom- Joppa for Simon, whose surname is Peter. There
plished within the clday.  The distance from Jera- another vision revealed to that apostle the great
salem was about 70 miles, In Strabo's time, there  fact that God is no respecter of persons, but that
was on this poiitof the coast merely a town called  in every nation he that feareth him and worketh
"Strabo's tower" with a landing-place, whereas, righteoustess is accepted of him.  Here the
in the titne of Tacitus, Cwesarea is spoken of as "apostle of the circumcision" first learned that
being the head of Judmea. It was in this interval he must not call any 2man common or unclean;
that the city was built by Herod the Great. The here the Holy Ghost was first granted to the
work was in fact accomplished in ten years. The heathen; and here took place the first Gentile
utmost care and expense were lavished on the baptism. Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, and
building of Coesarea. It was the official residence greatest of foreign missionaries, often visited it,
of the Herodian kings, and of Festus, Felix, and and was here held prisoner for two whole years.
the other Roman procurators of Judaea. Here Standing in chains where some of these ruins now
also were the head-quarters of the military forces lie, he made his noble speeches before Felix, and
of the province. Cwesarea continued to be a city Festus and Drusilla, Agrippa  and Bernice.
of some importance even in the time of the Cru- Eusebins, the historian, was born here; and here
sades. Now, though an Arabic corruption of the Origen studied and wrote commentaries. But the
name still lingers on the site (Kaisariyeh), it is list of her honors does but exaggerate her present
utterly desolate; and its ruins have for a long utter desolation." —Bib. Dictionary.  The Land
period been a quarry, from which other towns in and the Book.                      A. B.
this part of Syria have been built.




604                            AN ILLUSTRATED
CHAPTER X.
PAULS DEFENCE. -— IS SENT TO ROME. - HIS SHIPWRECK.
AFTER Paul had been confined five days tumultuous assembly.  It was therefore neat Caesarea, by order of Felix, there came cessary that these Jews should have been
thither Ananias the high-priest, and several here, if they had any thing to allege against
other members of the Sanhedrim, together me.  Nay, I appeal to those of the Sanhewith Tertullus, a man of great elocution, drim here present, if any thing has been laid
and an inveterate enemy to Paul.  Being to my charge, except the objections of the
all assembled before Felix, Tertullus made a Sadducees, who violently. opposed me for
long speech, in which he made use of all asserting the doctrine of the resurrection."
the insinuating arts that could arise from    Felix, having thus heard both parties,
human invention to prepossess the governor refused to make any final determination till
in his own favor; having done which he he had more fully advised about it, and conaccused Paul " of being a seditious person, sulted Lysias, the governor of the castle,
and a disturber of the public peace, who had who was the most proper person to give an
set himself at the head of the sect of Naza- account of the cause of the controversy
renes, and made no manner of scruple to In the mean time, Felix gave orders that,
profane even the temple itself."  This accu- though Paul should be kept under a guard,
sation was altogether false, notwithstanding yet his confinement should be so free and
which it was confirmed by all the members of easy, that none of his fiiends should be
the Sanhedrim, who had come from Jerusalem  hindered from  visiting, or doing him  any
on this occasion.                         offices of kindness.
Tertullus having finished his accusation    A few days after this, Felix, being desiragainst Paul, Felix told him  that he was ous that his wife Drusilla (who had been a
now at liberty to make his defence; upon Jewess) should hear Paul, he ordered him
which Paul addressed himself to the court in to be brought before them, and gave him
words to this effect:-                    permission to speak freely concerning the
"I answer this charge of the Jews with doctrines of Christianity.  In his discourse
the greater satisfaction before thee, because i he particularly pointed out the great obliga,
thou hast for many years been a judge of tion which the laws of Christ laid on manthis nation.  About twelve days since, I kind to preserve justice and righteousness,
repaired to Jerusalem to worship the God of sobriety and chastity, both toward themselves
Jacob.  But I neither disputed with. any and others, more especially from this considman, or endeavored to stir the people in the eration, namely, the strict and impartial
synagogues or the city.  Nor can they prove account that must be given, in the day of
the charge they have brought against me.   judgment, of all the actions of their past
"This, however, I readily confess, that lives, and the consecquences that would inevafter the way which they call heresy, so itably follow, either to be rewarded or eterworship I the God of my fathers, and ac- nally punished.
cording to this faith, I am careful to main-   This discourse had such an effect on Felix,
tain a clear and  quiet conscience, both that he could not help trembling as he sat on
toward God and man.                       his throne; and.as soon as he had a little
" After I had spent some years in distant recovered his spirits, he abruptly interrupted
countries, I repaired to Jerusalem, with the Paul, by saying, " Go thy way for this time;
alms I had collected in other provinces, for when I have a convenient season, I will call
the poor of mine own nation, and offerings for thee."
to the God of Jacob.  And while I was   Felix, no doubt, had sufficient reason to
performing the duties of religion, certain tremble, and his conscience to be sensibly
Asiatic Jews found me in the temple, puri- alarmed at Paul's discourse; for he was a
fled according to law; but neither attended man  notoriously infamous for rapine  and
with a multitude of followers, or the least violence.  He made his own will the law of




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                   605
his government, practising all manner of before him at Jerusalem?  But the apostle,
cruelty and injustice.  To these bad quali- well knowing the malice of his enemies, and
ties he added bribery and covetousness; and being unwilling  to  trust himself in their
therefore often sent for Paul to discourse with power, boldly declared, " as he then stood at
him, expecting he would have given him  the emperor's judgment-seat, when he ought
a considerable sum  for his release, having, to have a final trial, if he had done any thing
in all probability, heard  that Paul had worthy of death, he did not wish to avoid
taken  with  him   a  large  quantity  of punishment; but that, as he had not injured
money to Jerusalem.  But finding that no any of the Jews, and they could not prove
offers were made hhn, either by the apostle or any thing \against him, he ought not to be
his friends, he kept him prisoner two years; made a victim to their fury; and therefore,
when himself being discharged from his office as he was a Roman, he appealed to the ermby Nero, he left Paul in prison, in order to peror himself." t  Festus, finding Paul resogratify the malice of the Jews,* and engage I lute in maintaining his privilege, conferred
them to speak the better of him after his I for some time with his council, and then,
departure from Judlea.                      with some seeming emotion, told him  that
On the deposition of Felix, the government I since he " had appealed unto Caesar, unto
of Judxea was invested in Portius Festus, j Cresar he should go."
who, after staying three days at Caesarea,    A  few  days after this, Kinog  Agrippa
went to Jerusalem.  On his arrival thither, (who succeeded Herod in the tetrarchate of
the high-priest, and other members of the Galilee), with his sister Bernice, went to
Sanhedrim, exhibited fresh accusations against COesarea, in order to pay a visit to the new
Paul, and, in order to his trial, desired that governor.  Festus took this opportunity of
he might be sent for up to Jerusalemn, intend- mentioning Paul's case to Agrippa, with
ing to have him  assassinated in the way. the remarkable tumult that had been occaBut Festus, being unwilling to grant their sioned by him  among the Jews, and the
request, told them, that he was shortly going  appeal he had made to Caesar, the whole of
himself to Ctesarea, and that if they had which he related in words to this effect:
any complaint against Paul, they must come "That Felix, upon his parting with the
thither and accuse him, when he would not I government of Judclea, had left a certain
fail to do them justice.                    prisoner, against whom some of the chief of
In consequence of this, the Jews followed the Jews had brought an information, and
Festus to Caesarea, and when he was seated immediately  demanded  judgment, which,
on his throne, they renewed their charge, and  according to the Roman law, could not be
produced their articles against Paul, which done without first hearing the case and
were much the same as what they had accused bringing the parties together.  That to this
him  of before Felix.  But Paul defended purpose he had  ordered  his accusers to
himself so well, by making it appear that he come to Cresarea, but, upon the result, found
had neither offended against the Jewish laws, that the dispute between them  was about
nor against the temple, nor against the emper- matters of religion, and whether a person
or, that their charge, for want of sufficient I called Jesus was really dead or alive.  That
proof, fell to the grothid. Festus, however, | being himself unacquainted with such kind
being willing to procure the favor of the of controversies, he had referred the prisJews at his entrance on the government, I oner to the Jewish Sanhedrim, but that he
asked Paul if he would go and be tried I declining their judgment, had appealed to
* Felix had greatly exasperated the Jews by his brother Pallas (who was in very distinguished
his unjust and violent proceedings while he con- favor with Nero) interceded for his pardon.
tinued in the government; and therefore, upon Ihis
dismission, he thought to have pacified them in    t This manner of appealing was very common
some measure, by leaving Paul (whom he might among the Romans, and introduced to secure the
have discharged long before) still in custody, and lives and fortunes of the people from the unjust
consequently still liable to become a prey to their encroachments and over-rigorous severities of the
greedy malice. But herein he found himself greatly magistrates. Paul well knew he should not have
mistaken; for no sooner was he removed from his fair and equitable dealings from the governor,
office than several of the principal Jews of Caesarea when swayed by the Jews, his sworn and invetertook a journey to Rome on purpose to accuse him, ate enemies, and therefore appealed from him to
and would certainly have wrought his ruin, had not the emperor; nor could Festus deny his demand.




606                           AN  ILLUSTRATED
Cmesar: and that therefore he kept him tions of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of
still in prison, until he could meet with a our religion, and am now arraigned for a
convenient opportunity to  send  him  to. tenet believed by all their fathers; a tenet
IRome."                                  sufficiently credible in itself, and plainly
This account given of Paul by Festus revealed in the Scriptures, I mean the resgreatly excited the curiosity of King Agrip- urrection of the dead.  Why should any
pa, who intimated his desire of hearing him- mortal think it either incredible or impossiself what Paul had to say in his own de- ble that God should raise the dead?
fence.  Accordingly the next day the king    "I indeed thought myself indispensably
and his sister, accompanied by Festus the obliged to oppose the religion of Jesus of
governor, and several other persons of dis- Nazareth.  Nor was I satisfied with impristinction, went into the court with a pompous oning and punishing with death itself the
and splendid retinue, where the prisoner saints I found at Jerusalem; I even persewas brought before them.  As soon as Paul cuted them  in strange cities, whither my
appeared, Festus informed the court " how implacable.zeal pursued them, having progreatly he had been  importuned by the cured authority for that purpose from the
Jews, both at Caesarea and Jerusalem, to chief priests and elders.
put the prisoner to death as a malefactor;   "Accordingly, I departed for Damascus
but having, on examination, found him  with a commission from  the Sanhedrim;
guilty of no capital crime, and the prisoner but as I was travelling toward that city, I
himself having appealed unto Caesar, he was saw at mid-day, 0 king, a light from heaven,
determined to send him  to Rome.  That far exceeding the brightness of the sun,
he was willing, however, to have his cause encompassing me and my companions.  On
again discussed before so judicious a per- seeing this awful appearance, we all fell to
the earth; and I heard a voice, which said
to me, in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul,
00P C I/ %               why persecutest thou me?  It is hard for._ DOgXoi~OItthee to kick against the pricks.  To which
I answered, Who art thou, Lord?  And he
"'Ah~/s    [        replied, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
But be not terrified, arise from the earth;
Coin of Herod Agrippa II.     for I have appeared unto thee, that thou
mightest be both a witness of the things
son as Agrippa, that he might be furnished thou hast seen, and also of others which I
with some material particulars to send with will hereafter reveal unto thee; my power
him, as it would be highly absurd to send a delivering thee from the Jews and Gentiles,
prisoner without signifying the crimes al. to whom now I send thee to preach the gosleged against him."                      pel; to withdraw the veil of darkness and
Festus having finished his speech, King ignorance; to turn them from falsehood unto
Agrippa told Paul he was at full liberty to truth, and from the power of Satan unto
make his own defence; upon which., after God.
silence being called, Paul, chiefly address-   " Accordingly, King Agrippa, I readily
ing himself to Agrippa, spoke to this ef- obeyed the heavenly vision; I preached the
feet:-                                   gospel first to the inhabitants of Damascus,
"I consider it as a peculiar happiness, then to those of Jerusalem and Judlea, and
King Agrippa, that I am to make my de- afterward to the Gentiles; persuading them
fence against the accusations of the Jews, to forsake their iniquities, and, by sincere
before  thee, because thou  art well ac- repentance, turn to the living God.
quainted with their customs, and the ques-   "These endeavors to save the souls of
tions commonly debated among them: I sinful mortals exasperated the Jews, who
therefore beseech thee to hear me patiently. caught me in the temple, and entered into a
All the Jews are well acquainted with my conspiracy to destroy me. But by the help
manner of life, from my youth, the great- of Omnipotence, I still remain a witness to
est part of it having been spent with mine all the human race, preaching nothing but
own countrymen at Jerusalem.  They also what Moses and all the prophets foretold,
know that I was educated under the institu- namely, that the Messiah should suffer, be




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              607
the first that should rise from the chambers culty made for Salome, a promontory on the
of the grave, and publish the glad tidings eastern shore of Crete, whence, after many
of salvation, both to the Jews and Gentiles." clays slow sailing, they arrived at a place
This discourse was conceived in such a called the Fair Havens, on the coast of the
light by Festus, that he thought Paul was same island.  As the season of the year
delirious, and therefore abruptly told him, was far advanced, and sailing in those seas
that his too much learning had made him  exceedingly  dangerous, Paul advised the
imad. The reply Paul made to this was to centurion to put in here, and winter.  But
the following purport:  "I am  far, most Julius, preferring the judgment of the master
noble Festus, from being transported with I of the ship, and the wind, at that time blowidle and distracted ideas, the words I speak ing gently at south, they put again to sea,
are dictated by truth and sobriety; and I in hopes of reaching Phoenice, another harbor
am persuaded that King Agrippa himself is of Crete, where there was safe riding, and
not ignorant of those things; for they were there to winter.  It was not long, however,
transacted openly before the world.  I am  before they found themnselves disappointed;
confident, King Agrippa, that thou believest for the calhn southerly gale which blew bethe prophets; and therefore must know that fore, suddenly changed to a stormy and temnall their predictions were fulfilled in Christ." pestuous north-east wind, which bore down all
To this Agrippa answered,  " Thou hast before it, so that they were forced to let the
almost persuaded me to become a Christian. " ship drive; but, to secure it from splitting,
Paul replied, " I sincerely wish, that not they undergirt it, and to prevent its running
only thou, but also all that hear me, were not aground on the shallows, threw out a great
almost, but caltoget/er, the same as myself, part of its lading and tackle.
except being prisoners."   Upon this the   In this wretched and dangerous situation
assembly broke up; and when Agrippa and did they continue for the space of fourteen
Festus had conferred together about Paul's days, during which they saw neither sun nor
case, they freely owned that the accusation stars, so that the whole company (except
laid against him  amounted  neither to a Paul) began to give themselves up as lost.
capital offence, nor any thing deserving ir- This being observed by the apostle, he adpr sonmaent; and that, had he not appealed dressed himself to them in words to this effect:
unto Caesar, he might have been legally  "Had you taken my advice, and staid at Crete,
discharged?.  -                            you would not have been in this danger; but
It being now finally determined that Paul take comfort, for we shall suffer no loss but
should be sent to Rome, he, and some  other that of the ship.  This I can assure you has
prisoners of note, were committed to the been made known to me by a divine messencharge of one Julius, a centurion, or captain ger, who, appearing to me in the night, said,
of a legion called Augustus's band. Accord- Fear not, Paul, for thou must be brought beingly they went on board a ship of Adra- fore C(ssar, and God hath, for thy sake,
myttiuln,t and coasting along Asia, arrived granted life and safety to all them that are with
at Sidon, where Julius (who all along treated thee in the ship.  Wherefore be of good
Paul with great civility) gave him  leave to cheer, for I am  confident this vision will be
go ashore and refresh himself.  From  Sidon made good, coning from God, as it certainly
they set sail, and came within  sight of cloth.  But one passage more I received in
Cyprus, and having passed over the Seas of this vision, namely, that after shipwreck we
Silicia and Pamphylia, landed at Myra, a shall be cast on a certain island."
port in Lycia, where the ship finished its   On the fourteenth night, the sailors, thinkvoyage.  Hence they embarked on board a ing they were near land, sounded, and found
ship of Alexandria bound for Italy; and themselves in twenty fathoms water, soon
having passed by Cnidus,T with some diffi- after which they were convinced, by a second
* It was the custom of the Romans that, after   f Cnidus was a city which stood on a promona prisoner had appealed unto the emperor, no in- tory, or foreland of the same name, in that part of
ferior judge could either condemn or acquit him.  the province of Caria which was more particularly
called Doris. This city was remarkable for the
t Adramyttium was a seaport in Mysia, a prov- worship of Venus, and for the celebrated statue
ince of Asia Minor, lying opposite to the Isle of of that goddess made by the famous artificer
Lesbos, and not far from Troas.            Praxiteles.




608                               AN ILLUSTRATED
sounding, that they were near some coast. perish."   Having  said this, Paul "took
But apprehending that they might strike bread, and gave thanks to God in the presupon some shelves in the dark, they thought ence of them all; and when he had broken
proper to come to an anchor, till the morning it, he began to eat.  Then were they all of
might give them better information.  In the good cheer, and they also took some meat."
mean time, the weather continuing exceedingly    In the morning they discovered land, and
boisterous, they altered their intentions, and discerning a creek which seemed to make a
not staying for daylight, attempted to save kind of haven, they resolved, if possible, to
themselves by getting into the boat.  On put in there; but in  their  passage unthis Paul told Julius, " that though he had expectedly fell into a place where two seas
said no person in the ship should perish, it met, and where the fore part of the  ship
was upon condition that they believed and striking upon a neck of land that ran out
trusted in God for their preservation: that into the sea, the hinder part was soon beaten
therefore the seamen should continue in the in pieces by the violence of the waves. When
ship and do their duty, and not endeavor to the soldiers saw what was likely to be their
effect their escape by the boat; which if they  fate, they proposed putting all the prisoners
did, they would be all in danger of their to the sword, lest any of them should swim
lives."   Upon this the soldiers, to prevent to land, and make their escape; but the
the seamen's  design, cut the ropes that Centurion, who was willing to save Paul, not
fastened  the boat, which  was soon driven  approving of this design, gave orders that
away by the impetuosity of the waves.         every one should shift for himself; the issue
A  little before daybreak, Paul advised all of which was, that some by swimming, others
the people on board the ship to take some fastening to planks, and others on pieces of
refreshment, because, during the time of their the broken  ship  (to  the number of 276
danger, which had been fourteen days, they persons) all got safe on shore.
had taken but very little sustenance; and to    The country on which they were cast was
encourage them  to do this, he assured them  (as Paul had foretold) an island  called
again, that " not a hair of their heads should Melita,* now  called Malta, situated on the
* It is well known that the ancient name of Publius, the governor, stood at the time of St.
Malta was Melita. This island, being situated  Paul's visit. There are in this city numerous
midway, as it were, between the continents of I alleged memorials of the apostle's sojourn; the
Europe and Africa, has been reckoned sometines process of identifying the spots where St. Paul
as belonoing to the one, and sometimes to the lodged, and where le did this and this, being
other. ft is, however, rather nearer to Europe  pushed to an extreme, is calculated to annoy even
than to Africa, being *one hundred and ninety  those who are disposed to acquiesce in the conmiles from  Cape Spartivento, in Calabria, the clusion that the town was really visited by the
nearest point on the continent of Europe, and  apostle of the Gentiles.
two hundred miles from Calipia, the nearest part   The island was originally colonized by the
of Africa; it is, however, only sixty miles from  Phoenicians, from whom it was taken, about 736
Cape Passaro, in Sicily. The island is sixty  years B. C., by the Greek colonists in Sicily, to
miles in circumference, twenty long, and twelve whom the island owed the name of Melita, perbroad. Near it, on the west, is another and small- haps on account of the excellent honey fbr lbwhich
er island, called Goza, about thirty miles in it has been at all times noted. An island of so
circumference. Malta has no mountains, nor much importance as a maritime and commrnercial
any very high hills; and it therefore makes no station, was not overlooked by the Carthaginians,
very conspicuous figure from the sea. There are who, about 528 B. C., began to dispute its posno ports or bays on the African side of the island, session with the Greeks, and after for a time
but several very deep ones on the coast facing dividing it with them, made themselves entire
Sicily.  The most important of these are the masters of it. The inhabitants of Greek descent,
Calle della Melleha, the Porto di S. Paolo, and however, remained, and the Punic, or Phoenician,
the two which are separated by the tongue of and the Greek languages were equally spoken.
land on which stands the modern capital, Citta Malta flourished greatly under the dominion of
Valetta.  The more ancient capital, in which, Carthage; but ultimately partook of the disasters
as appears from his intercourse with the governor, which befell that power. In the first Punic war
St. Paul remained during his stay, is situated  it was ravaged and seized by the Romans, who
about the centre of the island, upon a hill of however lost it again, and only became masters
moderate elevation, between which and the Bay of it under the treaty which placed in their hands
of St. Paul, the ground is more low and level (B. C. 242) all the islands between Italy and
than in most other parts of the island. The Africa. The Romans treated the inhabitants
cathedral church of St. Paul, upon the top of the well. They made Melita a mnunicipium, allowing
hill, is supposed by the inhabitants, from old tra- the people to be governed by their own laws.
ditions, to occupy the site on which the palace of The government was administered by a pro-prme



HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                        609
Lybian Sea, between Syracuse and Africa. When the natives saw this, they concluded
The natives of the place received them with that he must certainly  be some notorious
great civility and kindness, made fires to dry murderer,  who,  though  Providence  had
their wet clothes, and entertained them with  suffered to escape the. dangers of the sea,
every necessary that was requisite for their had  been reserved  for a more public and.
distressed situation.                           solemn execution.  But when they saw him
As Paul was laying a few sticks upon the shake off the venomous creature into the fire,
fire, a viper, enlivened by the heat, came out and no harm ensue, they changed their sentiof the bundle of wood from which he had ments, and cried out that " he was a god.".
taken them, and fastened  upon  his hand. I  At a small distance from that part of the
________________________________- __ _ _.~     --------
MALTA.
island on which Paul and his company were received and entertained  them  with  great
shipwrecked lived Publius the governor, who civility  and  hospitality  for three  days.
tor, who depended on the prin tor of Sicily, and defeat of thirty thousand invading Turks -the
this office appears to have been held by Phblius continued distinction which it enjoyed, as a soyat the time of the shipwreck.  When the Roman ereign state, under the knights-the attention
empire was divided, Malta felt to the lot of Con- which it engoaged, at the commencement of this
stantine. The present inhabitants have an Ara- century, from its surrender to Bonaparte on his
bian aspect, and their language is an Arabian  way to Egypt - from its recovery by the English
dialect, easily understoo(d by the native Arabians, -and(l from its being the alleged ground of the
and by the Moors of Africa. Malta was taken  memoralble war which terminated at Waterloo
from the Arabs by the Normans,-in the year 1090. all these are circumstances, in the history of this
Its subsequent changes of masters need not here celebrated island, too notorious to require more
be stated, till 1530, when the emperor. Charles than this brief indication.
V., who had annexed it to his empire, transferred    * Hercules was one of the gods whom  the
it to the knights of St. John of Jerusalem, whom  people of this island worshipped; and to him
the Turks had recently dispossessed of Rhodes. they ascribed the power of curing the bite of serThe-glory which Malta acquired in 1563, by the pents.
39




610                                 AN ILLUSTRATED
During this time, Paul, being informed that marks of esteem  from  the inhabitants, who
the governor's father lay dangerously ill of a furnished them  with all necessaries proper
fever and bloody flux, in acknowledgment for for their voyage.
the favors received  from  Publius, went to    After staying three  months  at  Melita,
his apartment, and, after praying some time, they embarked on board the Castor and Pollaid his hands upon  him  and healed him. lux, a ship of Alexandria bound for Italy.
The news of this miraculous cure was soon  On  their arrival at Syracuse,* they  cast
spread throughout the island, in consequence  anchor, and went on shore to refresh themof which such as were afflicted with any dis- selves.  Here they stopped three days, when
ease  were brought to Paul, who  restored  they again embarked and sailed for Rhegiunm,t
them  to their former' health and strength. and thence to Puteoli,$ where they landed.
This increased Paul's fame, and was of con- Finding in this place some  Christians, at
siderable  advantage to his companions and  their earnest solicitation they continued with
fellow-sufferers, who  on  his account were  thelm  a week, and then set forward on their
highly caressed and entertained; and when  journey to Rome.
they  left the  island  they  received  many        When  the  Christians of Rome 11 heard
* This was a city of Sicily, seated on the east   II A  city of Italy, the most celebrated upon
side of the island, with a fine prospect fiuom every  earth, a.nd for several centuries the mistress of
entrance, both by sea and ladc.  Its port, which  the world: it had been a. station of' the Etrurians,
had the sea on both sides of it, was almost all of' but it was founded by Romulus, at the head of' a
it environed with beautiful buildingls, and all that banlditti, in the reign of King' Hezekiah, about
part of it which was without the city, was on  A. M. 3251, and B. C. 753.  It gradually inboth sides banked up, and sustained witih very  creased until it extended over seven hills, and ulfair walls of marble. The city itself; while ill its  timatel vr to cover thirteen; and at the adv-ent of
splendor, was the largest and richest that the  Christ, its inhabitants were supposed to amount
Greeks possessed in ally part of the world; for, to about two millions.  Christianity triumllphed
according to Strabo, it was twenty-two miles in  at Home in the apostolic age, when a flourishing
circumference;     and both Livy and Pluttarch in- church was formed in that city, whose pastor was
fobri us, that the spoil of' it was equal to that regarded with great respect by other churches,
of Carthae.  It was called quadruplex, as being  on account of the importance of his station, the
divided into four parts, Acladiino, Teche, Neapolis, metropolis of the world, and so near to the palace
and the Islalnd of Ortygia.  Tile first of these  of the Cxsars.  And such was theenmity of the
contained in it tle famous temple of Jupitel; the  idolatrous priests against the gospel, that many
second, the temple of Fortune; the third, a large  of the early pastors of the Christian church at
amphitheatre, and a wonderful statue of Apollo, Rome suffered lmartyrdom for the faith of' Christ.
in the midst ofa spacious square; and the fourth, Constantine, the emperor, about A. 1). 313, prothe two temples of IDiana and Minerva, and the  fissed his belief' in Christianity, and afterward
renowned fountain of Arethusa.   About two  showed his zeal by  building many  churcles,
hundred and ten years before the birth of Christ, granting large honors to their ministers, especially
this city was taken and sacked by Marcellus, the  dignifying the senior pastor at Rome.   MulRoman  general, and, in  storming  the place, tudes now embraced the religion of the emperor;
Archimedes, the great mathematician, who is and ungodly men, for the sake of emolument,
esteemed the first inventor of the sphere, and  aspired to be its ministers: ceremonies were mnulwho, during the  siege, had sorely galled the  tiplied, to be performed by prayerless ministers,
Romans with his military engines, was slain by a who thus daily corrupted its doctrines. Constancomnion soldier, while he was intent upon his tine removing the seat of his government to his
studies.  After it was thus destroyed by Marcel- new city Constantinople, a path was opened for
lus, Augustus rebuilt that part of it which stood  the ambition of the Roman bishop, who, by proupon the island, and, in time, it so far recovered  gressive steps, advanced to the predicted elevation,
itself, as to have three walls, three castles, and a on which he claimed to be the head of a hierarchy,
marble gate, and to be able to send out twelve as pope, or father of the church on earth, and
thousand horse, and four hundred ships. But it vicar of Christ-but in the expressive language
was totally destroyed by the Saracens, in 884, of apostolic prophecy, the "man of sin," the
and scarcely any vestiges of it are now to be seen. " mystery of iniquity," and " a beast."  (2 Thess.
t Rhegium, now called Reggio, was a port- ii. 3-8; Rev. xiii. 1-18.)  Rome has greatly
town in Italy, opposite to Messina in the island  declined fi'om its former glory, having now only
of Sicily; it is thought to have this name given  about a hundred and eighty thousand inhabitants 
it by the Greeks, who suppose that about this but it abounds with vast monuments of its former
place Sicily was broken off from  the continent grandeur.  St. Peter's cathedral, far larger than
of Italy by the sea.                             St. Paul's cathedral, London, is believed to be the
$ Puteoli, which lay not far from  Naples, was most magnificent place of worship in the world
a noted town for trade; it was famous for its and the Vatican, or winter-palace of the pope, is
hot baths; and from these baths, or pits of water, reckoned to contain twelve thousand five hundred
called in Latin putei, the town is said to have chambers, halls, and closets. Roman Catholics
taken its name.                                  regard the pope, or bishop of Rome, as the visible




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  611
that Paul was on his journey to that city, in that city, who being assembled, he
great numbers of them  went to meet him, addressed himself to them  in words to this
some as far as Apiiforum, and others as far effect: " Men and brethren, though I have
as a place called the Three Taverns.  As done nothing contrary to the laws and cussoon as Paul saw  them  he was greatly toms of the Jews, yet was I by  them
rejoiced, and thanked God and took courage. apprehended and accused before the Roman
They all conducted him in a kind of triumph governor, who, when he had examined me
to the city, on their arrival at which Julius and found no capital accusation laid by my
delivered the rest of his prisoners over to enemies, would have discharged me.  But
the captain of the guard; but Paul was the Jews opposing it, I was forced to appeal
permitted  to take up his residence in a to C(sar to get out of their hands, not that
private house, with only one soldier to guard I had any complaint to make to him against
him.                                       rmy countrymen.  And this is the cause
After Paul had been at Rome three ldays, of my desiring to speak with you; for I am
he sent for the heads or rulers of the Jews I imprisoned, as you see, for teaching the
ROMAN OFFICERS.
belief and expectation of a future resurrec- and a day being appointed, not only the
tion, which is the result of all the promises rulers, but many others of the Jews assemof God to the Jews, and that on which bled at his house, to whom he preached from
every true Israelite depends."  The answer morning till night, explaining the doctrine
the rulers made to this was to the following of the gospel, and proving, from  the prompurport: " We have no letters from Judoea ises and predictions of the Old Testament,
tllhat mention thee, neither have the converted that Jesus was the true Messiah.  But his
Jews made any  complaint against thee. discourse was attended with different success,
But we desire to hear thy opinion more at some of his hearers being convinced of the
large; for as concerning this profession and truth of what he asserted, while others perdoctrine of Christianity, we know it is gen- sisted in their infidelity.  In consequence of
erally opposed by our brethren the Jews."  this, warm  disputes took  place  between
Paul readily complied with this request, them; upon which, as they were about to
head of the whole Christian church, and his mass of superstitions observed in public worship at
decisions in religion as infallible; but every suc- Rome; and, as the consequence, the morals of the
ceeding pope has been an enemy to the circulation people are the grossest opprobrium to the name
of the Bible. Scarcely any thing of pure scrip- of Christ.
tural Christianity can be discovered among the




612                              AN ILLUSTRATED
depart, Paul, addressing himself to those vation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and
who opposed  his doctrine, told them  that that they will hear it."  After Paul had
their unbelief was astrict fulfilment of what said this, the whole company- departed, dishad been predicted by the prophet Isaiah: agreeing among themselves on the  subject
"Well,'.' said he, " spake the Holy Ghost which had been propounded to them.
by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers, say-    Paul continued to reside in the house he
ing, Go unto this people, and say, Hearinog had hired for the space of two years, during
ye shall hear, and shall not understand; which he employed himself in expounding
and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive. the doctrine of the gospel to all who came
For the heart of this people is waxed gross, to him.  He preached  daily  without the
and their ears are- dull of hearing, and their least molestation, and with such success that
eyes have they closed; lest they should see many people of distinction, some of whom
with their eyes, and hear with their ears, were of the emperor's court, were converted,
and understand with their hearts, and should  and became his constant disciples.
be converted, and I should heal them.  Be    Among others of the apostle's converts at
it known, therefore, unto you, that the sal- Rome was one Onesimus, who some time
COLOSSiE. THE HOUSES OF THE MODERNI VILLAGE OF KHONAS.
before had  been servant to Philemon, a left his master, and rambled as far as Rome,
person of distinction at Colossoe.*  Onesi- where, hearing Paul preach, he conceived
mus, having committed some indiscretion, such an idea of the truth of his doctrine
X Colossoe was situated in the southern part which rises to a very lofty and perpendicular
of Phrygia.  Though a town of considerable height behind the village, in some parts clothed
note, it was by no means the principal one of with pines, in others bare of soil, with vast chasms
Phrygia; for when that great province was ul- and caverns. The- immense perpendicular chasm
timately divided into Phrygia Pacatiana and  seen in the view affords an outlet to a wide
Phrygia Salutaris, it ranked but as the sixth city mountain-torrent, the bed of which is dry in
of the former division. The town was seated on summer. The approach to Khonas, as well as
an eminence to the south of the Meander, at a the village itself, is beautiful, abounding in tall
place where the River Lycus began to run under trees, from which vines of most luxuriant growth
ground, as it did for five furlongs, after which it are suspendcled. In the immediate neighborhood
again rose and flowed into the Meander. This of the village are several vestiges of an ancient
valuable indication of the site of Colossse, fur- city, consisting of arches, vaults, squared stones,
nished by Herodotus (lib. vii. cap. 30) establishes while the ground is strewed with broken pottery,
the truth of the received conclusion, that the an- which so generally and so remarkably indicates
cient city is represented by the modern village the sites of ancient towns in the East. That these
of Khonas.  This village is described by Mr. ruins are all that now remain of Colossue, there
Arundell as being situated most picturesquely  seems no just reason to doubt.
under the immense range of Mount Cadmus,




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                               613
that he became a most serious convert. the death of Christ; their gratuitous elecPaul, however, understanding that he was tion; their union with the Jews in one body,
another man's servant, advised him to return of which Christ is the head, and the glorito his master, which he readily agreeing to, ous exaltation of that head above all creaPaul sent an epistle by him to Philemon, in tures both spiritual and temporal; together
which he " earnestly requests that he will with many excellent precepts, both as to the
pardon him, and, notwithstanding his former general duties of religion and the duties of
faults, treat him  as a brother; promising their particular relations."
withal, that if he had wronged or owed him    Paul himself had never been at Colossm;
any thing, he himself would not fail to repay but one Epaphras, who was at that time a
it."   This epistle may be considered as a prisoner with him  at Rome, had preached
masterpiece of eloquence in the persuasive the gospel there with good success; and from
way; for the apostle has therein had recourse him he learned that certain false teachers had
to all the considerations which friendship, endeavored to corrupt the  minds of the
religion, piety, and tenderness can inspire, Christians in that city. In opposition to this,
to reconcile an incensed master to an indis- and to secure the converts in their faith, he
ereet servant.                             wrote his Epistle to the Colossians, wherein
The Christians of Philippi having heard he beautifully sets forth the Messiah, and all
of Paul's imprisonment at Rome, and not the benefits that will be bestowed on such as
knowing to what distress he might be re- believe in him, as being the image of his
duced, raised a contribution for him, and Father, the Redeemer of all mankind, the
sent it by Epaphroditus their bishop.  This reconciler of all things to God, and the
gave great satisfaction to Paul, not so much Head of the Church, which gives life and
on account of the money they had sent, but vigor to all its members.  He commends the
from its being a proof that they still retained doctrine preached to them by Epaphras, and
Christian principles.  To encourage them, exhorts them  not to be led away by the
therefore, to persevere in the faith of Christ, reasonings of human philosophy; and conand to withstand all opposition that might eludes with giving them a list of many chief
be made against them by the enemies of the and principal duties of a Christian life,
gospel, he returned them an epistle, "wherein especially such as respect the relations of
he gives some account of the state of affairs husbands and wives, parents and children,
at Rome; gratefully  acknowledges their masters and servants.
kindness to him; and warns them  against   Duringf the time Paul was thus laudably
the dangerous opinions which the Judaizingo employed at Rome, James the apostle, and
teachers might vent against them.  He like- bishop of Jerusalem, was dedicating  his
wise advises them to live in continual obedi- time, as much as in him lay, to the propagaence  to  Christ; to  avoid  disputations, tion of the gospel within his provinces. Condelight in prayer,  be collrageous under sidering within himself that it belonged to
affliction, united in love, and clothed  in him to take care of all the converted anmong
humility, in imitation of the blessed Jesus, the twelve tribes of Israel, wherever diswho so far humbled himself as to'become persed, he wrote an epistle to them, the
obedient unto death, even the death of the design of which was, "to confute and supcross.'"                                  press a dangerous error then growing up in
Paul had lived three years at Ephesus, the church, viz., that a bare'naked faith'
preaching the gospel to the numerous in- was sufficient to secure men's salvation, withhabitants of that city, and was therefore well out any attention to good works; to comfort
acquainted with the state and condition of Christians under the persecutions which were
the place; so that taking tahe opportunity of going to be raised against them by worldly
Tychicus's going  thither from  Rome, he powers; and to awaken them  out of their
wrote his Epistle to the Ephesians, wherein stupidity when judgments were ready to
" he endeavors to countermine the principles overtake them."  To this purpose he inserts
and practices both of the Jews and Gentiles; in his epistle many excellent exhortations,
to confirm them  in the belief and practices such as, to bear afflictions, to hear the word
of the Christian doctrine; and to instruct of God, to mortify their passions, to bridle
them  fully in the great mysteries of the their tongues, to avoid cursing and swearing,
gospel; their redemption and justification by and to adorn their Christian profession with




614                            AN  ILLUSTRATED
a good conversation, with meekness, peace- rest, put an end to his misery by dashing
ableness, and charity."                    out his brains with a fuller's club " 
It was not long after James had written    Thus did this great and good man finish
this epistle, before a period was put to all his his course in the 96th year of his age, and
labors.  The governing part of the Jews, about twenty-four years after our blessed
being highly enraged at the disappointment Saviour's ascension into heaven.  His rethey had met with in Paul's appealing to mains were deposited in a tomb which he had
Caesar, were now resolved to revenge it upon caused to be made on the Mount of Olives;
James; accordingly, taking the opportunity and his brother Simon was, by the general
of the death of Festus (before the arrival of voice of the Christians, appointed his succesAlbinus his successor) Ananias the high- sor in the bishopric of Jerusalem.
priest summoned James, and some others,   The apostle James was a man of exembefore the Sanhedrim, who required them to plary piety and devotion.  Prayer was his
renounce their Christian faith.  Their desire daily business and delight: so constant was,
more especially was, that James should make he at his devotions that his knees became
his renunciation in the most public manner, hard and callous; and so prevalent in his
and therefore they carried him up to the petitions to Heaven, that, in a time of great
battlements of the temple, and threatened to drought, he prayed for rain and obtained it.
throw him down thence in case he refused Nor was his charity to his fellow-creatures
complying with their request.  But James, less than his piety toward God; he did good
instead of gratifying their desires, began him- to all, watched over the souls of men, and
self to confess, and to exhort others to con- made their eternal welfare his constant study.
fess, the faith of Christ, in the presence of He was of a remarkably meek and humble
those who camoe to hear his recantation; upon temper, honoring  what was  excellent in
which the members of the Sanhedrim were others, but concealing what was valuable in
so incensed that they ordered him  to be himself.  The dignity of the place he so
thrown down headlong from the place where worthily filled, could not induce him to enterhe stood. By this fall he was greatly bruised, tain lofty thoughts  of himself above his
but not quite killed; and therefore having brethren: on the contrary, he strove to conrecovered himself so far as to be able to rise ceal whatever might place him in a higher
on his knees, he prayed fervently to Heaven rank than the other disciples of the Lord of
for his persecutors, in the manner of the Glory.  He was the delight of all good men,
proto-martyr Stephen.  But malice is too and so much in the favor and estimation of
diabolical to be pacified with kindness, or the people, that they used to flock after him,
satisfied  with  cruelty.   Accordingly, his and strive who should touch even but the
enemies, vexed that they had not fully ac- hem  of his garment.  In short, he was a
complished their work, poured a shower of man of so amiable a temper, as to be the
stones upon him while he waas imploring their wonder of the age in which he lived; and
forgiveness at the throne of grace, and one from the reputation of his holy and religious
of them, more cruel and inveterate than the life, was styled James the Just.
CHAPTER XI.
PAUL S TRAVELS. - IMPRISONED AT ROME. -  IS BEHEADED.
AFTER Paul had continued at Rome up- we have not any account in history.  It
ward of two years in a state of confinement, may be presumed, that the Jews not having
he obtained his liberty, but by what means suffieient proof of the accusation they had
* The perpetrators of this barbarous act were selves. Even their own historian Josephus could
considered in the most detestable light by the not but condemn it, and, as himself testifies, all
sober and just persons among the Jews them- the honest and conscientious people of the city




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                       615
laid against him, or being informed that what H ebrews, that is, to the converted Jews who
they alleged was no violation of any Romlan  dwelt in  Jerusalem  and its neirhborhood.
law, durst not implead  him   before  tihe His mafin  design  in  this epistle is  "to
emperor; and therefore, of course, he was mnagnify Christ and the religion of the gospermitted to go at large.                       pel above lMoses and the Jewish economy,
Paul, having  obtained  his liberty, left that, by this means, he may the better estabRome, and travelled into various parts of lish the converted Jews in the belief andl
Italy, preaching the  gospel with  different profession of Christianity.  To this pmurpose
success.  In  some places he  made  many  he represents our Saviour, in his divine naconverts, beht in others he met with great, tire, far superior to all angels, and all created
opposition.  Before he left Italy, he wrote  beings;  and  in  his mediatorial capacity,
his famous and most elaborate epistle to the  a greater lawgiver than  Moses, a greater
TIlE  AMERTINE PRISON, ROME. -THE SUBTERRANEAN CELL IN WHICH ST. PALUL AND ST. PETER ARE SAID TO
HAVE BEEN CONFINED.
priest than Aaron, and a greater king and  that the ceremonies, the sacrifices, and the
pliestthan aMelclisedec.  He informs theta, observances of the law, could have no virtue
remonstrated against it, both to their king Agrip- within the walls of the prsetorian barracks.  Still
pa, and to the Roman governor Albinus' inso- he was a prisoner under military custodymuch that the high-priest by whose authority it chained by the arm, both night fnd day, to one
was committed  was, in  a few  months after, of the imperial body-guard -and subjected to
degraded, and another placed in his stead.      the caprice of Roman soldiery. He was, however,
*- In consequence of Paul's appeal unto Cesar, permitted to receive all who cme to him, and,
he was conveyed to Rome, there to await his without hinderance, topreach boldly the gospelof
trial. On his arrival, A. D. 61, he was delivered  Christ.
to the praetorian prefect, whose official business   For reasons unknown to us his trial was delayed
was to keep in custody all accused persons who at least two years. During this time he enjoyed
were to be tried before the emperor. By special' free intercourse with his firiends, and was allowed
indulgence he was permitted to remain in "his to occupy a house large enough to accommodate
own hired house," instead of being  confined the congregation which camne together to hear his




616                                AN ILLUSTRATED
in themselves, but only as they were types any certain account. It is, however, genes,
of Jesus Christ; and being now accomplished  ally agreed, that about the second year of'in  his person, and  by his ministry, were the emperor Claudius, he went to Rome, and
finally  and totally  abolished.  He insists there continued for some time, till at length
upon the necessity of faith, and, by the ex- that emperor, taking  advantage  of some
amples of the patriarchs and prophets, proves seditions and tumults raised by the Jews, pubthat justification is to be had no other way  lished an edict for banishing all the Jews
than by the merits of a dying Saviour. And from  that city; in  consequence of which
lastly, he lays before them  many excellent Peter returned to Jerusalem.  After staying
precepts for the regulation of their lives; some time in the capital of Judaea, he visited
exhortations to trust anti (onfidence in Christ, the several churches which he had planted in
in all their sufferings; and strict cautions the East, and carried the glad tidings of the
against apostasy fiom  his religion, even in gospel into Africa, Sicily, Italy, and even
the hottest persecutions."                     as far as Britain, in all which  places he
A short time after Paul had written this brought over great numbers to the Christian
epistle to the Hebrews, he left Italy, and, faith.
accompanied  by'itiothy, prosecuted  his    Having thus propagated the gospel in the
long-intended journey into Spain; and, ac- western, as well as the eastern  parts of
cording to the testimony of several writers, the world, Peter, toward the latter end of the
crossed the sea, and preached the gospel in reign of Nero, returned to Rome, the Jews,
Britain.@   What success he had in these after the death of Claudius, being permitted
western parts is not known; however, after to reside in that city with the same freedom
going fraom  one place to  another for the as before that emperor issued his edict for
space of eight or nine months, he returned  their banishment.  On  Peter's arrival at
again eastward, visited Sicily, Greece, and Rome, he met with his fellow-laborer Paul,
Crete (at the latter of which places he con- who had just returned thither from  Judaea.
stituted  Titus bishop of the island), and  The two apostles found the minds of the
then went into Judxea, where we shall for people strangely bewitched, and  hardened
the present leave him, in order to take some against the doctrines of the gospel, by the
notice of Peter, his fellow-laborer in  the  subtleties and magical arts of Simon Magus,
cause of Christ.                               whom  Peter had severely chastised for his
In what manner Peter employed his time  wickedness at Samaria.  This monster of
after his escape out of prison, we have not impiety not only opposed the preaching of
teaching. Nor were his labors fruitless; for many in the Mamertine prison, one of the most revoltwere converted to the faith through his earnest ing prisons of Rome. It seems more probable,
ministrations. At the same time he wrote several as we learn fiom 2 Tim. i. 16, that he was again
of his epistles. At length his appeal came on under military custody, though of a severer nature
for hearing before the emperor, Nero, and the than that of his former imprisonment.
trial resulted inl his acquittal.  He was pronounced    It was not long probably before his trial came
guiltless of the charges brought against him, and  on. He made his defence unassisted by friends.
set at liberty.                                He says: " When I was first heard in my defence,
Bein',qain at liberty to prosecute his mission- no man stood by me, but all forsook me."  He
ary labors, he immnediately leftRome, first visiting anticipated that the issue of his trial would be
the churches in Asia Minor, and then extended his condemnation to death. Being a Roman
his lalbors to other fields. It was not long before citizen, he was exempted from the ignominious
the first imperial persecution of Christianity broke death inflicted on his martyred brethren, being
out with cruel violence, in consequence of the  executed by decapitation by the sword on the
great fire which burnt down almost half of the road to Ostia, the port of Rome, in May or June,
city. Nero, who was accused of causing this fire, A. D. 68. - A. B.
in order to avert the rage of the populace from:* Clements, in his famous epistle to the Cohimself, charged the crime on the hated Chris- rinthians, expressly tells us, that being a preacher
tians, who had become numerous.                both to the east and west, he taught righteousBut a few years passed before Paul was again ness to the whole world, and went to the utmost
arrested at Nicopolis, as a leader of the despised bounds of the west; and Theodoret and others
sect. It is not known what charges were made inform us, that he preached not only in Spain,
against him. He was hurried to Rome in the but went to other nations, and brought the gospel
winter season, and suffered an imprisonment far into the isles of the sea, by which he undoubtedly
more severe than was his first, four or five means Britain, and therefore he elsewhere reckons
years before. He was now  not only chained, the Gauls and Britons among the people whom
but treated as a felon. According to the legends the apostles, and particularly Paul, persuaded to
of the medieval Church, Paul was imprisoned embrace the doctrine of Christ.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    617
the  apostles, but likewise did  all in his faith.  From Ephesus he went into Macedopower to render them  and  their doctrine nia, but previous to his departure, enjoined
odious to the emperor.  Peter, foreseeing Timothy, whom  he had constituted bishop
that the calumnies of Simon and his adher- of Ephesus (see 1 Tim. i. 3), constantly
ents would be injurious to the cause of his to reside in that city, and to take the charge
great Master, thought himself obliged  to of all pro-consular Asia.
oppose him with all his might.                  After Paul had visited several places in
The emperor Nero was a professed patron Macedonia, he went to Philippi (see Philip
of magicians, and therefore he was greatly i. 25, 26), where he staid some time, durirritated.  He had a particular dislike to the ing which he daily preached to the people,
doctrine of Christianity, as being totally made many new converts, and further estabrepugnant to the lusts and passions which he lished those who had before embraced the
indulged; and was highly offended at Peter faith in the principles of Christianity.  Befor having made so many converts, among fore he left Macedonia, he wrote his first
whom  were several persons of distinction. Epistle to Timothy, in which " he lays down
In consequence of this, he ordered him  and the duties and qualifications of a bishop, as
Paul to be apprehended and cast into prison, well in respect of his ministry, as of his
soon after which an event* occurred, whence private conversation, and instructs him  in
he took the opportunity of showing his resent- the office of a true Christian pastor."
ment to the Jews, and  that in  the most   Leaving Macedonia, Paul directed his
severe manner.   He  issued  an edict, or- course to Nicopolis, a populous city situated
dering Christian Jews to be persecuted in on a peninsula to the west of the Bay of
every part of his empire; in consequence Actium in Epirus.  During his stay here he
of which, all orders and  degrees of that wrote his Epistle to Titus at Crete; wherein
people were treated with the greatest con- "he describes to him  (as he had done to
tempt and cruelty that could be invented.    Timothy) the qualifications which a bishop
But before the burning of the city, and ought to have, and more especially a bishop
the persecution commenced against the Chris- of Crete, where some sharpness and severity
tians in consequence of Nero's edict, both were necessary amidst a people of their perPeter and Paul made their escape from con- verse and obstinate tempers. He admonishes
finement.  Peter continued at Rome, but him not to suffer the flock, committed to his
Paul left it, and went into Judaia, where he charge, to be led away by the delusions of
staid some time, after which he went into Judaism; and lastly, lays down precepts for
Asia, and met Timothy at Ephesus.  Hence people in all conditions of life, even not
he paid a visit to the Colossians, whom  he forgetting  servants, because  our  blessed
had never before seen, and  after staying Saviour has poured out his grace upon all
with them some time, returned to Ephesus, men."
and excommunicated Hymeneus and Alex-    In the beginning of the spring Paul left
ander, for denying the resurrection of the Nicopolis, and went to Corinth.  After staydead, and other articles of the  Christian ing a short time'here, he crossed the sea into
* The emperor Nero, in the former part of spectators.  Besides this noble pile, many other
his reign, governed with tolerable credit to him- palaces and houses were consumed; several thouself; but in the latter part he gave way to the sands perished in the flames, were smothered with
greatest extravagance of temper, and to the most the smoke, or buried beneath the ruins.
atrocious barbarities.  The event above alluded    This dreadfhl conflagration continued nine
to is this: among other diabolical whims, he days; when Nero, finding that his conduct was
took it into his head to order that the city of greatly blamed, and a severe odium  cast upon
Rome should be set on file, which was done him, determined to lay the whole upon the Chrisby his officers, gnards, and servants, accord- tians, at once to excuse himself, and have an
ingly.  While the imperial city was in flames, opportunity of glutting his sight with new cruelhe went up to the tower of Macaenas, played ties. This was the occasion of the first perupon his harp, sung the song of the burning of secution; and the barbarities exercised upon the
Troy, and openly declaled that he wished the Christians were such as even excited the commisruin of all things before his death. Among eration of the Romans themselves.  Nero even
the noble buildings burnt was the Circus, or refined upon cruelty, and contrived all manner of
place appropriated to horse-races; it was half punishments for the Christians that the most ina mile in length, of an oval form, with rows of fernal imagination could design. In particular,
seats rising above each other, and capable of re- he had some sewed up in the skins of wild beasts,
ceiving, with ease, upward of a hundred thousand and then worried by dogs till they expired; and




618                               AN ILLUSTRATED
Asia, and went to Ephesus, and thence pro- they had received, and to testify the sotend
deeded  to  Miletum.   From   Miletum  he ness and sincerity of their faith by a Christravelled northward to  Troas, and lodged  tian life.  I-e forewarns them  of the false
with Carpus, one of his disciples, where he teachers that would shortly spring up among
left his cloak  (see 2 Tim. iv. 13), some them, foretells  their  sad  and  miserable
books, and other articles.  From  Troas he destruction, and  describes  them  by  their
went to Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, where odious characters, that they may avoid them.
he suffered those persecutions and afflictions, He vindicates the doctrine sf Chlist's coming
of which he makes mention to Timothy, and to judgment, which  the  heretics of those
thanks God for his deliverance from  them  times denied, that thereby they might en('2 Tim. iii. 4).                             courage men the more securely to pursue
After visiting these and many other places, their lewd courses.  And lastly, be descrites
Paul went again to Rome, knowing that the  the great and terrible day of the Lord, wlhen
persecution which had taken place in that the elements shall melt, and the whole franle
city, in consequence of the edict issued by  of nature be dissolved, therelby to excite
Nero, was somewhat abated.  Meeting with  them to become circumspect and diligent, in
Peter, they conjunctively used their utmost order to be found of him in peace, without
endeavors to instruct the Jews in their syna- spot, and blameless."
gogues, and to convert the Gentiles in all   MIuch  about the  same time that Peter
public places and assemblies.  This, how- wrote this epistle to the converted Jews in
ever, soon raised the malice and indignation  Asia, Paul wrote  his  second  Epistle  to
of the magistrates, who were still inflamed  Timothy, wherein " he informs himn of the
against the Jews.  Nero was at that time in  near approach of his death, and desires him
Greece, and had left Helius to supply his to come to him  before winter, because mosst
place during his absence, investing him with  of his companions, upon one affair or other,
exorbitant powers, whichl he exercised with  were departed from  him.  lie exhorts him
the most unbounded rigor.  It was a crime  to discharge all the duties of a bishop and
sufficient for these two apostles (in the eyes pastor, suitable to those excellent gifts he
of EIelius) that they were Christians.  The  had received, and with a generous ccntempt
particular prejudice he took against Peter of the world, and worldly things.  IHe adwas his having defeated Simon Magus; and  monishes him  not to  forlget the doctrine
that against Paul, his having converted one  which he had taught him, not to be surprised
of the emperor's concubines.  -le therefore  or disturbed at the apostacy of some   from
ordered them  both to be apprehended and  the faith, but to preach the morle zealously
committed to prison, where they spent their against such opposers as placed their confitime in the most solemn acts of devotion, dence in those teachers who left the truth to
and, as opportunity offered, preached  the  turn unto  fables.  And lastly, he informs
gospel to their guards and fellow-prisoners,  him, how, at his first appealing Lefore Helius,
among whom it is said they converted Pro- all his companions, for fear of being involved
cessus and Mlartinian, two principal officers in his punishment, forsook him, but that the
of the army.                                   Lord stood by him and strengthened him, to
While they were in prison, Peter wrote  make his preaching more conspicuous and
his second general epistle to the converted  effectual to the Gentiles."
Jews, who were dispersed in the  several    When the two apostles had been in conprovinces of Asia.  In this epistle " he en- finemenit several months, the cruel Nero
{deavoes, by earnest exhortations, to prevail returned  from   Greece, and  entered  his
Aith them to persevere in the doctrine which  palace at Rome in great triumph.*  Soon
othcrs dressed in shirts madle stiff with wax, fixed fabric was burnt and rebuilt in the reign of Comto axle-trees, and set on file in his gardens in  modus; and of the palace so rebuilt, in its present
or-der to illuminate them. This persecution was ruined condition, flinging the mount with its
general throughout the whole of the Roman em- broken arches, a representation is given in our
pire; but it rather increased than diminished the present engraving.  It still bears the name
spirit of Christianity.                       of Nero's Palace; and although of somewhat
* Subsequently to the burning of Rome, Nero later origin than the time of St. Paul, it will be
built himself a glorious palace on Mount Palatine, considered interesting from  its approximation to
which was named the Golden Palace.  When the his time, and from its furnishing the only idea
emperor saw it finished, he said, "Now I am  attainable from actual remains of the palaces in
going to be lodged like a man!"  This splendid which the Roman emperors abode.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             619
after his return it was ultimately resolved, Tiber, where he was sentenced to surrender
that the two apostles should be put to death. up his life on the cross.  On his arrival at
Peter, as a Jew and foreigner, was sentenced the place of execution, he begged the favor
to be crucified; and Paul, as a Roman citi- of the officers that he might not be crucified
zen, to be beheaded.  On the 29th of June in the common manner, but with his head
(as it is generally supposed) these sentences downward, thinking himself unworthy to
were put in execution.  Peter, after being suffer in the same posture in which his Lord
first scourged, according to the Roman cus- and Master had suffered before him.  This
tom, was taken from the prison, and led to request was accordingly complied with; and
the top of the Vatican mount, near the in this manner did the great apostle Peter'-a —_=          -- --
RUINS8 OF THE PALACE OF NERO.
resoign his soul into the hands of Him who guard him to his execution, and who, within
caine down from heaven to ransom mankind a few days after, died martyrs themselves.
firom destruction, and open for them the gates As soon as Paul arrived at the place of exeof the heavenly Canaan.                   cution, he knelt down, and after praying for
While Peter was suffering on the top of some time with the greatest fervency, cheerthe Vatican mount, his fellow-apostle Paul fully gave up his neck to the fatal stroke;
was conducted to a place on the road to Ostia, quitting this vale of misery in hopes of passabout three miles from Rome, in order to ing to the blissful regions of immortality, to
undergo the punishment denounced against the kingdom of his beloved Master, the great
him by the cruel Nero.  In his way he con- Redeemer of the human race.
verted three of the soldiers who were sent to    Thus died these two most eminent apostles




620                             AN ILLUSTRATED
of Jesus Christ, after they had, with inde- high-priest; nay, he had in all probability
fatigable labor, reaped a glorious harvest of attempted greater things, had not his Lord
infinite numbers of souls, and triumphantly restrained  his  impetuosity, and given a
propagated salvation through the then most reasonable check to his fury.
considerable parts of the world.             If we consider him as a disciple of the blessThe body of Peter, being taken from the ed Jesus, we shall find him exemplary in the
cross, was embalmed after the Jewish manner great duties of religion.  His humility and
by Marcellinus the presbyter, and buried in lowliness of mind were remarkable.  With
the Vatican near the Triumphal Way.  Over what a passionate earnestness on the convichis grave  a  small church was afterward tion of a miracle, did he beg of our blessed
erected, which being in the course of time Saviour to depart from him, thinking it undestroyed, his body was removed to the ceme- worthy the Son of God to come near so vile
tery in the Appian Way, two miles distant a sinner!
from. Rome.  Here it continued till the time    When the great Redeemer of mankind, by
of Pope Cornelius, when it was reconveyed that amazing condescension, stooped so low as
to the Vatican, where it abode in some ob- to wash the feet of his disciples, Peter could
scurity till Constantine the Great, from the  not be persuaded to admit his performing it,
profound reverence he had for the Christian  thinking it highly improper that so great a
religion, having rebuilt and enlarged, the  person should submit to such a servile office
Vatican to the honor of St. Peter, enriched  toward a person so mean as himself; nor
it with gifts and ornaments, which in every  could he be induced to admit of it till his
age increased in splendor and beauty, till it great Master threatened to deprive him of
became one of the wonders of the world, and  his favor.
in that light was considered for many years    When Cornelius the Roman centurion
after.                                     would have treated him with more than ordiThe remains of Paul were deposited in the  nary marks of esteem and veneration, he was
Via Ostiensis, about two miles from Rome. so far from complying with it, that he deConstantine the Great, at the instance of clared he was nothing more than a mortal
Pope Sylvester, built a stately church over his like himself.
grave, which he adorned with a hundred    His love and zeal for his Master were
marble columns, and beautified with the most remarkable; he thought he could never
exquisite workmanship.                     express either at too high a rate; venturing
In addition to what has been narrated re- on the greatest perils, and exposing his life
specting these two great apostles, some par- to the most imminent dangers.  His forwardticulars may be mentioned illustrative of their ness to own his great Master for the Messiah
respective characters. So far as their personal and Son of the Most High, was remarkably
appearance is concerned, we are left in igno- great; and it was this that drew from  his
rance.  The creative genius of the artist has  Lord that honorable encomium, " Blessed
attempted an ideal of their forms and features, art thou, Simon Bar-jona. "
but without the aid of historic data.  We    But his distinguished courage and conhave, however, data for sketching moral por- stancy in confessing Christ, even before his
traits of those remarkable men.            most inveterate enemies, was still greater
First of St. Peter. -  With respect to his after he had recovered himself from  his fall.
disposition, if we consider him  as a man, How plainly does he tell the Jews that they
there seems to have been a natural eagerness were the murderers and crucifiers of the
predominant in his temper, which animated  Lord of Glory! Nay, with what an unhis soul to the most bold and sometimes rash daunted courage, with what an heroic greatundclertakings. It was this, in a great meincas- ness of soul, did he tell the very Sanhedrim
ure, that prompted him to be so very forward who had sentenced and condemned him, that
to speak, and to return answers sometimes they were guilty of his death, and that they
before he had well considered them.  It was had no other way of escaping the vengeance
this that made him expose his person to the of the Almighty, but by the merits of that
most imminent dangers, promise those great very Jesus whom they had crucified and put
things in behalf of his Master, resolutely to death!
draw his sword in his quarrel against a whole    Lastly, if we consider him as an apostle,
band of soldiers, and wound a servant of the as a pastor, or shepherd of the souls of men,




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              621
we shall find him faithful and diligent in his ment, quick  discernment,  and  prompt
office, zealously endeavoring to instruct the memory, all which were improved by the
ignorant, reduce the erroneous, strengthen advantages of a liberal education.  His
the weak, confirm  the strong, reclaim  the humility and self-abasement were wonderful;
vicious, and turn the children of men into his sobriety and temperance singularly strict;
the  paths  of righteousness.   He  never and his contempt for the world great and
omitted any opportunity of preaching to the generous.  His kindness and charity were
people, and spreading the glad tidings of the remarkable: he had a quick sense of the
gospel among  the  human race; and so wants of others, and a most compassionate
powerful were his discourses, that he brought tenderness for all who were in distress.  To
over many thousands of converts.  How  what place soever he went, it was always one
many  painful  journeys  and  dangerous of his first cares to make provision for the
voyages did  he undertake!   With  what poor, and to stir up the bounty of the rich
unconquerable patience did he endure the and wealthy in their behalf.  But his charity
greatest trials, surmount every difficulty, and to the souls of men was infinitely greater,
remove every disposition, that he might cir- fearing no dangers, refusing no labors, going
culate and establish the gospel of his beloved  through good and evil report, that he might
Master! never refusing even to lay down gain men over to the knowledge of the
his life to promote it.  Nor was he assiduous truth, take them  out of the crooked paths,
only to perform  these duties himself; but and place  them  in  the  strait way that
was also careful to animate others to do the leadeth to life eternal.
like, earnestly pressing and persuading the    Nor was his charity to men greater than
pastors and governors of the church "to his zeal to God, laboring, with all his might,
feed the flock of God," to labor freely for to promote the honor of his Master.  When
the good of the souls of men, and not to he was at Athens, and saw the people of that
undertake those offices to acquire advantages city involved in the grossest superstition and
to themselves; beseeching them to treat the idolatry, and giving that honor which was
flock committed to their care with lenity and due to God alone, to statues and images,
gentleness, and to be themselves shining his zeal was fired, and he could not help
examples of piety and religion, the surest letting them know how greatlythey dishonored
method of rendering their ministry success- God, the great Maker and Preserver of the
ful.  And because it was impossible for him  world.
to be always present, to teach and warn thle   Through the course of an extensive minchildren of men, he endeavored, by letters, istry, he never suffered himself to be interto imnprint in their minds the practice of what ruptedl in his endeavors for propagating the
they had been taught- a method he tells gospel by the dangers and difficulties he met
us he was resolved to pursue as long as he with, or the troubles and oppositions that
continued  an  inhabitant of this world; were raised against him.  This will evidently
"thinking it meet, while he was in this appear if we take a survey of the trials and
tabernacle, to stir up, by putting them  in sufferings he underwent; some part whereof
mind of these things, that so they might be are thus briefly summed up by himself: "In
able, after his decease, to have them  always labors abundant, in stripes above measure,
in remembrance."                          in death oft; thrice baaten with rods, once
Thus lived, thus died, Simon Peter, called stoned, thrice suffered shipwreck, a night and
to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, and at a day in the deep.  In journeying often, in
length to offer up his life in ratification of the perils of water, in perils by his countrymen,
doctrine he delivered and the faith he main- in perils by the heathen, in perils in the
tained and propagated.                     city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in
In respect to the personal appearance of the sea, in perils among false brethren; in
St. Paul, a hint is furnished in 2 Cor. x. 10, weariness and painfulness, in watchings often,
from which it may be inferred that in form  in hunger and thirst; in fastings often; in
he might have been diminutive and ungrace- cold and nakedness, and besides those things
ful, of which notice has been taken in ancient that were without, which daily came upon
records.  His constitution was weak, and he him, the care of all the churches." (2 Cor.
was often subject to infirmities; but his mind xi. 23, &c.)   An account, though very.
was strong, and he possessed a solid judg- great, yet far short of what he endured.




622                                AN ILLUSTRATED
He did not want for solicitations both from  not his life dear unto him, so that he might
Jews and Gentiles; and might, doubtless, finish his course with joy, and the ministry
in some measure, have made his own terms, which he had received of the Lord Jesus."
would he have been false to his trust, and  And therefore, when he found himself under
quitted that way which was then everywhere  the sentence of death, he could triumphantly
spoken  against.   But alas! those things say, "I have fought a good fight, I have
weighed little with our apostle, who " counted  finished my course, I have kept the faith."
CHAPTER XII.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE APOSTLES.
IN  the preceding chapters we have given  Ghost on the apostles, to qualify them  for
a minute detail of the transactions of those  the great business they were about to undertwo  great  apostles,  Peter and  Paul, as take, St. Andrew was appointed to preach
related by the evangelist St. Luke, together the gospel in Scythia and the neighboring
with an account of the persecutions and suf- countries.  Accordingly, he departed from
ferings of St. Stephen, and St. James the  Jerusalem, and first travelled through CapLess, bishop of Jerusalem.  We shall there- padocia, Galatia, and Bithynia, instructing
fore in  this chapter proceed to relate the  the inhabitants in the faith of Christ, and
particulars concerning tlleir fellow-laborers in  continued his journey along the Euxine Sea,
the cause of Christ; in doing which we shall into the deserts of Scythia.  On his arrival
begin with the Apostles'"                      at a place called Amynsus, he was received
with  great civility by a distinguished Jew
ST. ANDREW.t                   of that town; upon which he went into the
After the ascension of our blessed Lord  synagogue, preached' to  them   concerning
into heaven, and the descent of the Holy  Jesus, and, fiomn the prophecies of the Old' With the exception of Peter and Paul, the current traditions, generally received at the time,
notices of the lives andt labors of the apostles, as doubtless had a basis of historic facts, and may,
contained in the sacred narrative, are very moagre. therefore, be accepted in the nmain as credible.  It
They were alike commissioned to go into all the is n,)t incredible that miraculous incidents are
world and preach the gospel to every creature; contained among these traditionary records, for
and they were all endued with power from on  the age of miracles continued during the lifetime
high, when they received the baptism of the Holy  of the apostles.  Supernatural protection and
Ghost on the day of Pentecost.  The centre of power were promised them  by the Saviour, as
their first field of missionary labor was Jerusalem,  mav be seen, Luke x. 19, Mark xvi. 17, 18. -It
when Peter was the prominent character in the is evident that they regarded the whole world as
apostolic circle. Thence their mission extended  embraced in their great commission; and by a
to Samaria, and the centre of their second field  mutual arrangeiment designating their respective
of activity was Antioch, in which Paul was the  portions of the field, they went forth to their misprincipal actor to the time of his martyrdom at sionary labors.  Such was their zeal and success,
Rome. From this time the third period of apos- that at the close of the first century Christianity
tolic missionary agency begins. From this period, had been preached and embraced in mnost or all
during which the apostles and fellow-laborers were the provinces of the Roman empire. - A. B.
actively employed in various and distant fields in    t ANDREW, one among the first called of the
the Gentile world, very little is found recorded in  apostles of our Lord (John i. 40; Matt. iv. 18);
the sacred narrative concerning their lives and  brother (whether elder or younger is uncertain)
labors, and other historic sources are incomplete, of Simon Peter (ibid.).  He was of Bethsaida,
and not in all respects reliable.              and had been a disciple of John the Baptist. On
The historic sketches given in the following hearing Jesus a second time designated by him as
chapter are derived, with the exception of a very  the Lamb of God, he left his former master, and,
few Scripture notices, from the early ecclesiastical in company with another of John's disciples, atwriters, as Nicephorus, Tertullian, Eusebius, and  tached himself to our Lord. By his means his
others.  Though the verity of some of their brother Simon was brought to Jesus (John i.41).
statements lacks authentic confirmation, yet the -Bible Dictionary.. B.




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  623
Testament, proved him to be the Messiah and doctrine he taught with signs and miracles.
Saviour of the world.  During his stay here At length he arrived at Patrma,t a city of
he converted many to the true faith, having Achaia, where he gave his last and greatest
done which, previous to his departure, he testimony to the gospel of his Divine Master,
ordained them priests, and settled the times by cheerfully sealing it with his blood.
of their public meetings for the performance    It happened that 2Egenas, the pro-consul
of divine worship.                          of Achaia, came at this time to Patrxa,
Leaving  Amynsus, he  proceeded  to where, knowing that many of the people
Trapezium, a maritime city on the Euxine had abandoned the heathen  religion and
Sea, whence, after visiting many other places, embraced the gospel of Christ, he had rehe went to Nice, where he staid two years, course to every method, both of favor and
preaching and working miracles with great cruelty, to reduce the people to their old
success.  From Nice he proceeded to Nico- idolatry.  The apostle, whom  no difficulties
media, and thence to Chalcedon, where he or dangers could deter from  performing the
took shipping, and sailing through the Pro- duties of his ministry, addressed himself to
pontis, passed the Euxine Sea to Heraclea, the pro-consul, calmly putting him  in mind
and afterward to Amnastris; in all which  that, being only a judge of men, he ought
places he met with very great difficulties, to revere Him  who was the supreme and
but overcame them by an inviucible patience  impartial judge of all, pay him the divine
and resolution.                             honors due to his exalted  majesty, and
From Amastris, Andrew went to Sinope, abandonl the imrpieties of his idolatrous wora city situated on  the Euxine Sea, and ship; observing to him that if he would refamous both for the birth  adcl burial of nounce his idolatries, and heartily embrace
Kino Mithliridates.  The inhabi[tants of this the Christian faith, he might, with him and
city were chiefly Jews, who, partly from a zeal the members who had believed in the Son
for their religion, and partly from their bar- of God, receive eternal happiness in the
barous manners, were exasperated against MlBessiah's kingdom.
Andrew, and entered into a confederacy to    The pro-consul told St. Andrew he would
burn the house in which he lodged. But being  never embrace the religion he had mentioned,
disappointed in their design they treated him  and that if he did not sacrifice to the gods
with the most savage cruelty, some beating  (in order that all those whom he had seduced
him with clubs, and others pelting him with  might, by his example, be brought back to
stones, till at length, apprehendcling they had  the ancient religion they had forsaken) he
entirely deprived him of life, they cast him  would cause him  to be immediately put to
out into the fields.  But he miraculously re- death.  The apostle replied, that he saw it
covered, and returned publicly into the city; was in vain to endeavor to persuade a person
by which, and other miracles he wrought incapable of sober counsels, and hardened
among them, he converted many from  the in his own blindness and folly, to forsake his
errors of their ways, and induced them  to evil ways; and that, with respect to himself,
become disciples of the blessed Jesus.      he might act as he pleased, and if he had
Departing from  Sinope, he returned to any torment greater than another, he might
Jerusalem, and after staying a short time in inflict it upon him; as the stricter constancy
his own country, went again into the province he showed in his sufferings for Christ, the
allotted for the service of his ministry, which more acceptable he should be to his Lord
greatly flourished  through  the  power of and Master after his departure from. this
the divine grace that attended it.  He tray- wicked world.
elled over Thrace, Macedonia, Thessaly,   This so irritated  oEgenas, that he immediAchaia, and Epirus,* preaching the gospel, ately condemned him to death. Accordingly,
propagating Christianity, and confirming the after being scourged in the most unmerciful
* Epirus was a province of Greece, lying along panto. The goddess Diana was worshipped here
the coast of the Ionian Sea, and having for its in the most diabolical manner, having a most
bounds, Albania on the north, Thessaly on the beautiful young man and maid, every year, sacrisouth, Achaia on the south-east, and the ocean on ficed to her, till, by the preaching of St. Andrew,
the west.                                   one Eurypilus, a great man of the place, being
t Patraa was situated on a hill near the sea, converted to Christianity, occasioned that barbarabout ten miles fiom the mouth of the Gulf Le- ouns custom to be totally laid aside.




624                             AN ILLUSTRATED
manner by seven lictors, he was led away to posited in the same place it had been before,
be crucified.  As soon as he approached the which was afterward reverenced by all true
cross, he knelt down and saluted it in words professors of the Christian religion.
to this effect: " I have long desired and expected this happy hour.  The cross has been           ST. JAMES (THE GREAT).*
consecrated by the body of Christ hanging    This apostle was surnamed the Great, to
on it, and adorned with his members as with distinguish him from that James (another of
so many inestimable jewels.  I therefore the apostles) who was bishop of Jerusalem.
come joyfully and triumphantly to it, that it After the ascension of the blessed Jesus he
may receive me as a disciple and follower preached to the dispersed Jews; that is, to
of him who once hung upon it, and be the those converts who were dispersed after the
means of carrying me safe to my Master, death of Stephen.  He first preached the
being the instrument on which he redeemed gospel in several parts of Judea and Same."                                        maria, after which he visited Spain, where he
After offering up his prayers to the throne planted Christianity, and appointed some seof grace, and exhorting the people to constan- leet disciples to perfect what he had begun.
cy and perseverance in the faith he had de-   After this he returned to Judcea, where
liverecl to them, he was fastened to the cross, he continued preaching in different parts for
on which he hungl two whole days, teaching some time, with great success; till at length
and instructing the people.  In the mean Herod (who was a bigot to the Jewish relitime, great interest was made with the pro- gion, and desirous of acquiring the favor of
consul to  save his life; but the apostle the Jews) began a violent persecution against
earnestly begged of God that he might then
depart, and seal the truth of his religion
with his blood.  His prayers were heard,.I gk
and he soon after expired on the last day of                ~ a
November, but in what year is not certain.       t         i
The cross on which he was fixed was
made of two pieces of timber, crossing each
other in the middle, in the shape of the                Coin of IHerod Agrippa I.
letter X (which has ever since been known
by the name of " St. Andrew's Cross "), the Christians, and to such a degree did his
and to this he was fastened, not with nails, zeal animate him, that, after a short trial, he
but cords, to make his death more painful ordered James to be put to death.
and lingering.                                 As he was led to the place of execution,
His body being taken down from the cross the officer that guarded him  to the tribunal,
was decently and  honorably interred  by or rather his accuser, having been converted,
Maximilla, a lady of great quality and estate, by that remarkable courage and constancy
and whom  Nicephorus tells' us was wife to shown by the apostle at the time of his trial,
the pro-consul.  Constantine the Great after- repented of what he had done, came and
ward removed his body to Constantinople, fell down at the apostle's feet, and heartily
and buried it in the great church he had begged pardon for what he had said against
built to the honor of the apostles.  This him.  The holy man after recovering from
structure being taken  down some hundred his  surprise,  tenderly  embraced  him.
years after by the emperor Justinian, in  "Peace," said he, "my son, peace be to
order to be rebuilt, the body of St. Andrew  thee and the pardon of thy faults."  Upon
was found in a wooden coffin, and again de- which the officer publicly declared himself
X In the spring or summer of the year 27, James maritan village. About three months later in the
was called to be a disciple of Christ. In the spring same year, just before the final arrival in Jerusaof 28, he was appointed one of the Twelve Apos- lem, he and his brother made their ambitious
ties, and at that time probably received, with his request through their mother Salome. On the
brother, the title of Boanerges. In the autumn night before the Crucifixion, he was present at the
of the same year, he was admitted to the miracu- Agony in the Garden. On the day of the Ascenlous raising of Jairus' daughter. In the spring sion, he is mentioned as persevering with the rest
of the year 29, he witnessed the Transfiguration. of the apostles and disciples in prayer.  Shortly
Very early in the year 30, he urged his Lord to before the day of the Passover, in the year 44, he
call down fire from heaven to consume the Sa- was put to death. - Bble Dictionary.  A. B.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                            625
a Christian, and both were beheaded at the into as great a share of his Master's confisame time.                               dence as any.  He was one of those to
Thus fell the great apostle St. James, whom our Lord communicated the most pritaking cheerfully that cup of which he had vate passages of his life; one of those whom
long before told his Lord and Master he was he took with him when he raised the daughboth ready and willing to drink.         ter of Jairus from the dead; one of those to
whom he gave a specimen of his divinity in
ST. JOHN (Try EVANGELIST).       ihis transfiguration on the mount; one of
Though this apostle was by much the lthose who were present at his conference
youngest of the whole, yet he was admitted with Moses and Elijah, and heard that voice.~                          ~-~.  _   ~ —--..-   =~. 
I - -     _= _ _ _ _ _
~__        ~              _ —— _    _       _ _ =
which declared him "the beloved Son followed our Lord through the several parof God;" and one of those who were comn- ticulars of his trial; and at last waited on
panions in his solitude, most retired devo- him at his execution, owning him, as well as
tions, and bitter agonies in the garden.  being owned by him, in the midst of armed
These instances of particular favor our soldiers, and in the thickest crowds of his
apostle endeavored in some measure to an- inveterate enemies. Here it was that our
swer, by returns of particular *kindness and Great Redeemer committed to his care his
constancy; for though he at first deserted sTOrroful and disconsolate mother with his
his Master on his apprehension, yet he soon dying breath. And certainly our blessed
discovered the impropriety of his conduct: Lord could not have given a more honorable
he therefore went back to seek his Saviour; testimony of his particular kindness and
eonflilently entered the high-priest's hall; respect to John, than by leaving his own
40.<_=-~-.-_-~_-Z —~~== X  *;-===T=~3=;=  ~                             -  --— ~~-=                 =__~~~
SMYR3![X
which declared hiln " the beloved Son followedl olr Lord through the several par
cof God; " and olze of thlose who were Gom-  ticulars 0f his trial; an~d at last waited on3
panions in his solitudle, mrost retired devo- Ihitn at his es~eevtion, owning him, as well as
tions, and bit~ter agonies in the garden. being owned by hire, in the midst of armed
These instances of particlllar favor our soldiers, and ill the thickest crowds of his
apostle endeavored in souse measure to an- /inveterate ertelies. H-ere it was th~at ouri
swer, by returns of partilcular Irindrness and lGlreat Redeemer @ommlitted to his eare his
GollstaR~y; for thoughh he at -first desertedl so~laomfrul and dkisconsolate mother with his
his Master on his apprehenasion, yet he soon d cying breath. hnd certainly our blessea
dliseoverede the improprietyr of his condluct: Lord could not have given a more honorable
he therefore went back~T to seek his Saviour; testimony of his particular lkinclness and
conlfidently entered the hig~h-priest's hall; resptect to dJoh, than by leaving his own




626                               AN ILLUSTRATED
mother to his trust and care, and substituting  gion of the empire.  In consequence of this,
him to supply that duty he himself paid her and in conformity to the orders of Domiwhile he resided in this vale of sorrow.      tian, the pro-consul of Ephesus sent him
When the apostles made a division of the bound to Rome, where he met with that
provinces among them  after our Saviour's treatment which might have been expected
ascension into heaven, in order to circulate from  so barbarous a prince, being thrown
the doctrine of their Lord and Master, that into  a caldron  of boiling  oil.  But the
of Asia  fell to the share of St. John, Almighty, who reserved him for further serthough he did not immediately enter upon  vice in the vineyard of his Son, restrained
his charge, but continued at Jerusalem  till the heat, as he did in the fiery furnace of
the death of the blessed Virgin, which hap- old, and delivered him  from  this seemingly
pened about fifteen years after our Lord's unavoidable  destruction.  And  surely one
ascension.                                    would have thought that so miraculous a deAfter being thus released fiom  the trust liverance might have been sufficient to have
committed to his care by his dying Master, persuaded any rational man that the religion
he went into Asia, and industriously applied  he had taught was from God, and that he
himself to the propagation of Christianity, was protected from danger by the hand of
preaching where the gospel had not then  Omnipotence.   But  miracles  themselves
been known, and confirming it where it was were not sufficient to convince this cruel
already planted.  Many  churches of note emperor, or abate his fury.  Hle ordered
and eminence were founded by him, par- St. John to be transported  to a desolate
ticularly  those of Smllyrna,* Philadelphia, island in the Archipelago, called Patmos,t
Laodicaa, and others; but his chief place where he continued several years, instructof residence was at Ephesus, where St. ing the poor inhabitants in the knowledge
Paul had founded a church, and constituted  of the Christian faith; and here, about the
Timothy its pastor.                           end of Domitian's reign, he wrote his book
After John  had  spent several years at of Revelation, exhibiting, by visions and
Ephesus, an accusation was laid against him  prophetical representations, the  state and
before the emperor Domitian (who had then  condition  of Christianity that would take
begun a persecution against the Christians)  place in the future periods and ages of the
as being an asserter of false doctrine and church.
impiety, and a public subverter of the reli-    On the death of Domitian, and the suc* A city of Asia Minor, about forty miles the island, sheltered by high mountains on every
south of' Ephesus, ftimous for its having been side beut one, where it is protected by a projecting
thought the birthplace of  Homer, but more so as cape. The island produces almost nothing, being
having contained one of the seven churches of furnished fiom abroad with nearly every article
Asia specially addressed by Jesus Christ. (Rev. of subsistence. The town is situated upon a high
i. 11, ii. 8.) Polyearp is supposed by some to rocky mountain, rising immediately from the sea.
have been the angel or bishop of this Christian It contains about four hundred houses, which,
congregation addressed by Johln, as he sustained with fifty more at the Scala, form all the habitathat office soine years afterward, and was mar- tions in the island. In the middle of the town,
tyred here, A.D. 160, at the age of ninety-five. near the top of' the mountain, is the large and
Smyrna is now the principal emporium of trade strong monastery of St. John the Evangelist,
in the Levant; it is called by the Turks Ismir, built by Alexius Commenes.  About half-way
and the population is estimated to include 80,000 down the mountain from the town to the Scala,
Turks, 40,000 Greeks, 15,000 Armenians, 10,000  there is a natural grotto in the rock, in which it
Jews, 5,000 Franks, &e.                      is believed by the natives that St. John abode
and wrote the Apocalypse. They have built a
t This is a small island in the Icarian Sea, small church over it, decked out in the usual tawabout thirty miles fionom the nearest point on the dry style of the Greek churches.
western coast of Asia Minor, being the Posidium    The island is now called the Patino. On acpromontory in Caria.  The island does not ex- count of its stern and desolate character, the Roceed fifteen miles in circumference, and is nothing man emperors thought it a suitable spot to which
but a continued rock, very mountainous and very criminals might be confined. To this island, acbarren. The only spot in it which has now any cordingly, the apostle John was banished by the
cultivation, or is indeed worth any, is a small val- emperor Domitian, toward the end of his reign,
lev on the west, where the richer inhabitants have or about the year 95 or 96. It is usually stated,
a few gardens. Its coast is high, and consists of after Tertullian, that his banishment took place
a collection of capes, which form so many ports, after the apostle had been miraculously delivered,
some of which are excellent. The only one in unhurt, from a vessel of flaming oil, into which
use, however, is a deep gulf on the north-east of he had been cast.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                          627
cession of Narva (who repealed all the tlravelling from one part to another, and
odious acts of his predecessors, and by instructing the people in the principles of
public edicts recalled those whom the fury that holy religion he was sent to propagate.
of Domitian had banished), St. John re- In this manner did John continue to spend
turned to Asia, and again fixed his residence his time, till death put a period to his
at Ephesus, on account of Timothy, their labors, which happened in the beginning of
pastor, having somne time before been put to the reign  of the emperor Trrajan.  His
death by the people of that city.  Here, remains were deposited in the city of Ephwith the assistance of seven other bishops esus, where several of the fathers observe
or pastors, he took upon himself the large that his tomb, in their time, was remaining
diocese of Asia Minor, spending his time in in a church, which was built to his honor
an indefatigable execution of his charge, and called by his name. He was the only'~'  ~;-~~ —=~-~~=-~
pATiIOS.
apostle who escaped a violent death; not-was adorned. His humility was admirable,
withstanding which he is deemed a martyr always studiously concealing whatever tended
on account of his having undergone the to his own honor. In his epistles he never
mode of an execution, though it did not styles himself either apostle or evangelist;
take effect. He lived the longest of any the title of "presbyter," or "elder," is all
of the apostles, being nearly a hundred he assumes, and probably as much in regard
years of age at the time cl his death.  to his age as his office. In his Gospel, when
St. John, having been brought up to the he speaks of "the disciple whom  Jesus
business of a fisherman, never received a loved," he conceals his own name, leaving
liberal education; but what was wanting the reader to discover whom he meant. He
from human art was abundantly supplied by practised charity to the utmost extent, and
the excellent constitution of his mind, and affectionately recommended it to all mankind.
that fulness of divine grace with which he This, and the love of our neighbor, is the




628                               AN ILLUSTRATED
great vein that runs through all his writings, was anciently addressed to the Parthians,
more especially his epistles, wherein he urges because in all probability St. John preached
it as the great and peculiar law  of Christi- the gospel in Parthia. The other two epistles
anity, and without which all pretensions to are but short, and directed to particular per.
our blessed Saviour are vain and frivolous, sons; the one to a woman  of honorable
useless and insignificant.  When age and quality, encouraging her and her children to
the infirmities of nature had rendered him  charity, to perseverance in good works, and
so weak that he was unable to preach to the to show no countenance to false teachers and
people any longer, he was led, at every pub- deceivers.  The other epistle is directed to
lie meeting, to the church at Ephesus, where the charitable  and  hospitable Gaius, the
he generally addressed himself to the people kindest friend and the most courteous enterin these words: " Little children, love one tainer of all indigent Christians.
another."  When his hearers, tired with the    Before he undertook the task of writing
constant repetition of the same thing, asked his gospel, he caused a general fast to be
him  the reason of it, he told them  that to kept in all the churches throughout Asia, to
love one another was the command of our implore the blessing of Heaven on so great
blessed Saviour.                              and momentous an undertaking.
The greatest instance of our apostle's care    In respect to the writings of this apostle,
for the souls of men is displayed in the inimi- it may be said, " Among all the evangelical
table writings he left to posterity; the first writers, none are like St. John for the subof which in point of time, though placed last limity of his speech, and the height of his
in the sacred canon, is his Apocalypse, or discourses, which  are  beyond any  man's
book of Revelation, which he wrote during  capacity fully to reach and comprehend."
his banishment in the Island of Patmos.       This is coiroborated by Epiphanius, who says,
Next to the Apocalypse, in order of time, " St. John, by a loftiness and speech pecuare his three epistles, the first of which is liar to himself, acquaints us, as it were out
catholic, calculated for all times and places, of the clouds and dark recesses of wisdom,
containing the most excellent rules for the with  the  divine  doctrine of the  Son  of
conduct of a Christian life, pressing to holi- God."
ness and pureness of manners, and not to be    Such is the character given of the writings
satisfied with a naked and empty profession  of this great apostle and evangelist, who was
of religion-not to be led away with the  honored with the endearing title of being the
crafty insinuation of seducers; and caution- beloved disciple of the Son of God; a writer
ing them against the poisonous principles and  so profound as to deserve, by way of emipractices of the Gnostics.  The apostle here, nence, the character of St. John the Divine.
according to his usual modesty, conceals hisT. P
name, it being of more consequence to a wise
man what is said  than who says it.  It   In the distribution made by the apostles
appears from St. Augustine that this epistle of the several regions of the world in which
* PHILIP THE APOSTLE. —The Gospels con- has learnt to know his Master, he is eager to
tain comparatively scanty notices of this disciple. communicate his discovery to another who had
He is mentioned as being of Bethsaida, the city also shared the same expectations. He speaks to
of Andrew and Peter (John i. 44), and appar- Nathanael, probably on his arrival in Cana (comp.
ently was among the Galilean peasants of that John xxi. 2), as though they had not seldom comdistrict who flocked to hear the preaching of the muned together, of the intimations of a better
Baptist. The manner in which St. John speaks time, of a divine kingdom, which they found in
of him, the repetition by him of the self-same their sacred books. We may well believe that he,
words with which Andrew had brought to Peter like his friend, was an "Israelite indeed in whom
the good news that the Christ had at last appeared, there was no guile."  In the lists of the twelve
all indicate a previous friendship with the sons Apostles, in the Synoptic Gospels, his name is as
of Jona and of Zebedee, and a consequent partici- uniformly at the head of the second group of
pation in their Messianic hopes.  The close four, as the name of Peter is at that of the first
union of the two in John vi. and xii. suggests (Matt. x. 3; Mark iii. 18; Luke vi. 14); and the
that he may have owed to Andrew the first tidings facts recorded by St. John give the reason of this
that the hope had been fulfilled. The statement priority. Philip apparently was among the first
that Jesus found him (John i. 43) implies a pre- company of disciples who were with the Lord at
vious seeking. To him first in the whole circle the commencement of his ministry, at the marof the disciples were spoken the words so full of riage of Cana, on his first appearance as a
meaning, "Follow me" (ibid.). As soon as he prophet in Jerusalem (Johnii.). When John was




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                   629
they  were  to  preach  the  gospel  after of the gospel.  But the success attending
our Lord's ascension, Upper Asia fell to Philip's  endeavors  proved fatal to him.
Philip, where he labored with  the most The magistrates were so incensed at his hayvindefatigable  diligence  to  propagate  the ing obtained such a number of converts,
doctrine of his Master in those parts.  From  that they resolved to put an effectual stop to
the constancy and power of his preaching, his proceedings.  They accordingly ordered
and the efficacy of his miracles, he gained him  to be seized, and thrown into prison,
numerous converts, whom  he baptized in whence, after being severely scourged, he
the Christian faith, curing at once their was led to execution, and put to death, the
bodies of infirmities and distempers, and manner of which, according to some, was
their souls of errors and idolatry.  Here he by being  hanged against a pillar,  and,
continued a considerable time, and, before according to others, by crucifixion.
he left the place, settled the churches and    As soon as he was dead, his body was
appointed Christian pastors over those whom  taken down by Bartholomew, his fellowhe had converted.                           laborer in the gospel, and Mariamne his
After Philip had for several years suc- sister, the constant companion of his travels,
cessfully exercised his apostolic office in Up- and decently interred in a private place near
per Asia, he went to Hierapolis in Phrygia, the city, both of whom, for performing this
a city remarkably rich and populous, but at friendly office, barely escaped  with their
the same time overrun with the most enor- lives.
mous idolatry.  Philip was greatly grieved    The martyrdom  of St. Philip happened
to see the people so wretchedly enslaved by  about eight years after that of St. James the
error and superstition; he therefore repeat- Great.
edly offered up his prayers to Heaven in                 ST. BARTHOLOMEW.
their behalf, till, by his prayers, and often    This apostle is mentioned among the imcalling on the name of Christ, he procured  mediate disciples of our Lord, under the
the death, or at least the vanishing, of a appellation  of Bartholomew, though it is
dragon to which they paid adoration.        evident, from divers passages in Scripture,
Having  thus  demolished  their deity, that he was also called Nathanael.
Philip  clearly demonstrated to them  how    After our Lord's ascension into heaven,
ridiculous and unjust it was to pay divine Bartholomew  visited different parts of the
honors to such odious creatures: he told world, in order to propagate the gospel of
them that God alone was to be worshipped his Master, and at length penetrated as far
as the great Parent of all the world, who, in as the Hither India.   Here he remained a
the beginning made men after his glorious considerable time, and then went to Hierapoimage, and when fallen from that innocent lis in Phrygia, where he labored (in conand happy state, sent his own Son into the junction with Philip) to plant Christianity
world to redeem  them.  That, in order to in those parts; and to convince the blind
perform this glorious work, he died on the idolaters of the evil of their ways, and direct
cross, and rose again from the dead, and at them  in the paths which lead to eternal
the end of the world would come again to salvation.   This enraging the bigoted maraise all the sons of men from the chambers gistrates, they  sentenced Bartholomew  to
of the dust, and either sentence them  to death, and he was accordingly fastened to a
everlasting punishment, or reward them with cross; but their consciences staring them in
everlasting felicity.                       their faces for the iniquity they were about
This discourse roused them  from  their to commit, they ordered him  to be taken
lethargy, insomuch that  great numbers, down and set at liberty.
being ashamed of their idolatry, immedi-   In consequence of this our apostle left
ately forsook it, and embraced the doctrine IHierapolis, and went to Lycaonia, where he
cast into prison, and the work of declaring the three Gospels tell us nothing more of him indiglad tidings of the kingdom required a new cornm- vidually.  St. John, with his characteristic fulpany of preachers, we may believe that he, like ness of personal reminiscences, records a few sighis companions and friends, received a new call nificant utterances (John vi. 5-9, xii. 20-22,
to a more constant discipleship (Matt. iv. 18-22). xiv. 8). No other fact connected with the name
When the Twelve were specially set apart for their of Philip is recorded in the Gospels. - Bib. Dicoffice, he was numbered among them. The first tionary.                            A. B.




630                            AN  ILLUSTRATED
obtained a great number of converts, whom  clothed with temporal power and authority,
he instructed and trained up in the princi- it would have been no wonder for him to
ples of the Christian religion.  From Lyca- have gone over to his service; but when
onia, he went to Albania, a city on the he appeared under all the circumstances of
Caspian Sea, a place miserably overrun with poverty, when he seemed to promise his
idolatry, from  which he labored hard to followers nothing but misery and sufferings
reclaim  the people.   But his endeavors in this life, and to propose no other rewards
to " turn them from darkness unto light, and than the invisible encouragements of another
from the power of Satan unto God," instead world, his change appears truly wonderful
of proving effectual, only procured his de- and surprising.  But divine grace can substruction.  The magistrates were so incensed due all opposition.
against him, that they  prevailed on the    His contempt of the world was fully manigovernor to order him to be put to death, fested  in his exemplary temperance and
which was accordingly done with the most abstemiousness from  all delights and pleasdistinguished cruelty.                    ures; insomuch that he even refused the
ordinary conveniences and accommodations
of life.  He was remarkably modest in the
During the first eight years after our opinion he entertained of himself, always
blessed Lord's ascension into heaven, Mat- giving the preference to others, even though
thew continued to preach the gospel with their abilities were not so conspicuous as his
great assiduity in different parts of Judaea;  own.  The rest of the evangelists are careful
after which he left the country of Palestine to mention the honor of his apostleship, but
in order to convert the Gentile world.  But speak of his former sordid, dishonest, and
before his departure, at the earnest solicitation disgraceful course of life, only under the
of the Jewish converts in Judcla, he wrote name of Levi; while he himself sets it down
the history of the life and actions of the blessed with all its circumstances, under his own
Jesus, which he left among them as a stand- proper and common name; a conduct which
ing monument of what he had so often de- at once commends the prudence and candor
livered to them in his sermons.            of the apostle, and suggests to us this useful
After Matthew left Judrea, he travelled reflection, that the greatest sinners are not
into various parts, but the particular places excluded from divine grace; nor can any, if
he visited are not certainly known.  How- penitent, have just reason to despair, when
ever, after laboring  indefatigably in the publicans and sinners find mercy at the
vineyard of his Master, he suffered martyr- throne of grace.
dom at a city called Nadabar in Ethiopia;   The Gospel which St. Matthew wrote at
but the particular manner of his death is not the entreaty of the Jewish converts before he
certainly known, though it is the generally left Judema, was penned in the Hebrew
conceived opinion that he was slain with a language, but soon after  translated into
halberd.  His martyrdom  is oommemorated Greek by one of his disciples.  After the
by the church on the 21st day of September. Greek translation was admitted, the Hebrew
St. Matthew was a remarkable instance of copy was chiefly owned and used by the
the power of religion, in bringing men to a Nazarmi, a middle sect between Jews and
proper temper of mind.  If we reflect upon Christians; with the former, they adhered
his circumstances  while  he continued a to the rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic
stranger to the great Redeemer of mankind, law, and with the latter, they believed in
we shall find that the love of the world had Christ, and embraced his religion; and hence
possessed his heart.  But notwithstanding  this Gospel has been styled, " The Gospel
this, no sooner did Christ call him than he according  to  the  Hebrews," and "The
abandoned, without the  least scruple or Gospel of the Nazarenes."
hesitation, all his riches; nay, he not only
renounced his lucrative trade, but ran the               ST. THOMAS.
greatest hazards of displeasing the masters   The apostle  Thomas, after our Lord's
who employed him, for quitting their service ascension, continued to preach the gospel
without giving them  the least notice, and in various part of Judvea; till at length,
leaving his accounts in confusion.  Had our being interrupted by the dispersion of the
blessed Saviour appeared as a secular prince, Christian church in Jerusalem, he repaired




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              631
into Parthia, the province assigned him for   St. Chrysostom says, that St. Thomas, who
his ministry.  He afterward preached the at first was the weakest and most incredulous
gospel to the Medes, Persians, Carmans, of all the apostles, became, through Christ's
Hyrcani, Bractarians, and the neighboring condescension to satisfy his scruples, and the
nations.  During his preaching in Persia, power of the divine grace, the most active and
he is said to have met with the magi, or invincible of them all; travelling over most
wise men, who had taken that long journey parts of the world, and living without fear in
at our Saviour's birth to worship him, whom  the midst of barbarous nations, through the
he baptized, and took with him, as his com- efficacy of that Almighty power, which can
panions and assistants in propagating the make the weakest vessels to perform acts of
gospel.                                    the greatest difficulty and moment.
Leavin(r Persia, he travelled into Ethiopia,
preaching the glad tidings of the gospel, sT. sMON (COMONLY CALLED THE ZEALOT).
healing the sick, and working  other miracles,   This apostle, in the catalogue of our Lord's
to prove he had his commission from on high. chosen  disciples, is styled  "Simon  the
After travelling through these countries, Canaanite," * whence some are of opinion that
he entered India, and went first to Socotora, he was born at Cana in Galilee; and it is
an island in the Arabian Sea, and then to generally thought that he was the bridegroom
Cranganor, whence, having converted many mentioned by St. John, at whose marriage
from the error of their ways, he travelled our blessed Saviour turned the water into
farther into the east.  Having successfully wine.
preached the gospel here, he returned back to    The name of this apostle is derived from
the kingdom of Coromandel, where, at Mali- the Hebrew word knah, which signifies zeal,
pur, the metropolis of the kingdom, not far and denotes a warm and sprightly disposition.
from the mouth of the Ganges, he began to He did not, however, acquire this name fi-om
erect a place for divine worship, but was inter- his ardent affection to his Master, and the
rupted by the idolatrous priests, and Sagamo, desire of advancing his religion in the world,
prince of the country.  However, after he but from his zealous attachment to a particuhad  performed  several miracles, he was lar sect of religion before he became acquaintsuffsred to proceed in the work, and Sagalno ed with his great Lord and Master.
himself embraced the Christian faith, whose   In order to explain this matter more clearly
example was soon followed by great numbers to the understanding of our readers, it is neof his friends and subjects.               cessary to observe, that as there were several
This remarkable success alarmed the Brah- sects and parties among the Jews, so there
mins, who plainly perceived that their religion was one, either a distinct sect, or at least a
would be soon extirpated unless some method branch of the Pharisees, called the sect of
could be found of putting a stop to the prog- the Zealots.  This sect took upon them to
ress of Christianity; they therefore resolved inflict punishments in extraordinary cases;
to put the apostle to death.  At a small dis- and that not only by the connivance, but with
tance from the city was a tomb, whither St. the leave both of the rulers and people, till,
Thomas often retired for private devotion, in process of time, their zeal degenerated
Hither the Brahmins and their armed fol- into all kinds of licentiousness and wild exlowers pursued him; and while he was at travagance; and they not only became the
prayer, they first threw  at him a shower of pests of the commonwealth in their own terridarts, after which one of the priests ran him  tories, but were likewise hated by the people
through the body with a lance.  His corpse of those parts which belonged to the Romans.
was taken up by his disciples, and buried in They were continually urging the people to
the church he had caused to be erected, and shake off the Roman yoke and assert their
which was afterward improved into a fabric natural liberty, taking care, when they had
of very great magnificence.                thrown all things into confusion, to make
- Canaanite, the designation of the Apostle or faction of " the Zealots " was designated. This
Simon, otherwise known as " Simon Zelotes." It Syriac word is the reading of the Peshito version.
occurs in Matt. x. 4; Mark iii. 18. The word The Greek equivalent is Zelotes, and this St. Luke
does not signify a descendant of Canaan, nor a (vi. 15; Acts i. 13) has correctly preserved.
native of Cana, but it comes from a Chaldee or                                  A. B.
Syriac word, Kannedn, by which th,~ Jewish sect




632                            AN ILLUSTRATED
their own advantage of the consequences he was at last crucified, and buried in some
arising therefrom.  Josephus gives a very part of that island, but the exact place where
long and particular account of them, through- is unknown.
out the whole of which he repeatedly repre-                ST. JUDE.
sents theim as the great plague of the Jewish
nation.  Various attempts were made, espe-   It is very observable of this apostle that
cially by Ananias, the high-priest, to reduce the  evangelists commonly  call him, not
them to order, and oblige them  to observe Jude, but either Thaddaeus or Labbeus; the
the rules of sobriety; but all endeavors proved reason of which, in all human probability, is
ineffectual.   They continued their violent from the particular dislike they had to the
proceedings, and, joining with the Idumveans, name, which was so nearly similar to that
committed every kind of outrage.  They  of the base and perfidious Judas Iscariot,
broke into the sanctuary, slew  the priests who  treacherously sold and betrayed his
themselves before the altar, and filled the Master.
streets of Jerusalem  with tumults, rapine,    Jude was brother to James the Less,
and  blood.   Nay, when  Jerusalem  was afterward bishop of Jerusalem.  It is not
closely besieged by the Roman army, they known when or by what means he became
continued their detestable proceedings, creat- a disciple of our blessed Saviour, there not
ing fresh tumult and factions, and  were being any thing said of him till we find him
indeed the principal cause of the ill success in the catalogue of the twelve apostles; nor
of the Jews in that fattal war.            afterward till Christ's Last Supper, when
This is a true account of the sect of the discoursing with them  about his departure,
Zealots, though, whatever St. Simon  was and comforting them with a promise that he
before, we have no reason to suspect but that would return to them  again, meaning after
after his conversion he was very zealous for his resurrection from the dead.
the honor of his Master, and considered all   The sacred records are so very short in
those who were enemies to Christ as enemies their accounts of this apostle, that we must
to himself, however near they might be to be beholden to other ecclesiastical writers
him in any natural relation.  As he was very for information relative to his conduct after
exact in all the practical duties of the Chris- the ascension of our blessed Lord into heaven.
tian religion, so he showed a very serious Paulinus tells us that the part which fell
and pious indignation toward those who pro- to his share in the apostolic division of the
fessed religion, and a faith in Christ, with provinces was Lybia; but he does not tell us
their mouths, but dishonored their sacred  whether it was the Cyrenian Lybia which
profession by their irregular and vicious lives, is thought to have received the gospel from
as many of the first professing Christians St. Mark, or the more southern parts of
really did.                                Africa.  But, however that be, in his first
St. Simon continued in communion with setting out to preach the gospel, he travelled
the rest of the apostles and disciples at Jeru- up and down Judma and  Galilee; then
salem, and at the feast of Pentecost received through Samaria into Idumaa, and to the
the same miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost; cities of Arabia and the neighboring counso that he was qualified with the rest of his tries, and afterward to Syria and  Mesobrethren for the apostolic office.  In propa- potamia.  Nicephorus adds, that he came at
gating the gospel of the Son of God, we last to Edessa, where Agabarus governed,
cannot doubt of his exercising his gifts with and where Thaddeus, one of the seventy,
the same zeal and fidelity as his fellow- had already sown the seeds of the gospel.
apostles, though in what part of the world is Here he perfected what the other had begun;
uncertain.  Some say he went into Egypt, and having by his sermons and miracles esCyrene, and Africa, preaching the gospel to tablished the religion of Jesus, he died in
the inhabitants of those remote and barbarous peace: but others say that he was slain at
countries; and others add, that after he had Berites, and honorably buried there.  The
passed through those burning wastes, he writers  of the Latin  church  are unanipreached the gospel to the inhabitants of the mous in declaring that he travelled into
western parts, and even in Britain, where, Persia, where, after great success in his
having converted great multitudes, and sus- apostolical ministry for many years, he was
tained the greatest hardships and persecutions, at last, for his freely and openly reproving




IHSTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                               633
the superstitious rites and customs of the and untractable temper, resolved to take
Miagi, cruelly put to death.               away his life, which they effected by first
St. Jude wrote only one epistle, which is stoning him, and then severing his head
placed the last of those seven styled catho- from his body.
lie in the sacred canon.  It has no particular inscription, as the other six have, but ST. MARK.
is thought to have been primarily intended    In the dispersion of the apostles for propfor the Christian Jews in their several dis- agating the gospel in different parts of the
persions, as were the epistles of the apostle world, after our Lord's  ascension  into
Peter.  In it he informs them  that he at heaven, St. Mark was by Peter sent into
first intended to have written to them  con- Egypt, where he soon planted a church in
cerning the " common salvation," in order Alexandria, the metropolis; and such was
to confirm them in their belief; but, finding his success, that he converted great multithe doctrine of Christ attacked on all sides tudes of people, both men and women, to
by heretics, he thought it more necessary the Christian religion.
to exhort them  to stand up manfully in    St. Mark did not confine himself to Alexdefence of the " faith once delivered to the andria and the Oriental parts of Egypt, but
saints," and to oppose those false teachers removed westward to Lybia, passing through
who so earnestly labored to corrupt them; the  countries of Marmarcia, Pentapolis,
and that they might know these the better, and  others adjacent, where, though  the
he describes them  in their proper colors, people were both barbarous in their manand foretells their future if not impending ners and idolatrous in their worship, yet by
danger;  but, at the same time, he endeav- his preaching and miracles he prevailed on
ors to exhort them, by all gentle methods, them to embrace the tenets of the gospel;
to save them, and to take them " out of the nor did he leave them till he had confirmed
fire " into which their own folly had cast them in the faith.
them.                                        After this long tour he returned to AlexIt was some time before this epistle was andria, where he preached with the greatest
generally received in  the  church.   The freedom, ordered and disposed of the affairs
author indeed, like St. James, St. John, of the church, and wisely provided for a
and sometimes St. Paul, does not call him- succession  by constituting  governors and
self an apostle, but only " the servant of pastors of it.  But the restless enemy of
Christ."  But he has added what is ecquiv- the souls of men would not suffer our aposalent, Jude  " the brother of James," a tie to continue in peace and quietness; for
chalacter which can only belong to himself; while he was assiduously laboring in the
and surely the humility of a follower of vineyard of his Master, the idolatrous inChrist should be no objection to his writings. habitants, about the time of Easter, when
they were celebrating the solemnities of
ST. MATTHIAS.               Serapis, tumultuously seized him, and, bindMatthias was one of the seventy disciples ing his feet with cords, dragged him through
whom our blessed Lord made choice of to the streets and over the most craggy places
assist him  in the discharge of his public to the Buecelus, a precipice near the sea,
ministry.  After his death, Matthias was leaving him there in a lonesome prison for
elected into the apostleship, to supply the that night; but his great and beloved Masplace of Judas, who was so struck with ter appeared to him in a vision, comforting
remorse at having betrayed his Master, as to and encouraging him under the ruins of his
put a period to his existence.             shattered body.
After our Lord's ascension into heaven,   Early the  next morning  the  tragedy
Matthias spent the first year of his ministry began afresh; and they dragged him  about
in Judea, where lie was so successful as to in the same cruel and barbarous manner till
bring over a prodigious number of people he expired.  But their malice did not end
to the Christian faith.  From  Judrea he with his death, for they burned his mangled
travelled into other countries, and, proceed- body after they had so inhumanly deprived
ing eastward, came at length to Ethiopia. it of life; but the Christians gathered up
Here he likewise made many converts; but his bones and ashes, and decently interred
the inhabitants in general being of a fierce them  near the place where he  used  to




634                            AN ILLUSTRATED
preach.  His remains were afterward, with    St. Luke wrote two books for the use of
great pomp, removed from Alexandria to the church; namely his Gospel, and the
Venice, where they were religiously honored, Acts of the Apostles.  Both these he dediand he was adopted the titular saint and cated to Theophilus, which many of the
patron of that state.                      ancients suppose to be a feigned name, denotHe suffered martyrdom  on the 25th of ing a lover of God, a title common to all
April, but the  year is not absolutely sincere Christians.  But others think it was
known; the most probable opinion is that it a real person, because the title of " most
happened about the end of the reign of excellent" is attributed to him; which was
Nero.                                      the usual form of address, in those times, to
His Gospel, the only writing he left be- princes, and other distinguished characters.
hind hinl, was written at the entreaty and    His Gospel contains the principal transacearnest desire of the converts at Rome, who, tions of the life of our blessed Redeemer;
not content with having heard St. Peter and in his Acts of the Apostles, which it is
preach, pressed St. Mark, his disciple, to probable he wrote at Rome about the time of
commit to writing an historical account of Paul's imprisonment, are recorded the most,what he had delivered to them, which he material actions of the principal apostles,
performed with equal faithfulness and brev- especially St. Paul, whose activity in the
ity, and being perused and approved by cause of Christ made him bear a very great
St. Peter, it was commanded to be pub- part in the labors of his Master; and St.
licly read in their assemblies.  It was fre- Luke, being his almost constant attendant,
quently styled St. Peter's gospel, not be- and privy to his most intimate transactions,
cause he dictated it to St. Mark, but because was consequently capable of giving a more
the latter composed it from  the accounts full and satisfactory account of them than any
St. Peter usually delivered in his discourse other of the apostles.
to the people.  And this is probably the   In both these treatises his manner of
reason of what St. Chrysostom  observes, writing is exact and accurate; his style noble
that in his style and manner of expression and elegant, sublime and lofty, and yet clear
he delights to imitate St. Peter, representing and perspicuous, flowing with an easy and
a great deal in a few words.               natural  grace  and  sweetness,  admirably
adapted to an historical design.  In short,
ST. LUKE.                 as an historian he was faithful in his relaThe Evangelist St. Luke was a native of tions, and elegant in his writings; as a
Antioch in Syria, and by profession a physi- minister, careful and diligent for the good of
cian; and it is the general opinion of most souls; as a Christian, devout and pious;
ancient historians, that he was also well ac- and to crown all the rest, he laid down his
quainted with the art of painting.        life in testimony of the gospel he had both
After our Lord's ascension into heaven, he preached and published to the world.
spent a great part of his time with St. Paul,
whom he accompanied to various places, andST. BARNABAS.
greatly assisted in bringing over proselytes   After our Lord's ascension Into heaven,
to the Christian faith.  This so endeared him  Barnabas continued for a considerable time
to that apostle, that he seems delighted with with St. Paul, being his constant attendant
owning him for his fellow-laborer, and in wherever he went.  He travelled with him
calling him  " the beloved physician," and to a great variety of places in different parts
the " brother whose praise is in the gospel." of the world, and was of infinite service in
St. Luke preached the gospel with great helping him to propagate the gospel of his
success in a variety of places, independent great Lord and Master.  At length, howof his assisting St. Paul.  He travelled into ever, a dispute arose between them  while
different parts of Egypt and Greece, in the they were at Antioch, the issue of which
latter of which countries the idolatrous priests was, that Barnabas left Paul at Antioch, and
were so incensed against him  that they put retired to Cyprus, his native country.
him to death, which they effected by hanging    After this separation from St. Paul, the
him  on the branch of an olive-tree.  The sacred writings give us no account of St.
anniversary of his martyrdom is held on the Barnabas; nor are the ecclesiastical writers
18th of October.                           agreed among themselves with regard to the




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              635
actions of our apostle, after his sailing for to him: and when he was come, and had
Cyprus.  This, however, seems to be certain, given him an account of the churches of
that he did not spend the whole remainder Macedonia, St. Paul sent him back to Thesof his life in that island, but visited different salonica, whence he afterward returned with
parts of the world, preaching the glad tid- Silas, and came to St. Paul at Corinth.
ings of the gospel, healing the sick, and There he continued with him for some time,
working other miracles among the Gentiles. and the apostle mentions him with Silas, at
After long and painful travels, attended with the beginning of the two Epistles which he
different degrees of success in  different then wrote to the Thessalonians.
places, he returned to Cyprus, his native    Some years after this, St. Paul sent Timocountry, where he suffered martyrdom in the thy and Erastus into Macedonia; and gave
following manner: certain Jews coming from  Timothy orders to call at Corinth, to refresh
Syria and Salamis, where Barnabas was then the minds of the Corinthians with regard to
preaching the gospel, being highly exasper- the truths which he had inculcated in them.
ated at his extraordinary success, fell upon Some time after, writing to the same Corinhim as he was disputing in the synagogue, thians, he recommends them to take care of
dragged him out, and after the most inhumnan Timothy, and send him back in peace; after
tortures, stoned him to death.  His kinsman, which Timothy returned to St. Paul into
John Mark, who was a spectator of this bar- Asia, who there staid for him.  They went
barous action, privately interred his body in together into Macedonia; and the apostle
a cave; where it remained till the time of puts Timothy's name with his own before the
the emperor Zeno, in the year of Christ 485, second Epistle to the Corinthians, which he
when it was discovered, with St. Matthew's wrote to them  from  Macedonia, about the
Gospel, in Hebrew, written with his own middle of the year of Christ 57.  And he
hand, lying on his breast.                sends his recommendations to the Romans in
the letter which he wrote from Corinth the
TIMOTHY.
same year.
This great asserter of the cause of Christ   When St. Paul returned from Rome, in
was a disciple of St. Paul, and born at 64, he left Timothy at Ephesus to take care
Lystra in Lycaonia.  His father was a Gen- of that church, of which he was the first
tile, but his mother was a Jewess.  Her bishop, as he is recognized by the council of
name was Eunice, and that of his grand- Chalcedon.   St. Paul wrote to him  from
mother Lois.  These particulars are taken Macedonia the first of the two letters which
notice of, because St. Paul commends their are addressed to him.  He recommends him
piety, and the good education which they had to be more moderate in his austerities, and
given Timothy.                            to drink a little wine, because of the weakWhen St. Paul came to Derbe and Lystra, ness of his stomach, and his frequent infirmiabout the year of Christ 51 or 52, the breth- ties.  After the apostle came to Rome in the
ren gave such an advantageous testimony of year 65, being then very near his death, he
the merit and good disposition of Timothy, wrote to him his second letter, which is full
that the apostle took him with him, in order of marks of kindness and tenderness for this
to assist him in propagating the doctrine of his dear disciple; and which is justly looked
his great Lord and Master.  Timothy applied upon as the last will of St. Paul. He desires
himself to labor with St. Paul in the busi- him to come to Rome to him before winter,
ness of the gospel, anl didc him very impor- and bring with him several things which he
taut services, through the whole course of had left at Troas. If Timothy went to Rome,
his preaching,  St. Paul calls him not only as it is probable he did, he must have been
his dearly beloved son, but also his brother, an eyewitness of the martyrdom  of Paul,
the companion of his labors, and a man of which happened in the year of Christ 68.
God.                                         After Timothy had visited Paul at Rome,
This holy disciple accompanied St. Paul he returned to Ephesus, where he continued
to Macedonia, to Philippi, to Thessalonica, to govern the church as its bishop, without
to Bersea; and. when the apostle went from  the least interruption, for a considerable time,
Bersea, he left Timothy and Silas there, to till at length he fell a victim  to the malice
confirm  the converts.  When he came to of the pagans, who were his most inveterate
Athens, he sent for Timothy to come thither enemies.  These heathen  made  a  great




636                           AN  ILLUSTRATED
feast, in the celebration of which they carried inform Paul of the state of the church in
in procession the images of their idols, being that city.  Paul was well pleased with the
all masked, and armed with clubs and other account he gave, and the success of his emoffensive weapons.  Timothy, seeing  the bassy; and intending himself to go to Corprocession, was so irritated at their idolatry inth, desired Titus to return thither, to make
and superstition, that he rushed in among some necessary preparations previous to his
them  in order to stop their proceedings; departure for that city.  Titus readily unupon which they immediately fell upon him, dertook the journey, and immediately set
and, with their clubs, beat him in so unmer- off, carrying with him  St. Paul's second
ciful a manner that he soon expired.  They Epistle to the Corinthians.
left the body on the spot where they had   Titus was made bishop of the island of
murdered him, which was removed thence by Crete, about the sixty-third year after Christ,
some of his disciples, and decently interred when St. Paul was obliged to quit that
on the top  of a mountain at a small island, in order to take care of the other
distance from the city.  The Greeks corn- churches.  The following year, Paul wrote
memorate his martyrdom on  the  22d of him to desire, that as soon as he should have
January, the day on which it is supposed he sent Tychicus to him for supplying his place
gave up his life in defence of the doctrine in Crete, he would come to him at Nicopohe had long labored to propagate; and dur- lis, in Epirus, where the apostle intended to
ing which time he had brought over great pass his winter.
numbers of people to embrace the truth of   The subject of this epistle is to represent
the Christian religion.                  to Titus what are the qualities that a bishop
should be endued with.  As the principal
TITUS.                  function which Titus was to exercise in the
Titus was a native of Greece, and a Gen- isle of Crete was to ordain priests and bishops,
tile  by birth; but was converted to the it was highly incumbent on him to make a
Christian faith by the apostle Paul, who, in discreet choice.  The apostle also gives him
consequence of his strict adherence to the a sketch of the advice and instructions which
doctrine of Christ, calls him  his son.  St. he was to propound to all sorts of persons:
Jerome tells us that he was St. Paul's in- to the aged, both men and women; to young
terpreter; and that, probably, because he people of each sex; to slaves or servants.
might write what Paul dictated, or translate He exhorts him to keep a strict eye over the
into Greek what he had written in Latin.    Cretans; and to reprove them with severity,
Soon after the conversion of Titus, the as being a people addicted to lying, wickedapostle Paul took him with him  to Jeru- ness, idleness, and gluttony.  And, as many
salem; which was at the time when he went Jews were in the churches of Crete, he exthither about deciding the dispute then in horts Titus to oppose their vain traditions
agitation relative to the converted Gentiles and Jewish fables; and at the same time to
being made subject to the ceremonies of the show them that the observation of the law
Mosaic law.  On their arrival there, some ceremonies is no longer necessary; that the
of the people were desirous that Titus should distinction of meat is abolished; and that
be circumcised; but this was not only re- every thing is pure and clean to those that are
fused by Titus, but totally objected to by so themselves.  He puts him in mind of exPaul.                                    horting the faithful to be obedient to tempoAfter this controversy was ended at Jeru- ral power; to avoid disputes, quarrels, and
salem, Paul sent Titus thence to Corinth, slander; to apply themselves to honest callin order to adjust some disputes which had ings, and to shun the company of a heretic,
taken place in the church of that city.  Ti- after the first and second admonition.
tus was received by the people with the    Titus was deputed to preach the gospel in
greatest marks of respect; and, from the Dalmatia, where he was situated when the
various discourses he preached on the occa- apostle wrote his second Epistle to Timothy.
sion, was so successful as effectually to He  afterward returned  into Crete, from
discharge the business on which he was which it is said he propagated the gospel
sent.                                    into the neighboring islands.  He died at
After staying some time at Corinth, Titus the age of ninety-four, and was buried in
went thence into Macedonia, in order to Crete.  The Greeks keep his festival on the




HISTORY  OF THE  BIBLE.                               637
25th of August, and the Latins on the 4th the sick were cured by his shadow only.  It
of January.                               is very probable that he died at Ephesus,
where his tomb was very much celebrated
JOHN MARK.                  and resorted to.  He is sometimes called
John Mark, cousin to St. Barnabas, and simply John, or Mark.  The year of his
a disciple of his, was the son of a Christian death we are strangers to, and shall not
woman named Mary, who had a house in collect all that is said of him in apocryphal
Jerusalem, where  the  apostles  and  the and uncertain authors.
faithful generally used to meet.  Here they
were at prayers in the night, when St.                     CLEMENT.
Peter, who was delivered out of prison by    Clement is mentioned by St. Paul in his
the angel, came and knocked at the door; Epistle to the Philippians, where the apostle
and in this house the celebrated church of says that Clement's name is written in the
Sion was said to have been afterward estab- book of life.  The generality of the fathers
lished.                                    and other interpreters make no question but
John Mark, whom some very improperly that this is the same Clement who succeeded
confound with  the Evangelist St. Mark, St. Paul, after Linus and Anaclet, in the
adhered to St. Paul and St. Barnabas, and government of the church of Romne; and this
followed them  in their return to Antioch. seems to be intimated when, in the office for
He continued in their company and service St. Clement's day, that church appoints this
till they came to Perga, in Pamphylia; part of the Epistle to the Philippians to be
but then, seeing that they were undertak- read.
ing a longer journey, he left them  and   We find several things relating to Clement's
returned to Jerusalem.  This happened in life  in the recognitions and constitutions
the year 45 of the common era.             called  apostolic; but as those works are
Some years after, that is to say in the not all looked upon as authentic, though
year 51, Paul and Barnabas preparing to there may be truths in some of them derived
return  into  Asia, in order to visit the from the tradition of the first ages, little
churches which they had formed there, the stress is to be laid upon their testimony. St.
latter was of opinion that John should ac- Chrysostom thinks that Clement, mentioned
company them  in this journey: but Paul by St. Paul in his Epistle to the Philippians,
would not consentto it; uponwhich occasion was one of the apostle's constant fellowthese two apostles separated.  Paul went to travellers.  Irenseus, Origin, Clemens of
Asia, and Barnabas with John Mark to the Alexandria, and others of the ancients, asIsle of Cyprus.  What John Mark did after sert that Clement was a disciple of the aposthis journey we do not know, till we find ties; that he had seen them and heard their
him at Rome in the year 63, performing instructions.   St. Epiphanius, Jerome, Rusignal services for St. Paul during his im- finns, Bede, and some others, were of opinion,
prisonment.                               that as the apostles St. Peter and St. Paul
The apostle speaks advantageously of him  could not be continually at Rome, by reason
in his epistle to the Colossians: " Marcus, of the frequent journeys which they were
sister's son to Barnabas, saluteth you.  If obliged to make to other places, and it was
he cometh unto you, receive him."   He not proper that the city of Rome should be
malkes mention of him again in his Epistle without a bishop, there was a necessity to
to Philemon, written in the year 63, at supply the want of them  by establishing
which time he was with St. Paul at Rome; Linus, Anaclet, and Clement, there.  The
but in the year 65 he was with Timothy constitutions inform us that Linus was orin Asia.  And St. Paul, writing to Timothy, dained by St. Paul; Tertullian and Epiphadesires him to bring Marcus to Rome, add- nius say that St. Peter ordained Clement.
ing that he was useful to him for the minis- Rufinus tells us that this apostle chose St.
try of the gospel.                         Clement for his successor.  But Epiphanius
In the Greek and Latin churches, the believes, that after he had been made bishop
festival of John Mark is kept on the 27th of Rome by St. Peter, he refused to exercise
of September.   Some  say that he was his office till, after the death of Linus and
bishop of Biblis, in Phoenicia.  The Greeks Anaclet, he was obliged to take upon him
give him the title of apostle, and say that the care of the church; and this is the




638                            AN ILLUSTRATED
most generally-received opinion. St. Peter's of the same month.  Rufinus and Pope
immediate successor was Linus; Linus was Zozimus give him the title of martyr; and
succeeded by Anaclet, and Anaclet by Clem- the Roman church, in its canon, places him
ent, in the year of Christ 91, which was among the saints who have sacrificed their
the tenth of the reign of Domitian.       lives in the cause of Christ.
During his government over the church    Thus have we given the most ample aeof Rome, that of Corinth was disturbed by a count of the followers of the blessed Jesus;
spirit of division, upon which Clement wrote the persons who spread, and caused to be
a letter to the Corinthians, which is still spread, the light of the gospel over the
extant, and was so much esteemed by the whole world, removed the veil of ignorance
ancients that they read it publicly in many and superstition drawn over the kingdoms
churches, and some have been inclined to of the earth, and taught us the method of
range it among the canonical writings.    attaining eternal happiness in the courts of
In what manner Clement conducted him- the New Jerusalem.
self, and how he escaped the general persecu-   May we all follow their glorious examples!
tion under the emperor Domitian, we have May we imitate their faith, their piety, their
not any certain accounts; but we are very charity, and their love! Then shall we
well assured that he lived to the third year " pass through things temporal in such a
of the emperor Trajan, which is the hun- manner that we shall finally gain the things
dredth of the Christian era.  His festival eternal," and, through the merits of an
is set down by Bede, and all the Latin all-perfect Redeemer, be admitted as wormartyrologists, on the 23d of November, and  thy guests at the marriage-supper of the
the Greeks honor him on the 24th and 25th Lamb.
CHAPTER XIII.
NOTICE OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA.
THE sure word of prophecy has unfolded unto God while space for repentance may be
many a desolation which has come upon the found, ere, as death leaves him, judgment
earth; but while it thus reveals the operation, shall find him. And may not the desolations
in some of its bearings, of the " mystery of which God has wrought upon the earth, and
iniquity," it forms itself a part of the " rays- that accredit his word, wherein life and
tery of godliness:" and it is no less the testi- immortality are brought to light, teach the
mony of Jesus, because it shows, as far as man whose God is the world, to cease to
earthly ruins can reveal, the.progress and account it worthy of his worship and of his
the issue of the dominion of " other lords " love, and to abjure that " covetousness which
over the hearts of the children of men. The is idolatry," till the idol of mammon in the
sins of men have caused, and the cruelty of temple within shall fall, as fell the image of
men has effected, the dire desolations which Dagon before the ark of the Lord in which
the word of God foretold.  Signs and tokens " the testimony " was kept?
of his judgments there indeed have been, yet   But naming, as millions do, the name
they are never to be found but where iniquity of Christ without departing from iniquity,
first prevailed.  And though all other warn- there is another warning voice that may
ings were to fail, the sight of his past judg- come more closely to them  all.  And it is
ments and the sounding of those that are to not only from  the desolate regions where
come, might teach the  unrepenting  and heathen  dwelt, which show how holy men
unconverted  sinner to give heed to  the of old spake as they were moved by the
threatenings of his word, and to the terrors Holy Ghost; but also from  the ruins of
of the Lord, and to try his ways and turn some of the cities where churches were formed




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  639
by apostles, and where the religion of Jesus of as " rich,"  and no judgment was deonce existed in its purity, that all may learn nounced against it.  They were warned of
to know that God is no respecter of persons, a tribulation of ten days (the ten years'
and that he will by no means clear the persecution by Diocletian), and were enjoined
guilty.  " He that hath an ear let him  hear to be faithful unto death, and they would
what the Spirit saith unto the churches."    receive a crown of life. (Ch. ii. 8-11.)
What church could rightfully claim  or And, unlike to the fate of the more famous
ever seek a higher title than that which is city of Ephesus, Smyrna is still a large city,
given in Scripture to the seven churches of containing  nearly one hundred and fifty
Asia, the angels of which were the seven thousand inhabitants, with several Greek
stars in the right hand of Him  who is the churches, and all English and other Chrisfirst and  the last- of Him  that liveth tian ministers have resided in it.  The light
and was dead, and is alive forevermore, and has indeed become dim, but the candlestick
that hath the keys of hell and of death; has not been wholly removed out of its
and which themselves were the seven golden place.
candlesticks in the midst of which he walked?   The CuRcnH OF PERGAMOS is commended
And who that bath an ear to hear may not for holding fast the name of the Lord, and
humbly hear and greatly profit by what the not denying his faith, during a time of perSpirit said unto themrn?  (Rev. ii. and iii.)  secution, and in the midst of a wicked city.
The CnURCII oF EPHESUS, after a com- But there were some in it who held doemendation of their first works, to which they trines and did deeds which the Lord hated
were commanded to return, were accused of Against them he was to fight with the sword
having left their first love, and threatened of his mouth; and all were called to repent.
with the removal of their candlestick out of But it is not said, as of Ephesus, that their
its place, except they should repent. (Ch. candlestick would be removed out of its
ii. 5.)  Ephesus is situated  nearly fifty place.  (Ch. ii. 12-16.)  This city, the
miles south of Smnyrna.  It was the metrop- capital of Hellespontic Mysia, was situated
olis of Lydia, and a great and opulent city, on the right bank of the river Caicus, nearly
and  (according  to  Strabo)  the  greatest sixty-four miles to the north of Smyrna.
emporium  of Asia Minor.  It was chiefly  Its ancient consideration may be inferred
famous for the temple of Diana, " whom all from its possessing a library of two hundred
Asia worshipped," which was adorned with thousand volumes, which Anthony and Cle127 columns of Parian marble, each of a opatra transferred  to Alexandria.   It is
single shaft, and sixty feet high, andl which also noted as the birthplace of the physician
formed one of the seven wonders of the Galen.  It still, in its decline, retains some
world.   The remains  of its  magnificent part of its ancient importance; and, under
theatre, in  which it is said that twenty the name of Bergamo, contains a population
thousand people  could easily  have been which Mr. Macfarlane estimates at fourteen
seated, are yet to be seen.  (Acts xix. 29.) thousand, of which there are about three thouBut "a few  heaps of stones, and  some sand  Greeks, three hundred  Armenians,
miserable mnud cottages, occasionally tenant- and not quite three hundred Jews; the rest
ed by Turks, without one Christian residing  are Turks.  The town consists of small and
there,* are  all the  remains  of ancient mean wooden houses, among which appear
Ephesus."  It is, as described by  different the remains of early  Christian  churches,
travellers, a solemn and most forlorn spot. showing, "like vast fortresses amid barracks
The Epistle to the Ephesians is read through- of wood."
out the world; but there is none in Ephesus   In the CHURCH oF THYATIRA, like that
to read it now.  They left their first love, of Pergamos, some tares were soon mingled
they returned not to their first works. Their with the wheat.  He who hath eyes like unto
candlestick has been removed out of its a flame of fire discerneth both.  Yet, happlace, and the great city of Ephesus is no pily for the souls of the people, more than
more.                                       for the safety of the city, the general charThe CHURCH oF SAYRRNA was approved acter of that church, as it then existed, is
* Arundel's Visit to the Seven Churches of Churches, as recorded in Bond's Memoir of this
Asia, p. 27. Rev. Pliny Fisk's Visit to the Seven American Missionary.




640                            AN ILLUSTRATED
thus described: " I know thy works, and works. These, thus warned while on earth
charity, and service, and faith, and thy in vain, have long since passed, where all
patience, and thy works; and the last to are daily hastening, to the place where no
be more than the first." (Ch. ii 19.)  But repentance can be found and no work be
against those, for such there were among done.  " But unto the rest in Thyatira (as
them, who had committed fornication and many as have not known the depths of
eaten things sacrificed unto idols, to. whom  Satan) I will put upon you, saith the Lord,
the Lord gave space to repent of their forni- none other burden."  (Ver. 24.)  There
cation, and they repented not, great tribula- were those in Thyatira who could save a
tion was denounced; and to every one of city.  It still exists, while greater cities
them  was to be given according to their have fallen.  Mr. Hartley, who visited it
PERGAMOS.
in 1826, describes it as "embosomed in and founded though the church had been by
cypresses and poplars.  The Greeks are an apostle, there were only a few  names
said to occupy three hundred houses, and which had not defiled their garments.  And
the Armenians thirty.  Each of them has a to that church the Spirit said, " I know thy
church."                                 works, that thou hast a name that thou
The CHURCH OF SARDIS differed from  livest, and art dead."  But the Lord is
those of Pergamos and Thyatira.  They long-suffering, not willing that any should
had not denied the faith, but the Lord had perish, but that all should come to repenta few things against them, for there were ance.  And the church of Sardis was thus
some evil doers among them, and on those, warned: "Be watchful and strengthen the
if they repented not, judgment was to rest things which remain, that are ready to die;
But in Sardis, great though the city was, for I have not found thy works perfect before




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                               641
God.  Remember, therefore, how thou hast of the kingdom  of Lydia, whose monarch,
received and heard, and hold fastand repent. Croesus, when defeated in the plain before
If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will this city of Cyrus, was master of a11 the
come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not nations within the River Halys. This dominknow  what hour I will come upon thee." ion then passed to the Persians, and Sardis
(Ch. iii. 2, 3.)                          became the residence of the satrap to whom
Sardis, whose ruins now bear the modified the government was committed; and being
name of Sart, is situated about sixty miles at this time one of the most splendid and
north-north-west from Ephesus, at the foot of opulent cities of the East, was the chosen
Mount Timolus, and on the River Pactolus, resort of the Persian kings when in this
so renowned for its fabled golden saands. part of their empire. It surrendered quietly
This great and ancient city was the capital to Alexander, after he had defeated the
_, -_ _ —----— ~-L_ —                _ 
_I===== —--—;=-;c                 L-~~-~SARDIS.
Persians in the battle of the Granieus. made it an utter desolation, reducing it to
Sardis continued a great city under the Ro- little better than a heap of ruins, in which,
mans, until the terrible earthquake which nevertheless, some remains of its ancient
happened in the time of Tiberius. It was, splendor may be detected.
however, rebuilt by order of that emperor: "And to the angel of the CHURCH IN
but subsequent calamities of the same de- PHILADELPHIA  write,* These things saith
scription, with the ravages and spoliations He that is holy, He that is true, He that
of the Goths, Saracens, and Turks, have hath the key of David, He that openeth: Allah-Shehr, the ancient Philadelphia, was Smyrna. Population estimated 15,000. It is a
founded two hundred years B.C., by Attalus Plil- Greek archbishop's see, has numerous remains of
adelplcms, a walled city of Asia Minor, at the N.E. antiquity, five Christian churches, and an active
base of Mount Timolus, eighty-three miles E. of trade. - Lippincott's Gaz.     A. B.
41




642                           AN  ILLUSTRATED
and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no alone long withstood the power of the Turks,
man openeth:- I know thyworks: behold, and in the words of Gibbon, " at length
I have set before thee an open door, and no capitulated with the proudest of the Ottoman can shut it; for thou hast a little mans.   Among the Greek colonies and
strength, and hast kept my word, and hast churches of Asia," he adds, " Philadelphia
not denied my name. Because thou hast is still erect: a column in a scene of ruins."
kept the word of my patience, I also will (Ch. 64.)  "It is indeed an interesting
keep thee from  the hour of temptation, circumstance," says Mr. Hartley, "to find
which shall come upon all the world." (Ch. Christianity more flourishing here than in
iii. 9, 10.)  The promises of the Lord are iany other parts of the Turkish empire:
as sure as his threatenings.  Philadelphia there is still a numerous Christian popula__                    - -=E __= —             _.-" — Z -: ==== =   — = A: —-.:........
PHILADELPHIA.
tion; they occupy 300 houses.  Divine may well be added, as stated by M~r. Hartservice is performed every Sunday in five icy, " The circumstance that Philadelphia
churches." Nor is it less interesting in is now called Allah-Shehr, the city of God,
these eventful times, and notwithstanding when viewed in connection with the promises
the general degeneracy of the Greek church, made to that church, and especially with
to learn that the present bishop of Phila- that of writing the name of the city of God
delphia accounts "the Bible the only foun- upon its faithful members, is, to say the
datien of all religious belief;" and that he least, a singular concurrence." From
admits that "abuses have entered into the the prevailing iniquities of men many a
church, which former ages might endure, sign has been given how terrible are the
but the present must put them down." It judgments of God. But from the fidelity
Ibut the present must put them down."  It ijudgments of God. But from the fidelity




HISTORY  OF THE  BIBLE.                           643
of the church in Philadelphia of old in else fell around it, "stood erect," our
keeping his word, a name and memorial of enemies themselves being judges, " a column
his faithfulness has been left on earth, while in a scene of ruins."
the higher glories promised to those that   "And unto the angel of the C(runcI of
overcame, shall be ratified in heaven; and the LAODICEANS write, These things saith
toward them, but not them only, shall the the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the
glorified Redeemer confirm the truth of his beginning of the creation of God; I know
blessed words, " Him that overcometh will thy works, that thou art neither cold nor
I mate a pillar in the temple of my God;" hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So
even as assuredly as Philadelphia, when all then because thou art lukewarm, and neither
_                   = —'~~~~~~~~~_____                7~ - _         _____.
-----------— ~~~-    - ~~ —-— ~ —-------— cv —-~   "/r,,,-,,...
LAODICEA.
cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my see." (Rev. iii. 14, &e.) All the other
mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich churches were found worthy of some comand increased with goods, and have need mendation, and there was some blessing in
of nothing; and knowest not that thou art them all. The church of Ephesus had
wretched, and miserable, and poor, and labored and not fainted, though she had
blind, and naked' I counsel thee to buy forsaken her first love; and the threatened
of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest punishment, except she repented, was the
be rich; and white raiment, that thou removal of her candlestick out of its place.
mayest be clothed, and that the shame of A faithless and wicked few polluted the
thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint churches of Pergamos and Thyatira by their
thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest doctrines or by their lives; but the body




644                           AN ILLUSTRATED
was sound, and the churches had a portion with their character, though not with their
in Christ.  Even in Sardis, though it was profession, they disregarded the words of
dead, there was life in a few who; had not one who was wiser than Solomon, and who
defiled their garments; "and they shall had laid down his life for their sakes: they
walk with me in white, said the Lord, for did not strive to enter in at the strait gate;
they are worthy."                        to be perfect was no purpose of theirs;
But in what the Spirit said to the church there was no fight in their faith, no running
in Laodicea, there was not one word of ap- in their race, no wrestling in their warfare,
proval; it was lukewarm without exception, no victory in their work.  Yet they could
and therefore it was wholly loathed.  The show a goodly form or framework of religion,
religion of Jesus had become to them as an on which they had raised many a high hope.
ordinary matter.  They would attend to   They  trusted  to  redemption  through
it just as they did to other things which Christ, while they were not redeemed from
they loved as well.  The sacrifice of the sin, nor actuated by the love of God. They
Son of God upon the cross was nothing used the means of grace, but neglected the
thought of more than a common gift by end for which that grace had appeared.
man   They were not constrained by the They were rich, they thought, and increased
love of Christ more than by other feelings. with goods, and had need of nothing   But
They could repeat the words of the first they wanted zeal;' and all they had was
great commandment of the law, and of the nothing  worth.   Whatever they  vainly
second, that is like unto it; but they showed imagined themselves to be, the Spirit knew
no sign that the one or the other was truly them truly, and told them what they were,
a law to them.  There was no Dorcas among even wretched, and miserable, and poor,
them, who, out of pure  Christian love, and blind, and naked.  They had done no
made clothes for the poor.  There was no evil, they thought, but they did little good.
Philemon, to whom it could be said, " The And they neither felt nor lived as if they
church in the house," and who could look knew that whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
on a servant as " a brother beloved." Their lukewarmness was worse, for it rendered
There was no servant who looked to the eye their state more hopeless than if they had
of his Father in heaven more than to that of been cold.  For sooner would a man in
his master on earth, and to the recompense Sardis have felt that the chill of death was
of eternal reward more than to the hireling upon him, and have cried out for life, and
wages of a day; and who, by showing all called to the physician, than would a man
good fidelity, sought to adorn the doctrine of Laodicea, who could calmly count his
of God his Saviour in all things.  There even pulse, and think his life secure, while
was nothing done, as every thing should be, death was preying on his vitals.  The charheartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. acter of lukewarm  Christians, a self-conThe power of the world to come, and of tradieting name, is the same in every age.
that which now is, hung, as it were, even Such was the church of the Laodiceans.
balanced in  their minds; each  had  its But what is that city now, or how is it
separate influence and weight, even to a changed from what it was?
scruple; and they were kept distinct, as   Laodiceea  was the  metropolis of  the
if there should never be any interference Greater Phrygia; and, as heathen writers
between them, or as if they were to hang attest, it was an extensive and very celein separate scales.                      brated city.  Instead of then verging to its
This was given unto the world, and that decline, it arose to its greatest eminence only
unto God, as if these Christian men had about the beginning of the Christian era.
been full of the faith, that the revealed will "It was  the  mother-church  of sixteen
of the Most High had no title to a supreme bishoprics."  Its three theatres, and the
ascendency over them, that all " the deeds immense circus, which was capable of condone in the body would never be brought taining upward of thirty thousand spectators,
into judgment, and that lukewarmness was the spacious remains of which (with other
requital enough for redeeming love.  Their ruins buried under ruins) are yet to be
only dread seemed to be lest they should seen, give proof of the greatness of its
be righteous overmuch.  And for fear of ancient wealth and population, and indicate
that, which would have been inconsistent too strongly, that in that city where Chris



HIISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                645
tians were rebuked without exception for acter, or rebuked and warned according to
their lukewarmness, there were multitudes its deeds.  Was the church itself pure, the
who were lovers of pleasure more than lovers diseased members alone were to be cut off.
of God.  The amphitheatre was built after Was the church itself dead, yet the few
the Apocalypse was written, and the warn- names in which there was life were all written
ing of the Spirit had been given to the before God, and not one of those who overchurch of the Laodiceeans to be zealous and came would be blotted out of the book of
repent; but whatever they there may have life.  All the seven churches were severally
heard or beheld, their hearts would neither exhorted by the Spirit according to their
have been quickened to a renewed zeal for need.  The faith delivered to the saints was
the service and glory of God, nor turned to preached unto them all; and all, as Christian
a deeper sorrow for sin, and to a repentance churches, possessed the means of salvation.
not to be repented of.  But the fate of The Son of man walked in the midst of them,
Laodicea, though apposite, has been no less beholding those who were and those who
marked than that of Philadelphia.  There were not his.
are no sights of grandeur nor scenes of   By the.preaching of the gospel, and by
temptation around it now.  Its own tragedy the written word, every man in each of the
may be briefly told.  It was lukewarm, and churches was warned, and every man was
neither cold nor hot; and therefore it was taught in all wisdom, that every man might
loathsome in the sight of God.  It was be presented perfect in Christ Jesus.  And
loved, and rebuked, and chastened in vain. in what the Spirit said unto each and all of
And it has been blotted from the world.  It the churches which he that hath ears to hear
is now as desolate as its inhabitants were was commanded to hear, the promise of everdestitute of the fear and love of God, and  lasting blessedness, under a variety of the
as the church of the Laodicreans was devoid most glorious representations, was given,
of true faith in the Saviour, and zeal in his without exception, restriction, or reservation,
service.  It is, as described in his Travels to him that overcometh.  The language of
by Dr. Smith, " utterly desolated, and love, as well as of remonstrance and rebuke,
without any inhabitant, except wolves, and was urged even on the lukewarm Laodiceans.
jackals, and foxes."  It can boast of no And if any Christian fell, it was from  his
human inhabitant, except occasionally when own resistance and quenching of the Spirit;
wandering Turkomans pitch their tents in from his choosing other lords than Jesus to
its spacious  amphitheatre.   The " finest have dominion over him; from his lukewarmsculptured fragments " are to be seen at a ness, deadness, and virtual denial of the
considerable depth, in excavations which faith; and from his own wilful rejection of
have been made among the ruins.  (Arun- freely-offered and dearly-purchased  grace,
del's Travels, p. 85.)   And Col. Leake sufficient, if sought, and  cherished, and
observes, "There are few ancient cities zealously used, to have enabled him to overmore likely than Laodicsea to preserve many come and triumph in that warfare against
curious remains of antiquity beneath the sur- spiritual wickedness to which Christ bath
face of the soil; its opulence, and the earth- called his disciples; and in which, as the
quakes to which it was subject, rendering it finisher of their faith, he is able to make the
probable that valuable works of art were Christian more than conqueror.
often there buried beneath the ruins of the    But if such, as the Spirit described them
public and private edifices."   A  fearful and knew themnto be, were the churches and
significancy is thus given to the terrific denun- Christians then, what are the churches and
ciation, " Because thou art lukewarm, and what are Christians now?  Or rather, we
neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out would ask of the reader, what is your own
of my mouth."                              hope toward God, and what the work of your
" He that hath ears to hear, let him hear faith?  If, while Christianity was  in its
what the Spirit saith unto the churches." prime, and when its divine truths had scarceThe Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep ly ceased to reach the ears of believers from
things of God.  Each church, and each indi- the lips of apostles, on whose heads the Spirit
vidual therein, was weighed in the balance had visibly descended, and cloven tongues,
of the sanctuary, according to their works. like as of fire, had sat; if, even at that time,
Each was approved of according to its char- one of the seven churches of Asia had already




646                           AN  ILLUSTRATED
departed from its first love; if two others one; and precious in his sight is the death
were partially polluted by the errors in of his saints.  Some, on the other hand, may
doctrine, and evils in the practice, of some be sunk into the depths of Satan, though in
of their members; if another had only outward fellowship with a church, were such
a few  names that were worthy, and yet to be found, as pure as once was that of
another none; and if they who formed the Thyatira.  Whatever, therefore, the profeslast and worst of these thought themselves sion of your faith may be, seek the kingdom
rich and increased with goods, and that they of God and his righteousness; that kingdom
had need of nothing; and knew not that, which is righteousness and peace and joy in
being lukewarm, they were wretched, and the Holy Ghost, and  that righteousness
miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; which is through faith in Christ, who gave
have you an ear to hear or a heart to under- himself for the church, that he might sanctify
stand such knowledge? and do you, profess- and cleanse it.  And whatever dangers may
ing yourself a Christian, as they also did, see then encompass you around, fear not - only
no cause or warning here to question and believe; all things are possible to him that
examine yourself, even as the same Spirit believeth.
would search and try you, of your works,   It was by keeping the word of the Lord,
and charity, and service, and faith, and and not denying his faith, by hearing what
patience?                                the Spirit said, that the church of PhiladelWhat is your labor of love, or wherein do phia held fast what they had, and no man
you labor at all for His name's sake by took their crown, though situated directly
whose name you are called?  What trials between the church of Laodiceea, which was
does your faith  patiently endure? what lukewarm, and Sardis, which was dead.
temptations does it triumphantly overcome? And dead as Sardis was, the Lord had a few
Is Christ in you the hope of glory, and is names in it which had not defiled their garyour heart purified through that blessed hope? ments — Christians, worthy of the name,
To a church we trust you belong; but whose who lived, as you yourself should ever live,
is the kingdom within you?  What principles in the faith of the Lord Jesus - dead unto
ever actuate  you which  Christ and his sin, and alive unto righteousness; while all
apostles taught?  Where, in your affections around them, though naming the name of
and life, are the fruits of the Spirit — love, Jesus, were dead in trespasses and sins.  Try
joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, good- your faith by its fruits; judge yourself that
ness, meekness, temperance?   Turn  the you be not judged; examine yourself whether
precepts of the gospel into questions, and ask you be in the faith; prove your own self; and
thus what the Spirit would say unto you, as with the whole counsel of God, as revealed
he said unto the churches.               in the gospel, open to your view, let the rule
What the Spirit said unto primitive and of your self-scrutiny be what the Spirit said
apostolic churches, over which " the beloved unto the churches.
disciple " personally presided, may suffice to    Many prophecies remain which are not
prove that none who have left their first love, here noticed.  But were any gainsayers to
if ever they have truly felt the love of Jesus ask for more obvious facts and some demon-that none who are guilty of seducing stration of the truth of prophecy, which
others into sin and uncleanness - that none your own ears might hear and your eyes see,
who have a name that they live, and are dead you have only to hear how they speak evil
— and that none who are lukewarm — are of the things that they understand not -
worthy members of any Christian communion; how they speak great swelling words of
and that while such they  continue, no vanity to allure others, promising them liberChristian communion can be profitable to ty while they themselves are the children of
them.  But unto them is " space to repent" corruption; you have only to look on these
given.  And to them the word and Spirit scoffers, and mockers, and false teachers,
speak in entreaties, encouragements, exhorta- who have come in the last times; who walk
tions, and warnings, that they may turn from  after their own lusts, who despise governtheir sins to the Saviour, and that they may ment, who are presumptuous and self-willed,
live and not die.  But were there one name and who foam out their own shame, to hear
in Sodom, or a few in Sardis, that are the and to see the loud and living witnesses of
Lord's, he knows and names them  every the truth of God's holy and unerring word.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                            647
(2 Pet. iii. 3; Jude 13.)  Such have been, or interpreting, or prophesying, and without
and such are, the enemies of the Christian which you would be as nothing, though you
faith.  Yet it calls them from darkness to understood all mystery and all knowledge.
light, and from death to life.  Turn ye, turn From  the want of this the earth has been
ye: why, it asks of these boasters of reason, covered with ruins.  Let it be yours, and
why will ye die?                       however poor may be your earthly portion,
If you have seen any wonderful things it will be infinitely more profitable to you
out of the law of the Lord, and have looked, than all the kingdoms of the world, and all
though from afar off, on the judgments of their glory. Prophecies shall fail; tongues
God that have come upon the earth, lay not shall cease; knowledge shall vanish away;
aside the thought of these things when you the earth and the works that are therein
lay down this book.  Treat them not as if shall be burned up; but charity never
they were an idle tale, or as if you yourself faileth.
were not to be a witness - and more than a   If you have kept the word of the Lord,
witness- of a far greater judgment, which and have not denied his name, hold that fast
shall be brought nigh unto you, and shall be which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
your own.                                But if heretofore you have been lukewarm,
If, in traversing some of the plainest and destitute of Christian faith, and zeal,
paths of the field of prophecy, you have been and hope, and love, it would be vain to leave
led by a way which you knew not of before, you with any mortal admonition; hear what
let that path lead you to the well of living the Spirit saith, and harden not your heart
waters, which springeth up into everlasting against the heavenly counsel, and the glorilife to every one that thirsts after it and ous encouragement given unto you by that
drinks.  Let the words of our Lord and Jesus of whom all the prophets bear witness,
Saviour Jesus Christ be to you this well- and unto whom all things are now committed
spring of the Christian life. Let the word by the Father.  "I counsel thee to buy of
of God enlighten your eyes, and it will also me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be
rejoice your heart.  Search the Scriptures; rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be
in them there are no lying divinations; they clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedtestify of Jesus, and in them you will find ness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes
eternal life. Pray for the teaching and the with eye-salve, that thou mayest see.  As
aid of that Spirit by whose inspiration they many as I love I rebuke and chasten; be
were given.  And above all Christian vir- zealous, therefore, and repent.  Behold, I
tues, that may bear witness of your faith, stand at the door and knock: if any man
put on charity, love to God and love to man, hear my voice, and open the door, I will
the warp and woof of the Christian's new come in to him, and will sup with him, and
vesture without a seam; even that charity, he with me.  To him that overeometh will I
or love, by which faith worketh, which is the grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I
fruit of the Spirit, the end of the command- also overcame, and am set down with my
ment, the fulfilling of the law, the bond of Father in his throne.  He that hath an ear
perfectness, and a better gift and a more to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith
excellent way than speaking with tongues, unto the churches."
CHAPTER XIV.
DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM AS FORETOLD BY CHRIST.
TurE Jews remain to this day not only the history, unfolded their fate until the, lhtest
guardians of the Old Testament scriptures, generations.  Jewish and heathen historians
but living witnesses of the truth of many fully describe the dreadful miseries which
prophecies, which, in the first ages of their they suffered when all their cities were.. laid




648                             AN ILLUSTRATED
waste, when Jerusalem  itself was destroyed out till the measure of their iniquities was
in the seventieth year of the Christian era, full.
and the remnant of their race, after an almost   Instruments are never wanting for the
uninterrupted possession of Judea by their execution of the purposes of God; nor, when
forefathers for fifteen hundred years, were needful for the confirmation of his word,
driven  from  their country and scattered is there any  want of full testimony that
throughout the world.  A brief detail of the his declared purposes have been fulfilled.
unparalleled miseries which they then en- There is nothing similar in history to the
dured may serve to connect their former siege and destruction of Jerusalem, and to
history with their subsequent alike unparal- the miseries which its inhabitants inflicted
leled fate, and to show that the prophecies and brought upon themselves by their savage
respecting the destruction of Jerusalem  are barbarity and unyielding obstinacy; nor was
as circumstantial and precise, and were as there ever any other city or country of whose
minutely fulfilled, as -those in which their destruction, devastation, and misery there is
more recent and present history may be read. so clear and authenticated a detail.  JoseThe Israelites were chosen to be a peculiar phus, himself a Jew and an eye-witness of
people.  The worship of the only living and the facts he relates, gives a circumstantial
true God was maintained among them  alone account of the whole war, which furnishes
for many ages, while idolatry and polytheism  complete evidence, not only of the truth of
(or the worship of many gods) otherwise uni- what Moses and the prophets had foretold,
versally prevailed. But the Father of the uni- but also of all that in clearer vision, and to
verse is no respecter of persons.  A  divine the perturbation  and astonishment of his
law was given to the descendants of Abraham, disciples, Christ had explicitly revealed conand blessings and curses were set before them, cerning its then approaching fate.  Heathen
to cleave to their race in every age, accord- writers also record many of the facts.
ing as they would observe and obey the    The prophecies from  the Old Testament
commandments of the Lord, or refuse to and from the New relative to the siege and
hearken unto his voice, and to do all his destruction of Jerusalem  are so numerous,
commandments and statutes.  Their history, that the insertion of them  at length would
and their continued preservation as a people, occupy  a  greater space  than  can  here
is thus an express record and manifestation be  devoted to the consideration  of the
of the doings of Providence.  To read of subject.  The reader may peruse them  as
their calamities is *to see the judgments of they are to be found in the written word.
God; and to compare them with the prophe- (Levit. xxvi. 14, &c.; Deut. xxviii. 15,
cies is to witness the truth of his word. &c.; Isa. xxix. 1, &c.; Ezek. vi. 7; Jer.
There were intermingled  seasons of pros- xxvi. 18; Micah, iii. 12; Matt. xxi. 33,
perity and triumph, or of oppression and &c., xxii. 1-7, xxiv.; Mark, xiii.; Luke,
misery, as they enjoyed or forfeited  their xx. 9-19, xxi., xxiii. 27-31.)  They repromised  blessings, throughout the  long quire no other exposition of their meaning.
period that they dwelt in the land of Canaan. Exclusive of literal predictions, frequent
But their punishments were to rise pro- allusions are interspersed  throughout the
gressively with their sins; and so awfully Gospels respecting the abolition of the Mosaic
sinful were the inhabitants of Jerusalem after dispensation, and the utter subversion of the
the time of their merciful visitation had Jewish state.
passed, and when the dark unbroken era of   A nation of fierce countenance, of an untheir miseries began, that Josephus, their known tongue, and swift as the eagle flieth,
great historian, and the greatest of their were to come from a distant land against the
generals in their wars with the Romans, has Jews -  to despoil them of all their goods -
recorded his opinion that, had they delayed to besiege them in all their gates -to bring
their coming, the city would have been down their high and fenced walls.  They
swallowed up by an earthquake or overflowed were to be left few in number -  to be slain
by water, or, as it was worse than Sodom, before their enemies; the pride of their
would have been destroyed by fire from  power was to be broken; their cities to be
heaven.*  The vial of wrath was not poured laid waste, and themselves to be destroyed
* Josephus's History of the Wars of the Jews, - to be brought to nought -  to be plucked
book 5, chap. 13, ~ 6.                      from off their own land -  to be sold into




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              649
slavery, and to be so despised that none Gentiles —afford as full a proof as could
would buy them.  Their high places were now be thought of that the predictions were
to be rendered desolate - their bones to be delivered previous to the event.
scattered about their altars; Jerusalem  was   No coincidence can be closer in relation
to be encompassed round about - to be to the facts than that which subsists between
besieged with a mount - to have forts raised the predictions of Jesus and the narrative of
against it -to be ploughed over like a field the Jewish historian.  Yet, as the reader
- to become heaps, and to come to an end. will doubtless perceive, this coincidence is
The sword, the famine, and the pestilence, not more clear than that which subsists bewere to destroy them.                      tween the testimony of modern unbelievers
The Jews lived fearless of judgments like and those prophecies which refer to the past
these, when they dwelt in peace, and would and present desolation of Judah:  wars,
not listen to the voice of Jesus.  They rumors of wars, and commotions; nation
would have no king but Caesar; and they rising against nation, and kingdom  against
trusted in the power of the Roman empire kingdom; famines, pestilences, and earthas the security of their state.  But He quakes in divers places; though the greatest
whom  they rejected showed how God had of human evils that mortals fear were to be
rejected them, how they were filling up the but the " beginning  of sorrows " -  the
measure of their fathers, and how all these heralds of heavier woes.  Many false Christs
judgments that had been denounced of old, were to appear, and to deceive many.  The
and others of which their fathers had not disciples of Jesus were to be persecuted,
heard, were to be felt by many, and to be afflicted, imprisoned, hated oft all nations,
all witnessed by some who were living then. and brought before rulers and kings for his
And the Man of sorrows, whose face was set name's sake, and many of them were to be
as a flint against his own unequalled suffer- put to death.  Iniquity was to abound, and
ings, and who shed not a tear on his own the love of many was to wax cold; but the
account, was moved to pity, and his heart gospel of the kingdom was to be preached in
was melted into tenderness, on contemplating all the world.  The abomination of desolathe great crimes and the coming calamities tion was to be seen standing in the place
of the wicked, impenitent, and devoted city: where it ought not.  Jerusalem was to be
" when he beheld Jerusalem, he wept over compassed about with armies, a trench was
it."                                      to be cast about it, and they were to be
The expiration of thirty-six years from the hemmed in on every side.  And there were
death of Christ to the destruction of Jeru- to be fearful sights and great signs from
salem; the death, previous to that event, of heaven.  These were to be the signs that
at least two of the evangelists who record the the end of Jerusalem was at hand.  And
prophecies concerning it; the manner in there was to be great distress upon the land,
which the predictions and allusions respect- and wrath upon the people; the tribulation
ing the fate of Jerusalem  are interwoven  was to be such as had never been, and would
throughout the gospel; the warning given never be.  The Jews were to fall by the
to the disciples of Christ to escape from the  edge of the sword; a remnant was to be led
impending calamities, and the annunciation  captive into all nations; of the temple, and
of the signs whereby they would know of of Jerusalem itself, one stone was not to be
their approach; the dread that was cherished  left upon another; and it was to be trodden
by  some of the earliest converts to the  down of the Gentiles till the time of the
Cristian faith that the day of judgment Gentiles should be fulfilled.
was then at hand, and which had arisen from  The prodigies which preceded the war, as
the prophecies concerning the destruction of related by Josephus, are these:Jerusalem being closely connected with those    A comet, which bore the resemblance of a
relative to the second coming of Christ and sword, hung over the city of Jerusalem for
the end of the world (all of which things his the space of a whole year.
disciples had asked him  to reveal); the    A short time before the revolt of the Jews,
unanimous assent of antiquity to the prior a most remarkable and extraordinary light
publication of the gospel; and the continued was seen about the altar of the temple.  It
truth of the prophecy still manifested in happened at the ninth hour of the night preJerusalem  being yet trodden down of the ceding the celebration of the feast of the




650                             As>  iXlW U AOLAu lAll1
passover, and continued about half an hour, manner did he continue his exclamations, in
giving a light equal to that of day. Ignorant various places through all the streets of the
persons considered this unusual and wonder- city; at which some persons of eminence
ful appearance as a happy omen; but those in the city were  so offended, that they
of superior judgment averred that it was ordered him to be apprehended, and severely
a prediction of approaching war; and their whipped. This was accordingly done, but he
opinion was fully confirmed by the event.    bore his sufferings not only without comThe eastern gate of the interior part of the plaint, but without saying a word in his own
temple was composed of solid brass, and was defence; and no sooner was his punishment
of such an immense weight that it was the ended than he proceeded in his exclamations
labor of twenty men to make it fast every as before. By this time the magistrates were
night.  It was secured with iron bolts and suspicious (and indeed not without reason)
bars, which were  let down into a large that what he had said proceeded from  the
threshold  consisting  of an  entire stone. divine impulse of a superior power, that
About the fifth hour of the night this gate  influenced his words.  In consequence of
opened without any human assistance.; im- this, they sent him to the governor of Judcaea,
mediate notice of which being given to the who directed that he should be whipped with
officer on duty, he lost no time in endeavor- the greatest severity.  This order was so
ing to restore it to its former situation; but strictly obeyed, that his very bones were
it was with the utmost difficulty that he  seen, notwithstanding which, he neither wept
accomplished it.  There were likewise some nor supplicated, but, in a voice of mourning,
ignorant people who deemed this to be a between each stroke, exclaimed, " Woe, woe
second good omen, insinuating that Provi- to Jerusalem! "  From  this very extraordidence had thereby set open a gate of bless- nary behavior, the governor was induced to
ings to the people, but persons of superior interrogate him with respect to his character,
discernment were of a contrary opinion, and and the places of his birth and residence, and
concluded that the opening of the gate pre- what could prompt him to act as he had done.
dieted the success of the enemy, and destruc- He would not, however, make any answer to
tion of the city.                          either of these questions; upon which the
A  short time after the celebration of the governor found himself under the necessity
feast of the passover, before the setting of of dismissing him, as a man out of his senses.
the sun, the appearance of chariots and From this period to the commencement of the
armed men were seen in the air, in vari- war, he was never known either to visit or
ous parts of the country, passing round the speak to any of the citizens, nor was he heard
city among the clouds.                     to say any other words than the melancholy
While the priests were going to perform  sentence, " Woe, woe to Jerusalem." Those
the duties of their function, according to who daily  punished him  received no ill
custom, in the inner temple, on the feast of language from him; nor did those who fed
Pentecost, they at first heard an indistinct him receive his thanks, butwhat he generally
murmuring, which was succeeded by a voice, said to every one was an ominous prediction.
repeating, in  the most plain and earnest It was remarked that on public festivals he
manner, these words. "Let us be gone, let was more vociferous than at other times; and
us depart hence."                          in the manner before mentioned he continued
But the most extraordinary circumstance for the space of more than three years; nor
of the whole was this. Some time before the did his voice or strength appear to fail him
commencement of the war, and while the city till his predictions were verified by the siege
appeared to be in the most perfect peace, and of Jerusalem.  As soon as this event took
abounded in plenty, there came to the feast place, he went for the last time on the wall
of tabernacles a simple countryman, a son of of the city, and exclaimed with a more powerone Ananias, who, without any previous inti- ful voice than usual, " Woe, woe to this
mation, exclaimed as follows: " A voice from  city, this temple, and this people;" and conthe east; a voice from  the west; a voice eluded his lamentation by saying, "Woe,
from the four quarters of the world; a voice woe be to myself."   He  had no sooner
to Jerusalem, and a voice to the temple; a spoken these words than, in the midst of
voice to men and women newly married; and these predictions, he was destroyed by a stone
a voice to the nation at large."  In this thrown froman engine.




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             651
Having thus mentioned the very singular treacherous, but observed a secrecy in his
prodigies which preceded the destruction of crimes that had the appearance of modesty;
Jerusalem, as related by Josephus, we shall but Florus was so consummate in his wickednow proceed to give an account of the cir- ness, that he boasted of his iniquitous becumstances which occasioned the war, together havior, and declared himself the general
with its progress, which at length brought on enemy of the nation.  His conduct in the
the final ruin and destruction of the Jewish province he governed was more like that of
state.                                    an executioner than a governor; for he treated
The commencement of the war was oc- all the people like criminals, and extended
casioned, partly by the infamous behavior of his rapine and tyranny beyond all bounds.
Albinus, the Roman governor of Judea, He was equally devoid of compassion, and
and partly by the refractoriness of many of dead to all sense of honor; cruel to the unthe principal people of Jerusalem.  Albinus fortunate, and utterly abandoned in cases so
was a man totally abandoned to every degree enormous that impudence itself would blush
of vice.  Avarice, corruption, extortion, at the recollection of them.  He exceeded
oppression, public and private, were equally all the men of his time in making lies and
familiar to him.  He accepted bribes in civil impositions pass for truth; and was equally
and personal causes, and oppressed the nation  artful in discovering new modes of doing
by the weight of arbitrary taxes.  If any mischief.  He gave such encouragement to
offender, however atrocious, convicted  of the sons of rapine and plunder, that he
robbery or assault by himself, or any other might as well have proclaimed that every man
magistrate, was under sentence of the law, was at liberty to seize whatever he could lay
a friend and a bribe would insure his liberty; his hands on, provided that he himself oband this governor never found any man guilty  tained a share of the plunder.  His avarice
who had money to prove his innocence.     was carried to such an extravagant pitch that
At this time there was a strong faction in the inhabitants of the province were reduced
Jerusalem, who, wishing for a change of to degrees of poverty little short of starving;
government, the most opulent of them pri- and many of them left the country in absovately compounded with Albinus, in case any lute want of the necessaries of life.
disturbance should happen.  There was like-   The daily oppressions of Florus on the
wise a set of men who would not be easy people throughout the province of Judlea
while the state was at peace; and Albinus irritated them to the most violent degree, and
engaged these in his interest.  The leaders being fearful lest they should lay a complaint
of these mutineers were each attended by against him before the emperor, Florus, to
daring fellows of their own turn of mind; avoid the consequences of such a proceedbut the governor was the most abandoned ing, resolved to continue his oppressions till
villain of the whole, and had guards always they should enter into open rebellion, whereready to execute his orders.  The event by  his villanous  proceedings would  be
proved that the injured did not dare to com- greatly lessened in the eyes of his master.
plain; those who were in any danger of losing This had the desired effect, for the factious
part of their property were glad to compound party in Jerusalem, who for some time had
to save the rest, and the receiver proved the been inclined to revolt, encouraging the
worst of thieves.  In short, there appeared greater part of the people of that city to
to be no sense of honor remaining; and a oppose the measures of Florus, an insurrecnew slavery seemed to be predicted from the tion took place, and a resolution was formed
number of tyrants then in power, through the to oppose the Romans with all their might.
land of Judaea.                              It happened  at this time that King
Such was the character and such were the Agrippa was at Jerusalem, and being fearful
manners of Albinus, who, in a short time, of the dreadful consequences that were likely
was, by order of the emperor Nero, removed to ensue, he summoned the people together,
from his office, and Gessius Florus placed in and strongly exhorted them  to desist from
his stead.   This, however, was far from  any violent proceedings, telling them that if
being an advantageous change for the Jews, they did, it must inevitably prove their deFlorus being so much more abandoned in his struction.  He advised them to a patient
principles than the former as not to admit submission to Florus, till another governor
even of the least comparison.  Albinus was should be appointed by the emperor, who, in




652                             AN ILLUSTRATED
all probability, would remove the grievances appease the passions of the multitude; and
under which they then labored.  But this, for this purpose they assembled the people
instead of subsiding, only inflamed the pas- before the brazen gate, on the inside of the
sions of the multitude, who not only made temple toward the east.  Here they repreuse of the most opprobrious language, but sented to them the rashness of the enterprise
likewise maltreated the king.  In conse- in which they had engaged, and whichwould
quence of this, Agrippa left Jerusalem; certainly involve their country in a ruinous
previous to which he despatched messengers war.  They then adverted to the unreasonato Florus, who was then at Cmesarea, inform- ble ground of the dispute, and the evident
ing him of the manner in which he had been injustice on which it was founded; they told
treated, and requesting that he would iimme- them  that their ancestors were so far from
diately send a proper force to repel the insur- refusing or forbidding the oblations of strangents.                                    gers (which they would have deemed a kind
No sooner had Agrippa left Jerusalem  of impiety) that they considered them, in
than the factious Jews began to carry their some degree, as a part of their own worship.
design into execution.  To this purpose great They likewise mentioned the presents which
numbers of them got privately into the Roman had, from time to time, been made by strangers
garrison called Massada, where they sur- to the temple, which were still preserved as
prised the soldiers, every one of whom they  ornaments in that sacred place, and in reput to death, and in their stead substituted  membranes of those who gave them.  They
a guard of their own people.  About this further told them, that the provoking a war
juncture there happened likewise another with the Romans would be at least disgracecommotion in the temple of Jerusalem.  A  ful, if not ruinous, to Jerusalem; that new
bold and factious young man, named Eleazar modes of religion would certainly be adopted,
(son of the then high-priest), who was at as nothing less could be expected by the
that time a military officer, persuaded a num- interdiction of every sort of people except
ber of his friends among the priests not to Jews, fiom offering oblations and prayers to
accept of any offering or sacrifice but fiom  God in his holy temple.  It was urged that
the Jews.  This circumstance laid the foun- this was such an inhuman injunction as could
dation of a war with the Romans; for, in not be excused in the case of a private perconsequence of the request of Eleazar, when son; but that it was utterly unpardonable to
the sacrifices of Nero were presented, accord- extend it to the whole people of Rome, and
ing to custom, to be offered up for the success eventually even excommunicating the emof the people of Rome, they were rejected. peror himself.  It was asked what would be
So new and extraordinary a proceeding gave the consequence if such contempt should be
great offence to the high-priest and persons returned, and those who had refused others
of distinction, who protested against it, and the liberty of offering their prayers and oblaearnestly recommended the continuance of so tions should themselves be denied the privreasonable a custom as that of offering prayers ilege of public worship?  They concluded
for princes and governors.  But the insur- with telling them, that if they persisted in
gents, relying on the strength of their num- their obstinacy, the city would be left void of
bers, were obstinate for obedience to their discipline, and every ill consequence would
orders; every one who wished for innovation certainly happen, unless they repented of all
was on their side, and they considered Elea- the uncharitable things they had done, and
zar, who was a man of courage, and in office, made satisfaction, before the emperor should
as the head of their party.               be informed of their violent proceedings.
In consequence of the great obstinacy of   But all these circumstances were of none
the insurgents, the high-priest, and most effect; the insurgents, who wished for war
eminent of the Pharisees, assembled together rather than peace, were determined to prosein order to deliberate on the most proper mode cute their design with the utmost vigor;
of proceeding at so critical a juncture, being and in this they were further encouraged
apprehensive that if the tumult was not, by from the conduct of the Levites, who quitted
some means or other, suppressed, it must be the altar, and joined themselves to their
attended with the most fatal consequences. party.
Having consulted for some time, they at   The high-priest and people of rank, findlength resolved to try what could be done to ing the populace despised all obedience to




HISTORY  OF  THIE  BIBLE.                             653
law, and that themselves would probably be with such violence as to throw them into the
the first who would be censured by the greatest confusion and disorder; and this
Romans, consulted together what means were advantage they improved to such a degree,
the most eligible to take in order to save that, equally overcome by superior numbers
themselves and  country from  destruction. and more determined resolution, the royal
After deliberating for some time on this troops were obliged to abandon the upper
head, they at length resolved to send depu- town, of which the rebels immediately posties to Florus and Agrippa, representing sessed themselves, and thereby became masthe conduct of the people in its true light, ters of the whole city.
and requesting them to send forces to Jeru-   Elated with this success, the insurgents
salem, in order to put a speedy end to the immediately repaired to the house of' the
rebellion.                                 high-priest, which they first plundered, and
The news of the insurrection at Jerusa- then reduced to ashes.  This being done,
lem was highly agreeable to Florus, whose they resolved, in the next place, to set fire
disposition led him to inflame rather than to to the offices of record, and consume both
endeavor to suppress the war.  This was them  and all their contents.  As soon as
evidently evinced by his delay in giving -an this was known, the persons who had the
answer to the deputies, knowing thereby that care of those places were so terrified, that
it would afford the rebels an opportunity of they immediately abandoned their trust, each
augmenting their forces.  On the cohtrary, man seeking his own security by flight; on
Agrippa consulted only the general welfare, which both offices and records were reduced
being desirous of doing all in his power to to ashes.
save both parties; and by this means to    The next day after the insurgents had
secure Jerusalem  in the possession of the committed these  outrages, they made an
Jews, and bind the Jews in subjection to attack on the castle of Antonia, and, after
the Romans.  To effect this he despatched only two days' resistance, made themselves
two thousand auxiliary horse to Jerusalem, masters of it, having done which, they burnt
under the command of Darius, a very able the castle, and put all the garrison to the
and experienced general.  On their arrival sword.  After this they proceeded to the
at the city they were joinedl by the rulers palace, in which were the troops sent by
and high-priest, together with the rest of the Agrippa to suppress the insurrection: they
people who wished for peace.  The insur- immediately invested the place, and having
gents had already possessed themselves of the divided themselves into four bodies, made
temple and lower city; and therefore the an attempt to undermine the walls; while
royal troops immediately seized on the upper those within were under the necessity of recity, being resolved, if possible, to reduce maining inactive, as their strength was insufthe rebels to subjection.  It was not long ficient for them to sally forth with any hopes
before a skirmish took place, and the corn- of success.  The assailants continued their
batants on both sides made use of their bows operations with great resolution for several
and arrows, with which they galled each days, till at length the besieged, finding they
other incessantly.  The insurgents made must either fall by the swordl, or be starved
their attacks in the most desperate manner; into compliance, deserted the place, and fled
but the royal forces appeared to have a supe- for security to the castles of Hippon, Pharior knowledge of the military art.  The sael, and Mariamme. But no sooner had the
principal operation the latter had in view was soldiers quitted the place than the rebels
to compel the sacrilegious faction to abandon immediately broke in, and unmercifully put
the temple; while, on the contrary, Eleazar to death every person they met with; having
and his adherents labored with equal zeal to done which, they plundered the palace of
get the upper town into their possession. all its valuable furniture, and concluded the
The contest continued without intermission outrage by setting fire to the camp.
for some days, in all which time, though    While these things were transacting at
there was a great slaughter on both sides, Jerusalem, a most dreadful massacre took
not the least advantage was obtained by place in  Cmsarea, not less than twenty
either.  At length, however, the insurgents, thousand  Jews being, at the  instigation
being resolved to engage in the most hazard- of Florus, put to death by the Romans
ous enterprise, assaulted the king's troops in one day.  This horrid slaughter so irri



654                             AN ILLUSTRATED
tated the Jews that they became univer- Ptolemais. On his arrival at this place
sally outrageous, and, dividing themselves he found that it was amply stored with all
into distinct bodies, dispersed into different kinds of provisions, but not a single person
parts, with a full resolution of seeking re- was to be seen in the town, the inhabitants
venge on their enemies.  They first laid having, on his approach, fled to the mounwaste a great number of villages in Syria, tains for security.  In consequence of this,
and then destroyed several principal cities, Cestius gave his soldiers permission to plunamong which were Philadelphia, Gibonitis, der the city; which being done, he ordered
Garasiaa, Pellea, and Scythopolis.  They it to be burnt and levelled with the ground.
then proceeded to Sebaste and Ascalon, both He then proceeded to several other places
of which places surrendered without opposi- in the neighborhood  of Zabulon, all of
tion.   Having  effectually  reduced  these which he served in like manner, and then
two fortresses, they next proceeded to Gaza, repaired to Ptolemais.  On this occasion,
which they totally destroyed; and, continu- the Syrians  were so anxious for obtaining their ravages, laid waste a great number ing plunder, that they could not be preof villages on the frontiers of Syria, putting vailed on  to  retire  in time; but many
to death all the inhabitants wherever they of them  remained  behind, and, on  the
went.                                       retreat of Cestius with the greater part of
On the other hand the Syrians wreaked  his forces, the Jews, taking courage, fell
their vengeance on all the Jews they could  on the plunderers, and nearly two thousand
find, not only in country places, but in of them were put to the sword.
many principal cities throughout Syria, all    After staying a short time at Ptolemais,
of whom they put to the sword.  In short Cestius proceeded to Cresarea, whence he
the whole country was in the most deplora- despatched a division of his army to Joppa,
ble situation, there being, as it were, two with orders, that, if they could get an easy
armies in every city; nor was any safety to possession of the place, they should take it;
be expected for the one but in the destrue- but if they found that the inhabitants made
tion of the other.  In the city of Alex- preparations to defend it, they should, in
andria no less than l'fty thousand Jews were that case, wait till the arrival of the rest of
put to death by the Romans; and the only the  army.   The  Romans, however,  no
places in which the Jews escaped the gen- sooner arrived at the place than they immeeral carnage were Sidon, Apamia, and An- diately laid siege to it, and, with very littte
tioch.                                      difficulty, even made themselves masters of
Cestius, the governor of Syria, who at it.  The inhabitants were so far firom  being
this time resided at Antioch, observing the able to resist the attack, that they had not
contempt in which the  Jews were held  even an opportunity of making their escape;
throughout the whole province, resolved to so that the whole, both men, women, and
take advantage of this circumstance, and children, were put to the sword, the nunprosecute the war against them  with the ber amounting to not less than eight thouutmost vigor.  For this purpose he raised sand.  T'he homans then  plundered the
a considerable army, consisting of the whole city, and, having reduced it to ashes, they
twelfth  legion  which  he  commanded  at returned  to their general at Coosarea.  In
Antioch; two thousand  select men firom  the mean time, a body of Roman horse made
the  other legions, and four divisions of similar destruction in the neighborhood of
horse, exclusive of the royal auxiliaries, Cesarea, where they ravaged the country,
which consisted of two thousand horse and killed great numbers of the inhabitants, took
three thousand foot, all armed with bows and possession of their effects, and then burnt
arrows.                                     their towns to the ground.
With this formidable army Cestius left   From Cesarea, Cestius departed with his
Antioch, and proceeded toward Ptolemais, army to Antipatris, on his arrival at which
in his way to which he was joined by a place he was informed that a great number
great number of people from  different parts of Jews had got into the tower of Aphec,
of the country.  The first material place whither he sent a number of his troops to
he came to was Zabulon, otherwise called rout them.  The Jews, finding themselves
Andron, the most defensible city of Galilee, totally unable to sustain the shock, abanand  by which  Judcea was divided from  doneod the place to the Romans, who first




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                            655
stripped it of every thing that was valuable, about fifty furlongs from  Jerusalem, where
and then set fire to it; having done which he encamped his army.
they departed, but not without destroying The Jews, convinced of the great danger
several villages in its neighborhood, and they were in, from the appearance of so forimiputting such of the inhabitants as could dable an alrmy, laid aside their former scruples
not effect their escape to the sword.    with regard to their sacred days, and applied
Cestius proceeded with his army from themselves strictly to their arms. ImaginAntipatris to Lydda, in which city he found ing that their force was now sufficient to
no more than fifty men, all the rest being cope with the PRomans, they made a despergone to Jerusalem, in order to be present ate sally on the sabbath day, regardless of
at the celebration of the feast of taberna- their ancient prejudices, and, with a furious
dles.  The remaining fifty Cestius ordered uproar, attacked the enemy. On the first
to be put to death, which being done, he set charge they put the front of the Romans
fire to the town, and then proceeded by the into great disorder, and penetrated so far
way of Bethhoron, to a place named Gabaoh, into the main body of the army, that had it
ROBMAN ARMIES APPROACHING JERUSALEM.
not been for a detachment of foot which seized a number of carriages, and a quantity
remained entirely unbroken, and a party of of baggage, which they found in the purhorse that unexpectedly came to their relief, suit, all of which they conveyed safe to
Cestius and his whole army would have Jerusalem.
been certainly cut to pieces.  In this en-   Cestius and his army remained in the
counter four hundred of the Roman cavalry field three days after this action, during
were slain, and one hundred and fifteen of which time a party of the Jews was stathe infantry; while of the Jews there fell a tioned on the adjacent hills to watch his
very small number. The main body of the movements. On the fourth day, Cestius
Jews, retreating in good order, went back advanced with the whole army, in a regular
into the city; and, in the mean time, the manner, to the borders of Jerusalem, where
Romans retired toward Bethhoron. A strong many of the people were so terrified by the
party of the Jews, however, under the com- fation, that they were afraid to take any
mand of one Gioras, pursued the enemy, step of consequence: while some of the
several of whom they killed: they likewise principal promoters of the sedition were so




656                            AN ILLUSTRATED
alarmed at the conduct and discipline of joy than the rebels were depressed by dethe Romans on their march, that they re- spair.
tired from the extremities of the city, and    While things were in this situation the
took refuge in the temple.  Cestius in his people demanded that the gates might be
way to Jerusalem  burnt Cenopolis, and a opened to Cestius, whom they considered in
place which was denominated the wood- the light of a friend and preserver.  This
market.  Thence he advanced to the upper was a most favorable opportunity for Cestius,
town of the city, and pitched his camp at a and had he maintained the siege only a short
small distance from the palace.           time longer, the whole town must have subWhile Cestius was thus situated with his mitted.  But, not considering the good disarmy, Ananus, and  several other men position of the people in general, or reflectamong the Jews, called aloud to the Roman ing on the despair into which the rebels
general, offering to open the gates to him; were thrown, as if he had been infatuated,
but either through diffidence or fear of their lihe suddenly drew off his men, and, contrary
fidelity, he was so  long  in  considering to all sense and reason, abandoned the siege,
whether or not he should accept the offer, at a time when his prospects were better than
that he was at length restrained from it by they had been at any former period.  The
the people, who were so irritated at Ananus revolters were so much encouraged at this
and his companions, that they c6mpelled unexpected circumstance, that they attacked
them  to retreat from the walls of the city, the rear of Cestius's army, and destroyed
and retire to their own houses for protee- great numbers both of his cavalry and infantion.                                      try. On the first night after Cestius retreatAfter this the Jews, with a view of de- ed firom the siege, he took up his residence
fending the walls of the city, repaired to the in a camp which he had fortified at a place
different turrets, and for five successive clays named Scopus; and on the following day he
defended them  against all the efforts of continued his march, but was closely pursued
the Romans, though they pushed the attack  by the Jews, who annoyed him as he went,
with the utmost impetuosity.  On the sixth  and destroyed a considerable number of his
day, Cestius made an assault on the north troops.  On the whole this was a very disasside of the temple, with  a select force trous attack to the Romans. and attended
chosen from  his troops and bowmen; but with very little loss on the part of the Jews.
the Jews discharged such a violent quantity    Cestius having retreated as far as Gabaoh,
of shot and stones from the porch and gal- there encamped with his army, and, during
leries, that the Romans were not only re- two days, employed his thoughts in what
peatedly compelled to retire from the sever- manner he should direct his future conduct.
ity of, but, for a time, obliged to abandon  On the third day he found that the Jews
the enterprise.                            were so greatly increased in numbers, that
Being thus repulsed, the Romans, after the whole face of the country was covered
some time, had recourse to the following  with them; and that, should he continue any
singular invention.  Those in front placing longer at Gabaob, it must be attended with
their bucklers against the wall of the city, the most fatal consequences.  He therefore
and covering their heads and shoulders with issued orders that the army should be eased
them, those who stood next closed their of all their encumbrances, that they might
bucklers to the former, till the whole body march with the greater expedition; he likewas covered, and made the appearance of a wise directed that all the mules, asses, and
tortoise.   The bucklers being thus  con- other beasts of burden, should be killed,
joined were proof against all the darts and except only as many as were necessary to
arrows of the enemy; so that the Romans carry such weapons and machines as might
had the opportunity of undermining the afterward be wanted for their own defence.
walls without being  exposed  to  danger.   In this situation the Roman army proceedThe first thing they did was to attempt ed toward Bethhoron, Cestius marching at
setting fire to the Ygates of the temple, which their head.  While they continued in the
circumstance so terrified the faction, that open country they did not receive any inter-they considered themselves as ruined, and ruption from the Jews; but as they advanced
many absolutely abandoned the town; nor into hollow ways and defiles, the enemy,
were the quiet party less elevated  with who closely pursued, charged them in front




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                    657
and rear, and, discharging repeated volleys three hundred and eighty cavalry, and not
of arrows and darts, prodigious numbers of less than four thousand of the infantry.
theim  were killed.  The Romans, however,    Elated with this distinguished success, the
with great difficulty, got at length to Beth- Jews, on their return to Jerusalem, appointhoron, under cover of the night; upon which ed one Joseph, the son of Gorion, a man of
all the passes near that place were secured  great eminence, together with  the  highby the Jews, in order to prevent the retreat priest, as governors of the city.  They likeof their adversaries.                         wise sent commanders  into  the different
Cestius, findilng in what a disagreeable provinces of Judma and Galilee, in order to
manner he was surrounded, and that it would  secure those places against the power of the
be impossible to retreat within sight of the Rornans.  Among others Joseph, or Joseenemy, devised a scheme to favor his escape. phus, the celebrated Jewish historian, was
Having stationed four hundred of his troops sent to take upon him  the government of
on the tops of the houses, he ordered that Galilee, the principal towns in which he
they shouldt act the part of sentinels, calling  immediately  ordered  to  be fortified, and
as loud as they were able to the watches and  every necessary preparation made for attackguards, as if the army was still in its en- ing the enemy, should they attempt to invade
campment.  While this plan was going for- that province.*
ward, Cestius collected his troops, with which    In the mean time, the emperor Nero, havhe left Bethhoron, and continued to march  ing received intelligence of the defeat of
with them  during the whole course of the
nilht.  In  the morning, when the Jews
found that the place had been deserted bye                                              a
the main body of the army during the night,    i   
they were so enraged, that they immediately t _.
attacked the four hundred Romans who had.
acted as sentinels, slew every one of them,
and then instantly marched in pursuit of                                     il
Cestius; but his troops having obtained a
Cestius; but his troops having obtained  a  Coin of Ephesus, exhibiting the head of the Emperor
whole night's march on them, and proceeded    Nero, and on the reverse the temple of Diana, with
0..,.           v,. neo/zoron underneath.
with the utmost rapidity on the following
day, it was not possible to overtake them. Cestius in Judrea, was thrown into the atSuch were the hurry and confusion in which  most consternation; but he dissembled his
the Romans had fled, that they dropped by  fears by ostentatiously asserting that it was
the way all their slings, machines, and other owing to the misconduct of his general, and
instruments for battery and attack; whicht not to their own valor, that the Jews were
being seized by the pursuers, they afterward  indebted for victory; for he imagined that it
turned them to their own advantage.  The  would be derogatory to the sovereign  state
Jews pursued their enemies as far as Antip-  of the Roman empire, and to his superiority
atris; but finding it in vain to continue  over other princes, to discover a concern at
the pursuit, they carefully preserved  the the common occurrences of life.  During this
engines, stripped the dead, collected all the contention between his fear and his pride,
booty they could, and then returned toward  he industriously sought for a man qualified
Jerusalem, singing songs of triumph for so to assume the important task of chastising
important a victory.  In this contest there the revolted Jews, preserving the East in
fell, of the Romans and their auxiliaries, tranquillity, and the allegiance of several
* Flavius Josephus, the Jewish historian, was Roman manner, appointed officers, and exercised
appointed to the military command of Galilee his troops in the use of their arms. Notwithand Gamala. He appointed in Galilee a supreme standing his precautions and preparations he was
council of seventy members for the management involved in imminent perils, had open revolts to
of the more important civil affairs, and in every quell, and was exposed to danger from the percity a council of seven judges to decide less im- fidy of his own soldiers.
portant legal cases.  He fortified the cities of    His personal experience in the fortunes of the
Lower and Upper Galilee. He collected an army Jewish war in his day qualified him to write his
of more than one hundred thousand men, and memorable history of the same. - Vid. Jahin'sHeb:
armed them with such old weapons as he was Corn.                                     A. B.
able to procure. He divided the soldiers in the
42




658                            AN ILLUSTRATED
other nations who had manifested a dispo- for, and by no means expert in, the art
sition to free themselves from  the power of war, and the army consisted entirely of
of the Romans.  On  mature deliberation, infantry.   Anthony's troops received the
Nero at length judged Vespasian to be the first charge with great resolution: his horse
only man possessed of abilities adequate broke the first ranks of the adverse army,
to the important enterprise.  Vespasian was which were immediately put to the rout: great
then arrived to an advanced age, and from  numbers were crushed to death by their own
his early years had been engaged in a contin- people, and wherever they fled they were
ued succession of military exploits.  From  pursued by the Romans.  The Jews exerted
these considerations, together with his ap- their utmost endeavors to rally their forces,
proved courage and fidelity, and his having but this was prevented by the Romans, who
sons for hostages of his loyalty, the emperor pursued the advantage they had gained till
determined to appoint him  to the command ten thousand of the enemy were slain, among
of his army in Syria.                      whom  were the  two generals, John and
In consequence of this resolution, Ves- Silas.  Niger, the surviving general, with
pasian, having received his commission from  the rest of the Jews, most of whom  were
Nero, which he accompanied with the strong- wounded, escaped to a town in Ildumnca,
est professions of friendship and fidelity, named Sabis.
commanded his son Titus to lead the fifth and    The resolution of the Jews, however, was
tenth legions into Alexandria, while himself not abated by the terrible defeat they had
departed  from  Achaia, and, crossing the sustained; but, founding  their hopes of
Hellespont, proceeded by land into Syria, success on the recollection of former victowhere he assembled all the Roman forces, ties, they were animated to a more violent
and the auxiliaries which the princes of the desire of revenge.  They therefore collected
adjoining places had gathered together.    together a much more numerous arimy than
In the mean time, the Jews, being trans- before, and determined to make a second
ported to the most excessive degree of ex- attempt against Ascalon, notwithstanding
travagance by the conquest they had gained their want of military skill and discipline,
over the Roman army under the command the fatal effects of which they had already
of Cestius, determined to prosecute the war experienced.  But all their hopes were soon
with the utmost vigor.  Accordingly they vanished; for being surprised by an ambush
formed their best troops into a body, and which Anthony had stationed in the way
marched against the ancient city of Ascalon, they were to pass, they were entirely routed,
with a resolution of attempting the reduction without being able to form  themselves into
of that place, against the inhabitants of the order of battle.  Eight thousand Jews
which they had the most implacable enmity. were slain on the spot; and the rest, with
The Jewish army was under the command  Niger, their general, put to flight.  Being
of Niger of Peraea, Silas a Babylonian, and closely pursued by the Romans, Niger sought
John an  Essene, who were men equally refuge in a castle belonging to the village of
celebrated for valor, and skill in the manage-:Bezedel.  This castle was supposed. to be
ment of war.                              inpregnable; and  therefore, as the  only
Ascalon was surrounded by a wall of sur- effectual means of destroying both Niger and
prising strength; but the whole garrison con- the castle, the Romans set fire to it, after
sisted only of a troop of cavalry and a com- which they departed, triumphing in the idea
pany of foot, under the command of an officer that the leader of the Jews must inevitably
named Anthony. The Jews, being impatient perish in the flames.  Niger, being sensible
to encounter the Romans, marched with the that this must be the case if he continued in
utmost expedition, intending to attack them  his station, threw himself from the top of the
by surprise; but Anthony, getting intel- castle into a vault of considerable depth, where,
ligence of their design, stationed his cavalry after three days, he was found alive by his
without the town, in order to repulse the friends, who were searching for his remains,
enemy. The Roman forces were composed of in order to give them interment.  This unexveteran troops completely armed, well disci- pected event transported the Jews from a
plined, and perfectly obedient to order. The state of despondency into the contrary exJews had the superiority in point of num- treme of joy; and the preservation of their
bers; but they were indifferently equipped general, whom they considered as an instru



HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                             659
ment essentially necessary in the prosecution and sword, putting those who attempted
of the war, they attributed to divine inter- resistance to instant death, reducing the rest
position.                                 to slavery, and making booty of all the propDuring these transactions, Vespasian ar- erty they could find.
rived with his army at Antioch, where King    In the mean time, Titus repaired to his
Agrippa, attended by his troops, was waiting father Vespasian, at Ptolemais, taking with
to receive him.   Hence he proceeded to him  the fifth, tenth, and fifteenth legions,
Ptolemais, where the inhabitants of Seppho- which were reckoned to be the best disciris, a city in Galilee, had assembled on occa- plined and most courageous of the Roman
sion of his expected arrival.  These were a troops.  These were followed by a troop
well-disposed people, and being  conscious of horse firom CSesarea, with a great number
of the great power of the Romans, as well as of auxiliaries, both horse and foot, from other
desirous of making provision for their own places.  The whole army amounted to sixty
safety, they aclknowledged Cestius Gallius as thousand, exclusive of the train of baggage,
their governor, previous to the arrival of and a great number of domestics, most of
Vespasian, binding themselves to act in whom, having been trained to the practice
perfect obedience to his commands, even of war, were but little inferior to the soldiers
against their own countrymen, and at the in courage and dexterity.
same time declaring their allegiance to the    During the time Vespasian was with his
state of Rome.  They received a garrison son Titus at Ptolemais, he ordered every
from Cestius Gallius, and solicited Vespasian necessary measure to be pursued for the
to grant them a number of cavalry and in- proper regulation and supply of his army.
fantry sufficient for their defence in case they In the mean time, Placidus made an excursion
should be attacked by theJews.  Vespasian  into, and overran, the whole province of
readily complied with  this request; for Judcea, where he took a great number of
Sepphoris being  the most extensive  and prisoners, most of whom  he put to death.
strongest city in Galilee, he judged it expe- These were people destitute of courage; but
dient to keep so important a place in a such as possessed a greater share of intrepidity
proper state of defence.                  made a courageous resistance, and secured
The number of troops granted by Vespasian themselves in the cities, and other places of
to the people of Sepphoris were a thousand strength, which had been fortified by Josephus.
cavalry and six thousand infantry; the whole Placidus determined to direct his arms against
of which were placed under the command of those places where the Galileans had fled for
Placidus, the tribune.  After these troops sanctuary; and Jotapata being the strongest
had been drawn up on the great plain, the hold they possessed, he resolved that his first
foot, for the security of the city, were quar- exploit should be to attempt the reduction of
tered within the walls, and the horse were that place. The inhabitants of Jotapata, howordered into the camp.  The Roman troops ever, gaining intelligence of the design of
made daily excursions into the neighborhood, Placidus, and that he was marching with all
where they committed many acts of violence, expedition against the place, sallied from the
and  greatly  incommoded  Josephus (the town, in order to give him  battle.  They
governor of Galilee) and his friends.  Not attacked the Romans by surprise, and as
satisfied with  ravaging the country, they the fate of their wives, children, and country,
made booty of whatever they could obtain depended on the issue of the contest, they
from the towns, and treated the inhabitants fought with the most astonishing bravery,
with so much severity that they were under and with such success, that they effectually
the necessity of remaining within the walls.  repulsed the enemy; after which, Placidus
Matters being thus circumstanced, Josephus drew off his army.
exerted his utmost efforts to make himself   Vespasian, having resolved to make an
master of Sepphoris; but he found it so excursion into Galilee, issued marching orstrongly fortified, that it appeared to be im- ders to his troops, according to the military
pregnable, and despairing of success, either discipline of the Romans, and departing from
by stratagem  or force, he abandoned all Ptolemais, encamped his army on the frontiers
further thoughts of the enterpise.  This so of Galilee. He might, indeed, have advanced
irritated the Romans, that they subjected the farther, but his stopping there was designed
people to the most terrible calamities of fire to strike a terror into the enemy by the for



660                            AN ILLUSTRATED
midable appearance of his army.  In this ordered the bowmen and slingers to compel
conjecture he was not deceived, for the news the Jews to desert the walls, while himself,
of his approach threw  the Jews into the with a body of infantry, began an assault
greatest consternation; and Josephus's fol- from  an eminence convenient for battering
lowers, who were encamped at some distance the place; but Josephus, at the head of the
from  Sepphoris, deserted their leader, even Jews, made so furious an attack on the
before the enemy came in sight. Being thus enemy, that he compelled them to retreat.
abandoned, and finding that the spirits of the    The next day the besiegers renewed the
Jews were entirely depressed, that the majority assault, and in this action both parties disof his people had already joined the enemy, played the most distinguished instances of
and that the rest seemed inclined to follow  valor.  The Jews were encouraged by the
their example, be  retreated  to Tiberias, undaunted  firmness and  resolution  with
accompanied by a few of his people whom he which, contrary to the most sanguine expectacould trust, and who still maintained their tions, they had sustained the first assault; and
fidelity.                                  the shame of having been repulsed invigorated
The first place Vespasian laid siege to the spiritof the Romans. Notwithstanding the
after his arrival in Galilee was the city of great danger and difficulty of the enterprise,
Gadara, which, not having a sufficient num- the latter continued to pursue their attacks with
ber of inhabitants to defend it, he subdued, the utmost vigor, while the Jews, regardless
with very little difficulty, on the first assault. of their great numbers and strength, made
The natural enmity of the Romans against frequent sallies against them with considerthe Jews, together with a principle of revenge able advantage.
for their having defeated Cestius, induced    The city of Jotapata was situated on a rock,
them  to put the inhabitants of the town and utterly inaccessible, except on the north,
promiscuously  to  the  sword;  and, not where a part of it stood on the brow of a
satisfied with setting fire to the conquered mountain.  This quarter Josephus caused to
city, they burnt and utterly laid waste the be strongly fortified, thereby precluding the
neighboring small towns and villages, and enemy from  taking advantage of another
subjected the inhabitants to slavery.      mountain by which it was overlooked, and
In the mean time, Josephus (the leader of which, with the other mountains adjoining,
the Jews in Galilee) left Tiberias, and retired so entirely enclosed the place, that it could
to the strong city of Jotapata, which gave only be seen at a very small distance.
great encouragement to the Jews of that   After several days' fruitless attempts,
place.  Josephus's retreat was soon made Vespasian, finding the place so admirably
known to Vespasian by a deserter, who situated for defence, and that he had to conadvised the besieging of Jotapata, observing tend with an intrepid and determined enemy,
that, if Josephus could be taken, the war assembled a council of his principal officers,
must inevitably terminate to the disadvantage in order to debate on the most proper means
of the Jews.  Pleased with this information, of obtaining a victory.  The issue of this
and hoping to get into his power the person deliberation was, that a large terrace should
whom he considered as the most formidable be raised on that side of the city which
of his enemies, Vespasian despatched Placidus appeared to be the least capable of resistance.
and AEbutius (the latter of whom was one of Accordingly, the whole army was employed
the most celebrated men of the army for in the work, which they pursued with surbravery and military skill) with a thousand prising  rapidity, and  the utmost efforts
cavalry, commanding them to environ the city of the Jews to oppose them proved ineffecwith the greatest expedition, and, if possible, tual.
prevent the escape of Josephus.              In the mean time, Josephus ordered the
The next morning Vespasian issued orders wall of the city to be raised in proportion to
for his whole army to march, and, in the after- the  advancement of the  enemy's works.
noon of the same day, encamped about seven The Jews at first declined the undertaking
furlongs to the north of the city. The Romans, urging the impossibility of pursuing their
being greatly fatigued by their march, did not business, as they should be continually exattempt any thing till the next morning, when posed to the enemy. To remove these fears,
they began to assault the city, which was Josephus suggested the following invention,
defended with great bravery.  Vespasian as a defence against fire, stones, and other




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                              6461
weapons.  He caused large stakes to be which they infinitely preferred a glorious
fixed in the ground, and raw hides of beasts death in the field.
to be stretched upon them, the yielding qual-   In the midst of this distress, Josephus
ity of which would prevent any material recollected that on the west side of the city
effect from the lances and stones, and at the there was a hollow or gutter in a place so
same time their moisture would damp the little frequented, that it was not likely to
fir3 of the enemy.  The Jews, thinking have been observed by the enemy.  In conthemselves secure through Josephus's con- sequence of this, he sent messengers to the
tr vance, continued indefatigably industrious Jews without the city, requesting them to
in the work both night and day, and they cause water and other necessaries to be consoon erected. wall several cubits high, on veyed to him through this passage; and, as a
which were formed towers and strong embat- proper security to the messengers, he ordered
tlements.                                  them to be covered with hides of beasts, and
Vespasian now relinquished all hopes of to go on their hands and feet, that, in case
subduing the place by storm; he therefore of being observed by the watch, they
blocked it up, flattering himself with the ex- might be mistaken for dogs and other anipectation, that by cutting off all commiunica- inals.
tion, the consequent necessities of the people    This scheme had for some time the desired
would perform the business of the sword, or effect, and an intercourse was maintained
at least render them incapable of making any between those without the city and those
advantageous  resistance.   There was an within, to the great satisfaction of the latter.
abundant supply of corn and all other neces- But at length the Romans discovered the
saries in the town, excepting water, which project, which they effectually destroyed by
latter article they only received from  the closely blocking up the passage, and thereby
clouds, there being neither spring nor foun- cutting off all communication whatever.
tain within the walls of the city.  The pros-   Josephus now perceived that it would be
p3et of a scarcity of water induced Josephus, fruitless to attempt a longer defence of the
who was determined not to abandon himself city, and therefore he joined with several of
to despair, to limit each man to a daily al- the principal men in suggesting the means
lowanee, in consequence of which a universal of escape.  The people, suspecting on what
disconten'L prevailed among the people. This subject they were met to deliberate, repaired
circum:stance could not be concealed from the in great multitudes to Josephus, earnestly
Romans, who, from an adjacent hill, observed supplicating, that as he was the only man
the people assembled to receive their respec- from whom they could expect relief, he would
tive portions, and were otherwise informed of not desert them in their then extremity; obthe general discontent which had taken place serving, that while he was secure they could
on that occasion. Vespasian was in continual not despair of success, and declaring that
expectation of making himself master of the they could not die more honorably than while
town; but Josephus, to convince him that acting in obedience to his commands.  They
he was not likely to succeed from their dis- told him that if it should prove their misfortress for want of water, hit upon the follow- tune to fall into the power of the Romans,
ing stratagem: he caused great numbers of he would acquire the immortal fame of havwet cloths to be hung upon the battlements, ing equally scorned to fly from the enemy,
which were no sooner observed by the Reo- or desert the people under his protection:
mans, than they concluded a scarcity of water that by leaving them he would manifest a
could not prevail in the town, as in that case conduct similar to that of a man taking upon
they would hardly make use of such an arti- him  the command of a ship in temperate
ele in so profuse a manner. In consequence weather, and abandoning it in a storm; they
of this, Vespasian, no longer entertaining likewise added, that after losing the only
hopes that the  enemy  would  surrender man in whom they could place a confidence
through want of the necessaries of life, had of success, they could no longer cherish the
again recourse to arms.  This proved a cir- hope of relieving their country.
cumstance highly agreeable to the Jews,   Josephus, who was unwilling to have it
who, being reduced to the greatest distress, believed that his intention was engrossed on
entertalned the most terrible apprehensions the means of providing for his own safety,
of falling miseralle sacrifices to famine, to told them, that if they were compelled to




662                             AN ILLUSTRATED
surrender, his remaining with them could not of the guard abated by fatigue and an inclipossibly operate in their favor; whereas, nation to sleep.
if he obtained his liberty, he might be able    Vespasian, being sensible that the Jews
to draw an army out of Galilee sufficiently possessed a remarkable fidelity to each other,
early to raise the siege; and that his contin- which the most excruciating torments could
uing  in the city would be productive of not force them  to violate, was unwilling at
unfortunate instead of happy consequences, first to put any confidence in what the
since the expectation of making him a pris- deserter had related.  He had been witness
oner would induce the Romans to continue a to a recent instance of the amazing constancy
vigorous prosecution of the siege, which and resolution of the Jews, in the case of
they might probably decline if he could one of Josephus's people, who being made a
effect an escape.                          prisoner, and interrogated  respecting the
But these arguments, instead of reconcil- state of the city, refused to divulge a single
ing the multitude, rendered them  still more circumstance, and persisted in that resolution
importunate, and with the most bitter lamen- dui-ing the most excessive torments, and
tations they urgently supplicated that he while he was undergoing the sentence of
would still continue his protection to them. crucifixion.  Considering, however, that the
Impressed with  tenderness and gratitude information of the deserter might possibly
toward the people, Josephus considered that be founded in truth, and that no ill conif he remained in the town, they would attrib- sequences were likely to ensue fiom  his
ute his compliance with their request to the appearing to believe that to be the case, Vesinfluence they had over him, and that if he pasian ordered the man to be secured, and
persisted in a refusal, they might probably every necessary preparation to be made for
detain him by force; and therefore resolved the attack.
to share the common danger, he addressed    The Roman army began a silent march at
them.as follows:  "My dear friends and an appointed hour of the night, which had
faithful countrymen, the period is arrived been previously agreed upon according to the
when we are required to exert our utmost plan laid down by the deserter.  On their
bravery, since in that alone we can place our arrival at the walls of the town, finding the
hopes of safety.  If we lose our lives our sentinels asleep, they immediately despatched
reward will be a large share of honor, and them, and without the  least molestation
our names will be endeared to the latest pos- entered the city, followed by a large body
terity."                                   of troops under the command of the tribune
This address was received with universal Placidus.  Notwithstanding it was open day
satisfaction by the people, immediately after before the Rolmans gained possession of the
which Josephus, at the head of the most fort and made themselves masters of the
courageous of the Jews, assaulted the ene- town, the Jewish army was so exhausted and
my's guards, whom he compelled to desert fatigued by incessant labor and watching,
their trenches and retreat to the camp.   that they did not entertain the least idea of
Josephus and his army now  defended their danger till the enemy had actually
themselves against the power of the Romans gained their point; and even those who were
with the most astonishing power and resolu- awake were almost equal strangers to the
tion.  This they continued to do for the misfortune, as they could not clearly distinspace of forty days, when a deserter repre- guish objects on account of a thick fog which
sented to Vespasian the state of the town, then prevailed, and continued till the whole
informing him that through the loss of men, Roman army had gained admittance into the
and the hard duty which the survivors were city.
obliged incessantly to perform, the garrison    The Romans, recollecting the sufferings
was so reduced that it must necessarily sur- they had undergone during the course of the
render to a vigorous attack, and more espe- siege, laid aside every sentiment of humanity
cially if advantage was to be taken of a and compassion toward the besieged.  They
favorable opportunity for making the assault threw many of the Jews from the top of the
by surprise. He likewise strongly advised fort, who were instantly killed by the fall,
the Roman general to attempt the enterprise and others, who had courage enough to make
before daylight, when the Jews would not be resistance, were either pressed to death by
apprehensive of danger, and the vigilance the immense crowds of the enemy, or forced




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              663
down precipices, and killed by the ruins friend.  Nicanor forcibly expostulated with
which fell from above.  Such of the guards him on the impropriety of refusing to comply
as first observed the city to be taken fled to with Vespasian's request; he represented to
a turret on the walls, where they were him the generosity and benevolence of the
attacked by the enemy, against whom, for Romans toward those they conquered: that,
some time, they made a resolute defence. so far from  Vespasian's  entertaining  an
Being oppressed by numbers, they offered  enmnity against him, he highly esteemed him
to  capitulate; but their proposals were as being a man of singular intrepidity, and
rejected, and the whole put to the sword. possessed of other eminent virtues; and that
Every Jew who was met by the Romans on the Roman general must indisputably have
that day was put to instant death; and favorable views, since he condescended to
during some following days they carefully propose terms to a man who was already subsearched for such as had concealed themselves ject to his power.  " Can you imagine,"
in private places, all of whom, except women said Nicanor, " that Vespasian would emand children, they destroyed.  Having thus ploy a friend in an office of treachery, or
obtained a complete victory, Vespasian, after that I would accept from him so dishonorable
withdraxwing his forces from the town, ordered a commission?"
the fortress to be burnt, which was accord-   Notwithstanding these remonstrances, Joingly done, and the whole city laid in ruins.  sephus, for some time, declined a compliance;
The Romans, induced partly by personal but at length, from the very forcible arguenmity, and partly by an officious zeal to ments and advice of Nicanor, he agreed to
ingratiate themselves into the favor of their submit.  In consequence of this, his comgeneral, assiduously employed themselves in panions instantly drew  their swords, and
searching every part of the adjoining coun- threatened, if he surrendered, to put him to
try, in order to find out the leader of the death.  Josephus, being apprehensive that
Jews.  It was Josephus's fortune to escape they might carry their designs into execution,
through the midst of his enemies, and to was desirous of avoiding so horrid an intenfind a deep pit, having a passage leading to tion; to effect which he addressed them as
a spacious cavern, in which he discovered follows: " Why, my good friends, do you
forty distinguished Jews who had there taken suffer yourselves to be so far transported by
sanctuary, and were supplied with sufficient the violence of passion as to cherish the idea
necessaries to last them several days.  The of separating the soul and body, which are
enemy being in possession of the whole so intimately united by nature?  To fall by
adjacent country, Josephus judged it unsafe the hand of a victor in a war maintained
to venture abroad by day, and therefore he according to the laws of arms, is without
left his retreat only by night, with a view of dispute a glorious fate.  I should make no
discovering if there remained any probability greater difficulty of taking away my own life
of effecting an escape; but finding the than of requesting a Roman to perform that
enemy exceedingly vigilant, he repeatedly office; but if the Romans are inclined to show
returned to the cavern, despairing of success. mercy to an enemy, will reason justify that
On the third day he was betrayed by a enemy in having no mercy on himself?  No
woman; in consequence of which, Vespasian death can be more honorable than that of
despatched Paulinus and Gallanicus, two the man who yields his life to the superior
tribunes, to the place where he was secreted, power of an adversary that means to deprive
authorizing them  to assure Josephus, that, him  of the inestimable blessing of liberty.
on condition of leaving his retreat, he should But the Romans wish not our deaths, and all
meet with a kind and honorable reception. animosity should now cease, for the cause of
Josephus, conscious that the injuries the our contention is at an end.  The man who
R)m:ins had sustained at his hands entitled rejects life when his duty requires him  to
him  to  punishment rather than reward, preserve it is as pusillanimous as he who, in
thought it unsafe to rely on Vespasian's opposition to the dictates of honor, trembles
word of honor, and therefore he declined the to meet his fate.  Is it not from the fear of
proposal. In consequence of this, Vespasian death alone that we hesitate to yield to the
sent another tribune, named Nicanor, who Romans?   Shall we precipitate ourselves
had long been intimately acquainted with into certain destruction for the purpose of
Josephus, and was in fact his most sincere avoidinga threatened danger, which probably




664                            AN ILLUSTRATED
may not arrive? If you conceive that we should think proper. Being thus relieved
ought to die to avoid slavery, I must request from the extremity to which he was reduced
you to recollect that we enjoy not liberty in by the Romans on one hand, and by his own
the miserable situation to which we are now  countrymen on the other, Josephus surrenreduced.  If you suppose him to be a brave dered himself to Nicanor, who immediately
man who deprives himself of life, I would conducted him to Vespasian.
ask what opinion you would form  of the   The desire of seeing Josephus appear
commander of a vessel who during a calm  before the Roman general caused prodigious
should sink his ship from an apprehension numbers of people to assemble, some of
that a tempest might arise?  The desire of whom rejoiced to see that he was alive, while
preserving life is a principle implanted in others vented menaces and the most bitter exethe whole animal creation; and therefore crations against him.  Those who were suffito deprive ourselves of existence is to violate ciently near to observe his person recollected
the order of nature, and offer a sacrilegious the many extraordinary incidents of his life,
insult to God.  If we desire to live, may we and, reflecting on his then situation, were
not indulge that desire, since we have given greatly astonished on the comparison.  Notexemplary proofs of our courage and virtue? withstanding the inveteracy which the Roman
But, if we are resolved to die, let us fall by generals had entertained against Josephus,
the hands of our conquerors.  We shall they tenderly compassionated him in his caphave no cause for regret if the Romans tivity; but Titus was most particularly
prove treacherous; but, on the contrary, we afrected, for on account of his advanced age,
shall resign our lives with pleasure, since we and the unconquerable dignity of his mind
shall enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that in the most extreme dangers and distresses,
the perfidy of the enemy must necessarily hle entertained a great veneration for Josediminish the glory of their victory, and ren- phus, whose former elevated station and great
der them infamous to the latest posterity."   exploits, together with the humiliating condiJosephus imagined that these arguments tion to which he was now reduced, he most
would have induced the Jews to relinquish seriously considered, and then proceeded to
the determination of putting an end to his make some reflections on the chance of war,
life; but in this he found himself mistaken, and the mutability of human affairs.  Those
for instead of appeasing, his address provoked who heard Titus adopted his sentiments; and
them  to the utmost extravagance of rage; he greatly contributed toward the preservathey approached him with their swords drawn, tion of Josephus, by influencing Vespasian
upbraided him in the most severe terms as in his favor.
being of a contemptibly irresolute disposition,   Vespasian intimated his intentions of sendand threatened him with instant death.  Thus ing Josephus to Nero, and ordered him to be
situated, Josephus addressed his companions kept a close prisoner.  In consequence of
in the most soothing manner, which seldom  this, Josephus requested to have an audience
fails to gain respect fiom  those who have with Vespasian, which being granted, he
been accustomed to obey; he called one by was conducted to the general's apartment,
his name, took another by the hand, and whence every person was dismissed, except
endeavored to engage the attention of the Titus and two of his friends.  In the presence
rest by arguments and such other means as of these, Josephus, addressing himself to
he conceived to be best adapted for obtaining Vespasian, spoke as follows: "You see me
the end he had in view.  Thus by a singular here, sir, your prisoner, and perhaps you
address in applying to the various humors consider me in no other character; but
and dispositions of his companions, Josephus believe me, I am no less than a messenger
averted the danger that threatened him. sent by Providence to impart to you a matter
The rage of the Jews subsided, their esteem  of the highest importance.?   Had I not been
and veneration for their general revived, and charged with this commission, I should have
they freely gave him his liberty to act as he acted consistent with the character of a Jew* While Josephus was with his companions in was likewise revealed to him  that Vespasian
the cavern, he had a most remarkable vision, in should become emperor, and that himself should
which were communicated to him the success and be the messenger of that intelligence; and this it
grandeur which the Romans should experience, and was that made him so strenuous in requesting his
the miseries which should attend the Jews. It companions to spare his life.




HISTORY  OF THE BIBLE.                             665
ish general, and have died rather than have   Early in the ensuing spring Vespasian
submitted to be made a prisoner. It is renewed his operations against the Jews.
unnecessary to send me to Nero, since Ves- He sent his son Titus at the head of a conpasian is so near succeeding to the empire, siderable army into one part of Judma, while
which, upon his decease, will devolve on his himself went into another; and between them
son Titus.  Let me be kept a prisoner, and they reduced the most principal places in that
guarded with unremitting circumspection; country, the inhabitants of some of which
I only request to remain the prisoner of quietly submitted; but others, after holding
Vespasian, who, by the right of conquest, is out with the utmost resistance in their power,
become the master of my life and liberty, were conquered, and great numbers put to
and will, in a short time, be advanced to the the sword.
sovereignty of the Roman empire.  If it   After these conquests, Vespasian returned
shall hereafter appear that I have made use to Caesarea, where he formed the resolution of
of any artifice to induce you to repose confi- laying siege to Jerusalem; but while he was
dence in an impostor, you will perform an making the necessary preparations for this
act of justice in subjecting me to the most purpose, he received an account of the death
severe and exemplary punishment."        of Nero, after a reign of thirteen years and
At first Vespasian considered Josephus's eight days.  In consequence of this intelliaddress as a mere fiction, contrived for the gence, Vespasian suspended his preparations
purpose of obtaining his favor; but experi- for the expedition toward Jerusalem.  Findencing certain indications, and finding them  ing that Galba was destined to succeed to
exactly correspond with what Josephus had the empire, he thought it would not be a
related, his doubts gradually subsided, and prudent measure to take so important a step
he gave full confidence to the prediction. without express orders for so doing.  He
One of the persons who was permitted to be therefore despatched his son Titus to wait on
present at the interview observed to Jose- Galba, at once to congratulate him on the
phus that since he pretended to a knowledge succession to the empire, and to take his
of future events, he requested to be informed directions how to act in the then emergency
by what means it happened that he remained of affairs.  King Agrippa (who was at this
ignorant of the destruction of Jotapata, and time in Caesarea) being desirous to embark
of his own captivity.  To which Josephus with Titus on this interesting occasion, they
replied, he had predicted to the inhabitants set sail in the same vessel; but while they
that the town would be conquered, and him- were on their voyage (which was exceedingly
self made a prisoner by the enemy.  In tedious owing to the contrariety of the wind)
consequence of this reply, Vespasian ordered and near to Achaia, they received intellia secret inquiry to be made among the Jewish gence that Galba was slain, after having
prisoners relative to the truth of what he had governed only seven months, and that Otho
asserted; this was accordingly done, and the succeeded him, who reigned  only  three
Jews confirming every particular related by months.  This change in affairs did not preJosephus, the general was induced to judge vent Agrippa from prosecuting his journey
more favorably of what he had  foretold from Achaia to Rome; but Titus sailed
respecting himself.                      thence to Syria, and proceeded with all
Josephus continued to be guarded with expedition to his father at COesarea.
the greatest circumspection; but the irksome-   A short time after the return of Titus to
ness of confinement was in a great degree Cesarea, Vespasian received intelligence that
mitigated by his being allowed every accom- a civil war had broke out in Rome, occasioned
modation and convenience, together with the by Vitellius, a daring and enterprising man,
particular respect and kindness which he who, on the death of Otho, had, with the
received from Titus.                     assistance of a great body of German soldiers,
After the conquest of Jotapata and the possessed himself of the sovereignty of the
total destruction of that city, Vespasian empire.  Vespasian was a man who had a
repaired with his army to Caesarea, where he just opinion of the respect that should be
took up his winter-quarters; but that he shown to superiors, and was as well calculated
might not overburden the inhabitants of that to obey as to command; but notwithstanding
city, he sent the fifth and tenth legions to this, he was greatly chagrined to acknowledge
Scythopolis.                            the supreme authority of him  who rather




666                            AN ILLUSTRATED
seized the empire as a plunder than became petition with  the modest and  temperate
possessed of it as an honor.  In a word, this behavior of Vespasian; for this, in fact,
astonishing change in the public affairs affect- would be to prefer an abandoned tyrant to
ed him to such a degree, that he could no a humane prince.  After all we have said,
longer entertain  any idea of prosecuting let it be considered what a ridiculous figure
foreign wars, when his country at home was we should make, and how egregiously we
distracted by the most disagreeable circum- should be duped,- we who, of all men
stances.  Yet, though his indignation on the living, have  the  greatest obligations  to
one hand urged him to a speedy revenge, Vespasian, - if the senate themselves should
on the other he was deterred from putting  elect him emperor, and thus take out of
design into execution by the consideration our hands the merit of so distinguished an
of the difficulties and hazards that would action, while we are idly debating on the
attend so long a journey in the midst of method of proceeding in such an exigency."
winter, beside the probability of many unex-   To this purpose was the conversation of
pected incidents which might happen before the officers under Vespasian.   Their first
he could arrive in Italy.'                 meetings were held in a secret manner;
While  Vespasian  was  debating  this but having  publicly  declared  their sensubject in  his mind, the officers of his timents to the soldiers, all of whom  agreed
army (all of whom  were  thoroughly ac- with them in opinion, they resolved to make
quainted with the  revolutions which  had choice of Vespasian  as emperor, and entaken place in Rome) associated together, treated him to take under his protection an
and discoursed with the utmost freedom  on empire that was shaken to its foundation.
the affairs of the state and  government. Vespasian had for a long time been the
Among other things they exclaimed most support of the empire; but he was so far
violently against the German soldiers, who from being ambitious of the dignity of cmwere the protectors of Vitellius, ridiculing peror, that he absolutely declined it, declarthem as a band of dissolute and effeminate ing that he chose rather to continue in that
creatures, who would be afraid to face even line of life to which he had been accustomed,
the usual terrors of war.  " What," said than accept of the pomp and  dignity to
they, " shall people like these dispose of which he was invited.  But the more desrarmies, or rather sell them  to the highest ous Vespasian was to avoid this complibidder?  Is it possible for them  to imagine ment, the more earnestly did the people
that we who have undergone all the fatigue press his acceptance of it; till at length, on
attending excessive labor, till we are grown his repeated refusal, they advanced to him
old in the use of arms, -  that we will ever with  drawn  swords, and threatened his
submit to be governed by  an  emperor destruction if he any longer refused acceptchosen by them, when we have a prince ing an honor of which he was so deserving.
of our own  who is much more  worthy Still, however, for a time, he refused; but
of the government?  Besides, if we omit at length yielded to an importunity that was
the present opportunity of testifying our not to be resisted.
gratitude for the numerous obligations we    The government of the empire was no
owe to the generosity of Vespasian, it is sooner accepted by Vespasian than Mucianot very probable that a similar prospect nus and the other officers joined with the
of paying him the proper compliment will whole body of the army in requesting that
ever again offer.  Exclusive of these con- he  would  immediately march his forces
siderations, the personal merit of Vespasian against Vitellius; but Vespasian thought it
hath as much better qualified him  for the would be most prudent first to bring over
dignity of emperor, than that of Vitellius, as to his interest the people of Alexandria, by
our merits have qualified us for the choice, means of which  he  should  obtain such
beyond that of those who  have  elected advantages as would not only secure himhim.   With regard  to Vespasian, there self, but, in all probability, crown his entercan be no debate or competition; for the prise with success.  Egypt, on account of
senate and people of Rome are entirely in the prodigious quantity of corn which it
his interest; nor would they even listen to produced, was deemed  one of the most
an  insinuation  of the  licentiousness and important branches of the empire: wheredebauches of Vitellius being put in  cor- fore Vespasian  was of opinion, that if he




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              667
could but possess himself of that country, be done by all the inhabitants of the city.
the people of Rome  might be  induced This oath was taken with every possible
rather to expel Vitellius than run the risk demonstration of joy and esteem; for they
of starving if they refused so to do, which were previously informed of the good intenwould be the natural consequence if they tions of the new emperor, and confided in
could not obtain  proper  assistance from  his virtue and honor.   Tiberius made a
Egypt.                                     generous use of the power intrusted to him
These observations being highly approved for the public welfare, and  immediately
of by the officers, Vespasian immediately began to make the necessary preparations for
wrote a letter to Tiberius, the then governor receiving Vespasian.
of Alexandria, informing him  that, at the   Intelligence of Vespasian's being advanced
importunity of his soldiers, he had  been to the dignity of ruling the empire was
prevailed on to take the government into propagated with the utmost speed through
his own hands, and that he thought he could every part of the eastern country; and
not act more prudently than to request the wherever this news arrived, it was so gratefavor of his advice and assistance in the ful to the people, that the inhabitants of
office of administration.   Tiberius had no the several cities kept a holiday on the
sooner read this letter, than, with the utmost occasion, and offered up their prayers that
freedom  and good-will, he took an oath of the reign of Vespasian might be long and
fidelity to Vespasian, and caused the like to happy.   Several ambassadors from  Syria
Medal of Vespasian, commemorating the capture of Jerusalem.
and other provinces waited on Vespasian, he could not but recur to the circumstance
with congratulatory addresses on his being of Josephus having, while he remained a
appointed to the government of the empire. prisoner, and during the life of Nero, called
Among the rest was Mucianus, the governor him  by the title of emperor.   This sinof Syria, who gave him  the utmost assur- gular prediction  had  great influence on
ance of the loyalty  and affection of the the mind of Vespasian, and the greater,
people in general, which they had testified because the party was still a  prisoner:
by cheerfully taking the oath of fidelity to wherefore, sending for Mucianus and others
his person and authority.                  of his officers, he spoke to them  of the
These favorable circumstances struck a singular courage and bravery of Josephus,
deep impression on the mind of Vespasian, and how gallantly he had behaved himself
who could not help seriously reflecting that at the siege of Jotapata.   After this he
they had less the appearance of being the mentioned several other particulars respectwork of chance than the immediate effect ing  him, and at length adverted to the
of a disposing Providence; and he thought subject of his predictions  " Those," said
it appeared that he had not been raised to he, " I at first imagined to be nothing more
so distinguished an elevation by the power than contrivances for his own preservation;
of fortune, but by divine  interposition. but the event has proved that they were
Reflecting on this subject, there occurred to actually the result of divine providence;
his mind several prophetical hints which wherefore, my friends, it would be an inhad happened in the course of his life, all delible disgrace in me longer to detain,
tending to the same end.  Among the rest in the abject condition of a prisoner, the




6h38                            AN  ILLUSTRATED
person who first declared to me the news of sent a strong army under the command of
my advancement."'Ccinna to oppose him.  As soon as CeHaving said  this, Vespasian  instantly cinna met Antonius (which was on the consent for Josephus, and, in the presence of fines of Italy), he was struck with terror at
the company, restored him  to his liberty. the numbers, order, and discipline of his
From this instance of gratitude in Vespasian, army.  He was totally at a loss how to act:
his officers formed the most favorable idea he did not dare to risk a battle, nor could he
of their own situation, thinking that they, think of running away from  them; and
who were his faithful firiends and servants, therefore he chose rather to be considered as a
should experience every indulgence under deserter than a coward.  Having assembled
so kind a master.  During this scene Titus his centurions, tribunes, and all the rest of his
was present, who, in a most submissive officers, he exerted the utmost power of his
manner, hinted to his father that the single oratory in a declaration of the different
granting of liberty to Josephus was leaving degrees of merit between Vespasian and
the generosity of his plan incomplete: that Vitellius.   The  one he extolled to the
his chains ought not only to be taken off, highest degree, and depreciated the characbut broken, for if that was not done the ter of the other; and all this with a fixed
dishonor of his imprisonment would remain design to prevail on the soldiers of Vitellius
with him, though his person was restored to take part with Vespasian.  The speech
to liberty.   Vespasian, coinciding in this he made on this occasion was to this effect:
opinion, gave  immediate orders that his " Vitellius possesses nothing more than the
chains should be cut to pieces; which cir- name of an emperor; whereas the claim of
cumstance not only gave the most extensive Vespasian is not only founded on the strictest
freedom  to Josephus, but so  raised his equity, but his person is stamped with the
reputation as a prophet, that every person indubitable marks of the imperial character.
was disposed to give credit to any of his Besides, the  troops of Vespasian are so
future pledictions in as full and ample a numerous and well-chosen, that it will be in
manner as they had done to what he had vain for us to think of entering into a conalready foretold.                         test with him.  This being the case, had we
A general council was now held to con- not better now act the same part, as of our
sider the most proper measures to be taken own choice and free will, that we shall otherin the then exigency of affairs, in which it wise be compelled to do through the force
was resolved  that Titus should prosecute of mere necessity?  While I say this, I Im
the war against the Jews, and thatVespasian  certain that Vespasian is able to carry his
should go to  Alexandria, and  use  such design into execution without our aid or
methods as he thought advisable for sup- assistance; but Vitellius, so far from being
pressing the disturbances at Rome, occasioned able to protect his adherents, is by no means
by the usurper Vitellius.                  in a condition to defend himself."
On Vespasian's arrival at Alexandria, he    These arguments were urged with so much
was received by the people of that city zeal that Cacinna obtained the point at which
with the  utmost demonstrations of joy; he labored, and prevailed on his troops to go
and measures were instantly concerted for over to Antonius.  But on the following
reducing Vitellius, and quieting  the dis- night Coacinna's people, partly repenting of
turbances which then took place at Rome. what they had done, and partly in fear of the
For this purpose he despatched a consider- consequence, in case Vitellius should prove
able army of cavalry and foot, under the successful in the contest, advanced in a rage,
command of Mucianus, through Cappadocia with drawn swords, to despatch Cacinna,
and Phrygia, into Italy, being  afraid to which they would have certainly done, had
trust his troops by sea during the winter not the tribunes strongly interposed in his
season.                                    favor.  Hereupon they desisted from taking
In the mean time, Antonius Primus (an away his life but insisted that, as a traitor,
excellent soldier who had been banished by he should be immediately sent in chains to
Nero, but restored by Galba, a friend to Vitellius.
Vespasian) marched at the head of the third    As soon as Antonius were informed of this
legion to give battle to Vitellius, the latter event, he immediately went with a party to
of whom, being informed of his intentions, attack them  as deserters.  For some time




HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                              669
they made a faint resistance, but receded on his army toward Rome; information of which
the first violent attack, and fled toward Cre- being made known to Sabinus, the brother
mona.  Antonius interposing with his cavalry of Vespasian, he that same night assembled
between the fugitives and the town, and the city guards, and possessed himself of the
entirely surrounding them, destroyed great capital. On the following day great numbers
numbers on the spot, and, pursuing the rest, of persons of distinguished rank joined his
put the whole to the sword, except their party, among whom was Domitian, brother
general Caceinna, whom he set at liberty, and to Titus, and younger son to Vespasian.
despatched to Vespasian with an account of   Vitellius paid little regard to the proceedthe victory.                               ings of Antonius, the principal view of his
After this defeat, Antonius marched with resentment being directed toward Sabinus,
hla"
-----'1               ___                               ___-    -        = =/
ill —-" 11-I                                            Jill1 
11111                                -                    -II
THE FORUM, ROME.
and the other persons who had joined with With respect to Sabinus, he was made prishim in the revolt; and being by nature of a oner, and conducted to Vitellius, who ordered
savage and ferocious disposition, but partic- him immediately to be put to death.
ularly so to those of distinguished rank, he    The next day Antonius arrived with his
despatched a body of his own troops to attack army, when a desperate battle ensued bethem.  In this enterprise the most singular tween him and the troops of Vitellius. The
instances of bravery were displayed on both forces of Antonius being divided, they ensides; but in the end, the troops of Vitellius gaged in three different parts of the city at
became victorious.   Domitian, and  other the same time, and the contest was continued
Romans of the first rank, made their escape; for that day without any material advantage
but the greater part of the people were de- on either side.  Early the next morning
stroyed, and the victors, after plundering the Mucianus with his army entered Rome, and
temple of Janus, burnt it to the ground. joining that of Antonius, the attack was re



670                           AN ILLUSTRATED
newed with the utmost vigor, and the troops except where it was fenced with deep valleys,
of Vitellius being defeated, were all put to having the castle of Antonia, the temple, the
the sword.                               palace of Acra, the towers on Mount Sion,
Thus was this mighty city taken by her own and several other places almost impregnable;
natural subjects; and as it was fatal to many so that great consultation, and a preparation
thousands, so likewise was it to Vitellius of many materials, were required to carry on
himself, whom the soldiers dragged out of such a siege.
his palace, and (without hearkening to any    The inhabitants of Jerusalem  had been
entreaties, binding his hands behind him, for a long time in the most distressed situaand throwing a halter about his neck) drew  tion, owing to the several parties and factions
him  into the public Forum, through the which had taken possession of different parts
main street, called Via Sacra.  As he went of the city, and were not only mulrdering
along, they used the most opprobrious lan- each other, but in their rage and madness,
guage, and treated him with the greatest in- destroyed such a quantity of provisions as
dignity they could project; they pelted him  might have served the city for several months.
with dung and filth, and held the point of a   Jerusalem was involved in these sad cirsword under his chin to prevent his conceal- cumstances, when Titus, with a powerful
ing his face.  At length they conducted him  army, and all kinds of warlike engines, apto the common place of execution, where, with preached, and sat down within six or seven
many blows and wounds, they despatched furlongs of the city, a little before the feast
him  in the  56th year of his age, and of the passover.  By these means he shut up
after a short reign of only eight months. an infinite number of people who had come
Having wreaked their vengeance thus, they from all parts to that solemnity, which, in a
dragged his body from the spot where they short time, occasioned a great consumption
had killed him, and threw it into the River of their provisions.
Tiber; after which, they not only made his   On the first appearance of so formidable
brother, and only son, but likewise all whom  an army, the several factions unanimously
they met with of his party, victims to their agreed to oppose it; in consequence of
resentment.                              which, they sallied out with great resolution
As soon as the fury of this carnage was and fury, and putting the Romans to disover, the Roman senate assembled, and, with order, obliged them to abandon their camp,
unanimous consent, not only declared Vespa- and fly to the mountains.  But the Jews
sian emperor, but conferred the title of Caesar were at last repulsed, and driven into the
upon his two sons, Titus and Domitian; nom- city by Titus, who particularly distinguished
inating the former to be consul with his father himself as a courageous and expert warrior.
for the ensuing year, and the latter to be   When Titus had properly placed his enpreetor with consular power.  They likewise gines (which was not done without great
rewarded  Mucianus and Antonius, with opposition), he battered the outward walls,
several others, for contributing  to  this and, on the third day of May, making a
happy revolution; and despatched couriers breach, entered and took possession of the
to Vespasian, at Alexandria, to tender him  northern quarter of the city, as far as the
their homage and obedience, and to desire castle of Antonia and the valley of Kedron.
his speedy return to Rome.  On this occasion Having done this, he gave the besieged all
the people made two festivals, one for their possible assurances of pardon and civil treatdeliverance from the tyranny of Vitellius, ment if they would but submit: but they,
and the other for the happy advancement judging his order to be the effect of cowardof Vespasian to the government of the em- ice, refused to accept of any terms or conpire.  But it is now time to return to Titus.  ditions whatever.
Before Vespasian left Judaea, he, by the   On the fifth day after this, Titus broke
advice of his council, committed the manage- through the second wall, and though the
ment of the war against the Jews to his son besieged made several sallies, and drove him
Titus, well knowing his extraordinary valor out again, yet he recovered the place, and
and skill for such an undertaking.  Himself possessed himself of the lower city.
had reduced most of the country, except   Though Titus was now thoroughly conJerusalem; but Jerusalem  was the capital vinced, in his own mind, that he could by
city, fortified with three walls on every side, force of arms easily make a complete oon



HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.                               671
quest of the city, yet he was willing, if pos- scious of this truth, your ancestors, who
sible, to effect it without any further loss of were more wise and powerful than you are,
blood.  He therefore, inll the first place, sent were  induced to  pay allegiance  to  the
a messenger to the Jews, requestingthat they Romans, which they certainly would not
would have so much regard to their own have done had they not been fully convinced
interest as to surrender a place, of which he that it was the will of Providence they
could, at any time, make himself master. should submit.  But wherefore would you
But this not answering his wishes, he de- any longer continue a contest, that is, in
spatched  Josephus to them, thinking that effect, already decided?  For if your walls
when they were addressed by their own coun- were yet perfect, and the siege actually
tryman, and in a language familiar to them, raised, so long as the Romans resolved not
it might probably be attended with success. to quit the place, you must soon be starved
In conformity to the directions given by into submission.  Famine has already made
Titus, Josephus first walked through several great havoc among you, and the calamity
parts of the city, after which, stopping on an will daily increase, as there is no guarding
elevated spot, within the hearing of the against the consequence of the severities of
enemy, he addressed them in words to this hunger.  It will therefore well become you
effect: " Countrymen and friends, it is my to recollect yourselves, and take advice while
earnest request, that if you have any esteem  it may be serviceable to you.  The Romans
for your lives and liberties, any veneration are of a liberal disposition, and will be ready
for your city, your temple, and your country, to forgive all that is past, if you do not
you will, on the present occasion, give a continue to exasperate them till forgiveness
proper testimony of your sensibility, and would look like weakness.   But if you resist
learn, even from strangers and enemies, to till they storm the city, instead of mercy, you
have a proper regard to your own interest. will fatally experience their resentment from
You may have observed, that the Romans the point of the sword."
entertain so great a veneration for sacred    These friendly admonitions made not the
things, that they make a scruple of seizing least impression on the perverse Jews, who,
any thing that is holy; and this they do, instead of paying attention to them, treated
though they never presumed to have any Josephus with  the utmost contempt, and,
share, concern, or interest in your commun- had he not been properly guarded, would
ion; whereas you, on the contrary, instead have put him to death.  In consequence of
of protecting the religion in which you were this, Titus resolved to  proceed with the
educated, seem  conspiring to complete its utmost severity against them.  Accordingly,
destruction.  Are you not by this time con- when any fled from  the city (which great
vinced that, your fortresses being beaten numbers were constrained to do on account
down, and a great part of your walls left of the want of provisions), they were no
in a defenceless condition, your weakness is sooner taken than Titus ordered them to be
sufficiently exposed, and that it is an abso- scourged  and crucified.  This, however,
lute impossibility to support yourselves much he did not do from motives of cruelty, but
longer against so formidable a power as that with a view of striking terror in the multiwith which you have to contend?  It is true, tude, in hopes that they would the sooner
that engaging in the cause of liberty is a give up all opposition, and surrender themglorious task, provided  it be undertaken selves to the superior force of his arms.
before that liberty is likely to be lost or for-   Finding every method ineffectual to bring
feited; but when the latter is the case, it is the Jews to submission, Titus, on the 12th of
idle to think of attempting to throw it off, May, began four mounts for his batteringand all further endeavors will rather tend to rams, two near the castle of Antonia, where
produce a disgraceful death than give the he was in hopes of taking the temple, and two
opportunity of preserving a life of honorable near the monument of John, the high-priest,
freedom.  A  state of bondage to a master where he supposed he might, without much
whom  a man of honor would blush to ac- difficulty, break into the upper city.  But in
knowledge his superior is indeed a scandal- two bold sallies, the besieged ruined and deous state; but submission to a people whose stroyed the mounts, and, having burnt several
authority is acknowledged  by the whole battering-rams, and other engines, pressed
world is by no means disgraceful.  Con- forward, and broke into the very camp of the




672                            AN ILLUSTRATED
Romans. At length they were repulsed by distance of the city, and, causing more
Titus, who (in a council of war) resolved to mounts to be raised, on the first of July he
surround the whole  city with a wall or began to batter the wall of Antonia, and, on
intrenchment, to hinder the flight of the be- the fifth, entered the castle by force, and
sieged, and to prevent all relief from coming pursued the flying Jews even to the temple.
into the city, thereby strictly verifying the Both Titus and Josephus again exhorted
words of our blessed Redeemer: " The days them  to surrender, but all to no purpose:
shall come upon thee, that thine enemies they absolutely refused every accommodation,
shall cast a trench about thee and compass and even boasted that rather than submit they
thee around, and keep thee in on every side." would glory in enduring the worst of miseries.
Luke xix. 43.                              Titus, hearing this, in order to make an easy
This work was executed with such astonish- ascent to the temple, ordered the fortress of
ing celerity, that the whole was finished Antonia to be razed to the ground, and having
within the space of a few days. But it made seized the north and west porticoes, or cloisters
no impression on the besieged, notwithstand- of the outward range of the temple, he set
ing the famine began to rage with the most them on fire, as the Jews did other porticoes,
horrid violence, and such a mortality ensued, to hinder the Romans firom making their
that within the space of three months no less approaches.
than 115,080 carcasses of the poorer sort were    On the eighth day of August, Titus, percarried to be buried at the public charge, ceiving that the walls of the inner temple
600,000 were thrown out at the gates; and were too strong for the battering-rams, and
when the number of dead bodies increased to that the foundation of the gates could not be
such a degree that they had no place to bury undermined, was obliged to set fire to them,
them, they gathered them  together in the yet still with an intent, if possible, to save the
largest houses adjoining, and there shut them  temple itself; but it so fell out that, on the
up.                                        tenth, a certain soldier, contrary to the comAll this time the famine increased to such mand of the general, cast a flaming firebrand
a degree, that wives took the meat out of through the golden window into the chambers
their husbands' mouths, children from their and  buildings on  the north side, which
parents, and mothers from  their children; immediately set them on fire.  The utmost
old men were driven from  their meat as endeavors were used to prevent the fatal
persons of no use, and young men tortured effects of this proceeding, but to no purpose.
to confess where their provisions layT; sinks The flames spread throughout the whole
and holes were continually raked to find offal fabric, and soon consumed the most beautiful
for food, and the very soldiers (who were structure that ever was erected; while the
the last that would want) began to eat gir- Roman soldiers, pursuing their victory with
dles, shoes, hay, and other articles; and, what the most imaginable fury and revenge, cut to
was worst of all, and the most shocking to pieces every person they found about the
human nature, a woman of quality even temple, and then set fire to the rest of the
boiled her own child with an intent to eat it. buildings.
This act appeared so detestable in the eyes   During this state of general confusion,
of Titus, that (after having repeatedly offered those who were the chiefs in the sedition
peace and pardon to the Jews if they would found means to retire to the upper and
submit, and as often received a denial) he strongest part of the city, called Sion, situpublicly declared that " he would bury the ated upon a steep rock, where they endeavabominable crime in the ruins of their country, ored to defend themselves to the last. But,
and not suffer the sun to shine upon that Titus having raised his batteries and made a
city, whose mothers eat their own children, breach in the wall, they lost all their courand whose fathers, no less culpable, did, by age, abandoned the towers, which were their
their obstinacy, reduce them  to such an ex- only strength, and in vain sought to escape
tremity."                                  by hiding themselves in vaults and privies,
With this resolution he ordered all the whence both John   and Simon (two princigroves to be cut down within a considerable pal ringleaders of their different factions)
* This John was the son of one Levi, and one John, under pretence of surrendering it, made his
of the principal men belonging to the city of escape, and went with a party of men to JerusaGrichala. When Titus laid siege to that place, lem, where, joining with the Zealots, and being




HISTORY OF THE BIBLE.                                  673
were dragged out, and the former condemned conformity to what they had expected, by
to perpetual imprisonment, while the latter administering justice, and reforming the laws
was preserved to grace the victor's triumph. and customs of Rome, honorably rewarding
The Romans, having now gained the walls, those who had served him, and pardoning
and with shouts of joy placed their colors his adversaries with the most singular clemupon the towers, broke loose all over the ency.
city, and ranged up and down the streets,   In the mean time, the news of the conkilling all that fell in their way without dis- quest of Jerusalem  reached Rome, which
tinction, till the passages weie filled up with occasioned the greatest rejoicings in that city,
the carcasses, and the channels of the city the people universally proclaiming the praises
ran down with blood, as if it had been to of Titus, who had shown himself so expert a
quench the fire, which was become, as it soldier and commander; and in consequence
were, one general conflagration.            of this a triumph was decreed both for him
To this fatal end was the famous city of and his father, the latter having conducted
Jerusalem, after a siege of above five months, the beginning of the war with no less eclat
reduced, in the second year of Vespasian's than the former had finished it.
reign, and thirty-eight years after our Lord's   When Titus returned to Rome he was recrucifixion.  In this siege it was computed ceived with the universal applause of the
that 1,100,000 perished, and 97,000 were people, and within a few days after both the
taken captives, beside 237,490 (according father and son entered upon their triumph,
to Josephus) who fell in the wars which pre- which was more solemn and magnificent than
ceded it.                                   had ever before been seen in Rome. Among
The greater part of the buildings in the other rich and glorious spoils were great
city being consumed by fire, and the soldiers quantities of gold taken out of the temple,
having neither rapine nor object left for their and the body of the Jewish law, which were
rage and indignation to work upon, Titus exhibited to the view of the people.  This
ordered them to lay the remaining parts of was the first time that Rome ever saw the
the city and temple level with the ground: father and son triumph together; and as
which order was so punctually executed, that Vespasian built a new  temple to Peace,
(except three towers, which, for their strength wherein he deposited most of the Jewish
and beauty, were left as monuments to pos- spoils, so Titus had a triumphal arch of
terity of the once magnificence of the city) great beauty and magnificence erected to his
the whole was laid so fiat, that, when the honor, whereon were inscribed all his noble
Romans left the place, it looked as if it exploits against the Jews, and which, as a
had never been inhabited.                   lasting monument of the impiety and perWhile these things were transacting at verseness of that nation, remains almost
Jerusalem, VTespasian, who entered upon entire to this day.
the government in the fifty-ninth year of his   Such was the end of the once famous city
age, was received at Rome with all imagina- of Jerusalem, and such the end of the Jewble joy and triumph by the people.  They ish polity; from which time those obstinate
considered him as the only person whose vir- and perverse people were no longer a nation,
tues and excellences could recover the lan- but have ever since been  dispersed and
guishing state of the empire. nor were they despised throughout the whole face of the
mistaken, for he began immediately to act in earth.
naturally a crafty man, eloquent in speech, andi Judwa, after which he encamped near Jerusalem,
ambitious beyond measure, lie soon began to and was at length let in by the citizens to defend
assume a sovereign power over the rest, and be- them against John, who, at the head of the Zealcame the commander of one faction, as Simon, ots, did many cruel and tyrannical actions. So
the son of Gioras, did of another. Simon, having that Simon and his army were in the city, while
gathered together a great number of robbers and John and his adherents were in the temple, fightmurderers, went into the mountainous parts of the ing and destroying one another, even-while the
country, reduced all Idumea, and some places in enemy was at the walls.
43








BIBLE CHRONOLOGY.
OuR Bible Chronology is a subject involved in confusion and perplexity. Learned men
and antiquarians have been laborious in critical investigations for a solution of the existing
difficulties, but have thus far failed of reaching any very satisfactory results.
What has contributed to this chronological confusion is the fact that the events of sacred
history, as recorded in the Scriptures of the Old Testament, are not given in the order of
their occurrence.  Hence, it becomes a more difficult work to adjust our Bible Chronology.
Another source of existing perplexity is the fact that the three existing versions of Holy
Scripture, viz., the Hebrew, the Samaritan Pentateuch, and the Greek Septuagint, have
each a different chronology, showing a discrepancy of hundreds of years between the
creation of man and the birth of Christ.  The greater discrepancy is between the Hebrew
version and the Greek Septuagint. According to ABP. USHER, who adopts the authority
of the Hebrew Scriptures, the period between the creation of man and the birth of Christ
is 4,004 years. According to DR. HALES, who advocates the Septuagint chronology, this
period embraces 5,411 years, a difference of 1,407 years, as compared with the computation
of Usher.
Various theories have been adopted for the purpose of accounting for the chronological
discrepancy between the Hebrew version and the Greek Septuagint. But this is not the
place to discuss the causes of these chronological discrepancies, nor would such discussion
be very satisfactory.
It is admitted that, in respect to the problability of accuracy arising from the state of the
text, the Hebrew has the advantage.  That text is, therefore, followed in the authorized
version of our English Bible; and the chronology, as therein given according to the
learned Usher, is accepted as the most reliable of any among the conflicting systems which
different chronologists, ancient and modern, have advocated. It is not claimed that in exist,
ing circumstances entire accuracy as to dates is obtained.  All that can reasonably be
expected is an approximation to chronological accuracy in the dates which are given.
In the preparation of the following table, the general plan adopted is that appended by
Dr. Dewar, Principal of the University at Aberdeen, to his enlarged and improved
edition of Stackhouse's Biblical works, as edited and published in Glasgow, 1842. To
make it more full and satisfactory, it has been supplemented by additions selected from
original sources, and from a variety of chronological articles to which the editor has had
access. The aid furnished by these articles is hereby acknowledged.
675




CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.
NOTE.- -Such events as are derived from secular history, are given in Italics, to
distinguish them readily from those of Biblical origin, so far as the inspired History
extends.
PERIOD  I.
From  the Creation to the Deluge, according to Usher, as adopted in the English
Version of the Bible, 1656 Years.
B. C.  A. M.
The creation of our first parents............................. 4004          1
The fall of Adam and promise of a Saviour........
The birth of Cain, Adam's eldest son..                               4001      3
The birth of Abel, Adam's second son............ 4000        4
The murder of Abel, and the punishment of Cain.................... 3876   128
The birth of Seth, son of Adam..................................  3874   130
The birth of Enos, son of Seth.................................. 3769   235
The birth of Cainan, son of Enos...................... 3679  325
The birth of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan..................       3609   395
The birth of Israel, son of Mahalaleel.........................  3544   460
The birth of Enoch, son of Israel..                     3382  622
The birth of Methuselah, son of Enoch........................... 3317   687
The birth of Lamech, son of Methuselah........................... 3130   874
The death of Adam, aged 930 years........................... 3074   930
The translation of Enoch, aged 365 years.......................... 3017   987
The death of Seth, aged 912 years.............................. 2962  1042
The birth of Noah, son of Lamech................2948 1056
The death of Enos, aged 905 years.......................... 2864  1140
The death of Cainan, aged 910 years..............................   2769  1235
The death of Mahalaleel, aged 895 years..................... 2714  1290
The death of Israel, aged 962 years...........................   2582  1422
Noah warned by God of the future deluge, and commanded to build
an ark.................................... 2468  1536
The birth of Japheth, eldest son of Noah.................. 2448  1556
The birth of Shem, second son of Noah......................... 2446  1558
The birth of Ham, third son of Noah...............         2444  1560
Death of Lamech, father of Noah, aged 777 years................... 2353  1651
676




CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE.                             677
B.C.  A.M.
Death of Methuselah, aged 969 years, the oldest man...........     2348  1656
The same year, Noah, being 600 years old, the flood comes upon the earth, and he
enters the ark.
PERIOD  II.
From the Deluge to the Calling of Abraham.
B. C.  A. M.I,
Noah with his family, &c., leave the ark...........................   2347  1657
The rainbow a pledge of security..............................
The birth of Arphaxad, son of Shem................                  2346  1658
Noah plants a vineyard, &c......................... 2341  1663
The birth of Salah, son of Arphaxad.............................. 2311  1693
The birth of Eber or Heber, son of Salah, from whom it was supposed the
Hebrews derived their name.................................   2281  1723
The birth of Peleg, son of Eber............         2247  1757
The building of the tower of Babel, confusion of languages, and the
dispersion of mankind...................................... 2234  1770
Beginning of the Egyptian dynasties, and the Assyrian monarchy.......   2233  1771
The birth of Reu, son of Peleg................................. 2217  1787
The birth of Serug, son of Reu...............................  2185  1819
Early astronomical calculations of the Babylonians about this time.
The birth of Nahor, son of Serug.................................. 2155  1849
The birth of Terah, son of Nahor.................................   2126  1878
The death of Nimrod, founder of Babylon, who is succeeded by Belus.... 2061  1943
The birth of Haran, son of Terah................................. 2056  1948
Dynasty of the Hykshos, or Shepherd Kings, in Lower Egypt about this
time.
The death of Belus, succeeded by Ninus, as king of Assyria...........  2035  1969
The death of Noah aged 950 years....................  1998 2006
Beginning of the post-diluvian apostasy....................................
The birth of ABRAM, son of Terah................................ 1996  2008
The death of Ninus, succeeded by his wife, Semiramis.............. 1987  2017
The birth of Sarai, afterwards wife of Abram........................ 1986  2018
The death of Semiramis, Queen of Assyria................... 1945  2059
The call of Abram from Ur of the Chaldaeans to Haran in Mesopotamia,
where his father died, aged 205 years....................      1917  2083
Mesopotamia called by the Hebrews Padan-Aram, located between the
Rivers Tigris and Euphrates, was the first abode of men before and
after the flood.
PERIOD III.
From the Calling of Abraham to the Exodus of the Israelites.
B.C.  A.M.
ABRIAHAM called the second time to leave Haran and go to Canaan, being
75 years old.................................... 1921  2083




678                      CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE.
B. C.  A.M.
Eighteenth Dynasty of Egyptian kings, during which the Israelites sojourned
in Egypt until their exodus under Moses.
Abraham with his wife goes to Egypt............................. 1920  2084
He returns from Egypt to Canaan.............................
Abraham and Lot separate, the former going to Mamre, the latter to
Sodom................. 1920 2084
Chedorlaomer and his allies make war upon the king of Sodom, and take Lot
prisoner; but they are pursued and defeated by Abraham.......... 1913  2084
Melchisedek receives tithes from him and blesses him.................
God makes a covenant with Abraham.............................
The birth of Ishmael, son of Abraham and Hagar.................. 1910  2094
God renews his covenant with Abram, changing his name to ABRAHAM,
institutes circumcision, promises Isaac by Sarah his wife............ 1897  2107
Abraham entertains angels, is informed by them of the destruction of Sodom
and Gomorrah, intercedes for these cities, their overthrow.........
Abraham sojourns in Gerar, where Abimelech, the king, takes Sarah to wife,
but restores her..........................*......
The birth of Isaac in the 100th year of Abraham.....................  1896  2108
Abraham sends away Hagar and her son Ishmael............         1892  2112
He is commanded of God to sacrifice Isaac, his son.               1871  2133
Sarah dies at Hebron, aged 127 years......                       1859  2145
The marriage of Isaac and Rebecca................................  1856  2148
The birth of Jacob and Esau, Isaac being 60 years old................  1836  2168
Death of Abraham, aged 175 years................................ 1818  2186
Kingdom of Argos founded about this time.
Bela the first king of Edom begins to reign....                   1740  2264
Isaac blesses Jacob, who departs to Padan-aram.                  1760  2240
Jacob marries Leah, daughter of Laban.......................... 1753  2251
Esau marries two Canaanitish women............................... 1796  2208
Jacob makes Joseph his favorite, his dreams, is sold as a slave to Egypt..   1728  2276
Joseph cast into prison..................................  1719  2285
The death of Isaac, aged 180 years............................... 1716  2288
Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams, and is made the first ruler under the
king.................................................. 1715  2289
Commencement of seven years' famine............................. 1708  2296
Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to buy corn........................... 1707  2297
He sends them again with Benjamin, when Joseph makes himself known
to them........................................... 1706 2298
Jacob and family go down to Egypt................................ 1706  2298
Jacob having blessed his sons, dies in Egypt, aged 147................ 1689  2315
The death of Joseph, aged 110 years........................... 1635  2369
Revolution in Egypt, the shepherd kings expelled, and the Theban dynasty
by successive kings reigns dcuring the sojourn and bondage of the
Israelites to their exodus under Rameses I, B. 0. 1491.
The destruction of the male Hebrew children ordered..................  1573  2431




CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE.                             679
B.C.  A.M.
]Birth of Moses and his adoption by Pharaoh's daughter................ 1571  2433
About this time Athens is founded by Cecrops....................... 1556  2448
Moses kills an Egyptian and flies to Midian....................... 1531  2473
Amenophis, son of Rameses Miamun, reigns over Egypt.............  1510  2494
God appears to Moses in the burning bush, and sends him to deliver Israel. 1491  2513
Pharaoh refuses to release the Israelites, increases their burdens, is compelled by the plagues inflicted on his people to let the oppressed people
go......................................                       1491  2513
PERIOD  IV.
From the Exodus of the Israelites to their Entrance into Canaan.
B.C.  A.M.
The Israelites march from Rameses to the Red Sea...................  1491  2513
Overthrow of Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea.............................
Their arrival at Sinai, the giving of the law, consecration of Aaron and his
sons to the priesthood.............................................
Moses delays to descend from the mount, and the people make and worship a
golden calf; he shows his displeasure by breaking the tables of the law,
destroying the idol, and putting 3,000 idolaters to death....................
Moses is called again to ascend the mount, and receives from God two other
tables of the law............................
The tabernacle completed and erected.............................. 1490  2512
The conduct of Miriam and Aaron punished.................................
From Paran twelves spies are sent to explore the land of Canaan, their
report, the people murmur, they are doomed to fall in the wilderness 1491  2135
Rebellion of Korah and his company, their punishment, many thousands of
the people perish with the plague on account of their murmuring..... 1471  2533
The Israelites arrive at Kadesh, the 40th year of their departure from
Egypt.................................................        1451  2553
Moses, by God's direction, brings water from a rock...........................
Death of Aaron at Mount Hor, aged 123 years..............................
The plague of fiery serpents, the brazen serpent.............................
The Israelites enter Moab, defeat Sihon and Og............................
Balaam sent to curse Israel, is constrained to bless them....................
The men of Israel, seduced by the women of Moab and Midian, and 24,000
consequently perish...................
The Israelites arrive at the plains of Moab...............................
Moses, informed of his approaching death, recapitulates the laws, &c.,
blesses the tribes, ascends Nebo and dies, aged 120...............
Joshua confirmed as his successor, sends spies to Jericho, conducts the
people over Jordan...............................................
Jericho taken, and the inhabitants slain..........
About this time Troy was founded by Seamander, and the Olympic games
were first celebrated at Elis in Greece.




680                         CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.
PERIOD V.
From the Entrance of the Israelites into the Land of Canaan to the Building of Solo;
mon's Temple.
B. C.  A. M.
Joshua, the successor of Moses, leads the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan 1451  2553
Disastrous battle at Ai, and its cause......................................
A division of the land commenced........................ 1445 2559
The tabernacle set up in Shiloh...................................  1444 2560
Joshua assembles all Israel, renews their covenant with God, counsels them,
and dies, aged 110 years.................................. 1443  2561
Degeneracy of Israel begins to appear                                      1419  2585
The war of the Benjamites.................................... 1405 2599
Israelites in subjection to the king of Mesopotamia 8 years..............  1406  2598
linos, king of Crete, promulgates his laws.
Othniel delivers Israel from the king of Mesopotamia, and governs the.  people 40 years....                                                  1405 2599
Israel is delivered into the hands of Eglon, king of Moab, whom they
serve 18 years.... 1..342 2662
Isthmian games instituted by the king of Corinth................... 1326 2678
Ehud slays Eglon, king of Moab, and delivers Israel..................     1325  2679
The Israelites relapse into idolatry, are delivered into the hand of Jabin as
the punishment..................1305 2699
Deborah and Barak deliver Israel...................... 1296 27aq
The Assyrian empire founded about this time.
Tyrefounded by the Sidonians................................ 1252 2752
Gideon delivers Israel..................                   1245 2759
Tola governs Israel 23 years.............................. 1232 2772
Jair succeeds Tola, and governs Israel 22 years..... 1209  2789
About this time the Lydian kingdom begins.
Semiramis marries Ninus..............................................
Jephthah's exploits and vow................................ 1145 2859
Troy taken by the Greeks about this time.
Samson's exploits, he pulls down the temple.........................  1136  2887
The ark taken by the Philistines-death of Eli.....              1141   2863
The Lord reveals himself to Samuel in Shiloh........a............... 1145  2859
Samuel anoints Saul as king of Israel.............................. 1095 2909
Saul's inauguration in Gilgal........................................
Saul, for his rash sacrifice, is rejected of God........................   1093   2911
Samuel is sent to Bethlehem to anoint David........................ 1063  2941
David slays Goliath..................................................
Death of Samuel, the last of the Judges...........................  1060  2944
David marries Abigail, formerly wife of Nabal...............................
Saul is slain on Mount Gilboa............ 1056 2948
David anointed king in Hebron.......................
Abner adheres to the son of Saul, but is defeated in an action with Joab the
general of David............................ 1053 2951




CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE.                             681
B.C. A.M.
David establishes his dominion over all Israel.............     1048  2956
lie takes the fortress of Zion and calls it the City of David..   1047  2957
Ho brings the Ark of the Covenant to Zion..............1045  2959
He purposes building a temple, but is directed by Nathan the prophet to
leave it to his successor....................................  1044  2960
David subdues the Philistines and other hostile nations.1.............. 040  2964
The adultery of David, and death of Uriah.1035  2969
David is reproved for his crime by Nathan....................... 1034  2970
The birth of Solomon.1033 2971
The rebellion of Absalom, David's son....................       1021  2983
David numbers the people of Israel, and is punished..........      1017  2987
The birth of Rehoboam, son of Solomon..................... 1016  2988
The death of David, aged 70, according to Josephus............... 1015  2989
Solomon succeeds to the throne of Israel.................         1014  2990
He lays the foundation of thetemple.............................  1012  2992
Lacevdemonian kingdom commenced about this time.
PERI O D  VI.
_From the Building of the Temple to the Babylonish Captivity.
B. C. A. M.
The dedication of the Temple.................................  1003  3001
The death of Solomon and succession of Rehoboam...................  975  3029
Revolt of the ten tribes........................................... 
Jeroboam, king of Israel, establishes idolatry...................  974  3030
The priests and pious Israelites join the kingdom of Juclah..................
Shishak, king of Egypt, invades Judea.........................    971  3033
Rehoboam dies, and is succeeded by Abijah.........................  958  3046
Abijah conquers Jeroboam with great slaughter................   957  3047
Asa succeeds Abijah, who reigns 40 years.......               955  3049
Jeroboam, king of Israel, succeeded by Nadab.......................  954  3050
Nadab is slain by Baasha, who usurps the kingdom...................   953  3051
Asa conquers Zerah the Ethiopian, who invades Judeea.................  941  3063
Omri, king of Israel, makes Samaria his capital...................  924  3080
Omri dies, and is succeeded by his son Ahab........................  918  3086
Jehoshaphat succeeds his father Asa, as king of Judah...          914  3090
He reforms the religion of his kingdom..................            912  3092
Elijah predicts a famine, and is fed by ravens.......................  910  3094
Homer and Hesiod live about this time.
Elijah's challenge to the prophets of Baal........                 906  3098
Ahab, king of Israel, -seizes the vineyard of Naboth...................  899  3105
He is slain at Ramoth Gilead, and succeeded by Ahaziah...............  897  3107
Jehoshaphat associates with him his son Jehoram in the government of
Judah....................................                      892  3112
Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, introduces idolatry into Judah.        888  3116




682                      CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE.
B. C. A. M.
He dies of an incurable disease, and is succeeded by Ahaziah...........    885  3119
Jehu slays Jehoram, and reigns over the kingdom of Israel.............  884  3120
Athaliah murders the royal family, except Joash, and usurps the throne of
Judah............................................................
Jehoiada the priest anoints Joash king, and slays Athaliah..............   878  3126
Carthage is built byl Queen Dido...............................      869  3135
The Ninevites repent at the preaching of Jonah......................  862  3142
Joash orders the repair of the temple.............................  856  3148
Jehu dies, and is succeeded by his son Jehoahaz.............................
Zechariah, the priest, son of Jehoiada, is stoned in the temple by order of
Joash..                              840 3164
Joash, king of Judah, is murdered, and succeeded by Amaziah.........  839  3165
Amaziah, elated by his late victories, wages war with Jehoahash king of
Israel, and is taken prisoner................................  826  3178
Jehoahash dies, and is succeeded by his son, Jeroboam II..............  825  3179.Death of Sardanapalus, and fall of the Assyrian empire..............  820  3184
Amaziah, king of Judah, is slain, and is succeeded by Azariah...      810  3194
Jeroboam II., after a reign of 41 years, dies........................  784  3220
After the death of Jeroboam II. an interregnum of 22 years.
During his reign lived and prophesied Jonah, Hosea, and Amos.
Zechariah, son of Jeroboam, obtains the kingdom.....................  773  3231
He is killed by Shallum, who is soon killed by Menahem...............  772  3232
Menahem dies, and is succeeded by his son Pekahiah.
Pul, king of Assyria, invades and subdues Israel....................  771  3233
Uzziah, for attempting to burn incense, is smitten with leprosy...........  765  3239
Pekahiah, successor to Menahem, is killed by Pekah..................  755  3249
Macedonian empire begins about this time.
Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, and Micah prophesy.................................
Rome founded about this time.
Ahaz succeeds his father Jotham, 17th year of Pekah.................  742  3262
Tiglath-Pileser invades Israel, and carries away captives to Assyria...  740'3264
Hoshea, having slain Pekah, king of Israel, reigns....................  730  3274
Tiglath-Pileser dies, and is succeeded by Shalmaneser, who invades Israel,
and carries captive the ten tribes.............................  721  3283
Shalmaneser dies, and is succeeded by Sennacherib, who invades Judah...  715  3289
Hezekiah's sickness and miraculous recovery.........................  713  3291
Sennacherib invades Judah, and is suddenly destroyed................  710  3294
His son, Esarhaddon, succeeds to the throne.........................  706  3298
Hezekiah dies, and is succeeded by his son Manasseh.................. 694  3310
Esarhaddon makes himself master of Babylon and re-unites the Assyrian
and Babylonian empires..................                        677  3327
He takes Manasseh prisoner, and carries him to Babylon...............  671  3333
Manasseh, on repentance, is restored to his kingdom.........................
He dies, and is succeeded by Ammon, his son.......................  639  3365
Ammon is murdered, and his son Josiah reigns.....................  637  3367




CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE.                             683
B. C. A. B.
Josiah labors to reform abuses, and restore the true worship of God.......  630  3374
About this time Philip succeeds to the throne of Macedon.
Byzantium is built about this time.
Jeremiah begins to prophesy......................................  624  3380
Pabopolassar reigns in Babylon 22 years...................          622  3382
Psammetik I. reigns in Egypt about this time.
He is succeeded by Necho If....................................  609  3395
Josiah is slain in battle against Necho, king of Egypt, and is succeeded by
Jehoahaz.............                                          606 3398
Jehoiachim, in whose reign Habakkuk prophesied, reigns....................
Nineveh destroyed by the Medes and Babylonians...................  612  3392
Nebuchadnezzar takes Jerusalem,' and carries Daniel and his companions
into Babylon.............................. 602 3402
From this time, according to the common computation, the 70 years' captivity begins.*
Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream, and is consequently promoted to
a high office in the government.............................. 598  3406
Darius the Mede is born..................................6......   00  3440
Jechoniah, son of Jehoiachim, king of Judah, is carried to Babylon by
Nebuchadnezzar, with many Jews...................              598 3406
Ezekiel is called to the prophetic office...................       594  3410
Zedekiah, successor of Jechoniah, forms an alliance with the Egyptian king,
Hophra, and revolts against Nebuchadnezzar....................   592  3412
Draco, the lawgiver of Athens, lives about this time.
Ezekiel prophesies in Babylon....................................  590  3414
Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem, takes the city, destroys it with the
Temple, carries Zedekiah to Babylon, and sends the remaining inhabitants of Judaea beyond the Euphrates.  Thus ended the kingdom of
Judah, 388 years friom the secession......................    588  3416
Obadiah prophesies at this time.
Solon, the lawgiver of Athens, lives about this time; also Anacharsis,
Thales, and AEsop flourished.
PERIOD  VII.
From the Beginning of the Babylonish Captivity to the Birth of Christ.
B. C. A. M.
Gedaliah is made governor of the people left in Judeea, and is murdered...  584  3420
Ezekiel prophesies in Chaldvea, and foretells the restoration of the captive
Jews.............................................. 587 3417
Tyre besieged by Nebuchadnezzar..................5..............  586  3418
Nebuchadnezzar erects a golden image, and by a decree requires for it universal worship............................................ 580  3424
* According to Prideaux and Jahn, the 70 years' captivity predicted by Jeremiah are dated from
B. C. 606. According to Kitto, these years are dated from B. C. 604. —Vid. p. 406.




684                        CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.
B. C. A. M.
Servius Tullus, king of Rome.................................. 578 3426
Nebuchadnezzar's dream  of trouble, which Daniel interprets as portending
great calamity................................. 570 3434
His singular insanity and restoration..............................  569 3435
He dies, and is succeeded by his son, Evil-Merodach.... 562  3442
He releases Jehoiachim from prison................................  561  3443
He is slain, and succeeded by Neriglissar...........................   560  3444
Belshazzar succeeds to the throne of Babylon........................   555  3449
Daniel's emblematical vision of four monarchies.............................
Crcesus, the ally of Belshazzar, conquered by Cyrus, and taken prisoner.    548  3446
Cyrus besieges Belshazzar in Babylon..............................        541  3463
He takes Babylon, slays Belshazzar, and makes Cyaxares, or Darius, king
of Babylon.......................................... 538  3466
Daniel, envied by the nobles, is cast into the den of lions..............  637  3467
Cyrus succeeds Darius as king of the Medo-Persian empire, and ends the
captivity of the Jews in Babylon.............................. 536  3468
The remnant of the Jews return to Judsea, and begin to restore Jerusalem
and the temple............................................  535  3469
Tarquin, the Proud, succeeds to the Roman throne................... 534  3470
Cyrus dies, aged 70, and is succeeded by Ahasuerus.............  530  3474
Ahasuerus dies in Syria, and Artaxerxes usurps the Persian throne.......  522  3482
Artaxerxes is slain, and Darius Hystaspes succeeds to the throne of Persia.  521  3483
Zerubbabel and Joshua, encouraged by Haggai and Zechariah, engage in
rebuilding the temple......................................  520 3484
The temple finished and dedicated......................, 516 3488
Darius invades India.......................................... 506  3498
The Persians wage war against the Greeks.........................  500  3504
The Persians defeated with great loss at iMarathon...................  491  3513
Darius dies, and is succeeded by his son Xerxes.....................  487  3517
Xerxes confirms unto the Jews the privileges which had been granted them
by his fathert....................                                485  3519
Herodotus the historian born.....................................   484  3520
Consular government established about this time in Rome.
Xerxes, having relinquished his war against the Greeks, is slain, and is
succeeded by Artaxerxes Longimanus, the Ahasuerus of Esther....   464  3540
Artaxerxes (Ahasuerus), being established in the throne of the empire,
makes a great feast, he divorces Vashti, the queen................  462  3542
Esther, the Jewish maiden, is made his queen........................  458  3546
Ezra is made governor of Judoea, and begins a reform.................   456  3548
First decemvirs at Rome..............................   454  3550
Haman's plot for the destruction of the Jews defeated.................  452  3552
Nehemiah sent as governor of Judea..............................  448  3556
He rebuilds Jerusalem, and reforms existing evils....................  444  3560
Ezra collects and arranges a correct edition of the Scriptures.............
Nehemiah, after an absence at the Persian court, returns to Judaea under his
second commission.........................................  428  3576




CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE.                             685
B. C. A. M.
Artaxerxes dies, and is succeeded by his son Xerxes, who is slain, and
Darius Nothus reigns............................ 424  3580'
Malachi, the last of the prophets, prophesies at this time.
Joiada succeeds his father Eliashib, as high priest......................
Nehemiah, under his last commission, effects sundry reforms in Judaea.....  409  3595
THE ERA OF INSPIRED HISTORY ENDS ABOUT THIS TIME, AND THE OLD TESTAMENT CANON IS FINISHED.
Darius Nothus dies, and is succeeded by Artaxerxes Mnemon.........  405  3599
Socrates the Athenian philosopher is condemned to death for refusing to
honor the gods of Athens................  400  3604
Aristotle the renowned philosopher born.................... 384  3620
Johanan succeeds to the high-priesthood of the Jewish people....3.....  373  3631
Alexander II., king of Macedon, is murdered...............  370  3634
Johanan assassinates his brother Joshua in the temple, for which crime the
nation is fined by the Persians.......................  366  3638
Alexander the Great born in Macedonia............................ 356  3648
Ochus, king of Persia, invades Egypt, and subjugates the whole country.   350  3654
Philip king of Macedon is slain, and his son, Alexander the Great, succeeds to the throne....................................  336  3668
He invades Asia, and obtains a victory over Darius.......  334  3670
He conquers Asia Minor, and gains a decisive battle with Darius at Issus..  333  3671
He besieges Tyre, visits Jerusalem, conquers Egypt..................  332  3672
He passes the Euphrates, obtains another victory over Darius, and destroys
the Medo-Persian empire..................................   331  3673
The Greco-Macedonian empire, after a brief existence, is divided, on the
death of Alexander...................................  323  3681
A Jewish colony formed at Alexandria, Egypt................   320  3684
Onias succeeds Jaddua in the high-priesthood..321  3683
The kingdom of Alexander the Great is divided between four of his principal generals: Lysimachus, Cassander, Ptolemy, and Seleucus.......  301  3703
Onias dies, and is succeeded in the priesthood by Simon the Just.........  300  3704
Cassander, who reigned over Macedonia and Greece, dies...........  298  3706
Simon the Just dies, and is succeeded by Eleazar his brother in the highpriesthood...........................................  292  3712
Lysimachus adds to his dominions the kingdom of Macedon..         286  3718
Ptolemy Lagus resigns his throne to his son Ptolemy Philadelphus, and soon
after dies........................ 284 3720
Seleucus, having slain Lysimachus and seized his dominions, is himself slain
by Ptolemy Ceraunus...................................  280  3724
Antiochus Soter succeeds his father, Seleucus, to the throne of Syria..  279  3725
The Hebrew Scriptures, by the authority of Ptolemy Philadelphus, are
translated into Greek, and have since been known as the SEPTUAGINT  277  3727
Antiochus Soter dies, and is succeeded by Antiochus Theos...........  261  3743




686                       CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE.
B. 0. A. M.
Manasseh the high-priest is succeeded by Onias II..................   250  3754
Ptolemy Philadelphus is succeeded by his son, Ptolemy Euergetes........  247  3757
Antiochus recalls his wife, Laodice, whom he had divorced in order to marry
Berenice; but she poisons him and Berenice, and places on the throne
her son, Seleucus Callinicus.                                   246  3758
Ptolemy revenges his sister's death by slaying Laodice........................
Demetrius, son of Antigonus, succeeds to the Macedonian throne......  243  3761
Seleucus, taken prisoner by the Parthians, dies, and is succeeded by his
son Seleucus Ceraunus....................................  225  3779
Regulus, the Roman, taken prisoner............................... 246  3758
Seleucus Ceraunus is poisoned, and his brother, Antiochus the Great, becomes his successor.....                                        223  3781
Ptolemy Philopater succeeds to the throne of Egypt.......  221  3783
The Temple of Janus shut about this time.
Antiochus, having vanquished the forces of Ptolemy, makes himself master
of Phoenicia and Galilee.................                 218  3786
Onias II. succeeds his father, Simon II., as high-priest.           217  3787
Ptolemy Philop.:ter, having gained a victory over Antiochus, goes to Jerusalem, and attempts to enter the Holy of Holies.........................
He dies, and Ptolemy Epiphanes succeeds to his throne.204  3800
Antiochus unites with the king of Macedon in a plan to divide between
them the dominions of Ptolemy................................ 203  3801
The Egyptians seek the aid of Rome, and M. Emilius Lepidus is sent to
Egypt as an ambassador........................  201  3803
Hannibal encourages Antiochus to make war against the Romans.........  195  3809
Simon II., the high-priest, dies, and Onias III. succeeds him..........
Antiochus marries his daughter Cleopatra to Ptolemy Epiphanes, king of
Egypt............... 193 3811
His expedition against the Romans is a failure, and he is driven back by
Lucius Scipio, the Roman general.............  190 3814
Antiochus is slain while attempting to rob a temple, and is succeeded by
Seleucus Philopater..                                           187 3817
Ptolemy Epiphanes, being put to death, is succeeded by his young son,
Philomnetor......................................  180  3824
HIeliodorus attempts to rob the temple at Jerusalem, but is prevented by
supernatural interposition...........                           176  3828
Antiochus, brother of Seleucus Philopater, obtains the kingdom of Syria by
strategy......................................   175  3829
Jason, by a bribe, procures the high-priesthood, and thus causes the removal
of his brother, Onias III........................................
Jason is supplanted in his office by Menelaus........             172  3832
Antiochus gains a great victory over the forces of Ptolemy, near Pelusium,
in Egypt................................................. 171  3833
He soon makes himself master of Egypt..  170  3834
Ptolemy Physcon is made king of Egypt.....




CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE.                              687
B. C. A. M.
Antiochus again invades Egypt, but is compelled to return by the Roman
intervention............................................  168  3836
Enraged by this reverse, he sends Apollonius, one of his generals, to complete
the destruction of Jerusalem...........................
He commences his persecution of the Jews on account of their religion; the
temple is desecrated............................................
Mattathias and his sons take up arms against him.........................
The kingdom of Macedon is ended by the Roman power...................
The Maccaboean brothers suffer martyrdom..........................  167  3837
Judas, son of Mattathias, obtains splendid victories over the armies of Antiochus Epiphanes.............................  166  3838
He recovers Jerusalem, and restores the temple worship...........  165  3839
Miserable death of Antiochus Epiphanes; and the succession of his son,
Antiochus Eupator, to the throne....................  164  3840
Demetrius Soter, son of Seleucus Philopater, escapes from Rome, kills
Antiochus, and seizes on the throne..........  162  3842
Demetrius Soter sends his general, Nicanor, against the Jews, who with his
army was defeated by Judas..161  3843
Judas is slain in battle with Bacchides, and is succeeded by Jonathan, his
brother.......
Jonathan is promoted by Balas to the high-priesthood.................  153  3851
The Asmonean dynasty is established in Judea..........
Demetrius Soter is slain in battle by Balas, who succeeds him to the throne
of Syria...............................                         152 3852
Balas, being slain, is succeeded by Demetrius Nicator..145  3859
Ptolemy Philometor dies, and is succeeded by his brother Ptolemy Physcon............................................................
Jonathan, after brilliant successes in war against Demetrius, is treacherously
murdered...............  144  3860
Simon his brother becomes his successor as the leader of the Jews..........
He secures a recognition of the independence of Judoea, and a guaranty
for the same from Rome................ 141 3863
Carthage is destroyed by Scipio the Roman.................................
Antiochus Sidetes is made king of Syria, Demetrius being held a prisoner
by the Parthians..................                             140  3864
Simon and two sons are murdered by his son-in-law, Ptolemy, governor in
Jericho, and is succeeded by his son John Hyrcanus..........   135  3869
Spain becomes a province of Rome...................                 134  3870
Tiberius Gracchus, a Roman tribune.......................................
Hyrcanus, son of Simon Maccaboeus, being invested with the office of highpriest and general-in-chief, establishes his government firmly in Judgea  135  3869
Antiochus Gryphas conquers the usurper Zebina, and ascends the throne...  123  3881
Ptolemy Physcon dies, leaving the kingdom of Egypt in the hands of his
queen, Cleopatra............... 117 3887
Aristobulus and Antigonus, sons of Hyrcanus, conquer and devastate Samaria  109  3895




688                     CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE.
B. C  A. M.
Aristobulus causes his brother Antigonus to be killed, and he-takes possession of the government....................................
Aristobulus dies, and his brother, Alexander Janneus, succeeds to the government of Judaea......................................... 106  3898
Jugurtha, the Numidian king, defeated in a decisive battle with the Romans
Rome distracted by the Social War, so called, which cost the lives of
300,000 men.91 3913
Commencement of the Mithridatii war.........................        89  3915
Sylla invested with the power of dictator...                        82  3922
Jannueus dies, and is succeeded by his wife Alexandra, who makes her son,
Hyrcanus, high-priest...................                       79  3925
Iyrcanus is dispossessed of his office by Aristobulus.70  3934
Pompey assumes the command of the Roman army, and reduces Syria to a
province.,....................................65  3939
Ptolemy Auletes made king of Egypt....................................
Pompey supports the claims of Hyrcanus against Aristobulus, and makes
Judmea tributary..                                              63 3941
The conspiracy of Catiline, and its exposure by Cicero.................
The first Roman triumvirate instituted..                        59  3945
Ptolemy Auletes dies, and is succeeded by his daughter Cleopatra, and his
eldest son.............................................. 51  3953
Pompey conquered at the battle of Pharsalia by Julius Cosar, and soon
after is murdered.............................             48  3956
Antipater appointed by Caesar governor of Judvma.                   47  3957
Julius Caesar is murdered in the Roman Senate...................... 44  3960
Antipater is poisoned, and succeeded by Herod and Phasael..........  43  3961
The Parthians gain possession of Jerusalem, and place Antigonus, son of
Aristobulus, on the throne.................................. 40  3964
Herod, making interest at Rome, is constituted king of Judmaa...........
Herod takes Jerusalem by siege, and establishes his authority over Judma,
which he retains 34 years...................                   37  3967
Octavius conquers Antony, and reduces Egypt to a Roman province.....   30  3974
He assumes the name of AuGusTus CIESAR, and becomes emperor of Rome.  27  3977
Herod begins to rebuild the temple.....                             17  3987




CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE.                            -689
PERIOD VIII.
From the Birth of Christ to the Completion of the Canon of the New Testament.
B. C.
Augustus declared Emperor by the Roman Senate...........  27
The Septuagint in general use among the Jews..............
Luke ii. 1.....Edict of Augustus....................................   5
Herod plunders the tomb of David of a great amount of
treasure............................          5.          B i.......Birth of John the Baptist..........................  5
ii.....Birth of Jesus Christ, before the common era called Anno
Domini...  4
ii....  Presentation in the Temple.............................       4
Matt. ii.....Arrival of the Magi...                                        4...... 4
" ii....... light into Egypt....                                   4
Murder of the male infants of Bethlehem by Herod..........    3
ii....D..Death of Herod, Governor of Judaea, at Jericho............,   3
Archelaus succeeds his father in Judoea  a...................  2
A D,
Birth of Seneca, celebrated rhetorician and philosopher, at
~,  Cordova..................one   2
Luke ii........Jesus accompanies Joseph and Mary to Jerusalem...........    8
About this time arose Judas of Galilee   8..
The Roman legions, under Varus, defeated by the Germans;
Varus kills himself...................                   9
Marcus Ambivius made Procurator of Juda a.........      10
The Temple at Jerusalem polluted by Samaritans, who entered
it by night, and strewed there dead men's bones..........    14
Death of the Emperor Augustus at Nola..................       14
Tiberius, emperor...............................1...... 4-37
Ovid, Roman poet, died in banishment.............    17
Valerius Gratus made Procurator of Judaea by Tiberius.....   18
Livy, the illustrious Roman historian, died at Padua...      18
Herod Antipas founds the city of Tiberias                     10
Strabo, the celebrated Greek historian, born in Cappadocia   19
Luke iii... John the Baptist begins to preach......                  26
Pontius Pilate made Procurator of Judoea by Tiberius......  26
"iii...... Baptism of Christ.............                        27
Tiberius banishes all who profess the Jewish religion from
Rome........................................         27
Rome.27
John ii........ First appearance of Christ in the Temple...................    27
Luke iii.....  Imprisonment of John...................................    27
John v.....Our Lord's second visit to Jerusalem.........................  27
Matt. iv.     Commencement of Christ's public ministry................ 27
John vi........Second Passover.....................  28
44




690                      CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE.
A. D.
Herod marries Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, in consequence
of which a war arose between him and King Aretas, his
wife's father, and Herod was defeated. John the Baptist pronounced Herod's marriage unlawful, was imprisoned and
beheaded in the Castle of Machaerus.................     28
John vi....... Third Passover..................... 29
Matt. xvii...... Transfiguration of Christ.....                              29
John vii.......Feast of Tabernacles....                                     29
"  x.......Feast of Dedication                                           29
Matt. xxi..... Second cleansing of the Temple......................    30
John xiii.......Last Supper - Fourth Passover....                            30
The Crucifixion....................................... 30
The Resurrection.....................................         30
The Ascension.......................................    30
Acts ii...    Effusion of the Spirit at Pentecost...                          30
" iii...Cure of the impotent man..                                       30
Conversion of the five thousand..................              30
First attempts of the Sanhedriin to suppress Christianity......  30
" iv....  Community of goods............................... 30
Death of Ananias and Sapphira.. v............           30
Second attempt to suppress Christianity.............    33
Advice of Gamaliel....................................  33
Appointment of the Seven.                                      35
Conversion of many Priests....  -...,         35
Disputation with Stephen..........                            37
Acts vii... Martyrdom of Stephen...............................  37
viii.. Philip preaches in Samaria, and baptizes Simon the Sorcerer.....    37
ix........Saul converted while on his way to Damascus................ 37
Peter and John visit Samaria...................              37
Death of Tiberius, the Roman emperor; Caligula succeeds..      37
Baptism of the Ethiopian................               37
Josephus the Jewish historian born at Jerusalem.............  37
Pilate recalled by Caligula, and banished................      37
Saul retires to Arabia........................         38
Saul returns to Damascus............................          38
"ix........Saul visits Jerusalem................,.. 40
"ix........Saul sent to Tarsus..............................4...  40
"ix s.. -Rest Co' the Churches................................... 39-41
oaligula assassinated.................................   41
Claudius emperor.................................... 41-54
x........ Conversion of Cornelius............................... 41
Herod Agrippa, king of all Palestine.... 41-44
Acts xi........Disciples at Antioch first called Christians...              42
xi........ Famine predicted by Agabus..........................      42.......First mission of Saul and Barnabas to Jerusalem.............  43




CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.                                  691
A. D.
Aulus Plautius, Roman General, invades Britain......... 43
Claudius goes to Britain with re-enforcements...............     43
"x M....Martyrdom of James, the son of Zebedee..................43
Death of Herod Agrippa................................ 43
Judaea a distinct Roman province...                     44
Acts xi........Epistle of James..44
"xiii....... Paul and Barnabas sent forth...                                  45
Epistle of Peter.                                                48
Paul's return to Antioch...................  48
Arrival of Peter at Antioch...............                       48
London founded......................................... 49
Gal. ii.... Second mission of Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem........    50
Acts xv.... Council of Apostles and Elders                                    50
"xv.......Paul goes with Silas on his second circuit...................      51
xvi.       Paul arrives at Troas.................................    51
xviii..   Edict of Claudius against the Jews.                               51
xvii...... Paul at Athens...                                                 52
xviii......Paul at Corinth.........                                         52
Paul brought before Gallio.............................. 52
First Epistle to the Thessalonians.........................52
Second Epistle to the Thessalonians...................... 53
Epistle to the Galatians................................         53
xviii...... Paul leaves Corinth for Syria.                                  53
xviii.. Paul visits Jerusalem the fourth time after his conversion.......    53
x' viii.. Paul visits Galatia in his route to Ephesus                        53
Claudius poisoned by Agrippina, mother of.Nero...........        54
Nero, emperor........ 54-68
xix.......Paul arrives at Ephesus..................    54
Armenia MUinor reduced to a Roman province...............54
First Epistle to the Corinthians...........................      56
Rotterdam in Holland founded.......................               56
1 Tim. i.......Paul's visit to Crete.                                            56
Epistle to Titus.......................  56
First Epistle to Timothy..................................       56
Second Epistle to the Corinthians...................... 57
Acts xx.......Paul's second residence at Corinth......................        57-58
Epistle to the Romans...............................            58
xx.......Paul sails from Philippi for Syria......................          58
xxi.......Paul reaches Jerusalem...........................                  58
xxiv......Felix superseded by Festus......                                  60
xxvii.....Paul sails for Rome... e..60
James the Just, brother of our Lord, stoned.........    60
Acts xxviii.....Paul arrives at Rome........................... 61
Epistle to the Ephesians..............................61
Second Epistle to Timothy.............. 61




692                       CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.
A. D.
Epistle to the Colossians.........................            61
Epistle to Philemon..               O.........    61
Mark martyred... O..... 62
London burnt — 60,000 Britons said to have perished.......    62
Epistle to the Philippians...............................    62
Epistle to the Hebrews..................................   63
Rome burnt by order of Nero............................    64
Seneca put to death by Nero, who had been his pupil.........    65
Acts xxviii...Second Epistle of Peter............................... 65
St. Paul beheaded at Rome.....                                 67
Vespasian invades Galilee.....                                67.Nero kills himself...........                                  68
Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, Emperors................... 68-70
Vespasian, Emperor.................................. 70-79
Jerusalem destroyed by Titus.................  70
Titus demolishes the Temple to its foundations........... 74
Julius Agricola completes the conquest of Britain and Wales.. 78-85
Destruction of Herculaneum and Pompeii................. 79
Pliny the elder killed by an eruption of Vesuvius............    79
Vespasian dies, and succeeded by Titus........79
Colosseum of Vespasian completed...                      80
Titus dies, and succeeded by Domitian....                       81
John exiled to Patmos............................     95
Domitian slain, and succeeded by Nerva....              96
The Apocalypse...................................        96
Nerva dies, and succeeded by Trajan.......................  98
Death of John about this time.......                        100
Pliny, proconsul of Bythinia, sends to Trajan his famous account
of the Christians.  Age of Plutarch..............    100




SYNCHRONICAL TABLES OF THE KINGS OF
JUDAH AND ISRAEL.
TiE most difficult part of sacred chronology is the period from the revolt of the ten
tribes to the destruction of Jerusalem.  To harmonize the different reigns of the kings of
Judah and the kings of Israel has been a perplexing task with chronologists.  No man,
perhaps, has devoted to this subject more careful and critical study than Dr. Hales in his
ANALYSIS.  He speaks of it as the " Gordian knot " of sacred chronology.  He says that
the difficulty of harmonizing the reigns of the kings of Judah and Israel together has
principally arisen: 1. From the discordance of some of the correspondences in the years
of their respective reigns, with the direct lengths of these reigns; and, 2. From not critically
determining the duration of the two interregnums or vacancies in the succession of the
latter kings, so as to make them correspond with the former throughout.
Dr. Hales has attempted, as he thinks, successfully, to adjust and harmonize the respective reigns of the two kingdoms.  Without stating the principles on which his adjustment
is based, it will be sufficient to give the results of his critical labors in the following tables:
KINGS OF JUDAH.                             KINGS OF ISRAEL.
Length Begin-                               Length Begino   ning of.of  ning of
reigns. reigns                              reigns. reigns.
Yrs.  B.C.                                  rs. B. C.
Rehoboam.         17   990   Jeroboam....       22   990
Abijah..           3   973   Nadab.      2   968
Asa..                     41   970   Baasha                           23   966
Jehoshaphat. 25 929 Ela.... 1 943
Jehoram..  8   904    Omri..  11   942
Ahaziah..   1   896   Ahab....      22   931
Athaliah..  6 895  Ahaziah.... 2 909
Joash.      40   889   Jehoram.  12   907
Amaziah..  29   849   Jehu..     28   895
Interregnum.   11   820   Jehoahaz'....    17   867
Uzziah...     52   809   Jehoash..                     16   850
Jotham. ] 16   757   Jeroboam II...  41   834
Ahaz..                   16   741   1st Interregnum                  22   793
Hezekiah..                29   725   Zechariah and Shallum.      1   771
Manasseh..    55   696   Menahem...                10   770
Amon.                         2   641   Pekahiah....      2   760
Josiah..   31   639   Pekah...  20   758
Jehoahaz. 3 mos.         2d Interregnum..        10   738
Jehoiakim.   11   608   Hoshea.                       9   728
Jehoiakin... 3 mos.         Samaria taken..             719
Zedekiah.   11   597
Jerusalem taken.  586
The Babylonish captivity takes place under   The Ten Tribes carried captive into Assyria
the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.                 by Shalmaneser.
There is some difference between the chronological dates of Dr. Hales and those adopted
by some other chronologists. Our common version of the Bible reckons the time of the
revolt of the Ten Tribes, and the beginning of the reigns of Rehoboam and Jeroboam, to
be 975 years B. C. The dates adopted by Jahn, as found in Prof. Stowe's translation,
conform to those of- the authorized English version, in which the chronology of Abp. Ussher
is adopted. Stackhouse's tables do not differ materially from the same. These discrepancies, to be expected from the absence of positive Scripture data, are of very little account,
since they do not affect the general results aimed at in chronological calculations.
693



TABLE OF MONEY, WEIGHTS, AND MEASURES
MENTIONED IN THE SCRIPTURES.
I.-Jewish Money, and its Equivalent in American Coin.
AMONG the most ancient nations, uncoined money was first used, the value of the precious
metals being estimated by weight, Gen. xxiii., 16. The first reference to coined money in
the Bible is found in Ezra ii., 69, and Neh. vii., 70-72, in which passages is noticed a
Persian coin of gold, called dram.  The earliest reference to the coining of money by the
Jews is found in the first book of Maccabees, xv., 6, permission having been granted by
Antiochus VII., during the pontificate of Simon, 140 years before Christ.  See History
of the Bible, p. 484.: The following denominations of money are specified in the Old
Testament, as current in Patriarchal and ancient Jewish times.
Dolls. Cts.
A gerah, one-twentieth of a shekel, Exod. xxx., 13....      0   2
A bekah, half-shekel, Exod. xxxviii., 26......      0  25
A shekel, Levit. xxvii., 3, 25, about.......      0  50
A maneh, 60 shekels, lEzek. xlv., 12.                                          30  00
A talent, 3,000 shekels, silver, Exod. xxxviii., 25.....  1,519  20
Roman Currency mentioned in the New  Testament.
Dolls. Cts.
A mite, copper coin, Mark xii., 42..                                           0   04
A farthing, brass coin, Matt. x., 29....      0   0
A penny   denarius, Matt. xxii., 19.......      0  14
A stater = "piece of money," Matt. xvii., 27...0  60
A pound= mina, one-sixtieth of a talent, Luke xix., 13-20...     14  00
2.-  Scripture _M3easures of Length, reduced to English Measure.
Feet. In.
A digit, finger's breadth, Jer. lii., 21.......      0    3
A palm, hand breadth, Exod. xxv., 25.....              3
A span, extension from extremity of thumb and little finger.                        10o
A cubit, from elbow to extremity of middle finger.....      1   9
A fathom, Acts xxvii., 28.......             7   3
Ezekiel's reed, Ezek. xl., 5........    10  11
Measuring line, Ezek. xl., 3...    145  11
Furlong, Greek stadium, Luke xxiv., 13......    606   9
Sabbath day's journey, three-quarters of a mile, Acts i., 12...         3,648   0
Eastern mile, Matt. v., 41, 1,618 yards....                4,854   0
3. —  Scripture  Measures of Capacity.
LIQUID MEASURE.
Gals. Pints.
A log, Levit. xiv., 12, 15...... 
A cab, 2 Kings vi., 25.......    0    3
An omer, Exod. xvi., 36.......    0      4
A hin, Exod. xxix., 40....                  1    2
An ephah, or bath, 1 Kings vii., 26- batus, Luke xvi., 6...    7    4
694




TABLE OF MONEY, WEIGHTS, AND MEASURES.                             695
DRY MEASURE.
Peck. Gal. Pi.
A cab, 2 Kings vi., 25........             0
A seah, Greek saton, Matt. xiii., 33; Luke xiii., 21.....    1   0   1
An ephah, Levit. vi., 11........   3   0   2
A letech, Hosea iii., 2........   16   0   1
A homer, Num. xi., 32; Ezek. xlv., 11, 14.....   32   0   2
In collating the several tables of Jewish money, weights, and measures, adopted by
archaeologists and commentators, discrepancies will be found to exist.  This may be expected from the consideration that exact data are wanting in the Scriptures in respect to
this subject.
In addition to these tables there. is the Scripture table of time. The Jewish year
embraced twelve lunar months, of 30 days each, making the year to consist of 360 days.
But by some adjustment in intercalating the additional days, it was made essentially a solar
year of 365 days.  Subsequently to the exodus from Egypt, the Hebrew year was reckoned as beginning with the time of that event, i. e., the time of the new moon, nearest the
vernal equinox, in the month of Abib, corresponding to April. Seasons, weeks, and days,
were regarded as divisions of time by the Hebrews.  They reckoned their civil day from
sunset to sunset, dividing it as follows: -- 1. " the dawn;" 2. " sunrise; " 3. " heat of
the day;" 4. " the noon; " 5. " the cool of the day; " 6. " the evening."  When the
division of the day into hours was adopted is not known.
Before the captivity, the Jews divided the night into three watches, viz., the beginning
of the watch, the middle watch, the morning watch.  In the New Testament the Roman
method was adopted, and the night watches were four, viz.: "even, midnight, cock-crowing, and morning."  They continued respectively: — 1. from  twilight till 9 o'clock; 2.
from 9 till 12 o'clock; 3. from 12 till 3 o'clock, morning; 4. from 3 till daybreak.  The
day was reckoned twelve hours, and the night twelve.








INDEX.
A.                       at Beersheba, 106; a title, like Pharaoh,
11 7; renews treaty with Isaac, 118.
AARON, birth of, 163; ordered by God to ABIMELECH, a spurious son of Gideon, slays
meet Moses, 168; appears before Pharaoh   all his brothers, seventy in number, except
with Moses, 169; his rod changed into a   Jotham, 254; anointed king, reigns three
serpent, 170; aids Moses in the battle with   years in Shechem, and is expelled by the
the Amalekites, 192; makes a golden calf,  people, 254; has his skull broken by a stone
196; constituted high-priest, and his ap-  thrown by a woman at the siege of Thebes,
pointment miraculously approved by fire   and commands his armor-bearer to kill him,
from heaven, 204; his envy of Moses, and   255.
God's rebuke, 211; confirmation in the ABINADAB Of Kirjath-jearim, to whose house
priesthood by the budding of his rod, 216;  the ark was removed, 270, 312, 313.
transgression at Meribah, 217; death and ABINADAB, son of Saul, slain by the Philisburial on Mount Hor, 218; supposed tomb,  tines, 303.
219, note.                              ABIRAM, a chief of the tribe of Reuben, rebels
ABANA, a river of Damascus, 377, 569.       with Korah and Dathan, 214; destroyed by
ABARBANEL'S charge against Josephus, 365.    an earthquake, 216.
ABARIM, mountains of, from  which Moses ABISHAG, a concubine of David, 338.
took a view of Canaan, 227.             ABISHAI, brother of Joab, entreats David to
ABBAS MEERZA, of Persia, 323, note.         slay Saul when he is in his power, 300;
ABDON, a judge of Israel, 260.              defeats the Edomites, 315; puts the AmmonABEL, birth of; signification of name, his sac-  ites to flight, 317; takes command of the
rifice and why preferred to Cain, and his  royal guards, 331; slays a giant, and saves
murder, 77.                               David, 332.
ABEL-MAHOLAH, west of the Jordan, 370.    ABISHUA, high-priest, 260.
ABEL-MIZRAIM, the mourning of the Egyp- ABNER, cousin of Saul, appointed general of
tians, 161.                               the army, 284; espouses the cause of IshABGARUS, king of Edessa, 48.                bosheth against David, and is defeated by
ABIAH, son of Samuel, degeneracy of, 271.   Joab, 305; kills Asahel, Joab's brother,
ABIATITAR, son of the high-priest Ahimelech,   306; sides with David, 308; is stabbed by
the only one of the family that escaped   Joab, 309.
Saul's massacre, 296; officiating as high- ABRAM, call of, his obedience, and  God's
priest under David, 313; joins the rebel   promise, 93; removes to Moreh, Bethel, and
Adonijah, 334; deposed, 335; expelled from    Egypt, 93; calls his wife his sister, but the
Jerusalem, 339.                           consequences averted by divine interposiABIGAIL, wife of Nabal, liberality of to David  tion, 94; returns to Canaan, 94; separates
and his men, 299; marries David, 300.     front Lot, 95; recaptures Lot, 96; promised
ABIHU, killed by lightning, 206, 277.       a son, 97; change of name, 99.
ABIJAH, son of Jeroboam, death of, 359.   ABRAHAM, signification of, 99; is visited by
ABIJAH, or ABIJAM, son of Rehoboam, king   three heavenly messengers, informed of the
of Judah, 363; he addresses Jeroboam and   destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and
his army at Mount Zemarim, and prophe-   prays for the doomed cities, 101; removes
cies defeat to Israel, 364; surrounded by the   to Gerar, and again equivocates concerning
enemy while speaking, 364; gains a great   his wife, 103; plants a grove for worship,.victory, and takes Bethel, 365; dies, 365.  106; his faith tested by the comnmand to
ABIMELECH, king of Gerar, takes Abraham's  sacrifice Isaac, 107; God's promise renewed,
wife, 103; makes a covenant with Abraham    109; sends his steward Eliezer to Haran to
697




698                                   INDEX.
procure a wife for Isaac, 110; marries Ketu- AGABUS, prophecy of a famine by, 575.
rah, dies, and is buried, 114.          AGAG, king of the Amalekites, has his life
ABSALOM avenges his sister Tamar's disgrace,   spared by Saul contrary to divine command,
and flees to Talmhnai, his grandfather, 322;   285; is put to death by Samuel, 286.
returns to Jerusalem, but does not see his AGRIPPA, his treatment of Paul, 606, 607;
father for two years, and plans a rebellion,   at Jerusalem during the revolt, 651; leaves
322; proclaimed king at Hebron, 324;   the city, 652; sends troops to Jerusalem,
marches to Jerusalem, and fulfils Nathan's   653; receives Vespasian at Antioch, 658;
prophecy by taking his father's concubines,   goes to Rome with Titus, 665.
325; defeated in the forest of Ephraim, AGRIPPA I., son of Aristobulus, 513.
caught by his hair in an oak, and slain by AGRIPPA II., king of Chalcis, 513.
Joab, 326; view and description of his sep- AGRIPPA, son of Felix and Drusilla, 513.
ulchre, 327, 328.                       AHAB, son and successor of Omri, comes to
Acco, or PTOLEMAIS, a harbor of Palestine,  the throne of Israel 931 B.C., and, with his
347.                                      wicked wife Jezebel, introduces idolatry,
ACHAIA, 590, 591, 594, 596, 597, 623.       368; he consecrates a grove to Baal, and
ACHAN, theft of, discovered by casting lots,   builds a temple in Samaria, 368; conquers
232; he is stoned and burned, 232.        Ben-Hadad, and forms an impious alliance
ACHIACARUS, nephew of Tobit, 415.           with him, 371, 372; obtains Naboth's vineACHISH, king of Gath, 294, 301.             yard by his death, 372; Elijah pronounces
ACHMET1HA, city of, 430.                    his doom, 373; killed by Syrian archer, and
AcILIus GLABRIO, a Roman consul, defeats  the prophecy fulfilled, 374; his seventy
Antiochus III. at Thermopylke, 463.       sons beheaded, 382.
ACRE, a province and city in Palestine, 93.   AHASUERUS. - See ARTAXERXES.
ACRO, Corinth, 580.                       AHAZ, successor of Jotham on the throne of
ACTIUM, battle of, 503.                     Judah, 391; introduces Syrian gods, altars,
ACTS of the Apostles, 26; dedicated  to   and finally shuts up the temple, 392; deTheophilus by Luke, 634.                  feated by the king of Syria, 392; dies 725
ADAH, wife of Lamech, 78.                   B.C., 394; dial of Ahaz, 400.
ADAM, his name Hebrew, and signification of, AHAZIAH, son and successor of Ahab, con67; joy at receiving Eve, 68; quotation   sults Beelzebub, and is denounced by Elijah,
from Milton, 69; expulsion from Eden, 70;   dies, 374.
posterity of, in the line of Seth, 79.  AHAZIAH, son and successor of Jehoram
ADBEEL, son of Ishmael, 106.                king of Judah, forms an alliance with JehoADELM, translation of the Psalms by, 52.    ram king of Israel, is wounded in battle,
ADIABENE, 402, note.                        and dies, 356.
ADJEROUD, modern, the Etham of the Bible, ARIJAH, a prophet who foretold the future
a halting-place of the Israelites, view of, 181.  rule of Jeroboam over the Ten Tribes, 356;
ADNAN, descendant of Ishmael, and one of   foretells the death of Jeroboam's son and his
the progenitors of the Arabs, 115.        race, which prophecy is fulfilled by Baasha,
ADONAI, 40.                                 359.
ADONI-BEZEIK, king of Bezek, is captured, AHIMAAZ, son of Zadok the high-priest, 326,
has his thumbs and toes cut off, and dies at   328.
Jerusalem, 238.                         AHIMELECH, high-priest at Nob, gives the
ADONI-ZEDEK, a Canaanite king of Jerusa-   show-bread from  the sanctuary and the
lem when Joshua enters Canaan, makes war   sword of Goliath to David, 294; killed by
upon the Gibeonites, is defeated by Joshua,   order of Saul, 296.
and great numbers of his army killed by AHINOAM, of Jezreel, wife of David, after
hail, 234.                                Saul had given Michal to another, 300.
ADONIJAH, son of David, rebels, and is par- AHITHOPHEL, a counsellor of David, who
doned at the crowning of Solomon, 334;  joined Absalom in his rebellion, 324; his
forms another plot, and is put to death, 338.   counsel to pursue and kill King David, 325;
ADRAM-MELECH, an idol, 127.                 hangs himself, 326.
ADRAMYTTIUM, a seaport in Asia, 607.      AHOLIAB, one of the builders of the tabernaADRIAN, emperor of Rome, 47.                cle, 198.
ADULLAM, a cave in which David founa AI, a city near Jericho, 232; the Israelites
shelter in his flight from Saul, 295, 312.  defeated there, 232; captured on the second
2EGEAN SEA, 583.                            attack, the king hung, and the spoil divided.EGENAS, pro-consul of Achaia, 623.         among the soldiers, 233.
IELIA CAPITOLINA, a Roman city, built on AIN MOUSSA, place where the Israelites came
the site of Jerusalem, 539.               up from the sea, 188; view of, 189.
AFRICA, possessed by the descendants of AIN RoGEL, Adonijah proclaimed king there,
Ham, 91; visited by the Phcenician navies,   334.
348.                                    AKABA, 129.




INDEX.                                    699
ALBANIA, a city on the Caspian Sea, visited ALI BEY, visit of, to Hebron, 307, note.
by Bartholomew, 630.                    ALLA SHEHR, the ancient Philadelphia, 641,
ALBINUS, Roman governor of Judsea, 651.     642.
ALC EUS, a famous lyric poet, 598.        ALLON-BACHUTH, an oak under which DeboALCIMUS, high-priest of the Jews, 475, 476;   rah was buried, 134.
dies, 478.                              ALTAR to the unknown God, 587, 588.
ALEXANDER, son of Philip of Macedon, as- AMALEKITE, an, informs David of the death
cends his father's throne, B.C., 335, 442;   of Saul, 304.
invades Asia, B.C., 334, and defeats the AMALEKITES, battle of the Israelites with,
Persians, 443; in the following year sub-   192; descended from  Ham, 192; inhabit
dues Phrygia, and other provinces, 443;   the south part of Canaan, 212; their decaptures Tyre, 444; visits Jerusalem, and   struction prophesied by Balaam, 223; assist
salutes the high-priest, whom  he  had   the Moabites and Ammonites to subdue
seen in a dream, 444; invades Egypt, and   Israel, 241; defeated by Saul, 285.
founds Alexandria, 446; pursues Darius AMARIA, city of, 426.
beyond the Euphrates, and acquires pos- AMARIAH, high-priest, 384.
session of the Persian throne, 447; his AMASA, cousin of Absalom, his chief captain)
plans, excesses, and death, 448; empire di-   326; appointed captain under David, after
vided among his generals, 448.            Absalom's death, 330; killed by Joab, 331.
ALEXANDER, son of Herod the Great, 508; AMASIS, king of Egypt, successor of Pharaohstrangled by order of his father, 509.    Hophra, 411.
ALEXANDER BALAS announces himself the AMATHUS, a fortress beyond Jordan, 488.
son of Antiochus Epiphanes, and lays claim  AMAZIAH, son and successor of Joash as king
to the throne of Syria, 479; his cause   of Judah, is victorious over the Edomites,
espoused by Jonathan  Maccabeus, 480;   falls into idolatry, 389; taken prisoner at
killed by Zabdiel, an Arabian emir, 480.  Beth-shemesh by Joash, king of Israel, 389;
ALEXANDER, son of Aristobulus, attempts to   killed in a conspiracy, 390.
usurp the government of Judmea, and is AMMAH, hill of, 306.
defeated, 494; makes another attempt, is AmmON, county of, 219, 317.
defeated by the Roman army, and beheaded, AMMON, city of, ruins of, 318; description of,
496.                                      318, 319, note.
ALEXANDER GONATUS seizes the sceptre of AMmONITES, descendants from Lot, 103; asMacedonia, 455.                           sist the Moabites and Amalekites to subdue
ALEXANDER JANNmEUS, third son of Hyrca-   Israel, 241; assemble an army in Gilead,
nus, succeeds his brother, 488; defeated in   256; defeated by Jephthah with great slaughbattle by Ptolemy Lathyrus, recovers his  ter, 257; lay siege to Jabesh-Gilead, and
ground by the assistance of Cleopatra, and   demand that the right eyes of all the people
visits her in Egypt, 488; pursues an aggres-   be put out, 279; overthrown by Saul with
sive policy and meets disasters, 488; is   great slaughter, 280; defeated by Joab and
hated by the Pharisees, and insulted in the   Abishai, 317; tributary to Solomon, 336;
temple, 489; rebellion of the people, which   reduced to tribute by Uzziah, 391.
he overcomes with great slaughter, 489; Am-HoNIUS, favorite minister of Alexander
reduces the provinces beyond Jordan, re-   Balas, 480.
turns victorious to Jerusalem, and dies, AmNON, son of David, dishonors his halfleaving the government in the hands of his   sister Tamar, 321; slain by her brother
queen, 490.                               Absalom, 322; claim of, to the throne, comALEXANDER, a Jewish convert of Ephesus,   pared with Absalom, Adonijah, and Solo596.                                      mon, 337.
ALEXANDER ZEBINAS takes the throne of AMON, son of Manasseh, account and death
Syria, 487; put to death by Ptolemy, 487.    of, 402.
ALEXANDRA, wife of Alexander Jannaeus, is AMORITES, land taken from by Jacob, 157,
invested with regal power, follows her hus-   note; inhabit the mountains of Canaan, 212;
band's counsels, and throws herself into the   defeated by the Israelites, their kings killed,
hands of the Pharisees, 490; appoints her   and their cities captured, 220.
eldest son to the priesthood, 490; dies, and is AMos, book of, 26.
succeeded by her eldest son Hyrcanus, 491. AMOS, a prophet in the time of Uzziah, 391.
ALEXANDRIA, 139, note; founded by Alex- AMRAM, of the house of Levi, father of Moses,
ander the Great, 446; the metropolis of   163.
Ptolemy's empire, St. Mark plants a church AMROU, conqueror of Alexandria, 446.
there, 633; massacre of Jews in, 654; de- AMYRTEUS, king of Egypt, 440.
dare for Vespasian as emperor, 667.     AMYTIS, wife of Nebuchadnezzar, 84, note.
ALEXANDRIUM, fortress of, 492, 503.       ANACLET, bishop of Rome, 637, 638.
ALEXIUS COMMENES, 626, note.              ANAK, race of, giants found in Canaan by the
ALFRED, king, his Bible, 52.                spies, 212.




700                                   INDEX.
ANAKIMS, giants of Canaan, slain by Joshua.   delphus, and is defeated, 456; repudiates
ANAMELECH, an idol, 127.                     his queen, and marries Berenice, a daughter
ANANEL, a priest of Babylon, 501.            of Philadelphus, 456; on the death of PhilANANIAS, the Jewish commander of Cleopa-   adelphus, puts away Berenice, and restores
tra's forces, 488.                         his queen, Laodicea, who, fearing his fickleANANIAS, a disciple of Damascus to whom    ness, poisons him, and sets her son Seleucus
Saul was sent, 570.                        Callinicus upon the throne.
ANANIAS, an early disciple, struck dead for ANTIOCHUS III., surnamed the Great, sucattempting to deceive Peter, 562.          ceeds Seleucus, and maikes a brilliant camANANIAS, high-priest in the time of Paul,   paign against Ptolemy Philopator, 459; sub602; summons James before the Sanhe-   sequent reverses, 459; recovers Palestine,
drim, 614.                                 461; goes to war with the Romans, and is
ANANUM, son of Mizraim, and king of Tanis   defeated, 463; killed in Persia while atin Egypt, called the delta, 90, note.      tempting to rob a temple, 464; events of his
ANANUS, 656.                                 reign foreshown by Daniel (xi. 13-19), 464.
ANATHOTH, 294.                             ANTIOCHUS IV., brother of Seleucus, seizes
ANAXIMENES, the scholar, 598.               the throne of Syria, 465; invades Egypt,
ANAXIMENIUS, the philosopher, 598.           468; from  Egypt, goes to Jerusalem, deANDREW, becomes a disciple of Christ, 525;   stroys thousands of the people, and plunone of the apostles, 530;  appointed to   ders the temple, 468; his fourth invasion of
preach the gospel in Scythia, 622; visits   Egypt being arrested by the Roman Senate,
various countries, and is ill treated by the   he despatches Apollonius, his general, to
Jews, 623; scourged and crucified, 624.    give vent to his fury upon the inhabitants
ANER, a Canaanite, a friend of Abraham, 96.   of Jerusalem, 469; issues an edict in regard
ANIMALS, kinds to be offered in sacrifice, 202.  to religious worship, 469; dedicates the
ANNA, wife of Tobit, 415.                   temple to Jupiter, - Daniel's " abomination
ANNAS, high-priest during the ministry of   of desolation," 470; defeat of his army and
John the Baptist, 524.                     his death, 473.
ANOINTING for the kingdom only the sign of ANTIOCHUS V., occupies the throne of Syria,
a choice to be afterwards ratified, 286.   473; killed by order of Demetrius, 475.
ANTHONY, a Roman officer in Jerusalem, 658. ANTIOCHUS VI. (Theos), crowned king of
ANTIGONUS, one of the generals of Alexan-   Syria, 481; slain by Tryphon, who seizes
der the Great, appointed general of Asia,  the throne, 482.
488; engaged in war with Ptolemy, ruler of I ANTIOCHUS VII., brother of Demetrius, asEgypt, 449; Demetrius, his son, recovers!  sumes the title of king of Syria, 484; athis lost dominion, 450; makes an unsuccess-  tacks and conquers Tryphon, 484; makes
ful attempt to subdue the Arabs, 450; as-   demands upon Simon, governor of Judaea,
sumes the title of king of Cyprus, 451;   sends an army to invade the country, and
engages  in  an  unsuccessful expedition   is defeated, 484; after ravaging Judsa,
against Egypt, fights a great battle with   concludes a treaty of peace with the Jews,
Seleucus, and is killed, 452.              485; marches against the Parthians, gains
ANTIGONUS, son of Aristobulus, captured and   several victories, but is finally defeated and
carried to Rome with his father, 493; es-  slain, 485.
capes from  Rome, and returns to Judsa, ANIIocHUS VIII. (Gryphus), son of Deme495; defeated by Herod, 498; placed on   trius and Cleopatra, ascends the throne,
the throne by the Parthians, 499; put to   487; compels his mother to drink poison,
death by Antony, 500.                      487; divides the empire with his brother,
ANTIGONUS SOCHO, founder of a Jewish    Antiochus Cyzicenus, 487.
school, 458.                             ANTIOCHUS CYZICENUS, reigns in Syria with
ANTIOCH on the Orontes, metropolis of Syrla,   his brother, 487.
453, 454;. visited by disciples, who made ANTIOCHUS XI. (Asiaticus) seizes the Syrian
great numbers of converts, 574; disciples   government, and is ejected by the Roman
first called Christians here, 575; sends   power, ending the dynasty of Seleucus,
contributions to Jerusalem, 576; return of   492.
Barnabas and Saul to, 576; Barnabas and ANTIPATER rises to power in Judaa, and
Saul directed by God to leave Antioch   espouses the cause of Csesar 494; his sons
when the church fast and pray, 576.        made governors of Jerusalem and Galilee,
ANTIOCHUS SOTER, son and successor of Se-   496; appointed procurator of Judnea, 497;
leucus, makes an unsuccessful attempt to   poisoned, 498.
reduce the western provinces, 455; nonmi- ANTONY gains the battle of Philippi, 498;
nates as his successor his son Antiochus   confers on Herod and Phasael the rank of
Theos, and dies, 455.                      tetrachs, 498; enamored of Cleopatra, and
ANTIOCHUS II., ascends the Eastern throne,   wastes his time in Alexandria, 499; returns
437; engages in war with Ptolemy Phila-   to Italy, and, as one of the triumvirs, as



INDEX.                                   701
sumes the government of Syria and the ARAM2EAN, a dialect of the Shemitish, 87.
East, 499; invites Cleopatra to join him at ARARAT, mountains of, 82.
Laodicea, 502; defeated at the battle of ARAUNAH, a chief among the Jebusites,
Actium by Octavius, 503; death, 504.      threshing-floor of, 333.
APAMbEA, 453.                             ARUMAH, 255.
APELLES, a famous painter, 599.           AURANAS, mountains of, 87.
APHEK, a fortified city where 27,000 of Ben- ARAD, a king of Canaan, repulses the IsraelHadad's army were crushed by the fall of a   ites,' but is defeated in a second battle,
wall, 371.                                219.
APIs, calf idol, a god of the Egyptians, 196; ARAXES, the River Gihon, 68.
imitated by Jeroboam in his golden calves, ARBA, a great man among the Anakims, 307.
358; sacrificed by Artaxerxes to an ass, 441. ARCHELAUS succeeds his father Herod in
APOLLONIUS, his cruelties at Jerusalem, 469.   Judsea, 512.
APOCALYPsE, 26, 628.                      ARCHELAUS son of Chelcias, 513.
APOLLOS, an eloquent Jew  of Alexandria, ARCHERS, Assyrian and Egyptian, 293.
591.                                    ARCHIMAGUS, 417.
APOCRYPHA, 56; books of, never found in ARCHON, 448.
the proper Hebrew tongue, nor acknowl- ARCESILAUS, 448.
edged by ancient learned men, 56; analysis AREOPAGUS, Paul before the, 588.
of, 56-63; their absurdity and falsehood, AREOPOLIS, 375, note.
the work of Hellenistic Jews, 63.       ARETAS, king of Arabia, 491; reduced to
ANTIPATER, son of Salome, 513.              subjection by Pompey, 492.
ANTIPATER, eldest son of Herod the Great, ARIoN, a celebrated musician, 598.
recommended as his successor by Herod to ARISTOBULUS, son of Alexander Jannaeus,
Augustus, lays plots to destroy his brothers,   supplants his elder brother on the throne,
and succeeds, 509; plots against Herod, and   491; defeated in battle by Aretas, king of
is put to death, 512.                     Arabia, his brother's ally, 491; favored by
ANTONIA, a castle and fortress in Jerusalem,   the Romans, he defeats Aretas with great
483, 671, 672.                            slaughter, 492; urges before Pompey his
ANTONIUS PRIMUS, a general of Nero, 668;   claims to the throne, 492, attempts to defend
deserts to Vespasian, 668; marcheson Rome,   Jerusalem against Pompey, but submits, and
and defeats the troops of Vitellius, 669, 670.  is carried captive to Rome, 493; escapes
APOSTLES meet in the upper room, 557;   from Rome, returns to Judaea, raises a revacancy of Judas filled, 558; preach on the   volt, is defeated and sent back, 495.
day of Pentecost, 558; effects of the preach- ARISTOBULUS, son of Herod the Great, 508;
ing, 560.                                 strangled by order of his father, 509.
APRIES king of Egypt, grandson of Necho, ARISTOBULUS, son of Herod, king of Chalcis,
139, 408, 411.                            513.
AQUILA, husband of Priscilla, 589, 590.   ARISTOBULUS, son of Aristobulus and Salome
AQUILA'S version of the Old Testament, when   (whose dancing cost John- the Baptist his
made, 47.                                 head), 513.
ARABIA, a portion of settled by Cush, son of ARISTARCHUS, a Macedonian, 595.
Ham, 90; further settlement of, 115, note; ARLOTTUS THUSENS improved the Concorcommerce of Solomon with, 350.            dance, 31.
ARABIA PETRAtA, settled by the descendants ARIA, 448.
of Ishmael,- 106.                       ARKc, Noah's estimate of its capacity, 81;
ARABIA DESERTA, 93.                        rests on the Mountains of Ararat, 82.
ARABIC, Bible, translation of, 50; language a ARK-HISSAR (Thyatira), 584.
dialect of the Shemitists, 87.          ARK of the Tabernacle, description of, 198;
ARABS  descended  from  Abraham, their  established at Shiloh, 235; sent for to aid
method of keeping genealogy, proud of their  in battle against the Philistines, 266; capdescent, 115; Dr. Vincent upon, 138.     tured by them and deposited in the temple
ARABIANS, marriage-customs among them,   of Dagon at Azotus, 267; sent to Gath and
113, note, not all descended from Ishmael,   Ekron, 267; causing plagues, it is sent back
115, note; the medium of communication   to Israel, to Bethshemesh, 268; removed to
between Egypt and India, 138; seek the   Kirjath-jearim, 269; David undertakes to
favor of Jehoshaphat, 383; defeated by Judas   remove, but, in consequence of Uzziah's
Mashabeus, 474.                           death, leaves it in the house of Obed-edom,
ARACHOSIA, 448.                             a Levite, 313; finally removed to Jerusalem,
ARADUs, a province of the Phcenicians, in   313.
league with Solomon, 347.               ARMENIAN translation of the Bible, 50.
ARAL, Sea of, 77.                         ARPHAXAD, third son of Shem, founds ChalARAM, fifth son of Shem, possessed part of   dtea, 88; death 92.
Syria, 88.                             ARSACES, son of Darius Nothus, ascends the




702                                 INDEX.
throne of Persia, and takes the name of ASSYRIANS defeated by David, 317; first apArtaxerxes Memnon, 440; undertakes an   pearance of in Syria, under Pul, 396; capexpedition against Egypt, which proves  ture of Samaria by, 397; in possession of
unsuccessful, 440; dies in 358 B. c., after a   the kingdom  of Damascene- Syria, 398;
reign of forty-six years, 440.           invade Judah, and great numbers are deARTAXERXES  Longimanus (B. C. 464) as-  stroyed by "a blast" from  God, 399; decends the throne of Persia, 431; stops the   feated by the Egyptians, 405; by the
Jews from building the walls of Jerusalem,   Babylonians, 406.
431; divorces Vashti the queen, and marries ATAD, threshing-floor of, called Abel-MizEsther, 432; authorizes Ezra to proceed to  raim, 160.
Jerusalem "to beautify the house of Jeho- ATHALIAH, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel,
vah," 432; issues an edict against the Jews   married to Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat,
at the instigation of Haman, and also a   371; idolatrous like her mother, 387;
counter decree, 434; permits the Jews to   destroys all her grandsons except Joash,
build the walls.of Jerusalem, 435; dies 423   387; slain at the coronation of Joash, 388.
B. C., 439.                            ATHENOBIUS, a Syrian general, 484.
ARTAXERXES MEMNON. -See ARSACES.   ATHENION, an Egyptian officer, 457.
ARUMAH, a town near Shechem, 255.        ATHENS, 587.
ARVA, son of Canaan, founder of the Arvadites ATHIAS, 51.
who lived near Sidon, 91.              ATTAKA, Mount, Cape, 182.
ARVADITES, gave name to the Island of ATTALUS, king of Pergamus, 479.
Arvad, or Arphad, mentioned by Ezekiel as AUGUSTUS CAESAR, receives his title from the
taking an active part in the commerce of   Roman senate, 505; degrades Judaea to a
Tyre, its lofty houses, its wealth, the most   Roman province, 510; emperor at the time
northern of the Phoenicians, 91.         of Christ's birth, 521.
ASA, son and successor of Abijah on the AURANITIS, district of, 507.
throne of Judah, a good king; overthrows AVA, colonists from, 397.
idolatry, and deposes Maachah, 365; refits AYASALUK, a Turkish village, the site of
the temple, 365; invaded by Zerah the   Ephesus, 593.
Cushite, with a large army, he prays to AzARIAH, one of Daniel's three friends, afterJehovah for help, 366; defeats Zerah in   wards called Abednego, 416.
the battle of Mareshah, 367; makes new  AzIs, king of Emesa, 513.
efforts to root out idolatry, fortifies Geba AZOTUS, a town of the Philistines, the seat
and Mispeh, hires the king of Syria to in-   of a temple of Dagon, 267.
vade the kingdom  of Israel, 367; incurs AzzA.- See GAZA.
God's displeasure, made known to him by
the prophet Hanani, and dies, 929 B.C.,
367.                                                      B.
ASAHEL, brother of Joab, killed in the pursuit of Abner, 306.                    BAAL, an idol, 222; Ahab builds a temple to,
ASCANIA, a part of Lesser Phrygia, 88.     368; prophets of, killed by order of Elijah,
ASCENSION of Christ, 548.                  370; temple of, destroyed by Jehu, 383;
ASENATH, wife of Joseph, daughter of Poti-   Athaliah establishes the worship of; in
pherah, priest of On, 146.               Judah, 388.
ASHDOD, a Philistine town, 255, 390.     BAAL, king of Tyre, 277.
ASHER, son of Jacob by Zilpah, 125; Jacob's BAALBEC, or BAALATH, built by Solomon,
dying prophecy to him, and its fulfilment,  352; view of, 352.
159; number of tribe when encamped in BAAL-BERITH, an idol, 128; temple of, 254.
the wilderness, 207, note; tribe of, send BAAL-HAZOR, place where Absalom  killed
40,000 warriors to David at Hebron, 311.  Amnon, 322.
ASHUR, second son of Shem, founds the Assy- BAALIM, plural of Baal, 128.
rian empire, 88.                       BAAL-PEOR, 128.
ASIA  possessed chiefly by descendants of BAAL-ZEPHON, a place near the Gulf of Suez,
Japheth, 87.                             183.
ASHTAROTH, an idol, 128.                 BAASHA conspires against and slays Nadab,
ASHKANAZ, son of Gomer, 88.                king of Israel, and assumes the governASMONEAN family, resistance of to the king's   ment; slays others of the house of Jeroedict, 471.                              boam; wars with Asa, king of Judah, and
Assos, 597, 598.                          takes Ramah; his doom pronounced by
ASSYRIAN empire, founded by Ashur, son of   Jehu; his death, 966 B. C., 359.
Shem, or, as some say, by Nimrod, 88; BABEL, tower of, its height; chapel and goldmission of Jonah to, 395; Media. subject to,   en image; cost; description of its ruins,
414.                                     84; time of its erection; by whom comASSYRIAN shoes, 166.                       menced, 87.




INDEX.                                    703
BABYLON, extended description of; enlarged BATTERING-RAM, 409.
by Belus; reached the summit of its mag- BATTLE-AXES, Egyptian, 184.
nificence, B. C., 570; its magnitude; ruin of, BEASTS, clean and unclean, 204.
announced by prophets; its desolation, 84; BEDE'S, Bible, 52.
view of, 85; prophecy of Isaiah concerning, BEDEA, valley and plain of, camp of the He175, note; becomes the imperial capital,  brews, 184.
406; taken by Cyrus, 422.               BEDOUINS collecting fruits in Palestine, 212,
BABYLONIANS besiege Nineveh, 405; capture   incursions of, 249; with captures and spoil,
Jerusalem, 409; the ten tribes not subject   302.
to, 415.                                BEELZEBUB, an idol, 128.
BABYLONISH, or seventy years', captivity, BEER, a town in the tribe of Benjamin, 254.
408, 411.                               BEERSHEBA, "well of the oath," where AbraBACCHIDES defeats and kills Judas, 456.     ham and Abimelech made a solemn covenant,
BACCHUS, feast of, 470.                     106; description of by Robinson and Smith,
BACHIA, 457.                                118; utmost boundary of Canaan on the
BAGOAS, an Egyptian eunuch, poisons Ochus,  south, i54; the sons of Samuel act for him
king of Persia, 442.                      at, 271.
BAGOSES, a Persian governor, 441.         BEHEADING before hanging, note on, 114.
BAHURIIM, a village on Mount Olivet, 325.   BELA, near Sodom, afterwards called Zoar,
BAJAZET, 366, note.                         102.
BALAAM, a magician of Pethor, in Mesopo- BELT-IN modern name of Bethel, 133.
tamia, warned by God not to curse Israel, BEL, an idol, 128; temple of, 417.
220; disobeying God's commands, he is BELA, afterwards called Zoar, a city to which
met by an angel in the way; his ass re-   Lot escaped, 102.
proves him, 221; pronounces blessing in- BELSHAZZAR, son and successor of Evil-Merostead of cursing, and prophecies the great-   dach on the Persian throne, profanes the
ness of Israel, 222, 223; his plot to seduce   sacred vessels, 418; the hand-writing upon
Israel to idolatry, 223; slain, 224.      the wall, 419; slain, 420.
BALAK, king of Moab, sends messengers to BELUS enlarges Babylon, 84.
Balaam to come and curse Israel, 220.   BELUS, temple of, 417; rebuilt by Alexander,
BALAS, an impostor, seizes the Syrian throne,   447.
460.                                    BEN-AMMI, Lot's son by his daughter, and
BANIAS, modern name of Csesarea Philippi, 95.  father of the Ammonites, 103.
BARNABAS, sent to Antioch to assist the disci- BEN-ASHER and BEN-NAPHTALI, Massorites,
ples, 575; accompanies Paul on a preaching   41.
mission, 576; takes sides with Peter about BEN-HADAD, king of Syria, takes the cities of
circumcision, 581; separates from  Paul,   Naphtali, 371; invades the kingdom  of
goes to Cyprus with Mark, 582; labors in   Israel, routed, renews his invasion next
various places among the Gentiles, 634;   year, defeated with great slaughter, 372;
stoned to death, 635.                     spared by Ahab, repays his kindness by
BARTHOLOMEW, one of the apostles, 530;   giving his troops orders to destroy that
goes to India; subsequently labors in Hie-   king, 373.
rapolis; goes to Lycaonia, 629; thence to BENJAMIN, son of Jacob by Rachel, 135; goes
Albania, a city on the Caspian Sea, suffers  to Egypt with his brothers to buy corn,
a cruel martyrdom, 630.                   149; dines with Joseph, and is helped to
BARZILLAI, an aged man friendly to King   five times as much as his brothers, the
David, 326; invited by David to go and   silver cup found in his sack, 150; Jacob's
dwell with him in Jerusalem, and his touch-   dying prophecy to him, and its fulfilment,
ing reply, 330.                           159.
BARAK, of thle tribe of Naphtali, summoned BENJAMIN, tribe of, census of, 207; position
by Deborah to lead Israel against King   in line of march, 208; early moral corrupJabin, whom he defeats, 246.              tion of; slaughter of in battle by other
BARUCH, a friend of Jeremiah, 407.          tribes, 240; rebuild their desolated cities,
BARUCH, book of, in Apocrypha, 60.          241; attached to the house of Saul, 306;
BASHAN, residence of the giant Og, a king of   send three thousand men to assist in inauguthe Amorites, 220; annexed to the domin-   rating King David, 311; number of warions of the Assyrians, 394.               riors in Asa's army, 365; remnant of reBASHEMATH, wife of Esau, 119.               turn to Judsea after the captivity, 427.
BATHSHEBA, wife of Uriah, marries David BENJAMIN of Tudela finds large numbers of
after Uriah's death, 319; gives birth to   Jews in Media in the twelfth century, 426.
Solomon, 321; sent by the prophet Nathan BENJAMIN, rabbi, 427.
to announce to  David the rebellion of BENAIAH, a Levite, 311; assists in the anAdonijah, 334; her great influence as moth-   nointing of Solomon, 334; is made comer of Solomon, 337.                       mander-in-chief of the army, 338.




704                                   INDEX.
BEN-AMMI, son of Lot by his daughter, 103. BIRS-NIMROUD, the present name of the Tower
BENONI, son of Rachel, so named by his   of Babel, description of by Mr. Rich, 89.
mother at his birth, afterwards named Ben- BIR-SUEZ, identified as the Etham  of the
jamin by Jacob, 135.                      Bible, 182.
BERACHAH, or SHAVEH, valley of, 385.      BIRTHRIGHT, explanation of, 87.
BEREIA, 635.                              BITHYNIA, 622.
BERENICE, daughter of Philadelphus, and wife BLASPHEMY, penalty for, 206.
of Antiochus, murdered by Callinicus, 456. BOATS, engravings of, 145.
BERENICE, daughter of Salome, 508.        BOAZ, of Bethlehem, marries Ruth, 245.
BERESHETH, 31.                            BOAZ, name of a pillar in the Temple, 344.
BEROTHA, a city of Upper Galilee, 234.    BOOBOOSKY'S translation of the Bible'into
BERYTUS, 347.                               Turkish, 50.
BESOR, the brook, 301.                    BONNER, bish., causes Bibles to be chained in
BETHANY, 540.                               St. Paul's Church for the people to read, 54.
BETR-CAR, 270.                            BOSCANIA, in Gilead, 482.
BETHEL, arrival of Abram  at, 93; Abram  Bow in the clouds, 82.
departs from, 96; scene of Jacob's dream of BREASTPLATE, 200.
the ladder, Jacob's pillar, Persian cus- BRICKS, without straw, 169; Assyrian, from
toms explanatory of Jacob's setting up the   Nimrod, 169.
pillar, 122; Jacob ordered to remove there, BUKKI, high-priest, 266.
Robinson's description  of, 134; Samuel BURNING of the dead, 368.
administers justice there, 271; Jeroboam  BURNT-OFFERING, description of altar of, 200.
establishes golden calves at, 357, 358; taken Buz, son of Nahor, 109.
from Jeroboam  by Abijah, 365; children BYBLUS 347.
of, destroyed by bears for mocking Elisha, BYTHNIA, 583.
375.
BETHESDA, Pool of, 528, 529.
BETHLEHEM, called Ephrath, the place where                    C.
Rachel died, 135; Samuel annoints David
king at, 286; taken by the Philistines, 312; CAB, a measure, 378.
birth of Christ at, 511.                CABUL, opprobrious name given by Hiram to
BETHSHAN, a town near the Jordan, on the   twenty inland cities presented to him by
walls of which the bodies of Saul and his   Solomon, 347.
sons were hung by the Philistines, 284.  ChiECINNA, a Roman general, 668.
BETHSHEMESH, a town in Judah to which the CAESAR, passes the Rubicon, B. c., 49; makes
Philistines sent the ark, 268;  Amaziah   himself master of Rome, 496; commits the
routed at, 389.                           government of Syria to Sextus Caesar, 497;
BETHSUR, fortress of, 473; surrender of, 474;   assassinated at Rome, 497.
garrisoned by apostate Jews, 479.       CESAREA, 571; description of, 603, note.
BETHUEL, son of Nahor and father of Rebecca, CAIN, birth of, signification of name, 77; his
109.                                      character and guilt, 78; curse, descendants,
BETHUEL, brother ot Rebecca, 113.            78; daughters of, married to the sons of
BEYROOT, 570, note,                          Seth, 80.
BEZALEEL, one of the builders of the taberna- CAINAN, son of Enos, 79.
cle, 198.                               CAIRO, 180, 183.
BEZA, Theodore, 54.                       CALEB, one of the twelve spies, 213; his boldBEZEK, 238; Israel, under Saul, assembles in   ness and faith, promise that he with Joshua
the plain of, 280.                        should enter Canaan, 214.
BIBLE, authorship of, 21; order of books, their CALIRH(E, warm baths of, 512.
names, significations, contents, 22-29; pres- CALF, golden, an idol, 128  made by Aaron;
ent division of into chapters, 31; verses, 32;   why worshipped by the Israelites, 196; deversions of ancient, 42; Greek versions, 43;   stroyed by Moses; how pulverized; Goguet's
Vulgate, 49; Arabic translations of, 49; Per-  remarks upon, 196, 197.
sian, Turkish, Armenian, Georgian, 30; CALLINICUS SELEUCUS, on the throne of
modern Greek, Sclavonian, German, Polish,   Syria, 456.
Bohemian, Swedish, Danish, Icelandic, CAMBYSES, reign of, 429.
Flemish, 51; Italian, French, Indian, Eng- CANA of Galilee, 525, 526.
lish, 52; chained in St. Paul's Church, 53; CANAAN, land of, boundaries, population, govpublished by English Catholics at Rheims;   ernment, afterwards called Judsea, 93, note 
King James' Bible, Bishop's Bible, 54; new   famine in, 94.
translations of, 55.                    CANAANITE, the designation of the apostle
BIDKAR, a captain of Jehu, 380.             Simon, 631.
BILHAH, concubinary wife of Jacob, 125.   CANAANITES, inhabit the banks of the JorBIRKET-EL HADJ, or Pilgrim's Pool, 181.     dan, 212; defeated by the Israelites, 219;




INDEX.                                    705
the  -lHbrews intermarry with, 237; large   92; where Eliezer, Abraham's steward,
number slain by the tribes of Judah and   found a wife for Isaac, 110.
Simleon, 238.                            CHEBAR, a river in Mesopotamia, 414.
CANDLESTICK, description of given to Moses, CHERDORLAOMER, king of Elam, slain in bat200.                                       tle with Abram, 96.
CAPE OF MOSES OF DELIVERANCE, mark- CHEMOSH, an idol, 128; god of the Ammoning the place of crossing the Red Sea by the   ites, 257.
Israelites, 188.                         CHENANIAR, chief of the Levites, under whose
CAPERENAUMA, 526, 527, 528, 530, 531, 534.   direction the ark was removed from  the
CAsPiTIIORIM, son of Caslubim, 90.           house of Obed-edom to Jerusalem, 313.
CAPP1DOCIA, 443.                         CHERETHITES, Philistines, a corps of David's
CAPPADOCIANs, 88.                            body-guard, who remained faithful during
CAPTIVITY, God's last resort to punish the   Absalom's rebellion, 324.
rebellion and idolatry of his people, foretold CHERITH, brook, near which Elijah hid himby Moses and the prophets, 356; the Baby-   self in a cave, 368, 369.
lonish, or seventy years, 407; commence- CHESHED, son of Nahor, 109.
ment of, 411; scene of, 414.             CHILEAH, son of David and Abigail, 335,
CA.RCHEMISH, a post of the Assyrians on the   note.
Euphrates, 404; taken by Pharaoh Necho, CHILION, son of Elimelech and Naomi, 243.
405.                                     CHIMHAM, son of Barzillai, taken by David to
CARIA, 596.                                  Jerusalem, 330.
CAR.I.NS, the, 631.                        CHIos, 598.
CARM IEL, eastern, on the Dead Sea, 285.   CHRISTIANITY, its progress alarms the Jewish
CARAIEL MOUNT, near the Mediterranean   leaders; efforts to suppress it; measures of
Sea, 285.                                  violence proposed; counsel of Gamaliel, 553.
CARPUS, a disciple of Paul, 618.           CHRONICLES, book of, Paralipomena, 24.
CAI RTHAGE, ambassadors of, promise assist- CILICIA, 443.
ance to Tyre, 444.                       CIMON, the Athenian general, defeats ArtaCARTS, notice of, 152; views of, 152, 153, 268,   xerxes, 435.
269.                                     CIRCUMCISION, institution of, 99; explanation
CAS1GAR, a mountain in Armenia, 82.          of, 100; of the heart, 100, note, renewed at
CASLJUBIM, son of Mizraim, 90.               Gilgal, 231.
CASSANDER, governor of Cairo, 449; assumes CLARKE, DR. ADAM, upon King James's Bithe regal title in Macedonia, 451.         ble, 54.
CAtssius, the Roman general, 496, 497, 498.  CLAUDIUS LYSIAS, the Roman commander,
CASTOR, an idol, 128.                        600.
CASTOR AND POLLUX, 610.                    CLEMENS ALEXANDRINUS, his view of the
CruLrs, their worship druidical, and of the   ark of rushes, 163.
Supreme Being, 107.                      CLEMENT, mentioned by Paul; is supposed to
CENDEBEUS, 481.                              have succeeded the apostle in the care of
CENSUS, probably originated with Moses, 180;   the church at Rome, 637.
taken while encamped in the Wilderness of CLEOPATRA, daughter of Antiochus the Great,
Sin, 207.                                  given in marriage to Ptolemy Epiphanes,
CESTIUS, governor of Syria, sentwith a large   462; governs Egypt with ability, upon the
army against the Jews, 654; his repulse   death of her husband, 467; dies, B.C., 173,
and retreat, 654-65 7.                     467.
CHALCEDON, 623.                            CLEOPATRA, daughter of Ptolemy Epiphanes,
CHALCIS, 513, 602.                           marries her brother Ptolemy Philonmetor,
CHALDEAN. or Nestorian tribes, only remains   467; after his death, marries her surviving
of the ancient Assyrians, 90.              brother, Ptolemy Physcon, who repudiates
CHALD  AN language still used in the syna-   her, and marries her daughter (Cleopatra),
gogue at Frankport, 48i used by the com-   486; Physcon being driven from the counmon people after the captivity, 437.       try, she is intrusted with the government,
CHALDiEANS, Assyrians involved in wars with,   486.
404; troops sent against Jerusalem, 407; CLEoPATRA, daughter of Ptolemy Philometor,
Jeremiah counsels submission to, 408; with-   marries Alexander Balas, king of Syria, 480;
drawal of, from Jerusalem, return, and cap-   is taken away by her father, and bestowed on
ture of the city, 409; massacre of garrison   his rival, Demetrius; Demetrius deserting
by Ishmael, 410.                           her for the daughter of Mithridates, she
CHAPTERS, present division into, 31.         marries Antiochus VII., and, upon his death,
CHARIOTS and horses, trade in, 348.          returns to Demetrius; causes her son SeleuCHARITY of the first Christian converts, 562.   cus to be proclaimed king of Syria,,and.
CHARRAN, or Haran, a city of Mesopotamia,   slays him with her own hands; her youngest.
where Terah, the father of Abraham, died,   son being on the throne, she attempts, to,




706                                   INDEX.
poison him, but is detected, and compelled   each tribe to arouse them to battle, 1 Sam.
to drink the poison, 487.                 xi. 7, 239.
CLEOPATRA, daughter of Ptolemy Philometor CUTHAH, 397.
and Cleopatra, upon the repudiation of her CUTHEANS, 42.
mother, marries her uncle Physcon, 486; CYPRESS, gopher-wood, used for coffins and
the government being left in her hands, the   mummy cases, 80.
people compel her to appoint her eldest son CYPROS, wife of Agrippa I., 513.
king, 487; expels her son fiomn Egypt, and CYPROS, wife of Antipater, 513.
sends an army to assist in driving him from  CYPRUS, Apries sends an expedition against,
Palestine, 488; concludes an alliance with   408.
Alexander Jannseus, and returns to her CYRENE, 475, 574, note; 632.
own country, 488.                       CYRENIUS, executes the edict for enrolment in
CLEOPATRA, daughter of Ptolemy Auletes,   Judlea, 510.
becomes queen of Egypt, 497; fascinates CYRUS, 24, 85, note; comes to the throne, 581,
Antony, 498; her avarice, 502 i visits Jeru-   B. C., 421; takes Babylon fromn Nabonasalem, and attempts to fascinate Herod, 503.   dius; mentioned in prophecy by Isaiah,
CNIDUS, 607.                                422; makes proclamation giving the capC(ELE-SYRIA,  449, 452, 456, 457, 459, 461,  tive Jews permission to return to their own
468, 487.                                 land, 422; gives up the sacred vessels of the
COINS, 333, 334, 505, 508, 510, 606, 624.   temple; also directs that the temple be
COLOSS E, 612.                              built twice as large as before, at the royal
CONCORDANCE, when and by whom  first   expense; dies seven years after the restoramade; improved, 31.                       tion, 429.
CONFEDERATION of the Canaanitish kings
against Joshua, 233.                                        D.
CONSTANTINE the Great builds a church over
Paul's grave, at the instance of Pope Syl- DAGON, an idol, 128; god of the Philistines;
vester, 620.                              264; overthrown and broken by the presCoos, 599.                                  ence of the ark, 267.
CORINTH, 590.                             DALMATIA, 636.
CORINTHIANS, Paul's First Epistle to, 594; DAMASCUS NICOLAUS, a heathen writer menSecond Epistle to, 597.                  tions Abraham, 94.
CORNELIUS, a Roman centurion, sends for DAMASCUS, a province and city, 93; Syrians
Peter, 573.                               of, 315; taken by Tiglath-Pileser, 393, note,
CORNELIUS, Pope, reconveys the body of   569; retreat of Darius Codomanus to, after
Peter to the Vatican, 620.                his defeat by the Persians, 443; journey of
COSTABARUS, governor of Idumoea, 505.       Saul to, 569; description of, 569, note.
CONFUSION of tongues, 87.                 DAN, town of, victory of Abram near, 96.
COROMANDEL, kingdom of, 631.              DAN, son of Jacob and Bilhah, 125; Jacob's
COSRHOES, king of Persia, 539.              dying prophecy to, and its fulfilment, 159.
COUNTRIES mentioned in the Bible, map of, DAN, tribe of, census of in the wilderness, 207;
45.                                       position in line of march, 208; not able to
COZBI, a Midianitish princess, 223.         drive out the Amorites, they take Laish, and
CRANGANOR, 631.                             carry away Micah's idol, 239.
CRASSUS, appointed proconsul of Judoea, plun- DANCES of Hebrew women to celebrate the
ders the temple; makes war against the   deliverance from the Egyptians, 187; view
Parthians; is slain, 496.                 of, with timbrels, 188.
CREATION, account of the, 70, 75.         DANIEL, book of, 22.
CRETE, 596.                               DANIEL, the prophet, carried away by Ne,
CROMLECH at Plas Newydd, engraving, 106.   buchadnezzar from Jerusalem to Babylon;
CROSS, punishment of, 543; forms of; 544;   called Belteshazzar; appointed ruler over
mode of execution, 544.                   the province, 416; cast into the furnace,
CROWNS, 310, 320.                           417; interprets the writing upon the wall,
CTSIPHON, ancient city of, 454.             419; set over the provinces by Darius; cast
CUSH, first son of Ham, settled in Armenia,  into the lions' den, 420; remains at the court
90.                                       of Cyrus at the restoration, 427.
CUSHAN-IRISHATHAIM, a king of Mesopo- DAPHNE, sacred groves of, 456, 467.
tamia, makes the Hebrews tributary to him  DARIUS THE MEDE, 418, 420, 423.
for eight years, 241.                   DARIUS CODOMANUS ascends the Persian
CUSHI, the messenger who bore to David the   throne; his vast wealth and dominions;
news of the victory over Absalom, 328.    overcome by Alexander, 442, 443, 445,447;
CUSHITES invade Judah; defeated with great  flight into Media, and assassination by conslaughter by King Asa, 366, 367.          spirators, 447.
CUSTOM of sending a piece of slain animal to DARIUS NOTHUS, 438; death of, 440.




INDEX.                                    707
DARIUS HYSTASPES comes to the Persian   the rebellion of Absalom, 324; establishes
throne, 521, B. C., 429; dies, 485, B. C., 431.   himself at Mahanaim; victory over AbsaDARIUS, a Romlan general at the siege of Je-  lom, 326; his grief for Absalom, 328; is
rusalem, 653.                              invited back to his kingdom, 329; quells the
DATHAN, rebellion of, with Korah, 214; his  revolt of Sheba, 331; gives up Saul's famdestruction, 216.                          ily to the Gibeonites, 331; fights with IzbiDAVID, son of Jesse, 286; Samuel commanded   benob, the giant, 332; God's judgment upon
to anoint him, 286; dissipates Saul's melan-   him for numbering the people, 333; orders
choly by his music upon the harp; desires   Solomon to be anointed king, and calls a
to fight Goliath; his faith in God, 288; his   general assembly to ratify the coronation,
reply to the haughty Goliath; slays Goliath   334; his last counsels to Solomon, 335; dies
with a sling, 289; honored and applauded   at the age of seventy years, 336.
by the women, 290; put in command of a DAY OF ATONEMENT, feast of, 201.
thousand men by Saul, 290; marries Michal, DAYS OF CREATION, work of each of the, 66.
290; his friendship for Jonathan; Saul's DEACONS, their appointment and duties, 564.
open hostility to him,. 291; escapes by being DEAD SEA, 95.
let down from a window in a basket, 291; DEBORAH, the prophetess, sends for Barak to
makes a solemn covenant with Jonathan,   lead the people against Jabin, 246; her
292; eats the show-bread, and arms himself   song of triumph, 247; Lowth's remarks on,
with the sword of Goliath, 294; escapes to   248.
the cave of Adullam, 295; goes to Moab, DEBORAH, Rebecca's nurse, 114; death and
295; ordered by God to return to Judaea, he   burial at Bethel, 134.
finds shelter in the forest of Hareth, 295; DECALOGUE, giving of, its extent, 194.
gains a victory over the Philistines at Kei- DEDAN, son of Raamah, 90.
lah, 296; visited by Jonathan in the wilder- DEDICATION, feast of, 431.
ness of Ziph, 296; his noble refusal to take DELILAH, a woman loved by Samson, who
advantage of an opportunity to kill Saul in   revealed the secret of his strength, 263.
the cave of Engedi; swears not to destroy DELUGE, the  Noachian, probably not cothe seed of Saul, 298; sends to Nabal for   extensive with the earth's surface, 75,
provisions for his men, is refused, and sets  traditions of, 77.
forth to take revenge, 298; is appeased by DEMETRIUS, son of Antigonus, defeated by
Abigail, Nabal's wife, who becomes his wife   Pompey, 449; gains an advantage over
upon the death of her husband, 299, 300;   Cillis, 450; conquers Cyprus, 451; defeated
his refusal to slay Saul in the wilderness of   by Seleucus, 452.
Ziph; carries away the king's spear and DEMETRIUS, son of Seleucus IV., sent as a
water jug, 300; dwells with the Philistines,   hostage to Rome, 465; urges his claims to
301; his elegy upon the death of Jonathan;   the throne of Syria, 473; escapes from
his mourning for Saul, 304; receives the   Rome, and establishes himself on the throne
sceptre of Hebrew from the tribe of Judah,   of Syria, 475; attempts the conquest of
304; his forces fight with those of Ishbosh-   Judea, and is defeated, 476; abandons
eth, 305, 306; his wife, Michal, restored,   himself to luxury, 479; is defeated by Alex308; punishes the murderers of Ishbosheth,   ander Balas, and slain, 480.
310; invited to assume the crown of the DEMETRIUS II., surnamed Nicator, lands in
whole nation, 310; crowned at Hebron, 311;   Cilicia, and asserts his claims to the throne
reduces the fortress of Jebus on Mount   of Syria, 480; is assisted by the king of
Zion, 311; builds a palace on Mount Zion;   Egypt, and succeeds, 480; alienates the
obliged again to flee to the cave of Adul-  Jews, 481; defeated and captured by the
lam by an invasion of the Philistines, 312;   Parthians, 483; recovers his throne, 486;
contemplates removing the ark to Jerusa-   loses his kingdom and life, B. C., 126, 487.
lem, 312; the removal being attended with DEMETRIUS, the silversmith of Ephesus, 595,
fatal consequences, he relinquishes his de-   596.
sign, but finally carries it out, 313; com- DEMETRIUS EUCERUS, king of Damascus, 489.
poses psalms, 313; contemplates building  DERBE, 580.
the temple, 314; the Philistines and Moab- DEUTERONOMY, book of, 22.
ites reduced to subjection, 314; extends DIANA, an idol, 128; ruin of the temple of,
his conquests to the Euphrates, 315; his   at Ephesus, 591; medal of, 595.
fame extends into far countries, 315; makes DINAH, daughter of Jacob by Leah, 126; her
an alliance with Hiram, king of Tyre, 316;   disgrace by Shechem, 132, 133.
his kindness to Mephibosheth for Jonathan's DIoDoRUS on the destruction of INineveh, 89.
sake, 317; sends an embassy to Hanun, DISPERSION of the descendants of Noah, 87.
king of Ammon, 317; defeats the Amimon- DIVISION of the Bible into chapters, 31, 32.
ites, Syrians, and Assyrians, 317, 318; his DIVORCE, case of, among the Arabs, 126.
sin with Bathsheba, 319; confesses his guilt, DODANIM, son of Javan, possesses France, 88.
320; his sad departure from Mount Zion at DOEG, an Edomite, chief of Saul's shepherds,




708                                  INDEX.
294; destroys the priests by order of Saul,  Joseph's brethren to, 145-152; arrival of
296.                                      Jacob and his family in, 154; the land
DoMITIAN, emperor of Rome, 626.             afflicted by plagues, 171-178; departure
DORA, south of Carmel, 484, 488, 494.       of the Israelites from, 178; description of, its
DORIS, wife of Herod, 509, 512.             learning, language, religion, &c., 189, 190;
DOTHAN, scene of Joseph's ill-treatment by   Solomon's trade with, 348; invaded by
his brethren, 137; Dr. Richardson's and   Sennacherib, 399; consolidates its strength
Dr. Clarke's account of, 137; town of, in-   under one king, 404; the kingdom subdued
vested by the Syrians, 378.               by  Nebuchadnezzar, 411; invaded by
DOVE sent from the ark, 82.                 Artaxerxes, who is defeated, 440; reduced
DRESS of the peeple of Nineveh and of the   by Ochus, the towns dismantled, and the
Jews explained by the Nineveh inscriptions,  temples plundered, 441; taken by Alexan89.                                       der, 445; Ptolemy, ruler of, 452; invaded
DRUIDICAL worship, analogy of, with the He-   by Antiochus, 468.
brew, 107; Druidical circle, engraving of, EGYPTIAN MAGI, 144, note; 170.
108.                                    EGYPTIAN MIDWIVES, humane conduct of,
DRUMAH, concubine of Gideon, 253.           163.
DUMAH, son of Ishmael, 106.               EGYPTIAN PRINCESS, marriage of Solomon
to, 339.
EGYPTIANS in great distress from the famine,
E.                       155; sell their cattle and lands to Pharaoh,
156; lend jewels and rich. dresses to the
EAR-RINGS, 113, 114.                        Israelites, 177; a number of the poorer class
EBAL, mount, view of, 226; Joshua erects an   emigrate with the Israelites, 180; pursue
altar there, and reads the law to the people,  the Israelites, and are destroyed in the Red
233.                                      Sea, 184, 185; invade Judaea under ShiEBENEZER, a memorial stone set up by Sam-   shak, their king, 262; defeated at Pelusium,
uel, 270.                                 468.
EBER, son of Salah, gave name to the Hebrew  EHUD, the deliverer of Israel from  Eglon,
nation, 90.                               king of Moab, 1426, B. C., 242.
ECBATANA, a city of Media, 416; palace at, EKRON, a city of Philistia where the ark was
430.                                      sent, 268, 480.
ECCLESIASTES, book of, 25.                ELAH, son and successor of Baasha, king of
ECCLECIASTICUS, book of, in Apocrypha, 59.  Israel; assassinated by Zimri, his general,
ED, the name of the altar built by the tribes   359.
that settled east of Jordan, 236.       ELAH, valley of, scene of the victory of David
EDAD, one of the seventy elders chosen to   over Goliath, 289.
assist Moses, 211.                      EL-ALOIIE-ISRAEL, name of an altar built by
EDAR, tower of, opinions of commentators in   Jacob at Shechem, 132.
regard to, 135.                         ELAM, son of Shem, possessed a part of
EDEN, location of, 68.                      Persia called Susiana, 88.
EDOM, red pottage, gave name to the descen- ELAM, a country, 96.
dants of Esau, 116,                     ELANITIC GULF, 336, 348.
EDOM, country of, 116; king of, slain by his EL-ARISH, 459.
subjects, 386.                          ELATH, a port upon the RED SEA, 348.
EDOMITES, or Idumveans, descendants of Esau, EL-BETHEL, name of an altar built by Jacob,
21, note; refuse to let the Israelites pass   134.
through their borders, 218; defeated in the ELDERS, seventy, inspired by God to assist
Valley of Salt by Abishai, 315; subject so   Moses, 210.
Solomon, 336; wealth of, 347; rebellion of, ELEAZAR, son of Aaron, succeeds his father
354; throw off the yoke of Judah, 386;   as high-priest, 218; his death, 236.
defeated by Amaziah, 389; invade the ELEAZAR, son of Abinadab, had charge of
south of Judah, and take cities, 393; con-  the ark, 270.
quered by Nebuchadnezzar, 411; occupy ELEAZER, son of Mattathias the Asmonean,
Idumoea, 473.                             471, crushed to death by the fall of an eleEGLON, king of Moab, subdues the Hebrews,   phant, 474.
and establishes himself at Jericho, 241; ELEAZAR, a valiant man of David, 312.
slain by Ehud, 242.                     ELEAZAR, an aged Jew, tortured by AntiEGYPT, settled by descendants of Ham, 90;   ochus for refusing to eat swine's flesh, 470.
soon formed into a kingdom, 94; early com- ELEAZAR, son of the high-priest at the time
merce of, 138, note; famine in, predicted   of the revolt of the Jews from the Romans,
by Joseph, 145; fulfilment of the prophecy,   652, 653.
seven years of famine, 146; the land ELEPHANTS, their use in war, 449, 451, 452;
becomes the property of Pharaoh; visit of   views of, 451, 461.




INDEX.                                    709
ELEUSIS, 469.                              ELON, a Hittite, father of Bashemath, wife of
ELI, first high-priest in the line of Ithamar,   Esau, 119.
265; lax in restraining wickedness in his ELoN, one of the judges of Israel, 260.
own family, 266; dies at the news of the ELYMAIS, 415.
death of his sons, 267; the threatened judg- EMOR, son of Canaan, founder of the Amorment executed upon his house, 296; his  ites, who lived in the mountains of Judsea,
family finally degraded in the person of   91.
Abiathar, 339.                           ENCAMPMENT of the Israelites; the manner
ELIAB, eldest son, of Jesse, supposed by   appointed, 207; diagram; size of, 208.
Samuel to be the one to be anointed king ENDOR, witch of, calls up the spirit of Samuel
685.                                       for Saul, 303.
ELIAIIM, made  king  by  Necho; name ENGEDI, a district near the southern extremity
changed to Jehoiakim, 405.                 of the Dead Sea; David has the opportuELIASHIB, high-priest, 437, 439.             nity to kill Saul while resting in a cave
ELIEZER, son of Moses by Zipporah, 165;   there, 297.
circumcised, 167.                        ENGLISH versions of the Bible, 154.
ELIEZER, Abraham's steward, goes to Haran ENOCH, son of Cain, city of, 78.
in Mesopotamia to procure a wife for Isaac, ENOCH, son of Jared, translated, 79; theolo110; meets Rebecca at the well, 111; is   gical speculations concerning, 79, note.
invited home by Laban; makes known the ENOS, son of Seth, 79.
object of his mission; is successful; gives EPHESIANS, Paul's Epistle to, 613.
presents to Rebecca and her mother; his EPHESUS, Paul preaches there; ruins of the
speedy departure with Rebecca; the meet-  temple of Diana at, 591; description of,
ing with Isaac, 114.                       593, note; view of, 594; riot of the silverELIJAH, the Tishbite, a prophet; bodly op-   smiths in, 595; suppression of the tumult,
poses Ahab's idolatry; announces a famine,   596; Paul delivers a pathetic discourse at,
368; flees to Sarepta; raises the widow's   598; takes leave of the pastors and elders,
son; returns and reproves the people for   599; charge to the church of, 639.
their idolatry; calls down fire upon the sac- EPHOD, description of, 200.
rifices, which the prophets of Baal could not EPHRAIM, son of Joseph, 146; Jacob"s dying
do, 369; the people slay the prophets of   address to, 157.
Baal by his command; brings rain  by EPHRAIM, tribe of, census of, in the wilderprayer, 370; flees to the wilderness; goes   ness, 207; position of, in the camp, 208;
to Horeb, and hears God in the still small  remonstrate with Gideon, 252; defeated by
voice; instructed to anoint Elisha' as his   Jephthah, 259; send men' to inaugurate
successor, Hazael to be king of Syria, and   King David, 311; jealous of the superiority
Jehu to be king of Israel, 370; pronounces   of Judah, 354.
the doom  of Ahab and Jezebel, 373; de- EPHRAIM, forest of, where David defeated the
nounces death on  King Ahaziah; calls  rebel army of Absalom, 326.
down fire upon companies of men sent to EPIIRAIMITE, Jephthah's test to distinguish
take him, 374; fulfilment of his prophecy   by the pronunciation of the word Shibboin the death of Jezebel, 331; taken from   leth, 259.
earth in a chariot of fire, 375.         EPHRAPH, afterwards called Bethlehem, where
ELIM, a camping-place of the Israelites, 190.    Rachel died, 135; Joseph and Mary repair
ELIMELECH,   husband of Ruth, 23; removes   there to be enrolled, 522.
to the land of Moab, and dies there, 243.   EPHRON, a prince of Hebron, of whom AbraELISABETH, mother of John  the Baptist,   ham bought the cave of Machpelah, 109.
522.                                     EPICUREANS, 588, note.
ELISHA, son of Shaphat, of Abel-Maholah, EPISTLES, chronological succession of, 29.
in the half-tribe of Manasseh; called by EPIRUS, 623, note.
Elijah, 370; consulted by Jehoram  and ER, son of Judah, 139.
Jehoshaphat, foretells rain, and victory over ESARHADDON, king of Assyria, defeats Matheir enemies, 375; compared with Elijah;   nasseh, 401.
multiplies the widow's oil; promises a son ESAU, birth of; signification of his name; sells
to the Shunamite women, 376; raises the   his birthright, 116; marries two Canaanitwidow's son; heals the poisoned pottage;   ish wives, 119; is defrauded of his blessing
heals Naaman the leper, 377; strikes the   by Jacob, 120; resolves to kill his brother,
Syrian host with blindness, 378; his pro-   121; meets Jacob on his return from Haphecy of abundance in Samaria in the time   ran and is reconciled to him 131; joins
of famine, 379; death of, in the time of   Jacob in burying his father Isaac, 135.
Joash, king of Israel, 394, 395.         EscUOL, a Canaanite friend of Abram, 96.
ELISHAH, son of Javan, possesses the Pelo- ESCHOL, valley, grapes of, 212.
ponnesus, 88.                           ESDRELON, plain of, 246.
ELOHIM, 41, note.                          ESDRAS, books of the Apocrypha, 56, 57, 422.




710                                   INDEX.
ESEK, 117.                                 FLOCKS, tended by females in the East, 111,
ESHBAAL, or ISHBOSHETH, son of Saul,   112, note.
elected to the throne by all the tribes except FLORUS, Roman governor of Judsea, 651-653.
Judah, after the death of Saul, 304.     FLOOD, the, supplemental article, 75.
ESSARHADDON, one of the builders of the FOOD, animal, law of; 378, note.
palaces of Nineveh, 89.                  FRANCE, possessed by Dodanim, son of Janan,
ESTHER, book of, 25; promoted to be Queen   88.
instead of Vashti, by Artaxerxes, 432; she FRANKINCENSE, description of, altar of, 200.
saves her people from extermination, 434.
ETAM, a strong rock to which Samson retired, 261.                                                 G.
ETHAM, a second or third resting-place of the
Hebrews on their escape from Egypt; the GAAL, a boasting coward, 254.
modern Adjeroud, 181.                    GABIANA, ancient Samaria, rebuilt by GabiEUMENES, 448.                                nius, 494.
EUNICE, mother of Timothy, 635.            GABINIUS, proconsul of Syria; sends Mark
EUPHRATES, 68.                               Antony into Judsea; modifies the governEUROPE, possessed by the descendants of   ment, 494; undertakes to restore Ptolemy
Japheth, 87.                               Auletes to the throne of Egypt; defeats
EUSEBIUS, his confirmation of Bible history    Alexander near Mount Tabor; recalled, and
by quotation from Manetho, 184; his notice   succeeded by Crassus, 495, 496.
of the tomb of Miriam, 217.              GAD, son of Jacob and Zilpah, 125; Jacob's
EVE, her name Hebrew; signification, 35;   dying address to him, 158.
created, 67; her fall, 69; expelled from  GAD, tribe of, census of, in the wilderness;
Eden, 70.                                  position of, in camp, 208; request of Moses
EVIL-MERODACH, son and successor of Ne-  to be permitted to settle east of the Jordan;
buchadnezzar, slain in battle, 414.        their request granted, 225; after the conExoDus, book of, 22.                         quest of Canaan, dismissed by Joshua, 235;
EYES, closing of, at death, ancient, 154.    send men to assist in inaugurating King
EZEKIIL, book of, 26; fulfilment of the proph-   David, 311.
ecies of, 425.                           GADARA, taken by Alexander Jannaeus, 488.
EZEKIEL, prophet, a captive in Mesopotamia, GALATIA, 583.
408.                                     GALATIANS, founded by Gomer, 88; Paul's
EZION-GEBER, a port upon the Red Sea, 348;   Epistle to, 595.
Solomon builds a navy there, 385.        GALILEE, country of, preaching of John the
EZRA, book of, 24.                           Baptist in, 527.
EZRA, prophet, goes to Jerusalem with power GAMALA, 494.
to beautify the house of Jehovah; his ex- GARDEN of Eden, site of, 68.
tensive commission; leads a company of GATES, custom of administering justice at, 245.
returning captives to Jerusalem, 433; corn- GATIH, a city of Canaan, 235; Samson put in
pletes his revisal of the sacred books;   prison there, 263; the ark sent there by
exchanges the old Hebrew character for the   the Philistines, 26 7; residence of David in,
Chaldsean, 436.                            301; taken by Uzziah, 390.
GAULONITIS, Arabs of, 489.
F.                     GAZA, a principal city of the Philistines, 235;
description, now called Rassa; gates carried
FAMINE IN  CANAAN, 116; in Egypt and   off by Samson, 262.
neighboring countries, 146.              GAZARA, a fortified town, 484, 485, 486.
FEAST OF DEDICATION, 431.                  GmEBA, a town fortified by Asa, 367.
FELIX, commander of the Roman forces at GEDALIAAI, made governor of the poor remJerusalem, 498; appoints the trial of Paul,'nant left after the captivity; slain by Ish603; effects of the apostle's defence on   mael, 410.
him, 604; detains Paul a prisoner; deposed, GEHAZI, servant of Elisha, punished with
605.                                      leprosy for asking a gift in the name of the
FESTIVALS, sacred, table of; first fruits of   prophet, 377.
barley harvest, feast of, when observed; first GENESIS, book of, 22.
fruits of wheat, feast of trumpets; of the ded- GENEVA, Bible printed at, 52.
ication of the second Temple; of taberna- GEOLOGY consistent with the Bible, 65.
cles; of Purim, 201.                     GEORGIAN BIBLE, 50.
FIRMAMENT, 66.                             GERAR, a city of Palestine, and a dwellingFESTUS, successor to Felix, orders another   place of Abraham, 105.
trial of Paul in presence of King Agrippa; GERGESENES, country of the, 490.
effect of the apostle's defence on him, 605, GERIZIM, mountains of, 226; Samaritan tem606; death of, 614.                       ple on, 439.




INDEX.                                    711
GERMAN BIBLE, 51.                          GRAMMATICUS, Moses, translation  of Old
GERMAN SOLDIERS make Vitellius Emperor   Testament into Armenian, 50.
of Rome, 665.                            GRANICUS, river, 443.
GERSHOM, son of Moses, 165.                GRAVES'S lectures on the Pantateuch, 429,
GERSHOMITES, descendants of Gershom, son   note.
of Levi, 208.                            GRECIAN ideas predominant among the Jews
GESHUR, 324.                                in Egypt; rise of the Sadducees; the " new
GESHURITES, tribe of Arabia Petrea, 301.     synagogue " and its objects; the Mishna as
GETHIER, son of Aram, 89.                    the law-book of the Jews; tenets of the
GETHSEJMANE, 541, note.                      Sadducees, 458.
GEZRITES, tribe of Arabia Petroea, 301.    GRECIZERS, 47.
GIANTS, 80.                                GREEK, modern, Bible, 51.
GIBEAH, a town of Benjamin; scene of the vile GREEK proper names, prevalence of, among
murder of the Levite's wife, 239; here the   the Jews, 458; customs become popular
spirit of God caine upon Saul, as predicted   among the Hebrew youth, 466.
by Samuel, 275, 276.                     GREEKS, preaching of Paul to, 579, 587.
GIBBETHON, a fortress of the Philistines,
359.
GIBEON, a city of the Gibeonites; the resting                 H.
place of the tabernacle, the altar, and the
Shechinah to Solomon's tine; here Solo- HABBAKUK, book of, 26.
mon offers a great sacrifice, 340.       HABORi, a province in Media, 393; a river,
GIBEONITES, their alliance with  Israel by   called also Chebar, 397.
stratagem, 233; made hewers of wood and HADAD, king of the Syrians of Damascus, 315.
drawers of water, 234; demand that seven HADADEZE1R, king of Zobah; defeated by
members of Saul's house be slain in revenge   David, 315.
for Saul's cruelty to them, 331.         HADAR, son of Ishmael, 106.
GIB-YOUsSOUFF, modern name of the pit into HAFTAN, the, 427.
which Joseph was cast, 137, nose.        HAGAR, an Egyptian concubine of Abram;
GIDEON, of the tribe of Manasseh; called by   her flight; met by an angel, and returns;
the angel of God to deliver Israel, 249; as-   has a son, 99; driven out with Ishmael;
sembles thirty-two thousand men in the   divinely directed to a well of water, 105.
mountains of Gilboa; gives liberty to all HAGGAI, book of, 26.
who are faint-hearted to go to their homes; HAGGAI, prophet; prophecies of the temple,
his army reduced to three hundred by the   429,
test of manner of drinking, 250; his strata- HAGIOGRAPHIA, 30.
gem, and great slaughter of the Midianites, HAI, 93.
251; his character; desired by the Israel- HALAIi, a province in Media, 393; the ten
ites to be king, his noble refusal, 252; ruled   tribes removed there by Shalmaneser, 414.
Israel forty years, 253.                 HALES, remarks of, on the commission of NeGIEioN, a river, the Araxes, 68.             hemniah, 435.
GIHON, fountaim, where Solomon was anointed HAM, son of Noah, birth of, 79; his derision
king, 334.                                 of' his father, 84; possessed Africa and part
GILBOA, battle of, in which Saul and his sons   of Asia, 91.
perished, 303.                           HAMAN, his plot to destroy all the Jews; his
GILEAD, place where Laban and Jacob made   rank and great wealth, 434.
a treaty of alliance, marked by a heap of HAMAH, a country upon the Orontes, 315.
stones; part of the mountainous country east HAMATH, 397; land of, 405.
of the sea of Galilee, 129; district of, 392.  HAMOR, prince of Shechem, 132; slain by
GILGAL, first encampment of Israel after en-   Simeon and Levi, 133.
tering Canaan; circumcision renewed, and HANANI, a prophet, 359, 367.
the Passover celebrated, 230; Samuel ad- HANANIAH, one of Daniel's three friends,
ministers justice here, 270; Samuel convokes   afterwards called Shadrach, 416.
Israel here for the election of a king, 276.  HANGING after beheading, 144.
GLAPHYRA, 508.                             HANNAH, mother of Samuel, 266,
GOLIATH, a mighty Philistine, slain by David, HANUN, king of Ammon, treats the Ambas288, 289.                                  sadors of David with great indignity, 317.
GOMER, son of Japheth, 87.                 HAPHTEROPH, 31.
GOPINA, 498.                               HARA, a city of Media, 414.
GORGIAS, 472.                              HARAN, son of Terah, 92.
GOSHEN, land of, settlement of the Israelites HARAN, OR CHARRAN, a city of Mesoptamia;
in, 154, 155; its exemptions from  the   Terah, father of Abram, died there, 92;
plagues, 172.                              present site unknown, 110; Jacob's arrival
GOZAN, a river in Media, 393.               there, 123.




712                                  INDEX.
HIARETH, forest where David found shelter   games; his cruelties, 504; passion for public
from Saul, 295.                           improvements; builds Cxesarea, 506; reIIARPS, Assyrian and Egyptian, 287, 288.    builds the Temple at Jerusalem, 508; alienHAVILAH, eastern part of Arabia Petrsea,   ated from his two sons by Mariamne; favors
106.                                      his eldest son, Antipater; causes the death
HAVILAH, son of Cush, settled on the river   of the two other sons, 509; incurs the
Pison, 90.                                enmity of Augustus, 510; recalls Antipater
HAVOTH-JAIR, thirty villages belonging to   from Rome, 512; taken sick; orders the
Jair, a judge of Israel, 255.             heads of the most eminent families to be
HAZAEL, anointed by Elijah to be king of Syria,   put to death as soon as he is dead; his
370; takes and plunders Jerusalem, 389.   wives, 512; family of the Herods, 513.
HAZEROTH, place where was manifested the HEROD AGRIPPA, persecutions of, 575; sudjealousy of Miriam  and Aaron against   den death, 576.
Moses, and God's rebuke, 211.           HIEROD ANTIPAS, tetrarch of Galilee, 513.
HAZO, son of Nahor, 109.                  HEROD, king of Chalcis, 513.
HAzoR, a district near Lake Merom, 234.    HERoD, son of Mariamne, 513.
HEBER, the Kenite, whose wife killed Sisera, HEROD, father of King Agrippa, 513.
246.                                    HEROD PHILLIP, 513.
HEBRAIZERS, 47.                           HERODIAS, mother of Salome, 513; causes
HEBREW, origin of the name, 34; significance   the death of John the Baptist, 533.
of names; language, its antiquity, 35; HERODOTUS, his reasons why the Israelites
Hutchinsonian philosophy of, 37; present   could not sacrifice to God in Egypt, 172.
Hebrew character adopted by Ezra from  HESHBON, a place taken from Sihon by the
the Chaldsea, 43; knowledge of; by females   Israelites, 220.
in England, 54; celebrated scholars, 55; a HETH, son of Canaan, founder of the Hittites;
a dialect of the Shemitish, 87; nation origi-  lived near Hebron, 91.
nate fiom Shem, 90; the language unknown HEXAPLA, the Bible in six languages, by
to the Jews who were born in Media; dis-   Origen, 49.
placed wholly by the Chaldsea in the time HEZEKIAH, son of Ahaz, king of Judsea, his
of the Maccabees, 437.                    name found on the ruins of Nineveh, 90;
HIEBRON, a city of Judsea, called previously   his character and acts, 397;  sickness,
Kiljath-Arba; Sarah died there, 109; Da-   prayer, and answer; pride, punishment, and
vid established there as King, 304; view of,  death, 400.
305; description, 307.                  HIDDEKEL, the Tigris river, 68.
IELAM, near the Euphrates, where David HIEL, of Bethel, rebuilt Jericho, 231.
fought his great battle with the Syrians and HIERONYMUS, the historian, 450.
Assyrians, 318.                         HIGH-PRIEST, costume of, engraving of, 203;
HELIODORUS, treasurer of Seleucus IV., at-  on the day of atonement, 205; laws retempts to seize the treasures in the Temple,   specting, 204.
and is struck with a panic terror, 464.  HILKIAH, high-priest, discovers, an  autoHELIOPOLIS, a city of Egypt, formerly called   graph of the law written by Moses, 403.
On, 146.                                HIRAM, king of Tyre, "ever a lover of DaHELLENISTS, OR HELLENISTIC JEWS, 47.        vid; " David's profitable alliance with him,
HELMETS, 391.                               316, 317; congratulates Solomon on his
HEROD, son of Antipater, governor of Gali-  accession; his great assistance to Solomon
lee; wins the favor of Cassius; defeats  in building the temple, 340.
Antigonus, claimant of the throne; espoused HIRAM,   a skilful artist sent to assist Solomon,
to Mariamne, 498; supported by Antony,   by King Hiram, 341.
499; goes to Rome and welcomed by An- HIRAH, friend of Judah, 141.
tony; made king of Judaea;  his rival, HISTORY OF SUSANNA, book of, in the ApoAntigonus, executed; his power established,   crypha, 61.
500; cuts off the Asmonean party and mem- HITTITES, 212.
bers of the Sanhedrim; promotes Aristo- HOBAH, a small place near Damascus, 96.
bulus, his wife's brother, to the high-priest- "HOLINESS TO THE LORD," carved upon the
hood, 501; jealous of the popularity of   mitre upon a gold plate in front, 200.
Aristobulus, he secretly puts him to death; HOLOFERNES, 58.
summoned to appear before Antony, and HOLY OF HOLIES, an apartment of the tabacquitted; difficulties in his family, 502;  ernacle, 198.
war with Arabian king; espouses the cause HOPHNI, son of Eli, 266; slain by the Philisof Octavius, on the defeat of Antony, 503;   tines in battle, 267.
is received with honor; puts to death his HOR, MOUNT, near the borders of Edom, a
wife and her mother; meets Octavius on his   peak of Mount Seir, 218.
way through Syria to Egypt, 504; extir- HOREB, MOUNT, in Midian; God appeared to
pates the Asmonean family; establishes   Moses in the burning bush on, 165; people




INDEX.                                    713
of Israel supplied with water from the rock   Mamre, and burial in the cave of Machpesmitten by Moses, 192.                    lah, 135.
HORMAH, 214.                               ISAIAH, prophet, appointed to the prophetic
HORSES AND CHARIOTS, trade in, 348.          office, 757 B.c., 391; foretells the destruction
HOSEA, book of, 26.                          of the Assyrian host, 399; his prophecy in
HOSEA, prophet in the time of Uzziah, 395.  regard to Cyrus, 421.
HIOSHEA, successor of Pekah, made tributary ISHBOSHETH, son of Saul, elected to the throne
to Shalmaneser, sent captive to iineveh,   after the death of David, 305; slain by his
396, 397.                                  own officers, 310.
HUGO, cardinal, made the first concordance, ISHMAEL, birth of, 99; the Almighty promises
31.                                       to make him a great nation, 100; treats
HUL, son of Aram, possessed Armenia, 89.     Isaac with contempt, and is banished with
HULDAH, prophetess, 403.                     his mother, 105; dying of thirst in the
HuR, friend of Aaron and Moses, 192.         wilderness, is miraculously relieved; beHusHAI, an old and faithful friend of David,   comes an expert huntsman, and marries
follows Absalom in order to frustrate his   an Egyptian woman, 105; his descendants,
plans, 325.                                106; not ancestor of Arabians; death, 115.
IIuz, son of Nahor, 109.                   ISHMAEL, a prince of the royal family of JuHYRCANIA, Jews sent to people the province   dah, kills Gedaliah, 410.
of, 442.                                 ISHMAELITES, 115, note.
HYRCANUS, son of Simon, strengthens his po- ISRAEL, name given to Jacob by the angel, 131;
sition in Judwea; invades Samaria; subdues   name of the kingdom of the ten tribes, 362.
the Idumeans, 485; aided by Rome, 486; ISRAELITES, descendants of Jacob, 131; opbecomes master of all Palestine; reigns   pressed by the new king of Egypt, 162;
thirty years; death, 487.                  allowed to depart from Egypt, 177; borrow
HYRCANUS, son of Alexander Jannseus, suc-  jewels and rich dresses from the Egyptians;
ceeds to the throne of Judaea, 490; com-   this borrowing explained; they leave Egypt,
pelled to resign his crown to his brother   taking the bones of Joseph, 178; number
Aristobulus; the deposed brother's cause   of the people, conjectures concerning their
espoused by Antipater and King Aretas;   route, 180; the column of cloud and fire,
Aristobulus defeated, and compelled to take    181; their murmurings against Moses when
refuge in the temple-mount, 491; these   pursued by Pharaoh, 185; idolatry with the
Jewish princes refer their respective claims   golden calf, 196; plot to return to Egypt
to Pompey; ordered to plead their own case   after the report of the spies, 190; God's
before him, 492; confirmed as the nominal  threat that none of them over twenty years
head of Juduea and high-priest, 493.       of age, except Caleb and Joshua, should
enter the promised land; their rash advance
and retreat; punished for murmuring against
Moses and Aaron; death of fourteen thousand
seven hundred persons, 213-216; they conIBZAN, a judge of Israel, 260, 277.          quer Og; encamp opposite Jericho, 220;
ICHABOD, son of Phineas, 267.                their punishment for idolatry of Baal-peor,
IDOLS mentioned in Scripture, list of, 128.  223; their corruption after the death of
IDUMEANS, or EDOMITES, descendants of   Joshua; repeated lapses into idolatry, subEsau, 121, 440.                           jection and temporary reformation, 237;
ILLYRICUM, 596.                              made tributary to Cushan-rishathaim; deIMAGES, called gods; Laban's stolen by   livered by Othniel; subdued by Eglon, king
Rachel; buried at Shechem by Jacob, 128.   of Moab, 241; delivered by Ehud; eighty
IMAN Huseim, 427.                            years of rest, 242, 243; delivered from king
INDIA, governed by Porus and Taxiles after   Jabin by I)eborah and Barak, 246; suffer
the death of Alexander, 448.               from incursions of the Midianites and AmalINTERMARRIAGE with other nations prohib-   ekites, 249; delivered by Gideon, 251; reited, 110.                                 pent of idolatry, 255; war with the PhilisISAAC, son of Abraham, signification of his  tines and defeated, 266, 267; long subjename, 104; about to be offered as a sacrifice   tion; delivered by Samuel, 270; demand a
by his father, 108; marriage with Rebecca,   king, 273; distressed by the Philistines, and
114; a famine happening in Canaan, he re-   delivered by Saul, 279, 280; dismay at the
solves to go to Egypt, but is charged by God   appearance of Goliah, 288; attain to their
in a dream to remain in Canaan; his equivo-   character as a military people under David,
cation with Abimelech in regard to his wife;   314; great pestilence among them, 333; dishis prosperity at Gerar; his removal, 117;   cussion of the causes of their failure as a peotreaty with Abimelech, 118; his love for   ple, 412; the truth preserved even in their
Esau, 119; his prayer when he blesses Ja-   captivity; the Divine intention in their
cob; his blessing of Esau, 121; his death at   history not frustrated, 414; their captivity




714                                   INDEX.
the means of maintaining and diffusing the JAEL, wife of Heber, murders Sisera, 247.
knowledge of Jehovah; how kept a sepa- JAHAZ, a place where the Israelites defeated
rate people, 424.                          Sihon, 229.
ISSACHAR, son of Jacob, 126; Jacob's dying JAHAZIEL, a Levite, 385.
prophecy concerning him, and its fulfilment, JAHN, his estimate of the causes that led to
158.                                      the demand for a king by the Israelites,
ISSACHAR, tribe of, census of, and position in   271; his survey of the office and time of
camp, 207, 208.                            the judges, 277, 278; his method of disposIssus, 443.                                 ing of the great numbers mentioned in
ITALICS, supplementary words printed in, 55.  the Scriptures, 365, note; remarks upon
ITALIAN Band, note, 513.                     the captivity, 426.
ITHAJIAR, high-priest, second son of Aaron, JAIR, a Gileadite judge of Israel, 255.
265.                                     JAMES  the Apostle, surnamed the Great,
ITALY, Paul suffers shipwreck on his voyage   530; ministry; put to death by Herod,
to, 446, note.                             624.
ITTAI, leader of David's body-guard, 326.    JAMES the Apostle, son of' Alpheus, 530;
IZBI BENOB, a Philistine giant slain by Abi-   bishop of Jerusalem; labors among the
shai, 332.                                 Jews; persecuted; dies a martyr; his character, 613, 614.
J.                     JAMES, king, his translation of the Bible, 54.
JASHOBEAM, a valiant man of David, 312.
JAAZER, a city taken from the Amorites, 220. JAPHETH, eldest son of Noah, 79; his posterJABAL, son of Lanlech, 78.                   ity and the countries occupied by them, 87,
JABBOK, brook, 129.                          88.
JABESH-GILEAD, men of, slain, and virgins JARED, son of Mahaleel, 79.
spared as wives for the Benjamites, 240.   JASON, a Christian at Thessalonica, entertains
JABIN, king of Hazor, unites against Joshua;   Paul and Silas, 586.
slain by Joshua, 234.                    JASON causes Onias III to be deposed from
JABIN II., his oppression of Israel, 247.    the priesthood, and himself appointed in
JABNEIH, a Philistine town, 390.             his place; establishes Grecian games in JeJACHIN, name of a pillar in the porch of the   rusalem, 465; expelled by an armed force,
temple, 344.                               466; surprises Jerusalem, massacres the
JACOB, son of Isaac, birth of; signifies the sup-   citizens, and possesses himself of the prinplanter, 116; obtains the blessing intended   cipality; is driven from the city, becomes a
for Esau, 120; flies to Laban; his journey   vagabond, and perishes miserably, 468.
to -aran; his dream of the ladder at Luz, JAVAN, son of Japheth, 88.
122; the Divine promise to him; his pillar; JAVELIN, throwing a, 291.
Persian customs explanatory of, 97; his JEBEL MOUSA, modern name of Mount Hovow; meets Rachel at the well, 123; serves   reb, 193.
seven years for her; deceived, married to JEBEL NEBI-HARUN, 219, note.
Leah; serves seven years for Rachel, 124; JEBUS, fortress of, 311.
his device of the speckled sticks; jealous of JEBUSITES, lived in the mountains of Canaan,
Laban, 126; ordered to return to Canaan;   212; held Mount Zion to the time of Dahis departure, 128; pursued by Laban,   vid, 311.
with whom he makes a covenant; his ef- JECONIAH, or JEHOIACHIM, son of Jehoiakim,
fort to conciliate Esau, 130; his present to   comes to the throne; taken captive by NebEsau; wrestles with the angel; his name   uchadnezzar, 408; released from imprisonchanged to Israel; his meeting with Esau,   ment, and treated with kindness by Evil131; settles in Shechem, 132; ordered to re-   Merodach, son of Nebuchadnezzar, and
move to Bethel, 133; collects all the idols  finally dies at Babylon, 418.
and ear-rings of his retinue and buries them, JEHIOAHAZ, son and successor of Jehu, dies
134; builds an altar at Bethel, 134; visits his   850 B.C., 394.
father at Mamre, 135; his grief at Joseph's JEHOAHAZ, or SHALLUM, son of Josiah, taken
supposed death, 139; sends his sons to   captive, and carried to Egypt by Necho, 415.
Egypt to buy corn, 146; his grief at part- JEHOIAKIM, son of Josiah, denunciation of,
ing with Benjamin, 149; his journey to   by Jeremiah, 405; his second warning by
Egypt; offers sacrifices at Beersheba; God   the prophet, and his end, 407, 408.
renews his promises to him; his meeting JEHOIADA, accession to the high-priest's ofwith his son Joseph, 154; settles in Goshen,  fice, 441.
155; dying instructions to Joseph; blesses JEIHOIADA, son of Benaiah a Levite, 311;
Ephraim and Manasseh, 156, 157; his dy-   high-priest, regent, and guardian of young
ing prophecy and address to each of his   King Joash, 387, 388.
sons, 157-159; his death; embalmed, 160; JEHORAM, son of Ahab, successor of Ahaziah
funeral and burial in Machpelah, 161.      on the throne of Israel; unites with Jehosh.




INDEX.                                     715
aphat to reduce the Moabites, 374; restores   his prophecy in the destruction of Jerusaher land to the Shunamite woman, 376; be-   lem, 409; forced to go to Egypt; said
sieges Ramoth-Gilead; killed by Jehu, 380.  to have been put to death there, 410.
JEROSHAPHAT, son of Asa, king of Judah; JERUSALEM, the name supposed to have beenr
begins to reign 929 B.C.; destroys the re-   first given by David; called City of David,
mains of idolatry, 383; his alliance with   312; plundered by the Philistines, 380;
Ahab; his prosperous reign; proclaims a   plundered by Joash, king of Israel, 389;
fast at the invasion of the Amlnonites and   supplied with water by Hezekiah, 388; capMoabites, 384; his victory; immense spoils;   tured by Nebuchadnezzar, 406; completely
builds a navy at Ezion-Geber; his ships   demolished 586 B. C., 409; the returned
wrecked; his death, 385.                    captives assemble and build an altar upon
JEHOSHAPHAT, Valley of; 327.                  the ruins of the temple, 428; ravaged by
JEHOSHEBAD, wife of Kino Ahaziah, 387.        Antiochus, 468, 469; description  of; 538,
JEHOVAH, the Jews not suffered to speak the   539; destruction of by the Romans, 653;
name of; pronunciation of, lost, 40; Nissi,   prophecies and warnings concerning; coan altar built by Moses to commemorate   incidence between prophecies and historic
the defeat of the Amalekites, 193.          records, 649; prodigies preceding destrucJEHOVAH-JIREH, 169.                           tion of, 649, 650; occasion of the war, 651;
JEHU, his name found among the ruins of Nin-   fanaticism of the Jewish insurgents; forces
eveh, 99; son -of Nimshi; anointed king of   sent to suppress the rebellion, 652; the inIsrael; meets Jehoram in battle, and slays   surgents gain successes, 648-673; terrible
himn with an arrow, 380; causes seventy   slaughter of the Jews, 654; Roman army
sons of Ahab to be slain; slays forty-two    repulsed, 655; its retreat, 656; Vespasian
brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah; cornm-   sent to assume command, Titus one of his
pletes the destruction of the house of Ahab;   generals; the Jews defeated  in  battle;
slays all the priests of' Baal in Samaria, and    their spirit not broken, 658; under Josephus,
destroys their temple, 382; dies 867 B.C.,  their general, they make a heroic defence,
394.                                        659, 660; Jotapata taken by strategy, 660JEIIU, a prophet, son of Hanani; pronounces    662; Josephus induced to surrender himself
the doom of' Baasha, king of Israel, 359.   to Vespasian, held a prisoner, favored by
JEPHTHAH, a Gileadite, is chosen to lead the    Titus, relates a vision, 663-665; the war
people against the Ammonites; his appeal   prosecuted with vigor by Titus; death of
to the king of the Ammonites, 256; defeats    Nero; civil war in Rome, 665; the Roman
them with great slaughter; his vow, 257;   commander, Vespasian, made emperor by his
sacrifice of his daughter, 249, 250; defeat   army; goes to Rome, leaving Titus in conof the Israelites; judged Israel six years,   mand, 666-670; Titus approaches Jerusaand died B.C., 1247, 259.                   lem with a powerful army, makes a breach
JEROBOAM plans his revolt, and flees to Shis-   in the walls,'obtains partial possession of
hak, 353; chosen king by the ten tribes,   the city, invites a surrender by the promise
355; makes Shecheim his capital, 356; es-   of kind treatment, 670; despatches Josephus,
tablishes golden calves at Dan and Bethel;   their old general, with terms of surrender;
draws away the people from worshipping at   his mission fruitless, 671; Titus renews the
Jerusalem; builds temples and altars at   siege; famine in the city; an entrance into
Dan and Bethel; establishes a new priest-   the city effected; renewed offers of cahood; changes the times of the sacred feasts;   pitulation, which are declined; orders the
takes upon himself the priest's office; judg-   fortress razed; tries to save the temple;
ment denounced by a prophet while he was   fired by a soldier; the Jews try to escape,
offering incense; miraculous stiffening of his    672; the Romans murder the inhabitants,
arm and rending of the altar, 358; defeated    Titus orders the walls of the city and
in battle; death of his son Abijah; dies 968   temple to be levelled to the ground; effect
B.C., 359.                                  of the news in Rome; return of' Titus in
JEROBOAM II., son and successor of Joash,   triumph, 673.
king of Israel; Jonah appears in his reign, JESHUA, leader, with ZerLbbabel, of the Jews
395.                                        out of captivity, 427; high-priest; he estabJER.OME, ST., author of the Vulgate, 51; notice   lishes the temple service after the restoraof, on Isaiah, 418, note.                   tion, 431; succeeded by his son, Eliashib,
JERICHO, a city of the Canaanites, miracu-   439.
lously taken by Joshua; utterly destroyed, JESSE, grandson of Boaz and Ruth; Samuel
229; great booty taken there, 231; waters   sent by God to his family, 286.
of, healed by Elisha, 375; 535, note.     JESUS CHRIST, birth; popular expectation
JEREMIAH, book of, 26; prophet in the time   of the advent of a king; prophecies conof Jehoiakim; imprisoned, 405; his second   cerning; time of his appearing, 514; divinwarning of Jehoiakim; denounces judg-   ity, 515; death, 516; his gospel, his kingments upon Zedekiah, 407; fulfilment of   dom, 518; events connected with his birth,




716                                    INDEX.
522-524; dwells in Nazareth, 524; bap- JoAcHIM, regent during Josiah's minority, 402.
tism; temptation, 525; ministry in Galilee, JOARIB, Mattathias a priest of the course of,
525; goes to Jerusalem to the feast; mira-   471.
cle  and  teachings there, 526; apostles JoAsH, son of Ahaziall, king of Judah; hidden
appointed; raises a young man from the   from  Athaliah in the temple, 387; prodead, 530; preaching tour; power over de-   claimed king and crowned by Jehoiada, the
mons and diseases, 531; sails over Tiberias   high-priest; repairs the temple, 388; sancto the country of the Gadarenes; miracles   tions idolatry; wounded  and soon after
there; returns to Capernaum, 532; sends   murdered; refused a royal burial, 389.
forth his apostles, 533; visits the coast of JOASH, son and successor of Jehoahaz, 394;
Tyre and Sidon; the sea of Galilee, Mag-   receives his lost possessions from the Syrians,
dala, Bethsaida, Caesarea; his transfigura-   395.
tion; returns to Capernaum, 534; attends JOASH, father of Gideon, 249.
the feast of tabernacles; Pharisees try to JOB, book of, 25.
apprehend him, 535; the seventy return and JOCHEBED, mother of Moses, 263.
report; parable of the Good Samaritan, JocHIMus, or ALCIMUS, nominated to the highvisits Martha and Mary; instructs his dis-   priesthood  in room  of Menelaus, 475;
ciples on the subject of prayer, 535, 536;   attempting to revive heathen rites, offends
exposes the hypocrisy of the Pharisees;   the Jews, and is expelled, 475.
warning against covetousness; parable of JOCTAN, son of Eber, had thirteen children;
the wedding supper; the prodigal son; the   all settled in Judoea, 90.
unjust steward, 517, 518; the rich man and JOEL, book of, 26; prophet in time of Uzziah,
Lazarus, 537; asserts his oneness with the    391; prophecy of, quoted by St. Peter, 691.
Father; regard for little children; counsels JOEL, son of Samuel, degeneracy of, 271.
the young ruler; resurrection of Lazarus, JOHN the Evangelist, book of, 27.
538; visits Jericho, Bethany, Mount of JOHN, son of Simon Maccabseus, made captainOlives, on his way to Jerusalem for the last   general of the Jewish forces, 483; defeats
time, 540; foretells the destruction of Jeru-   the Syrian general Cendebeus, 484, 485;
salem; prepares to eat the last passover;   succeeds his father in the high-priesthood;
announces his betrayal; institutes the sacra-   strengthens his dominion, and renders himmental supper; goes to Gethsemane, 541;   self independent; takes Shechem, the chief
agony; arrest; trial; condemnation, 542;   seat of the Samaritans, and demolishes the
crucifixion; punishment by crucifixion, 543;   temple on Mount Gerizim, 485; renews the
events at the crucifixion; the sepulchre,   treaty with Rome, 486; captures Samaria;
544-546; resurrection; appears to his dis-   death, 487.
ciples, instructs them  in their work, 547; JOHN the Baptist, birth of, 522; preaches in
ascension; reflections on his character, and   the wilderness; his personal appearance,
nature of'his religion, 548; list of his mira-   524; baptizes Jesus, 525; beheaded, 533.
cles, 556; list of his parables and remarka- JOHN the apostle, called the "beloved disciple,"
ble discourses, 557.                        525; brought before the Jewish rulers with
JETHRO, prince of Midian, father-in-law of   Peter, and forbidden to preach Christ, 561,
Moses, 165; visits the camp of the Israelites;   562; Asia his field of labor; founds churchadvises Moses to appoint officers to aid him,   es; resides at Ephesus; banished to Patmos;
193.                                        writes the Book of Revelation; returns to
JETUR, son of Ishmael, 106.                    Asia Minor, and takes charge of the churchJEWELS, the borrowed, 178.                    es; author of the Gospel of John; character
JEZEBEL, wife of Ahab, daughter of Ethbaal,   of his writings, 625-628.
king of Tyre, an idolatrous woman; main- JOHN MARK goes to Cypus with Barnabas,
tains a multitude of priests of Baal, 368;   576, 577; with St. Paul at Rome in the year
induces Ahab to order the destruction of all   63; probably died at Ephesus, 637.
the prophets of Jehovah, 369; procures the JOHN, son of Levi, leader of a faction at the
death of Naboth, 372; her doom pronounced   siege of Jerusalem, 672.
by Elijah, 373; slain; devoured by dogs, JOIADA, 441.
380, 381.                                 JONADAB, son of Rechab, 382.
JEZREEL, 373.                               JONAH, book of, 26; prophet, his mission to
JIDLAPH, son of' Nahor, 109.                   Nineveh, 800 B. c., 395.
JOAB, commander of David's army; treach- JONAS, surnamed Barnabas, draws lots with
erously slays Abner, 309; brilliant defeat of   Matthias in regard to the vacant apostleAbsalom; kills Absalom, 326; superseded in   ship, 558.
command by Amasa, the late rebel captain; JONATHAN, eldest son of Saul, overcomes the
kills Amasa as he did Abner, 330, 331; he   Philistine garrison in Gibeah, 282; his darfollows the rebel Adonijah, 334; flees to   ing exploit and defeat of the Philistines; is
the altar when Adonijah falls, and is there   exposed to death, under his father's order,
slain, 338.                                 for eating before evening while in pursuit of




IN DEX.                                   717
the enemy, 284; his strong attachment to   tans, 445; governor of Galilee, 659; retreats
David; his compact of perpetual friendship   to Tiberias; retires to the fortress of Jotawith David, 292; his warning to David to   pata, which is besieged by the Romans; reflee from his father, 293; his love, " passing   pels an assault, leading the Jews in person;
the love of woman," 296; slain by the Phi-   orders the walls of the city to be raised in
listines, 303; David's beautiful elegy on his   proportion as the enemy raise their works,
death, 304.                                660; joins with some of the principal men
JONATHAN, son of Abiathar, 324.              in suggesting the means of escape, 661; preJONATHAN, the high-priest, dies B.c. 340, and   vailed upon by the people to remain with
is succeeded by his brother Jaddua, or Jad-   them, and makes a vigorous defence, 662;
dus, 442.                                  the city being taken, he escapes, and takes
JONATHAN, brother of Judas, elected leader of  refuge in a cavern, with some friends; urged
the Maccabees, 476; conspiracy against  to surrender by Vespasian, 663; surrenhim, 478; offers terms of peace to the Syr-   ders himself to Nicanor, 664; has an interian general; appointed by the king of Syria   view with Vespasian, and predicts his elehis general in Judsea; removes to Jerusa-   vation to the sovereignty of Rome; kept
lem; receives an appointment to the high-   under close guard; receives kindness and
priesthood, 479; summoned to appear before   respect from Titus, 665; restored to liberty
Demetrius, king of Syria; received with   by Vespasian, 668; urges the people of Jefavor, 480: seeks an alliance with the Ro-   rusalem to surrender, 671.
mans, 481; betrayed by Tryphon, and put JOSIAH, son and successor of Amon; defiles
to death, his brother Simon elected his suc-  the idolatrous altars; repairs the temple,
cessor, 482.                               402; causes the Passover to be celebrated
JOPPA, note, 571.                            with great solemnity, 403; his death on the
JORDAN, the view of, 95.                     battle-field; lamented by Jeremiah, 405.
JosEPH, son of Jacob by Rachel, signification JOSHUA, book of; successor of Moses, 23;
of name, 126; coat of many colors or pieces;   defeats the Amalekites, 192; one of the
Eastern party-colored fabrics, Mr. Roberts's  twelve spies, 213; his and Caleb's boldness
account of', his brothers' jealousy; dreams,   and faith rewarded by the promise of enter136; sent to Shechem; thrown into the pit  ing the promised land, 214; succeeds Moses
at Dothan, 112; sold to Ishmaelites; sold   as leader of Israel, 228; sends spies to Jerito Potiphar; story of his brothers as to his   cho, 229; crosses the Jordan with the whole
death, 139; appointed chief manager of his   army, 230; method of taking Jericho remaster's affairs, 141: tempted by Potiphar's   vealed to him by angel, 231; defeats Adoniwife; his resistance and noble answer, 142;   zedek, and in the pursuit prays that the
falsely accused and imprisoned, 143; his in-   sun and moon  may stand  still, and is
terpretation of dreams, 144, 145; promoted    answered; hangs the confederate kings;
to great dignity; his name changed to Zaph-   slays Jabin, and subdues all the peoples of
nath-paaneah; marries Asenath; his wise    Canaan, 234; kills thirty-one kings, together
preparation for famine; his brethren come   with the Anakims, or giants; divides the
to buy corn; his assumed severity; his ten-   land west of Jordan by lot to the tribes;
der feeling; orders them to bring Benjamin;   takes his residence near Shiloh, 235; redetains Simeon, 146; dines with his broth-   moves to Shechem; his death, 236.
ers; kindness to Benjamin, 149; his discov- JOTHAM, son of Gideon, alone escapes Abimery of himself to them; his recognition of   elech's massacre of his brothers; his ironiGod's providence in his history, 151; sends   cal parable of the trees choosing a king,
for his father to come to Egypt, 152; exacts   254.
a fifth of the produce of the land for the JOTHAM, son of Uzziah, administers the govking, 156; his injunctions to his brethren;   ernment instead of his father; in his reign
death and embalming, 161; his character,   Rome is founded; dies 741 B.c., 391.
162; his bones carried from Egypt by the JUBAL, son of Lamech, invents the psaltery,
Israelites, 178; buried in Shechem, 237.   78.
JOSEPH, the son of Garion, appointed one of JUDEA, land of, called Canaan, 94; reduced
the governors of Jerusalem, 657.          to a Roman dependency, 493.
JOSEPH, husband of Mary. journeys to Beth- JUDAH, son of Jacob and Leah, 125; delivlehem to be enrolled, 510; goes to Egypt,  ers Joseph from the pit, and advises selling
returns, and dwells in Nazareth, 524.      him to the Midianites, 137, 138; marries a
JOSEPH, uncle of Herod, put to death by that   Canaanitish woman, 139; inveigled by his
king, 503.                                 daughter-in-law, Tamar, 140; intreats his
JOSEPH, nephew of the high-priest, Onias III.,  father to send Benjamin to Egypt, 148;
457.                                       pleads with Joseph for Benjamin's release,
JOSEPH of Arimathea, 546.                    151; Jacob's dying address to him, 157.
JOSEPRUS, description of Solomon's palaces JUDAH, tribe of; census of, in the wilderness;
by, 346, 419, note; remarks of; on the Samari-   position of in camp, 208; slay the Canaan



718                                   INDEX.
ites and Perizzites, 238; send men to as- KINGS, books of, 24.
sist in inaugurating King David, 311; cen- KIR-HARASETH, a city of the Moabites, 375.
sus of, taken by David, 332; remain loyal KIRJATH-ARBA, afterwards called Hebron;
to Rehoboam, the successor of Solomon; a   Sarah died there, 109.
separate kingdom, 351; carried away into KIRJATII-JEARIM, a town to which the ark
captivity, 409, 410.                      was carried, 269.
JUDAH HAKKADOSH compiles the Mishna, KISHi, a Benjamite, father of Saul, 276.
458.                                    KIsHoN, river, 246; the prophets of Baal slain
JUDARI MACCAB US flees with his father to   at, 370.
the mountains of Judaca, and is appointed KITTIM, son of Javan, possessed Italy, 88.
military leader; derivation of his surname, KOHATH, second son of Levi, 208.
471; defeats Appolonius, and takes his sword, KOHELETH, 26.
with which he afterwards fights; defeats KoRAH, great-grandson of Levi, his rebellion;
Seron, a Syrian general; defeats Nicanor;   his destruction, 214.
repairs the temple; repulses Lysias, 472; KOORDISTAN, 90.
defeats Nicanor a second time, with great KURDISTAN, 427.
slaughter; falls in battle, 476.
JUDAS, a celebrated Jewish doctor, 512.
JUDAS, surnamed Barnabas, sent by the                         L.
church of Jerusalem to Antioch with Paul,
581.                                    LABAN, son of Bethuel, brother of Rebecca,
JUDAS ISCARIOT, betrays his MIaster, 542.   112; receives Jacob cordially, 124; purJUDE, or THADDEUS, preaches in Judsea and   sues Jacob, 128; warned of God; ineffectual
Galilee, then in Idumeea, Arabia, Mesopo-   search for his gods; makes a treaty with
tamia and Edessa; writes the Epistle of   Jacob at Gilead, 129.
Jude; is put to death, 632, 633.        LABIENUS, a Roman general, 499.
JUDGES, book of, 23; from Joshua to Saul, LABOROSOARCIOD, son of Belshazzar, sucaccount of, 237-272; extent of their author-   ceeds to the throne of his father, and is
ity, 245; Jahn's estimate of their office and   killed within a year, 420.
times, 277-279; the office not hereditary, LACED]EMONIANS, alliance of, with the Egyp277; duration of their rule, 278.        tians, 440.
JUDITH, book of, in Apocrypha, 57; trans- LACHISH, 390.
lated by St. Jerome, 58.                LATIN translation of the Bible, 48.
JUPITER, an idol, 128.                    LAISH, a town and district near the source of
JUPITER AMMON, 445.                         the Jordan; conquered by the tribe of Dan,
JUPITER XENIUS, 470.                        and named Dan, 239.
JUSTIN, remarks of, on the policy of the Ro- LAMECH, son of Methuselah; introduces pomans, 476, note.                            lyganmy, 78, 79.
LAMENTATIONS, book of, 26.
LAMPS, Assyrian and Roman, 251.
K.                     LANGUAGE, divine origin of; different dialects; the English probably to become uniKADESH-BARNEA, the place from  whence   versal; confounding of at Babel, 86, 87.
Moses sent twelve spies into Canaan, 212.  LAODICmAANS, church of, 643, 644.
KADESH, death of Miriam at, 217.          LAw, the, 23; autograph copy of discovered
KAHTAN, same as Joctan, one of the progeni-  by Hilkiah, 403; public reading of, by
tors of the Arabs, 115.                   Ezra, 437.
KALHURS, the, 427.                        LAZARUS, parable of the rich man and, 537.
KEDAR, son of Ishmael, 106.               LAZARUS, the friend of Jesus, raised from the
KEDEMAH, son of Ishmael, 106.               dead, 538.
KEDRON, brook, 542.                       LEAH, daughter of Laban; first wife of Jacob;
KEILAII, David's victory at, 296.           her sons, 125; buried in Machpelah, 307.
KELAH, in Benjamin, Saul's bones buried LEHABIM, son of Mizraim, peopled Lybia, 90.
there by David, 332.                    LENNIEUS, prime minister, 468.
KEMUEL, son of INahor, 109.               LEPROSY, law of, 204; Miriam's, 211.
KENITES, 223.                             LESBOS, island of, 597.
KETURAH, second wife of Abraham, 114.    LEVI, son of Jacob and Leah, 125; slays the
KIBROTH-HATAAVAH, where many of the Is-   people of Shechem, 133; Jacob's dying
raelites died after eating the quails, 211.  address to him, 157.
KIMCHI, Joseph, opinion of, in regard to LEVI, tribe of, do not join in the worship of
Jephthah's daughter, 259, note.           the golden calf; slay three thousand of the
KING, demand for; causes of this demand as   chief idolaters, 197; exempt from military
set forth by Jahn, 271; first election of,  service, and appointed to assist the priests
1110 B.c., 276.                           in the tabernacle, 204; census of, in the




INDEX.                                   719
wilderness, 207; position of, in the camp, MAGOG, son of Japheth; founder of the Tar208; send men to assist in inaugurating   tars, or Scythians, 88.
IKing David, 311; faithful to Judah at the MAHALALEEL, son of Cainan, 79.
time of the revolt, 361.                MAHALATH, third wife of Esau, daughter of
LEVITICUS, book of, 22.                    Ishmael, 132.
LIVEs  of apostles and fellow-laborers, 622- MAGDALA, coasts of, 534.
638.                                    MAHANAIM, a fortified town east of the
LOCRIAS, headland of, 446.                  Jordan, 129; Ishbosheth proclaimed king
LONGEVITY, primitive, 104.                  there, 305; David established himself there
LOT, son of Hlaran, leaves Ur with his uncle   when he fled from Absalom, 326.
Abram, 92; agrees to separate from Abram, MAHANAIM, 129.
and chooses the plains near Sodom and MAHLON, son of Elimelech and Naomi, 243.
Gomorrah, 95; captured by Cherdorlaomer, MAKKEDAH, a city of Judah, 234.
king of Elam, 96; recovered by Abram, MALACHI, book of; 26; prophet, 438.
97; visited by messengers from God, 101; MALdCHUS, an Arabian king, 504.
led out of the city by the angel, 102; fate- MALICHUS, a Jew, supporter of Hyrcanus,
of his wife, 102; wickedness of his daugh-   497.
ters, 103.                              MALTHACE, a  Samaritan woman, wife of
Lucius, a member of the church in Antioch,   Herod, and  mother of Archelaus the
576.                                      ethnarch, 513.
LUCULLUS, a Roman general, 491.           MALTA, formerly Melita, 608; view of, 609.
LUD, fourth son of Shem, founded Lydia, 88. MAMERTINE PRISON, Rome, view of the cell in
LUDIM, son of Mizraim, 90.                  which St. Peter and St. Paul are said to
LUTHER'S Bible, 51.                         have been confined, 615.
LUKE, book of, 28.                        MAMRE, plain of, residence of Abram, 96.
LUKE the evangelist, 28; travels in Egypt MAMRE,   a Canaanite, friend of Abram, 96.
and Greece; writes the Gospel of Luke, and MAN, his creation, 67.
the Acts; suffers martyrdom, 634.       MANAEN, a member of the church in Antioch,
LUz.   See BETHEL.                          576.
LYBA; 446.                                MANASSEH, son of Joseph, 146; Jacob's dying
LYBURNIA, 596.                              address to, 157.
LYCAONIA, 583.                            MANASSEH, tribe of, census of in the wilderLYCIA, 446.                                 ness; position of in the camp, 208; half the
LYSIAS appointed regent of the Western   tribe request of Moses to be permitted to
Provinces of Syria, sends an army into   settle east of the Jordan; their request
Judaea, which is defeated by Judas Macca-   granted, 225; after the conquest of Canaan,
baus, 4 72; takes command of another army,   dismissed by Joshua, 235; send men to reand is defeated by Judas, 473; slain by   enforce Gideon, 250.
order of Demetrius, 475.                MANASSEH, son of Hezekiah; wickedness,
LYSIAS, commander of the garrison at Jeru-   400; imprisonment and reform; defeated
salem, 601-603.                           by  Esarhaddon; his prayer in prison;
LYIMACHU,s,   brother of Jason and Menelaus,   death and burial, 401.
oppresses the people, and is slain in the MANASSEH, high-priest of the Samaritan
treasury of the temple, 467.             temple on Mount Gerizim, 438.
LYSTRA, visited by Paul and Silas, 583.   MANASSES, son of Jaddua, high-priest, 457.
MANDRAKES, opinions concerning, 125.
MANETHO, the Egyptian priest, lost history of,
M.                       184.
MANGER, 523, note.
MAACHAH, best beloved wife of Rehoboam; MANNA, directions for gathering, 190; supply
daughter of Absalom, 363, note.           of, stopped after entering Canaan, 230.
MACAENAS, tower of, 617.                  MANOAH, a Danite, father of Samson, 260.
MACCABEES, book of, in  Apocrypha, 62; MANUSCRIPTS, Hebrew, description, how used,
name assumed by Judas, son of Mattathias,   39.
and military leader, 471.               MAP of countries mentioned in the Bible, 64;
MACEDONIA, 584, note.                       of the Holy Land in the time of David,
MACEDONIAN colony transferred to Samaria,   295; of the Holy Land in the time of
446.                                      Christ, 535; of Jerusalem and the Temple
MACES and CLUBS, Egyptian and Assyrian,184   in the time of Christ, 543.
MACH ERUS, 491.                           MARAH, in the Desert of Shur, where the
MACHPELAH, cave at Hebron, burial-place of   bitter water was made sweet, 190.
Sarah, 109; Abraham, 115; Isaac, 135; MARATHON, battle of, 431.
Jacob, 161.                             MARCELLINUS the presbyter, 620.
MAGI, Egyptian, 144.                      MARCELLUS, a Roman general, 610.




720                                   INDEX.
MAREOTIS, Lake, 446.                      MAXIMILLA, a lady of quality, inters the body
MARESHAII, battle of; in which Asa defeated   of St. Andrew, 624.
Zerah, 367.                             MEDAD, one of the seventy elders selected to
MARIAMNE, wife of Herod, takes umbrage at   assist Moses; inspired with the same spirit,
the appointment of Ananel to the priest-   211.
hood, and complains to Cleopatra, 501; MEDEBA, a town of the Ammonites, 317.
Herod gives orders to put her to death in MEDES and PERSIANS, laws of the, 420.
case of his condemnation, 502; placed in MEDES, relations of the ten tribes with, 414,
the fortress of Massada, 503; executed, 504.   416.
MARIAMNE, second wifB  of Herod of that MEDIA, son of Japheth, 87.
name, daughter of Simon the priest, 507; MEGIDDO, where King Ahaziah died, 380.
takes part in a conspiracy against Herod, MELAS, 598.
and is divorced, 512.                   MIELCHISEDEC, king of Salem, 97; the order
MARISSA, 494.                               of explained by Gesenius and Rosenmiiller,
MARK, book of, 27; St., sent to Egypt; great   97, note.
success in preaching; persecuted and cruelly MELCHI-SHUA, son of Saul, slain by the Phimurdered; writes the Gospel that bears his  listines, 303.
name, 633.                              MELITA, 608, 609.
MARONITES, 49.                            MEMPHIs,   Alexander winters at, 446.
MARRIAGE, Eastern customs of, 114; laws MENAHEM, a Jewish king, his name found
of; in what cases forbidden; laws of for   among the ruins of iNineveh, 90; gains the
daughters, 225; illustrated in the history of   throne of Israel by slaying Shallum; purRuth, 245.                                chases peace from Pul, the Assyrian king,
MARTHA and MARY, visit of Jesus to, 536.    with a thousand talents of silver; first inMARTYN'S translation of the New Testament   stance of taxation; dies 760 B.c., 396.
into Persian, 50.                       MENEIAUS, brother of Jason, aspires to the
MARTYR, JUSTIN, on the purity of the Bible   high-priesthood, 466; sends his brother to
text, 39.                                 steal the sacred vessels from the temple;
MARY, mother of Jesus, goes with her hus-   causes the death of the Jewish deputies,
band to Bethlehem, 510; birth of Christ,   467; returns from Syria, 474; suffocated in
511; visits Elizabeth, mother of John the   an ash-tower, 475.
Baptist, 522.                           MENTOR, the Rhodian, assists the Persians to
MARY MAGDALENE, seven devils cast out of,  reduce Egypt, 441.
531; the Saviour appears to after his res- MEPHIBOSHETI, a lame son of Jonathan, 310;
urrection, 547.                           sought out and honored by David for his
MASH, son of Aram, 89.                      father's sake, 317; his generous reply to
MASHECH, son of Japheth, founder of the   David, 330.
Cappadocians, 88.                       MEVRAB, daughter of Saul; five of her sons
MASSA, son of Ishmael, 106.                 were slain to avenge the Gibeonites, 331.
MASSADA, fortress of, 498.                MERAIOTH, high-priest, 265.
MASSAH, name of the place where the Israel- MERAR-I, youngest son of Levi, 208, 209.
ites were supplied with water from the rock, MERIBAII, place where the people were sfip192.                                      plied with water from the rock, 192; second
MASSORAH, authorship, 41.                   supply of water, 227.
MASSORITES, grammarians; inventors of the MERODACH-BALADAN, 400.
vowel points and accents, 41.           MEROM, waters of, 234.
MATRI, family of the tribe of Benjamin, from  MESCHINIANS, or CAPPADOCIANS, founded
which Saul descended, 276.                by Mashech, 88.
MATTAN, highl-priest of Baal, 387; slain, 388. MESHA, king of the Moabites, 375.
MATTANIAH, son of Josiah, made king of MESOPOTAMIA, Ur the capital, 92.
Judmia by Nebuchadnezzar; name changed MEsE, Arab name for Egypt, 189.
to Zedekiah, 408.                       MESSINA, in Sicily, 610.
MATTATIrSAS, a priest, refuses to sacrifice MEssIAH, to come from Judah; line of descent,
the idol; flees with his sons; his party   158; birth of, 511.
increases; his death, 471.              METELIN, 598.
MATTHEW, book of, 27; St., preaches in Ju- METHUSELAH, son of Enoch, 79.
dmsa; then to the Gentiles; writes the Gos- MIBSAM, son of Ishmael, 106.
pel; suffers martyrdom; his character, MICAH, book of, one of the lesser prophets, 26.
630.                                    MICAH, a man of Ephraim; establishes a
MATTHIAS, chosen an apostle in place of Ju-   household god, and hires a Levite to be his
das, 558; his labors extended to foreign   priest; his idol carried off by the tribe of
countries and to Ethiopia; his success; his   Dan and set up as their own, 239.
death, 633.                             MICAIAH, son of Imlah, a prophet in the time
MATTHIAS, a celebrated Jewish doctor, 512.    of Ahab; foretells evil to Ahab, 373.




INDEX.                                    721
MICrHAL, Saul's daughter, wife of David, 290;   188; her envy of Moses, and God's rebuke
her artifice to save her husband from her   by leprosy, 211; her recovery by prayer of
father; given to another man in marriage,   Moses, 211; death at Kadesh; her tomb,
291; restored to David after he becomes   notice of, by Eusebius, 217.
king, 308; despises David for dancing, and MISHAEL, one of Daniel's three friends, called
is rebuked by him, 313.                    Meshach, 416.
MICHMASH, military post of Saul, 281.      MISHMA, son of Ishmael, 106.
MIDIAN, land of, 164.                      MISNAH, the, 131.
MIDIANITES, Dr. Vincent upon, 138, note; MITRE, 200.
enter into an alliance with the Moabites to MITYLENE, 598.
defeat the Israelites, 220; send their daugh- MIZPEH, the rendezvous of the tribes to fight
ters into the camp of the Israelites to entice   against Benjamin, 240; the rallying-place
them to idolatry, 223; defeated by the Isra-   under Jephthah, 256; also under Samuel,
elites with great slaughter, 224; make raids   270; fortified by Asa, 367.
into the territory of Israel, 248; defeated MIZRAIM, second son of Ham; settled in
by Gideon, 251.                            Egypt, 90.
MIDWIVES, Egyptian, 163.                   MIZRAIlM, early name of Egypt, 94, note.
MIGDOL, 163.                               MNEVIS, a god of the Egyptians, imitated by
MILCHAAH, daughter of IHaran, espoused to   Jeroboam in his golden calves, 358.
her uncle Nahor, 92.                     MOAB, son of Lot by his daughter, 103.
MILCOM, or MOLECEH, an idol, 128.          MOAB, land of, view in, 221.
MILETUS, 608, 609, note.                   MOABITES, make an alliance with the MidianMILLS, use of, by females, 176.              ites to defeat the Israelites, 220; send their
MIRACLES, of the Old Testament; Moses' rod   daughters into the camp of the Israelites to
changed to a serpent, 167, 170; his hand    entice them  to idolatry, 220; defeat the
made leprous and restored, 167; his rod    Hebrews, and subdue the tribes east of
changed to a serpent before Pharaoh, and   Jordan, 241;  defeated  by Ehud, 243;
swallows the rods of the magicians, 170;   brought under subjection by David, 314;
the water changed to blood;the frogs, 171;   tributary to  Solomon, 336; revolt from
lice; flies, 172; murrain; boils, 173; hail,  Israel, 374; defeated  by the  armies of
174; locusts; darkness over all the land,   Judah and Israel, 375; reduced to sub175; death of the first-born, 177; open-   jection by Nebuchadnezzar, 411.
ing a passage across the Red Sea, 186; MOAN, wilderness of, where David took refuge
sweetening the bitter water; quails; man-   from Saul, 297.
na, 190; water from the rock, 192; giv- MODIN, a town near the seashore, a mile
ing the tables of the law, 195; kindling   from Joppa, 471.
of the fire on the altar, 204; burning of MOLOCH, an idol, 128.
the murmurers at Taberah, 210; supply of MOMMSEN, the antiquarian, 522.
quails; Miriam's leprosy and healing, 211; MONTHS, Hebrew, table of, as corresponding
destruction of the ten false spies, 214;   with ours, 201.
destruction of Korah; plague for murmur- MONUMENTAL pillars in Syria, 271.
ing; Aaron's rod budding, 216; waters of MORDECAI, uncle of Esther, promoted to the
the Jordan retreat to let the Israelites pass   place of Haman, 434.
over, 230; the sun and moon stand still at MOREII, plain of, oak of, 93.
command of Joshua; Gideon's food con- MoRIAH, Mount, site of Solomon's temple, 342.
sumed by fire from heaven, 225; his fleece MosEs, books of, 22; birth and concealment;
saturated with dew, and, again, exempted,   found and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter,
249; the cloud at the dedication of the tem-   163; committed  to his own mother as
ple, and descent of fire to consume the offer-   nurse; educated at court; signification of
ings, 344; stiffening of Jeroboam's arm, and    name, 164; slays an Egyptian, and flees
rending of his altar, 358; the unfailing bar-  to Midian, 164; aids the daughters of
rel of meal and cruse of oil for Elijah; fire   Jethro  at the well; marries Zipporah;
sent to consume the sacrifice on Elijah's   God appears to him in Horeb and appoints
altar, 369; Elijah calls down fire to devour   him  deliverer of his people, 165;  God
the companies sent to arrest him, 374; the   assures him  by miracles, and gives him
widow's oil multiplied by Elisha, 376; rais-   power to perform them, 166; met in the
ing the Shunamite's son by Elisha; healing   way  by  an angel, 167;  assembles his
of Naaman's leprosy, 377; the Syrian host   people in Egypt, and convinces them of
smitten with blindness, 378; panic of the   his divine commision; demands of Pharaoh
Syrian army, 379; the writing upon the   to let his people go, and is refused, 168;
wall of Belshazzar's palace, 419.          Pharaoh's increased oppression; Moses perMIRIAM, sister of Moses, 163; leads the dance   forms a miracle before Pharaoh, 170; the
in celebration of the deliverance from Pha-   river changed to blood; the frogs, 171;
raoh, 187; engraving, dance with timbrels,  the lice, the flies, 172; murrain, boils, 173;
40




722                                  INDEX.
hail, 174; locusts; darkness, 175; instructed NADAB, and Abihu, offer strange fire; are
by God how to keep the Passover, 176;   struck dead, 195.
death of the first-born, 177; his boldness NAHASH, king of the Ammonites, 279; kindand faith when entrapped by Pharaoh; he   ness to David, 317.
opens a passage across the Red Sea, 186; NAHOR, son of Terah, marries his niece,
his song of deliverance, 187; "fountains   Milchah, 92.
of," 188; "rock of," noticed by Professor NAHOR, son of Serug, 92.
Robinson, 192; smites  the rock, 192; NAHUM, book of, 26; threatens the destruccalled up into the mount, 194; spends forty  tion of Nineveh, 89, note.
days and forty nights in the mount, 195; NAIOTH, a school of the prophets near
breaks the tables of stone, 196; his prayers   Raamah, to which  David escaped from
for the people, 197; prepares two new   the hand of Saul, 292.
tables; his long fast, 198; ordered to NAOMI, wife of Elimelech, 23; meaning of,
muster the people; causes the tabernacle   35; removes with her husband to the land
to be built, 198; ordered to speak to the   of Moab, 243.
rock at Kadesh to supply water; he smites NAPHISH, son of Ishmael, 106.
it instead; God's displeasure, and judg- NAPHTALI, son of Jacob and Bilhah, 125;
ment pronounced that he shall not enter   Jacob's dying address to, 158.
the promised land, 217; repeats the law to NAPHTALI, tribe of, census of, in the wilderthe people, 225; his song, 226; consecrates   ness, 207; position of, in the camp, 208;
Joshua his successor, 227; his death upon   send men to re-enforce Gideon, 250; send
Pisgah; buried secretly by the Almighty,   men to assist in inaugurating King David,
228.                                     311.
M. TULLIUS CICERO, consul at the time of NAPTHULIM, son of Mizraim, king of Egypt,
the taking of the temple by Pompey, 493.    governor of Naph, or Memphis, 90.
MOUNT SEIR, 129, note.                   NARVA, emperor of Rome, repeals the odious
MUMMIUS, 589.                              acts of his predecessors, 627.
MUMMY, with its inner and outer wrappings, NATHAN, rabbi, first divides the Bible into
160; bandaging of a, 161.                verses, 32.
MUCIANUS, one of Vespasian's officers, 667.  NATHAN, the prophet; has a message from
MusIC, early cultivated, 287; its effect upon   God that the temple is to be built by a
Saul, 288, note.                         man of peace, 314; rebukes David for his
MUSICAL profession, 276.                   sin against Bathsheba and Uriah, 320;
MYRA, a flourishing seaport of Lycia, 446.  informs David of the revolt of Adonijah,
MYSIA, 583.                                and of his promise to Solomon; is appointed
by David to anoint Solomon, 334.
iN.                   NATHANAEL joins Jesus, 525.
NATRON, common in the East, used for pulNAAMAH, daughter of Lamech; supposed to   verizing the golden calf; Goguel's remarks,
have discovered the art of spinning and   197.
weaving, 78.                           NAZARETH, 510.
NAAMAN, captain of the host of the Syrian NAZARITE, 260.
king; sent to the King Jehoram  to be NEAPOLIS, 583, 610, note.
healed of leprosy; healed by Elisha, and NEBAJOTH, son of Ishmael, 106.
acknowledges Jehovah, 377.             NEBAT, father of Jeroboam, 413.
NABAL, of Carmel, his churlish treatment of NEBEDEUS, 602.
David, 298; dies of a broken heart, on NEBO, an idol, 128.
hearing of the danger he had been in NEBO, Mount, same as Pisgah, 227.
from his churlishness, 300.            NEBUCHADNEZZAR, son and  successor of
NABATHEAN Arabs, inhabitants of the moun-   Nabopolassar; defeats the Egyptian king;
tains of Seir, 450.                      captures Jerusalem, 386;  plunders the
NABLOUS, modern name of Shechem, 137.      temple; sends all the Jews, except the
NABONADIUS, viceroy of Darius; asserts his   peasantry, into  captivity, 406;  makes
independence, 421; defeated by the Per-   Mattaniah  governor over the remnant,
sians, and besieged in Babylon, which is  410; lays siege to Tyre, 584 B. C.; invades
taken by Cyrus, 421.                     Egypt, and subdues the whole country, 411;
NABOPOLASSAR, founder of the great Chaldee-   his dream of the golden image, 116; acBabylonian empire, his death, 406.       knowledges Jehovah; erects a golden image
NABOTH, stoned to death on a false accusation   that all are to worship, 417; becomes like
of Jezebel, 372; Kiing Jehoram  slain in   a beast; dies, 418.
the field of, as the prophet had predicted, NEBUZARADAN, general of Nebuchadnezzar's
380.                                     army; completely depopulates the land of
NADAB, son and successor of Jeroboam, king   Judmea; offers to take Jeremiah to Babylon,
of Israel, slain by Baasha, 359.         410.




INDEX.                                    723
KNECHO, king of Egypt, first attempts to unite   82; plants a vineyard, and becomes intoxithe Mediterranean and Red Sea by a canal;   cated, 83; curses Ham, 84; dispersion of
under him Africa was circumnavigated, 138.  the family of, 87.
NECKLACES, Egpytian, 178.                  NOB, town near Jerusalem, 295.
NECTABENO, king of Egypt, 440.             NOD, land of, dwelling-place of Cain, 78.
NECTABENO HI., last of the Egyptian kings, NUMBERS, great, of armies, &c., mentioned in
441.                                       Scripture; method of explaining by Jahn
NEHEMIAH, book of, 24; cup-bearer to the   and Hales, 364, 365.
Persian  king;  appointed  governor of NUMBERS, book of, 22.
Judaea, and commissioned to build the
walls of Jerusalem; organizes the temple
service, 435; declines to receive pay, 436;                  0.
returns to the Persian court; returns to
Judea to correct abuses, 438.            OBADIAH, a good man, steward of Ahab,
NERGAL, an idol, 128.                        saves a hundred prophets, 369.
NERO, emperor of Rome; a professed patron  OBADIAH, prophet; book of, 26.
of magicians; orders Peter and Paul to be OBED, son of Boaz and Ruth; grandfather
cast into prison; burns the city of Rome,   of David, progenitor of our Saviour, 245.
617; returns from  Greece, and  enters OBED, a prophet in the tifle of Asa, 367;
Rome in great triumph, 618; orders Peter   warns Pekah, 393.
and Paul to be beheaded, 619.            OBED-EDOM, a Levite, in whose house the ark
NESTORIANS, or CHALDAEANS, descendants of   was left, 313.
the ancient Assyrians, 90.               OBODAS, emir of the Arabs, 489.
NIBHAZ, an idol, 128.                      OcHus, son of Artaxerxes-Memnon; ascends
NICANOR, one of the seven deacons, 564.      the Persian throne, 439; his conquests in
NICANOR, a Syrian general, invades Judaea,   Egypt; return to Babylon, 441; death by
and is defeated by Judas Maccaboaus, 472;   poison, 442.
invades Judea again, is defeated and slain, OCTAVIUS, one of the triumvirs, 499; receives
476.                                       Herod with favor, 499, 500; his battle at
NICANOR, a Roman tribune; urges Josephus   Actium, 503; receives the overtures of
to surrender, 663.                         Herod, 504; receives from the senate the
NrICE, 623.                                  title and name of Augustus, with imperial
NICODEi\US, a delegate of Aristobulus, 492.    power, 505.
NICODEM US, a ruler of the Jews, visits Jesus OG, king of Bashan, defeated and slain by the
by niglht, 527, 528.                       Israelites, 220.
NIcoLAUS, of Damascus, confirms the sacred OLD TESTAMENT, history of, 65; canon of,
history, 315.                              closes 420 B.C., 439.
NICOLAUS, one of the seven deacons, 564.    OLIVE-TREES in Gethsemane, 541.
NICOMEDIA, 623.                            OLIVES, Mount of, 541, 542.
NIGER, a Jewish general, defeated by the Ro- OLYMPIAS, sister of Archelaus the ethnarch,
mans, takes refuge in a castle in the village   513.
of Bezedel, 658.                         OMAR, Caliph, captures Jerusalem, 539.
NILE, 180; summer parlor on the, 242.      OariI, proclaimed king of Israel by the army
NIMROD, grandson of Ham, commenced the   after the death of Baasha; marches against
tower of Babel, established idolatry, 87.  his rival, Zimri, 359; his idolatry; builds
NINEVEH, capital of the Assyrian empire; its   Samaria, and makes it his capital, 360; dies,
location; prophesied against by Nahum, B.C.   931 B.C., 361.
645; Sennacherib slain there; destroyed 600 ON, a city of Egypt, afterwards called HeliB.C.; discoveries in its ruins by Mr. Rich,   opolis; also prince or priest of, 146.
Mr. Botta, and Mr. Layard; its ruins con- ONAN, son of Judah, 139.
firmatory of prophecy; explanatory of the ONESIMUS, a disciple of Paul, and servant to
dress, arms, and modes of warfare of the   Philemon, 612.
Jews and Ninevites; correspond to the de- ONIAS I., 455.
scription of Ezekiel; many biblical names ONIAS II., high-priest, 457.
found on its ruins; important results to bib- ONIAS III., successor to the office of highlical history, 88-90; Jonah's mission to, 800   priest; prosperous administration, 457; deB.C., 395; destroyed, 406.                 posed by intrigue, 465; put to death, 467.
NISROCH, an idol, 128.                     ONIAS, son of Onias III., establishes a priestNITOCRIS, daughter-in-law of Nebuchadnez-   hood for the Jews in Egypt, 475.
zar, 84.                                 OOROOMIYAH, a lake in Persia, 90.
NOAH, birth of; three sons, 79; admonishes OPHIR, 348.
the wicked, 80; commanded by God to OPHRAH, residence of Joseph, father of Gidbuild an ark, 80; enters into the ark, 81;   eon, 231; Gideon built here an altar, 252.
leaves the ark, and builds an altar to God, ORBO, town of, 369.




724                                   INDEX.
OREB, a leader of the Midianites, slain by the   general council; controversy about circumEphraimites, 252.                          cision; discussed by Paul, Barnabas, Peter,
ORIGEN, author of the Hexapla, 49.           and James; result of council carried back
ORNAN, the Jebusite, his threshing-floor the   to Antioch, 581; joined by Silas; rebukes
site of the temple, 342.                   Peter; leaves with Silas; visits many places,
ORPAH, daughter-in-law of Naomi, 243.        582; visit to Philippi; conversion of LydORMUZD, worshippers of, 428.                 ia; heals a damsel possessed of a spirit of
ORTHOSIA, a maritime town of Phoenicia, 484.   divination; a tumult; imprisoned, 584; the
ORTYGIA, island of, 610.                     doors opened; discharged by the magistrate,
OSROENE, mountains of, 92.                   585; goes to Athens, 587; preaches before
OSTIA, 619.                                 the Areopagus, 588; goes to Corinth, and
OTHNIEL, one of the judges of Israel, remains   preaches in the synagogues, 589; opposed
regent forty years, 241.                   by the Jews; arraigned before Gallio, 590;
OTHO, emperor of Rome, 665.                  missionary circuit among the churches, 591;
Ox-GoADs, Maundrell's description of, 243.    efforts to correct abuses at Corinth, 594;
escapes the peril of a popular tumult at
Ephesus, 595, 596; revisits Corinth, and
P.                       writes his Epistle to the Romans; goes to
Judeea to distribute alms; visits Philippi
PACORUS, son of the king of Parthia, 499.    and Troas, Mitylene and Miletus, 597, 598;
PACORUS, a cup-bearer to Pacorus of Parthia,   farewell address to the pastors and elders
499.                                       of the church at Ephesus; arrives at Tyre,
PACTOLUS, river of, 641.                     599; thence goes to Jerusalem  by way of
PALLAS, third wife of Herod, 513.            Caesaroea; defence of himself at the castle
PALM-TREE, great value of; branches tokens   of Antonia, 600; avails himself of his freeof victory; view of, 190; in the Sinai moun-   dom as a Roman citizen, 601; appears betains, view of, 191.                       fore the Sanhedrim; a vision from  God,
PALMYRA, or TADMOR, built by Solomon,   602; plot to murder him; rescued by Ly349.                                       sias, 603; arraigned before Felix; his defence
PAPHIA, 463.                                 before his accusers and Felix, 604; appeals
PAMPHYLIA, a province of Lesser Asia, 577.   to Casaroea, and is sent to Rome, 607; shipPANEAS, Herod builds a temple of white mar-   wrecked; lands at Melita, 608; his kind
ble there, 508.                           reception; attacked by a viper, 609; heals
PANNONIAN BAND, the, 573.                    the governor's father; embarks for Rome,
PAPHOS, a city of Cyprus, Paul's visit to,   610; arrives at Rome a prisoner; addresses
577.                                      the Jews, 611; preaches to all who come to
PARAN, wilderness of, 105; David retreats   him with great success, 612; receives conthere from Saul, 298.                      tributions from Philippi; writes to the disPARASHIUTH, 30.                              ciples there;  sends  Epistles to  other
PARMENAS, one of the seven deacons, 564.     churches, 613; obtains his liberty, 614;
PARTHIA, governed by Phrataphernes after  travels and preaches in Italy; his condition
the death of Alexander, 448.               during imprisonment, 615, note; goes to
PASCHAL-LAMB, when killed, 201.              Spain; proceeds to Judsea, 616; returns to
PASSOVER, Moses and Aaron instructed how    Rome, thence goes into Asia; visits Maceto keep it, 176; when observed, 201; partic-   donia, thence to Nicopolis and other places;
ulars of, 180; celebrated for the first time   cast into prison in Rome, 618; beheaded,
after the restoration, 431.                619; personal appearance; extraordinary
PASSARO, Cape, 608.                          qualities of character noticed; triumphant
PATHROS, or THEBES, 90.                      death, 621, 622.
PATHRUSIM, son of Mizraim, founder of the PAULINUS, a Roman tribune, 663.
kingdom of Pathros, or Thebes, 90.       PEKAH, king of Israel, combines with Rezin,
PATMOS, island of, 626.                      king of Syria, against Judah, 392; carries
PATREA, 623, note.                           away great numbers of captives; sends back
PATROCLES, general of Antiochus Soter, 455.   the captives, 374; reign and death, 396.
PAUL preaches at Antioch in Pisidia, 577; PEKAHIAH, reign and death, 396.
great success of his labors; Gentiles re- PELEG, youngest son of Eber, 87.
joiced.; Jews enraged; driven from  the PELETHITES, a corps of David's body-guard,
city, 578; goes to Iconium, thence to Lystra   who remained faithful during Absalom's
and Derbe; heals a cripple; popularexcite-   rebellion, 324.
ment createdI: by his miracles; the people PELLA, 490.
addressed, 579; stoned; leaves to visit the PELL]EA, city of, 654.
disciples in other places; returns to Antioch PELOPONNESUS, possessed by Elishah, son of
and: Syria; reports the success of the Gos-   Javan, 88.
pel; arrives at Jerusalem, 580; attends a PELUSIUM, 301; taken by Antiochus, 467.




INDEX.                                    725
PENIEL, place where Jacob wrestled with the   163; refuses to let the people go, 168;
angel, 131; the people of, refuse food to   suffers the plagues, and at last suffers the
Gideon; its chief men put to death, 252.    Israelites to depart, 171-178; musters six
PENTATEUCH, books of, 22; authorship, 23;   hundred war-chariots, and pursues them;
called The Law, 13; division of, by the   his design in taking the sacred animals,
Jews, 30; Samaritan, 42; translated into   184; his plan of attack, 184; destruction
Arabic, 50.                               in the sea, 187.
PENTECOST, when observed, 558, note.      PHARAOH, daughter of, given in marriage to
PEOR, Mount, idolatry practised upon, 223;   Solomon, 339.
Baal-peor, an idol, 223.                PHARAOH-HOPHRA, or APRIES, takes Cyprus,
PERAKIM, the division of the Scriptures into   Gaza, and Tyre, 408; reduced to vassalage
chapters, 31.                             by Nebuchadnezzar, 411.
PERDIccAs becomes regent upon the death PHARAOH-NECHO marches against Carcheof Alexander; slain by his own soldiers, 448.   mish; opposed by Josiah, 404.
PERFUMING THE GARMENTS, custom, 121.   PHAREZ, son of Tamar, by her father-in-law,
PERSEPOLIS, 247.                            Judah, 141.
PERGA, in Pamphylia, visited by Paul, 577.  PHARISEES recover influence under Queen
PERGAMOS, church of, 639; view of, 640.     Alexandra; their demands acceded to, 471.
PERSIA, scarlet the color of the nobility in, PHARNABAGUS, a Persian general, 440.
419, note; governed by Peucestes after the PHAROS, island of, 446.
death of Alexander, 448.                PHARPAR, a river of Damascus, 377.
PERSIAN translation of the Bible, 51; cus- PHASAEL, son of Herod and Pallas, 513.
toms in regard to pillars of stone, and vows, PHASAEL, son of Antipater, and brother of
123.                                      Herod, 497; dashes his brains out against a
PERSIANS lose the battle of Marathon, 431;   prison-wall, 499.
driven out of Egypt, 440; hated and de- PHASAELIS, a city in the plains of Jericho,
spised image and animal worship, 445.     built by Herod, 506.
PESUKIM, the division of the Scriptures into PHASIS, the River Pison, 68.
verses, 31.                             PHERECYDES, who foretold an earthquake,
PETER joins Jesus, 525; denies Christ, 542;   598.
heals a cripple at the temple; vindicates PHERORAS, brother of Herod, 503.
from Scripture the claims of Jesus; arraigned PHICOL, Abimelech's general, 81.
before the Sanhedrim; his boldness; dis- PHILADELPHIA, fortified and named after
charged, 560, 561; sent to Samaria; reproof   himself by Ptolemy Philadelphus, 459.
of Simon, the magician, 568; visits Joppa,'PHILADELPHIA, church of, 641, 642.
571; his miracle, 572; his vision; goes to PHILEMON, Paul's epistle to, 613.
Coesarea; interviewwith Cornelius; preach- PHILIP, the deacon, 564; flight to Samaria;
ing and success, 573, 574; arrested by   success of his labors, 567; instructs the
Herod Agrippa; miraculous deliverance,   eunuch, 568, 569.
575; goes to the house of Mary, and meets PHILIP, the apostle, joins Jesus, 525; labors
the disciples, 576; preaches in Babylon,   in Upper Asia, then in Phrygia; demolishes
592; carries the gospel into Africa, Sicily,   the deity of the idolatrous people; success
and Italy; goes to Rome, where he meets   of his preaching; imprisonment death, 629.
Paul; opposed by Simon Magus, 616; PHILIP, a Phrygian governor, oppresses the
offends Nero and is imprisoned, 617; cruci-  Jews, 469.
fled, 619; his character as a disciple and as PHILIP the tetrarch, 5,13.
an apostle, 620, 621.                   PHILIP governs. Bactria and Logdiana after
PETHOR, a city in Mesopotamia, residence of   the death of Alexander, 448.
Balaam, 220.                            PHILIPPI, 584, note.
PETRA, 450.                               PHILISTIM, son of Caslubirn, father of the
iPETREA, capital of Midian, 164.'Philistines, lived between the borders of
PETUCHOTH, 31.                              Canaan and the Mediterranean, 90.
PEUCESTES governs Persia after the death of PHILISTINES, their hostility to Isaac, 11 7; the
Alexander, 448.                           most powerful and warlike people in PalesPHABI, 601.                                 tine at the time of the Exodus, 181; subPHABIET, 507.                               jection of the Hebrews to them, 260; enmnity
PHA3iDRA, wife of Herod, 513.               against Samson, 261; great numbers dePHARAOH, a name common to the Egyptian   stroyed by Samson, 264; defeated in the
kings, 94, note.                          time of Samuel with great slaughter, 270;
PHARAOH, dreams of, 145; bestows high   Israelites disarmed by, 282; gather an imhonors on Joseph, 146.                    mense army against Saul, 283; routed by
PHARAOH, a new king after Joseph's death,   Jonathan, 284  invade the territory of
oppresses the Israelites, 162; his inhuman   Judaht 288;, ate war with Israel, aol0; defeat
order for the death of the Hebrew children,   Saa, andl slay hiss os~,s 303.;, defeated by




726                                   INDEX.
David, 312; tributary to Solomon, 336; PORTO DI S. PAOLO, 608,
capture Jerusalem, 386; subjugated by POSTERITY of Adam in the line of Seth, 79.
Nebuchadnezzar, 411.                    POTIPHAR, captain of the guards to the king
PHILO, an early Jewish writer; his story in   of Egypt, 139.
regard to the princess who found Moses, POTIPHERAH, father-in-law of Joseph, prince
163.                                      of On, 146.
PHINEAS, son of Eli, 266; slain in battle with POTTERS at work, 526.
the Philistines, 267.                   PoUssIN's picture of the Deluge, 81.
PHINEAS, son of Eleazar, the high-priest; PRAXITELES, the famous artificer, 607.
kills Zimri and Cozbi, 224; goes to the PRAYER of Manasses, book of, in the Apocrytribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-   pha, 61.
tribe of Manasseh, 236; succeeds Eleazar PRIESTS, laws respecting, 204.
in the priesthood, 237.                 PRINCIPLES developed in the history of the
PH(ENICIAN  artificers sent to Solomon by   Hebrews up to the captivity, 411-414.
Hiram, 341.                             PRIMITIVE LONGEVITY, 104, note.
PH(ENICIANS, a commercial and manufactur- PROCHORUS, one of the seven deacons, 564.
ing people, 316; extent of their commerce,   157-159; concerning Christ, 514.
347.                                    PROPHECIES, dates of, 26; Jacob's to his sons,
PHRAATES, king of the Parthians, 485.       157-159; concerning Christ, 514.
PHRYGIA, 443, 583, note.                  PROPHECY, illustrated in the history of Egypt,
PHURAH, a follower of Gideon, reconnoitres   189.
with Gideon the Midianitish camp, 250.    PROPHETICAL books of the Bible, list of, 26.
PHUTT, third son of Ham, settledin Lybia, 90. PROPHETS, greater and lesser, 26; line of,
PI-HA-HIROTH, camping-place of the Hebrews,   commences after the revolt of the ten
183.                                      tribes, 355.
PILATE, PONTIUS, trial of Christ before, 542. PROVERBS, book of, 25.
PILDASH, son of Nahor, 109.               PSALMS, book of, 25; number of, 30; how comPILLAR of fire, change of location when the   posed and used, 287; public singing of, by
Egyptians pursued the Hebrews across the   Hezekiah, 398.
Red Sea, 186.                           PSALTERY, invented by Jubal, 78.
PIRS, the seven, 427.                     PSAMMETICUS, opens Lower Egypt to the
PISGAH, Mount, Balaam blesses Israel there,   Phoenicians and Greeks, 658 B.c., 138.
220; same as Mount Nebo, 227; death of PTHAH, 399.
Moses there, 228.                       PTOLEMAIS, afterwards Csesarvea, 459.
PISIDIA, a province north of Pamphylia, PTOLEMY AULETES, father of Cleopatra, 497.
443; visited by Paul, 577.              PTOLEMY EPIPHANES, heir of the throne,
PIsoN River, the Phasis, 68.                461; marries Cleopatra, daughter of AntiPITTACUS, one of the seven wise men of   ochus the Great; poisoned; leaves three
Greece, 598.                              children, 467.
PLACIDUS, commander of Roman troops in PTOLEMY III., EUERGETES, murdered by his
Judwea, 659, 660.                         son; the last good king of Egypt; prosperPLUTARCH  attributes political motives to  ity of the Jews under the last three PtoleAlexander in being worshipped as the son   mies, 458.
of Jupiter Ammon, 446.                  PTOLEMY KERAUNUS, eldest son of Ptolemy
POLISH Bibles, 31.                          Lagus, displeases his father, and is debarred
POLLIO, a member of the Sanhedrim, 501.     from the throne; takes refuge at the court
POLLUX, an idol, 128.                       of Seleucus, is kindly treated, and destroys
POLYBIUS, 472.                              his benefactor; seats himself upon the
POLYGAMY, introduced  by Lamech, 78;   Macedonian throne, but is taken prisoner
neither sanctioned nor forbidden, 300.    by the Gauls, and cut to pieces, 455.
POMPEY, comes to Syria, B. C., 65; twelve PTOLEMY LAGUS takes possession of Paleskings pay him homage; claims of Hyrcanus   tine; carries a colony of Jews to Egypt,
and Aristobulus urged before him; designs   449; war with Antigonus, subsequent disof A.ristobulus defeated; marches into Jeru-   asters; withdraws to Egypt; makes Alexsalem, and received by Hyrcanus and party;   andria his capital; shows favor to the Jews,
the adherents of Aristobulus withdraw to   452-453.
the temple fortress; the siege successfully PTOLEMY LATHYRUS, son of Ptolemy Phyprosecuted; Roman rule established in   scon, comes to the throne, 487.
Judsea; violates the sanctity of the temple; PTOLEMY MACRON, 467.
returns in triumph to Rome, 492, 493.   PTOLEMY PHILADELPHUS, king of Egypt;
PONTIUS PILATE, governor of Judsea, 524.    the Septuagint translated under him, 278
POPE GREGORY II., 510.                      B.C.; his war with Antiochus II. and rePOPILIUS LENAS, an ambassador, 469.         suits; marriage of his daughter, Berenice,,qBTLrtUS FESTUS, governor of Judoea, 605.  with Antiochus; his death, 456.




INDEX.                                   727
PTOLEIMY PHILOMETOR invested with the RAMOTH GILEAD, a city beyond Jordan, 373;
government of Egypt, 467; forms an alli-  besieged by Jehoram  and Ahaziah, 379,
ance with his brother, Ptolemy Physcon;   380.
deposed, and his brother proclaimed king RAPHIA, 488.
under the name of Ptolemy Euergetes II.; RAS MOUSA, cape of Moses, 188.
divides the kingdom with his brother, 468; RAWLINSON, on the remains of the Jews and
death, 480.                               Judaism in the East, 426, 427.
PTOLEMY PHILOPATER murders his father, READINGS, various, of the Bible; how caused;
and succeeds to the throne, 458; defeats   number of; Keri and Cetib; Ben Asher;
Antiochus the Great, 459; persecution of   Ben Naphtali, 41.
Jewish subjects; his death, 461.        REBECCA, daughter of Bethuel, 109; draws
PTOLEMY PIHyscoN, cruelty and voluptuous-   water for Eliezer, Abraham's servant, 112;
ness; death, 486, 487.                    marries Isaac, 114; gives birth to twins,
PuAH, an Egyptian midwife, commanded to   115; on the way to Egypt with Isaac, is
strangle the Hebrew male children; her   taken away by Abimelech, king of Gerar,
neglect of the order, and her excuse, 163.  but restored, 117; secures Isaac's blessing
PUBLIUS, governor of Melita, 608.           for Jacob, 120; review of her conduct, 120,
PUL, an Assyrian monarch, 396.              note.
PuRIM, feast of Lots, 434.                RECHAB, 382.
PUNISIHMENT of the ash-tower, borrowed by RECORD CHAMBER, 430.
the Syrian-Greeks from the Persians, 475.  REBELLION, of Korah, 214; of Absalom, 324;
PUTEOLI, near Naples, 610.                  of Sheba, 330; of Adonijah, 334.
PYTHAGORAS, 598.                          RED SEA, Israelites arrive at, 182; they
cross; Egyptians overwhelmed, 186, 187;
Q.                       trade of the Jews upon, 348.
REFORMATION, the, ignorance of the Bible
QUADRATUS, a Roman prefect, 602.            previous to, 53.
QUAILS, 190; sent to the Israelites; plague REFUGE, cities of, appointed by Moses, 225.
in consequence, 211.                    REHOBOAM succeeds Solomon; not equal to
QUINTILLUS VARUS, prefect of Syria, 512.   the crisis; refuses to lighten the burdens of
QUIRINIUs,   522.                           the people, 354; Judah and Benjamin alone
Q. METELLUS SCIPIO, son-in-law of Pom~ey,   remain true to him; warned by the prophet
496.                                      not to make war upon Jeroboam, 358; influence of his mother in leading, him into
R.                       idolatry; subdued by Shishak, king -of
Egypt, 362; his polygamy; dies 973 B.C.,
RAAMAH, son of Cush, settled on the river   363,
Pison, 90.                              REHOBOTH, a dwelling-place of Isaac, 118.
RABB3AI AMMON, a city of the Ammonites, REMPIIAN, an idol, 128.
captured by Joab, 318, 320; description of, REPHAIM, Valley of, 312.
by Lord Lindsay, 318, 319; great spoils of, REPHIDIM, where water was supplied from
324.                                      the rock, 191.
RABBI NATHAN, first divided the Bible into RESIN, king of Syria, 392.
verses, 32.                             RESTORATION, the; why the ten tribes did
RABBI SAIDIAS GAON, translated the Pen-   not return as well as Judah; numbers that
tateuch into Arabic, 50.                  returned, 427.
RABSHAKEH, a general of Sennacherib, 399.  REu, son of Peleg, 92.
RACHEL, daughter of Laban; second and REUBEN, eldest son of Jacob and Leah, 124;
favorite wife of Jacob, 124; her desire for   signification of name, 125; brings manchildren; gives to Jacob her hand-maiden,   drakes to his mother, 125; his sin with BilBilhah, 125; gives birth to Joseph, 126;   hah, 135; intercedes with his brethren for
takes away her father's images, 127; dies   Joseph, 139; Jacob's dying address to h'me,
at Ephrath; her sepulchre, 135.           157.
RAGAkBA, siege of, 490.                   REUBEN, tribe of, census of, in the widder.
RAHAB, conceals the spies, 229; she and her   ness; position of, in camp, 208; request of
relations spared by Joshua at the capture of   Moses to be permitted to settle east: of the
Jericho, 231.                             Jordan; their request granted, 22:5;: after
RAMAH, a city where Samuel administered   the conquest of Canaan, dismissed: by
justice, 270; the residence of Samuel; Saul   Joshua, 235.
anointed there, 274; view of, 281; captured REVELATION, book of, prophetic,. 28.
by Baasha, king of Israel, 359.         REVOLT, of the Ten Tribes under Jeroboam,:
RAIMESES, a treasure-city in the land of Go-   355; a justifiable revolution not a re;beliona
shen, the point of departure of the Israel-   364.
ites, 180, 181.                         REZIN, king of Syria, 396.




728                                   INDEX.
RHAGES, a city in Media, in which the Israel- SALOME prejudices Herod against his sons,
ites settled in large numbers, 414.       509.
RHEGIUM, now called Reggio, 610.          SALOME, daughter of Herod and Elphis, 513.
RHINOCULURA, 459.                         SAMAR, name of a man from whom  Omri
RHODA, a maid-servant, 576.                 purchased the site of Samaria, 360.
RHODES, 479, note.                        SAMARIA, a city and province; idolatry of,
RIBLAH, 405.                                24; Dr. Richardson's description of, 360;
RIMMON, an idol, 128.                       siege and famine, 378.
RIMNON, rocks of; 240.                    SAMARITANS, origin of, 397; make proposals
RINGS, 140.                                 to assist the Jews in rebuilding the temple,
RIPHAH, son of Gomer, possessed the Riphaan   but are repusled, 428; oppose the building
mountains, 88.                            of the temple; hatred between them and
RisIus, a monk of Damascus, translator of the   the Jews, 429; build a temple on Mount
New Testament, 50.                        Gerizim, 439; set fire to the house of AnRIZPAIIH, a concubine of Saul, 331.         dronmachus, their governor, and are removed
ROBE, the high-priest's, description of, 200.    from  their city by Alexander; excluded
Rock OF MosEs, pretended, notice of, by Pro-   from  Samaria, they make Shechem their
fessor Robinson, 192.                     capital, 466.
RODS, the twelve; Aaron's, 216.           SAMEAS, a member of the Sanhedrim, 501.
ROMAN armies approaching Jerusalem, en- SAMOS, 598, note.
graving of, 655.                        SAMOTHRACIA, 583, note.
ROMAN officers, engraving of, 611.        SAMSON, son of Manoah, slays a lion with no
ROMAN power in Asia Minor, 492; its supre-   weapon, 260; his marriage; his riddle; remacy established by Pompey over Judmea,   venge for the loss of his wife, 261; slays
B.C., 63, 493.                            great numbers with a jaw-bone; carries off
ROMANS begin to interfere in the East, 462.    the gates of Gaza, 262; betrayed by Delilah,
ROME, 610, note.                            263; destroys the temple of Dagon and
ROXANA, daughter of Herod and Phaedra,  three thousand Philistines; dies, 1222 B.C.,
513.                                      264.
RUSHES, ark of; the papyrus according to SAMUEL, books of, 23; son of Hannah; called
Clemens Alexandrinus, 163.                by God in the temple, and hears the doom
RUNNERS attending a chariot, 273.           of Eli's house, 266; appears as a prophet;
RUTH? book of, 23; story of, scene in Bethle-   promises deliverance to Israel, if they will
hem of Judah; daughter-in-law of Naomi;   put away their idols; invested with the auaffection for her mother, and her return   thority of judge at Mizpeh; his prayer anwith her to Bethlehem, 243; kindly noticed   swered in the defeat and slaughter of the
by Boaz, 244; marries Boaz, 245.          Philistines, 270; tries to dissuade the people from having a king, 272; his warning
to the people at the time of confirming Saul
S.                      at Gilgal, 280; rebuke of Saul for usurping
the priestly office, 283; summoned to BethSABBATH-BREAKING, stoning for, 214.         lehem to anoint a worthier man than Saul,
SABTECHA, son of Cush, settled on the river   286; death, 1072 B.C., 298; spirit of, appears
Pison, 90.                                to Saul; the spirit pronounces Saul's doom,
SACRIFICES, kinds of, burnt-offering, peace-   303.
offering, oblation, method of offering, 202, SANBALLAT, 435.
203.                                    SANCTUARY, described to Moses in the mount,
SADDUCEES, rise of the, 458.                195.
SAIS, 440.                                SANHEDRIM, first historical notice of, 494;
SALADIN, sultan of the East, captures Jeru-   summons Herod to its presence, 497.
salem, 539.                             SAPHIA, an eminence near Jerusalem, 444.
SALAMIS, city of, 576.                    SAPPHIRA, attempts to deceive Peter in conSALAMPSo, daughter of Herod and Mariamne,  junction with her husband, and is struck
513.                                      dead, 562.
SALAH, son of Arphaxad, father of Eber, who SAPTAH, son of Cush, settled on the river
gave name to the Hebrew nation, 91.       Pison, 90.
SALATHIEL, son of Jehoiachim, 422.        SARAH, reproved by an angel, for her increSALEM, king of, Melchisedec, 97.            dulity, 101; taken from  her husband by
SALMAN, 427.                                Abimelech, king of Gerar, 103; restored in
SALONICHI, modern name of Thessalonica,   consequence of a warning from  God, 104;
586.                                      gives birth to Isaac, 104; drives Hagar
SALOME, whose dancing cost John the Baptist   away, 106; dies at Kirjath-arba, 109.
his head, 513.                          SARAI, daughter of Haran, marries her uncle
SALOME, a disciple of Christ, 547.          Abram, 92; taken by the king of Egypt,




INDEX.                                    729
but restored by the interposition of the ScuIsM of Jews and Samaritans, the cause of
Almighty, 94; having no son, gives her ser-   producing a different version of the Scripvant Hagar to Abram; ill-treats Hagar, 99;   tures; account of, in Second Book of Kings,
her name changed to Sarah, 99; promised   42.
a son, 99; brought to the palace of Abime- SCLAVONIAN Bible, 51.
lech, king of Gerar, 103.                SCOPAS, an Egyptian general, 461.
SARDANAPALUS, one of the builders of the SCRIPTURES, curious effort to promote their
palace of Nineveh, 89.                      reading in England, 53.
SARDIS, capital of the western division of the SCYTHIAIS, founded by Magog, 88.
Persian empire, 443.                     SCYTHOPOLIS, city of, 488, 654.
SARDIS, church of, 640-641.                SEAH, a measure, 379.
SAREPTA, a town of Sidon; Elijah dwelt here  SEBA, son of Cush, settled in the south-west of
for a time; widow of; her son restored to    Arabia, 90.
life by Elijah; her cruse of oil and her bar- SEBASTE, name of Samaria changed to, 494.
rel of meal miraculously supplied, 369.  SEBYRRIUS, governs Arochosia and Gedrosia
SATURNIUS, a Roman governor in the time   after the death of Alexander, 448.
of Herod, 509.                           SELENE, ruler of Ptolemais, 491.
SAUL, son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, SEIR, Mount, description of, 129.
visits Samuel while seeking his father's SELEUCIA, on the Tigris, capital of the eastasses; is entertained at a feast, and placed    ern provinces, 454.
in the seat of honor; anointed by Samuel, SELEUCUS, one of Alexander's generals, takes
274; elected king by lot at Gilgal; his per-   possession of the province of Babylonia,
sonal appearance, 276; summons the people   449; era of the Seleucidae, 450; consolida,
to the help of Jabesh Gilead against the   tion of his power in the East; victory over
Ammonites; his complete victory; his author-   Antigonus, 452; becomes king of Syria;
ity solemnly confirmed at Gilgal, 280; does   devotes himself to the improvement of his
not properly recognize Jehovah in making   kingdom; his policy toward the Jews;
war; usurps the priestly office, 283; victo-   builds Antioch on the Orontes and Seleucia
ries over his enemies; appoints Abner gen-   on the Tigris, 454; great enlargement of
eral of his army, 284; victory over the   his kingdom; encourages Jewish emigraAmalekites; spares the life of Agag, contra-   tion, 454; killed; succeeded by his son, Anry to divine command; rebuked by Samuel,  tiochus Soter, 455.
and rejected from being the founder of a SELEUCUS CALLINICUS, son of Antiochus II.,
royal house, 285; his melancholy, 287; his   set upon the throne by his mother; defeats
jealousy of David, 290; attempts to kill   his brother; slays Berenice, sister to Ptohim; his anger against his own son Jona-   lemy III., who avenges her death, 456-457.
than for his friendship  to David, 291; SELEUcUS III., successor to Seleucus Callinislaughter of Ahimelech and eighty-five   cus, 457; poisoned by his generals, 458.
priests for entertaining David; his slaugh- SELEUCUS IV., son of Antiochus the Great,
ter of the people of Nob, 296; his heart   Surnamed Philopater; demands of Onias,
softened by David's forbearance in sparing   the high-priest, the temple treasures, 464;
his life in the cave of Engedi; entreats   sends his son a hostage to Rome; death,
David not to destroy his seed when he be-   465.
comes king, 297; his shame at again being SELIM, the Turkish sultan, reduces Egypt and
spared by David, when in his power, 300;   Syria, 539.
consults the witch of Endor; the spirit of SELUCIDnEA, era of the, 450.
Samuel appears to him; wounded, and falls SEMIRAMIS, Queen, extended Babylon, 84.
upon his own sword; his death, 303; his cru- SENNACHERIB, 90; king of Assyria, attempts
elty to the Gibeonites causes a famine in   the reduction of Judah; his demands upon
David's time; his bones removed by David   Hezekiah; his host destroyed by a "blast,"
from Jabesh Gilead to Kelah, 332.          399; returns to Nineveh; is killed by his
SAUL of Tarsus, his cruel persecutions of   sons, 400.
Christians, 567; journey to Damascus, 569; SENONES, their worship Druidical, and of the
arrested by a voice from heaven; visited by    Supreme Being, testimony of Tacitus, 107.
Ananias; conversion; preaches in Damascus, SEPPHORIS, 495.
570; escape from his enemies; visits Jeru- SEPHARVAIM, colonists, brought from, and setsalem; goes to Tarsus preaching the gospel,  tled in Samaria, 397.
571; called to Antioch; success there, 5756; SE-PTHAH, priest of Pthah, 399.
commissioned with Barnabas to preach in SEPTUAGINT, history of, 45; preceded the
other places, 576-577; encounter with Ely-   publication of the gospel; used three hunmas the sorcerer; change of name to Paul,   dred years, 47.
577, note.                               SEPULCHRE of the kings, 401; view of, 402.
ScAURUS, sent into Syria by Pompey, 491.   SERAPIS, a bull-god of the Egyptians, 196.
SCEVA, a Jewish priest, 592.               SEREK, Vale of, 262.




730                                   INDEX.
SERPENT, his temptation of Eve, 69; brazen, SHISHIAK, king of Egypt, 353; invades Judah
219; final disposal of, 393.               under Rehoboam; his immense army takes
SERGIUS PAULUS, governor of Cyprus during   Jerusalem, and plunders the sacred places,
Paul's visit there, 577.                   363.
SERON, a Syrian general, 472.              SHITTIM, a place in the land of Moab, 229.
SERUG, son of Reu, 92.                     SHOBACH, a general of Haldadezer, 318.
SESTOS, on the Hellespont, 443.            SHOES, Egyptian and Syrian, 166.
SETH, son of Adam, line of, 79.            SHow-BREAD, table of, described; view of,
SETHOS, an Egyptian king, 394-404.           202.
SETHIUMOTH, 31.                            SHUAHI, wife of Judah, 139.
SEVEN churches of Asia, 638-647.           SHUNEMi, a city where Elisha was entertained;
SEVENTH day, Sabbath 67                      woman of, blessed with a son; the son dies,
SEVENTY elders of Israel, inspired by God to   and is raised by Elisha, 376, 377.
assist Moses, 210.                       SHUR, the western part of Arabia Petrma,
SHALLUM, or JEHOAHAZ, deposed by Necho,   106.
405.                                     SICARII, the, 602.
SHALLUM, ascends the throne of Israel; SiIciEm, capital of the Samaritans; location
slain by Menahem, 396.                     of, 93.
SHALMANESER, king of Assyria, lays siege to SICILY, island of, 610.
Samaria, captures it, and removes the inhab- SIDDIM, valley of, 96.
itants, 397.                             SIDON, son of Canaan, founder of the SidoSHAMGAR, defeats the Philistines with ox-   nians, 91.
goads, 243.                              SIDON, 347; ancient port of, 408; besieged
SHAMMAI, 501, note.                          by Ochus, king of Persia; is betrayed by
SHAPHAL, father of Elisha, 370.             its king, Tennes, and burned by the citizens
SHAPHAN, chief scribe, 403.                 in despair, 441.
SHAVEH, Valley, or King's Dale, or Berachah, SIDONIANS, subjugated by Nebuchadnezzar,
or Valley of Jehoshaphat, 385.             411.
SHEBA, a Benjamite, heads a revolt of all the SIGNET ring, 140.
tribes, except Judah, against David, 330.   SIHON, king of the Amorites, refuses to allow
SHEBA, son of Raamah, 90.                   the Israelites to pass through his country;
SHECHEM, a district in Canaan, 137.          defeated, 219, 220.
SHECHEM, son  of Hamor, 132; violates SILAS, a Jewish  general, slain by the RoDinah; makes honorable proposals of mar-   mans, 658.
riage; circumcised; slain by Simeon and SILAS, sent to Antioch, 58; joins Paul; goes
Levi, Dinah's brothers, 133.               with him on a mission to Crete, Cilicia, and
SHECHEM, modern Nablous, 112; capital of   other places, 582.
Jeroboam's kingdom, 137.                 SIMEON, son of Jacob and Leah, 125; slays
SHECHINAH, symbol of the divine presence,  the people of Shechem, 133; detained a
68.                                        prisoner by Joseph, 147; Jacob's dying adSHELAH, son of Judah, 139.                   dress to him, 157.
SHELOMITH curses the Lord and is stoned, SIMEON, tribe of, census of, in the wilderness?
206.                                       207; position of, in the camp, 208; assist
SHEM, son of Noah, 79; his descendants;   the tribe of Judah in destroying the Canaanfather of the Hebrew nation; possessed a   ites, 238; send men to assist in inauguratgreat part of Asia, 88.                    ing King David, 311.
SHEMAIAH, a prophet in the time of Reho- SIMEON, a devout man, takes Jesus in his arms,
boam, 355.                                 501, 524.
SHEMITISH, the most ancient language, 87.   SIMEON II., son of Gamaliel, perishes in the
SHESHACH, an idol, 128.                      destruction of Jerusalem, 501.
SHIBBOLETH, pronunciation of, a test of an SIMEON III., 501.
Ephraimite, 259.                         SIMEON, a member of the church in Antioch,
SHILOH, a small town where Joshua took up   576.
his residence, and where the tabernacle was SIMON, a Benjamite, governor of the temple,
set up, 235; the young women carried off  quarrels with Onias the high-priest, and inby the Benjamites, 241.                    duces Antiochus the Great to attempt to
SHINAR, plain of, 84.                        seize the treasures in the temple, 464; banSHIMEI, a Benjamite, curses David as he is  ished by Antiochus, 465.
fleeing from Absalom, 325; pardoned by SIMON, a Cyrenian, compelled to bear the
David, 330; suspected and slain by Solomon,   cross of Christ, 544.
339.                                     SIMON, a Maccabee, succeeds Jonathan, 482;
SHIPRAH, an Egyptian midwife, commanded   sends an embassy to Rome, puts the country
by Pharaoh to strangle the Hebrew male  in a state of defence, seeks an alliance with
children; she disobeys the order, 163.     Demetrius, 463; procures a decree from the




INDEX.                                    731
Roman Senate in favor of the Jews, 483;   alliance with Hiram, 340; lays the foundatakes up his abode with his son-in-law, Ptol-  tion of the temple 1027, B.C. 341; his subemy, by whom he is assassinated, 485.     lime prayer at the dedication, 344; other
SIMON, father of Mariamne, deposed, 512.     great works; his pools, view of, 345; deSIMON the Just, his prosperous administra-   scription of; his palaces, description of, by
tion of Jewish affairs; completes the Canon   Josephus, their extent and magnificence,
of the Old Testament; succeeded in the   345-347; his throne of ivory; vessels of
priesthood by his son, Eleazar, 455.       gold, and dresses of Tyrian purple; sources
SIMON II., high-priest, prosperous administra-   of his great wealth; importance of his allition, 455.                                 ance with Hiram, 347; his extensive inland
SIMON, a Pharisee, invites the Saviour to his  trade, 348; his revenues, 350; surrounds
house, 531.                                Jerusalem with a new wall, 351; his wisSIMON, a sorcerer, offers money to the apostles,   dom, poetry, and natural history, 352;
and is rebuked by Peter, 568.              idolatry, polygamy, and the gloom of his
SIMON, a tanner, in whose house Peter resid-   last days, 353.
ed, 572.                                 SONG OF SOLOMON, book of; the Jews not
SIMON, brother and successor of James, bishop   allowed to read it till thirty years of age, 25.
of Jerusalem, 614.                       SONG  OF THE THREE HOLY  CHILDREN,
SIMON the Zealot, of the sect of the Zealots,   book, in the Apocrypha, 60.
fellow-laborer with the Apostles, 631.   SONS OF GOD, as distinguished from the sons
SIN, wilderness of, 190.                     and daughters of men, 79.
SINAI, desert of, 154; Mount, view of, 193; SosIus, a Roman general, 500.
Prof. Robinson's account of, 193, note; the SOSTHENES, a ruler of the Synagogue, 590.
law delivered on, 195; general view of the SPAIN, settled by descendants of Japheth,
mountains of, 206; valley in, 209.         87, 88.
SINAI, wilderness of, 180.                 SPANIARDS, founded by Tubal, 88.
SINOPE, 623.                               SPEAR, used both as weapon and sceptre, 295.
SISERA, king Jabin's general, 246; killed by SPEARMEN, Assyrian, 366.
Jael, wife of Ieber, 247.                SPIES, sent by Moses to Canaan; their report,
SITNAH, 117.                                 212; cowardice of all but Caleb and Joshua,
SKIN-BOTTLES, 110, 111.                      213; destruction of the ten false spies, 214;
SUiNGERS, Assyrian and Egyptian, 289, 290.    sent by Joshua to Jericho, 229.
SMERDIS, 429.                              SPINNING AND WEAVING, supposed to have
SMYRNA, 625, 626, note; church of, 639.      been discovered by Naamah, 78.
So, or SAnAco, king of Egypt, 397; encour- STANASOR, governs Asia and Dragiana after
ages Hezekiah, king of Judah, to resist the   the death of Alexander, 448.
Assyrians, 398.                          STANDARDS, Assyrian, 443.
SocHaEus, 458.                             STEPHEN, his zeal as a preacher, his arrest
SODOM, plain of, chosen by Lot for a dwelling-   and defence, his martyrdom, 564-567.
place, 95; king of, 97.                  STONING, penalty for blasphemy; custom of'
SODOM, city of, 95; taken by the king of   laying on of hands before it, 206; for Sab!
Elam, 96; great wealth of its inhabitants,   bath-breaking, 214.
100; geographical position of, 100, note; STORY OF BEL AND THE DRAGON, book of,
destroyed by fire from heaven, 102.        in Apocrypha, 61.
SODOM  and GOMORRAH, cities of the plain, STRATONICE, 455.
corruption of, 100; destruction foretold, SUBUSTA, a small modern village, on the site
101; destroyed, 102.                       of the ancient Samaria, 360.
SOGDIAUMUS, 439.                           SUCCOTH-BENOTH, an idol, 128.
SOGDIANA governed by Philip after the death  SuEZ, as to the journey of the Israelites;
of Alexander, 448.                         Gulf of; Bir-Suez, view of, 182.
SOHEMUS, an Idumnean in the service of SUFSAFEH, a peak of Mount Sinai; scene of
Herod, 503.                                the giving of the law, 193.
SOLOMON, son of David and Bathsheba, 321; " SUPPLANTER," name applied to Jacob, 116.
anointed king by the prophet Nathan, at SUSA, 347, 432, 447.
the fountain of Gihon, 334; again anointed SYBILLA SAMIA, one of the sibyls, 598.
by Zadok; administers the government SYLVESTER, Pope, builds a church over the
while David still lives, 335; comes to the   remains of St. Paul, 620.
throne 1030, B.c.; his extensive sway and SYMMACHUS, his Greek version of the Old
vast revenues, 336; discovers a plot of   Testament, 48.
Adonijah's to seize the throne; orders him  SYRACUSE, 609, 610, note.
to be put to death, 338; marries the SYRIAC versions of the Bible, 48.
daughter of Pharaoh, 339; God manifests SYRrANS, of Damascus, destroyed by David,
himself to him  in a dream; he asks for   315; defeated by Ahab, 371; defeat the
wisdom; prepares to build the temple; his   kings of Israel and Judah, 373, 374; army




732                                   INDEX.
of, struck with blindness, 378; panic and   Israel, 389; plundered by Nebuchadnezzar,
flight from the siege of Samaria, 379.    406; a second time by Nebuchadnezzar,
408; burnt to the ground, 409; rebuilt by
order of Cyrus, upon the return of the Jews
T.                       from captivity, 428; finished, 431; repaired
by Ezra, 432; plundered by Antiochus IV.,
"TABEAL, son of," 392.                      468; dedicated to Jupiter Olympus, 470;
TABERAH, the place where fire came down   plundered by  Crassus, 496; rebuilt by
from heaven, and consumed the murmurers   Herod, 7 B.C., 508.
against Moses, 210.                     TEN COMMANDMENTS, 194.
TABERNACLE, the, made by Bezaleel and TENNES, king of Sidon, betrays the city to
Aholiab; description of, 198, 199; setting   the Persians, 441.
up, 201; established at Shiloh, 235; re- TEN TRIBES, revolt of, 355; carried into capmained at Shilolh till the reign of Saul;  tivity by Shalmaneser; their location as
transferred to Nob, 270; afterwards re-   compared to that of Judah, 414; their capmoved to Gibeon, 339, 340.                tivity a colonization rather than a slavery,
TABLES OF STONE, given to Moses in the   415; why not allowed to return as well as
mount, 195; broken by him when he saw    Judah, 423; what became of them, 425, 427.
the idolatry of the people, 196; new tables TENTS, use of, 132.
prepared by Moses, 198.                 TERAH, son of Nahor, father of Abraham;
TABITHA raised from the dead by Peter, 572.   leaves Ur of the Chaldees; dies at Haran,,
TABOR, Mount, Deborah and Barak assemble   92.
their forces there against King Jabin, 246.  TERAPH, a household god, set up for worship
TACITUS, his testimony in regard to the wor-   by Micah, 219.
ship of the Deity in groves, 107.       TERAPHIM, plural of Teraph, household gods,
TADMOR, TAMAR, or PALMYRA, built by    128.
Solomon, view of, 349.                  "TEREBINTHINE VALE," Dr. Clarke's notice
TALISMEN, gods, 128.                        of, as the scene of David's victory over
TALMAI, king of Geshur, grandfather of Ab-   Goliath, 289.
salom, 322.                             TERRACE CULTIVATION, 372.
TALMUD, a compendium of Jewish doctrine, TESTAMENT New, books of, historical, doc47.                                       trinal, and prophetic; authorship, 26, 29;
TAMAR, daughter of David, dishonored by   purity of the text, 41.
her half-brother, Amnon; flies to her broth- TESTAMENT Old, authorship; books of, hiser, Absalom, who avenges her disgrace by   torical, 21-26; moral, 25; prophetic, 26.
slaying Amnon, 322, 323.                TETRAGRAMMATON, the name of Jehovah
TAMAR, wife of Er, afterward married to   in Hebrew; the Jews not allowed to proOnan, 114; plays the harlot and inveigles   nounce it, 40.
Judah, 141.                             TEXT OF THE BIBLE, integrity of, 37; various
TAMMUZ, an idol, 128.                       readings, 38; its purity, how preserved, 39.
TANAIS, river, 87.                        THALES, 598.
TARGUMS, Chaldee versions of the Scriptures, THAMMA, 498.
45.                                     THEBAID, Samaritans assigned lands in the,
TARSHISH, son of Javan, possessed part of   445.
Spain, 88.                              THEBEZ, a town near Shechem, 236.
TARSHISH, location; trade and ships of, 347. THEODOTION, his Greek version of the Old
TARSUS, birthplace of Saul, 571, 577.       Testament, 48.
TARTAR, an idol, 128.                     THESMA, ancient name of Thessalonica, 586.
TARTARS, founded by Magog, 88.            THESSALONICA, anciently called  Thesma,
TATNAI, Persian governor of Syria; by order   586, note.
of Darius, he forwards the building of the THESSALONIANS, Paul's Epistle to, 589; his
temple, 430.                              second Epistle to, 591.
TAURUS, mountains of, 82, 87.             THIR.EANS, or TiRACIANS, 88.
TEKOAH, women of, 322; wilderness of, 385, THOMAS, unbelief of, 547; preaches in Par476.                                      thia, then to the Medes, Persians, and
TEMA, son of Ismael, 106.                   neighboring nations; enters Judaea; his
TEMPLE, Solomon's, commenced 1012, B.c.;  success; put to death, 630, 631.
materials for the work, 341; his agreement THoMPSON, Dr., account of a visit to Bethlewith Hiram, king of Tyre, 340, 342; num-   hem, 523, note.
ber of men employed; site and description THOTOMES III.; picture of his tribute-bearin full; its dedication, 342, 344; plundered   ers, 332.
by Shishak, 365; treasure of, spent by Asa, THRACE, taken possession ofbyAntiochus,463.
367; thoroughly repaired by Joash, king of THRACIANS, or THIR&EANS, founded by Tiras,
Judah, 387; plundered by Joash, king of   88.




INDEX.                                   733
THREE TAVERNS, the, 611.                  TOLA, of the tribe of Issachar; governed Is.
THRESHING-FLOOR, Egyptian, 160.             rael twenty-three years, 255.
THURMUTHIS, said by Josephus to be the TOMBS, of the kings, 383, note.
name of Pharaoh's daughter who found TRACHONITIS, district of, 507.
Moses in the ark of rushes; Philo's story TRACHONITIS. - See Gilead, 129.
in regard to her, 163.                  TRAJAN, emperor of Rome, 627.
THYATIRA, 584.                            TRAPEZIUM, a maritime city on the Euxine
THYATIRA, church of, 639, 640.              Sea, 623.
TIBERIAS, city and lake, view of; account of; TREE OF LIFE, 68.
529-531.                                TREE OF KNOWLEDGE, 68.
TIBERIUS CAESAR, 524.                     TRIPoLIS, in Phcenicia, 347, 348, 475.
TIBERIUS, governor of Alexandria, 667.    TROAS, 583, note.
TIBNI, elected king of Israel by a part of TROGYLLIUM, 598, note.
the people in opposition to Omri, 359; put TRUMPETERS, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman,
to death, 360.                            282.
TIGLATH PILESER, king of Assyria; invades TRYPHON, his intrigues to obtain the Syrian
Syria and Israel; slays Resin; takes Da-   crown, 481, 482; attacked and killed by
mascus; carries captive Reuben, Gad, and   Antiochus VII., 484.
the half-tribe of Manasseh, 393.        TUBAL, son of Japheth, founder of the SpanTIGRANES, king of Armenia, 491.             iards, 88.
TIGRIS, river, called Hiddekel, 68.       TUBAL-CAIN, son of Lamech, celebrated for
TIMBRELS, dance with, engraving, 188.       his strength, and as the discoverer of the
TIMNATH, a town of the Philistines, 260.    art of forging and polishing metals, 78.
TIMNATH SERAH, a city in Mount Ephraim,  TURKISH TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE, Algiven to Joshua in acknowledgment of his   bertus Baboosky's; Seaman's, 50.
great services; Joshua's burial-place, 236.  TYCHE, a portion of Syracuse, 610.
TIMOLUS, Mount, 641.                      TYcHIcUS, 613.
TIMON, one of the seven deacons, 564.     TYNDALE'S BIBLE, bought up and burned by
TIMOTHY, disciple of Paul; accompanies the   the Bishop of London; persecutions of
apostle, 583; is finally left in charge of the   those who sold it; Tyndale himself stranChurch at,Ephesus, where he suffers mar-   gled, 53.
tyrdom, 635, 636.                       TYRANNUS, 592.
TIRAS, son of Japhet, founder of the Thra- TYRE, advantages of location, 316; extensive
cians, 88.                                commerce; Phoenician League, 347, 348;
TIRHAIKEH, the Ethiopian; ruler in Upper   prophecies  of Ezekiel and  Zechariah
Egypt; assists Hezekiah against Sennach-   against, 444; siege of, by Alexander, 445,
erib, 404.                                446.
TIRZAI, in the tribe of Manasseh, a summer TYRIANS refuse to receive the Assyrian yoke,
residence of Jeroboam, 356.               398.
TITUS, sent by Paul to Corinth, thence to
Macedonia; takes oversight of the churches                  U;
in Crete; his death, 636, 637.
TITUS, a Roman general sent to Judmea, 658; ULPHILAS, Bishop, his German translation
intrusted with an immense army; left to   of the Bible, 51.
prosecute the war in Judaea, 668; lays siege UR of the Chaldees, birthplace of Abram;
to Jerusalem, 670; proposes terms of capit-   dwelling-place of Terah, its idolatry; Terah
ulation, which are declined, 671; prose-  leaves it with his family and his grandson,
cutes the siege with vigor till the city is   Lot; now called Urhof, Orfah, or Urfah,
taken and destroyed, 672, 673.            92.
THEOPOLEMUS, governs Caramania after the URHOI, ORFAH, or URF AH, believed by the
death of Alexander, 448.                  Moslems to be-the ancient Uri, 92, note.
TOB, land of, to which Jephthah retired, URIAH the Hittite, husband of Bathsheba;
256.                                      killed in battle according to a plan of DaTOBIAS, an opponent of Nehemiah in build-   vid, 319.
ing the walls of Jerusalem, 435.        URIM  AND THUMMIM, account of; various
TOBIAS, son of Tobit, 416.                  conjectures, 227; use of, 274.
TOBIT, book of, in Apocrypha, 57; a source USSHER, Archbishop, opinion of, in regard to
of information in regard to the captured   the birth of Christ, 510, note.
Israelites; account of Tobit, 415, 416.  UTENSILS, sacred, described to Moses in the
TOGARMAH, son of Gomer, possessed Cappa-   Mount, 200.
docia and Galatia, 88.                  Uz, son of Aram, possessed Damascus, 89.
ToI, king of Hamah, upon the Orontes; sends UZZAH, son of Abinadab, struck dead for puthis son Joram with valuable gifts, " to salute  ting forth his hand to stay the ark, 313.
and bless King David," 315.             UzzI, high-priest, 266.




734                                   INDEX.
UZZIAH, or AZARIA1, son of Amaziah; suc- WEDGE, of gold, stolen by Achan, 232.
ceeds to the kingdom of Judah after an in- WELLS, 123, note.
terregnum of eleven years; builds towers and WELLS, customs at, 111; Isaac's dispute con,
digs wells in the desert; strengthens Jeru-   cerning, at Gerar; Roberts's account of,
salem, 389; smitten with leprosy for assum-   117, 118; customs concerning, 123.
ing the office of high-priest; dies 757 B.c., WHEAT, Egyptian, engraving of, 146.
391.                                    WHITING, Mr., an American  missionary,
visit of to Bethlehem, 523, note.
V.                     WICKEDNESS of mankind, 80.
WICKLIFFE'S BIBLE, appeared about 1360;
VARIOUS READINGS OF THE BIBLE, ex-   written, not printed; many persons burnt
plained; number of; most in the New Tes-  for reading it; specimen, 52, 53.
tament, 38.                             WINE, first made by Noah; its evil effects
VASHTI, queen of Artaxerxes; deposed for   upon him, the first drinker, 83.
disobeying the king's order, 432.       WISDOM OF SOLOMON, book of, in the ApocVEILS, bridal; Eastern customs in regard to;   rypha; recommended by the fathers for its
Tertullian's testimony, 114; worn, though   excellence of style; authorship, 59.
not exclusively, by harlots, 140.       WOMAN, the Hebrew name of, 768.
VERSES, division of the Bible into.       WORSHIP, in groves, 106; testimony of TaciVERSIONS, ancient, 42; Greek, 45; Syriac;   tus respecting; analogy, Hebrew and DruVulgate, 48; modern foreign, Arabic, 50;   idical, 107.
Armeno-Turkish, 50; English, 52.
VESPASIAN sent from Rome to assume com-                       X.
mand of the Roman army; his son Titus XENOPHON, 440.
commands two legions, 658; arrives with XERXES, the Ahasuerus of Ezra; succeeds
an army at Antioch; proceeds to Ptole-   Darius on the throne; confirms the grants
mais, where Titus joins him; orders an ex-   of his father to the Jews, 431.
pedition into Galilee, ravages the country; XERXES, only legitimate son of Artaxerxes,
besieges Jotapata; the battle obstinate, 659;   and his successor to the throne; slain after
cuts off all communication with the city;   a reign of forty-five days by a brother, 439.
meets with terrible resistance for forty
days, 661; gains possession of the place;
the Jews put to the sword; urges the corn-                 Y.
mander of the Jewish army, Josephus, to YAZUR, 477, note.
surrender, 662, 663; resolves to lay siege to
Jerusalem; hears of Nero's death, and civil                 Z.
war in Rome, 665; urged by his officers to
take the government, 666; sets Josephus ZABULON, a city of Galilee, 654.
at liberty; sends a force to Rome to depose ZACCHEUS, the publican, 540.
the usurper, Vitellius, 668; declared em- ZACHARIAS, a priest, promised a son, to be
peror, 670.                               called John; struck dumb for unbelief; his
VIA OSTIENSIS, 620.                         tongue loosed, and his praise to God, 522.
VIA TIBURTINA, 522.                       ZADOK, high-priest, 311, 313; assists in the
VICTRIX, the, a Roman band, 573.            anointing of' Solomon, 334; recognized as
VILLA HADRIANI, 522.                        sole high-priest, 335.
VITELLIUS possesses himself of the sovereign- ZARAIH, son of Tamar by her father-in-law,
ty of Rome, 665; defeated by Vespasian's   Judah, 116.
adherents, and put to death, 666-670.   ZARDAH, pass of, 427.
VOLUMNIUS, a Roman governor, 509.         ZAGROS, Mount, 426.
VULGATE, the, by St. Jerome, 29; the present ZEBADIAH, a ruler of the tribe of Judah, 384.
Vulgate, 30.                            ZEBAH and ZALMUNNA, leaders of the Midianites, slain by Gideon's own hand, 251.
W.                     ZEBEDEE, father of the apostles James and
John, 575.
WAR, method of proclaiming, by sending a ZEBINAS, reign and death, 487.
piece of a slain animal to each tribe, 239, ZEBUL, a principal man of Shechem, 254.
1 Sam. xi. 7-; used by Saul, 280.       ZEBULUN, son of Jacob and Leah, 126; JaWATER, mode of carrying, by females; drawn   cob's dying address to, 158.
by females, 111; bitter, at Marah, made ZEBULUN, tribe of, census of, in the wildersweet, 190; supplied from  the rock at   ness, 207; position of, in the camp, 208;
Rephidim, 191, 192; supplied from the rock   send men to re-enforce Gideon, 250; send
again at Kadesh, 217.                     men to assist in inaugurating King David,
WAR-CHARIOT, ancient Egyptian, 185.         311.
WEAVING, discovered by Naamah, 52.        ZECHARIAH, one of the lesser prophets; book




INDEX.                                    735
of, 26; tomb of, 328; stirs the people to the ZIDON, 506.
building of the temple, 429.             ZIKLAG, a town of the Philistines, given to
ZECHARIAH, son of Jehoiada, high-priest, de-   David by the king of Gath; taken and
nounces judgments upon Joash for idolatry,   burnt by the Philistines, Amalekites, and
*and is stoned, 388, 389.                  other tribes, 301; return of David to, 304.
ZECHARIAH, guardian  and  instructor of ZILLAH, wife of Lamech, 78.
Uzziah, the young king of Judah, 390.   ZILPAH, maid of Leah, given to wife to
ZECHARIAH, son and successor of Jeroboam    Jacob, 124.
II.; comes to the throne of Israel after an ZIMRI, a chief of the tribe of Simeon, killed
interregnum of twenty-two years; slain by   for lewdness by Phineas, 223.
Shallum in the sixth month of his reign, 396. ZIMur, a general of Elah, king of Israel;
ZEDEKIAH, made king of Judah by Nebuchad-   assassinates Elah, and extirpates the family
nezzar, 408; renounces his allegiance; cap-   of Baasha; attacked by his rival, Omri,
tured, and his eyes put out; dies in Babylon,   and perishes in the flames of his harem,
409.                                       359.
ZEEB, a leader of the Midianites, slain by the ZION, Mount, part of the city of Jerusalem,
Ephraimites, 252.                         taken from the Jebusites by the tribes of
ZELOPHEHAD, a descendant of Manasseh, 225.   Simeon and Judah, but soon lost again till
ZEMARIM, Mount, where Abijah and Jero-   the time of David, 238; taken by David,
boam meet in battle, 364.                 311.
ZEPHANIAH, one of the lesser prophets; book ZIPH, wilderness of, where David took refuge
of, 26; his prophecy concerning Nineveh   from Saul; Jonathan meets him here, 296.
confirmed by modern discoveries, 89.    ZIPPOR, father of Balak, 222.
ZEPHATHAII, valley of, 367.               ZIPPORAH, wife of Moses, 165; circumcises
ZERAH, the Cushite; invades Asa, king of   her youngest son, 168; joins Moses in the
Judah, 366.                               wilderness, 193.
ZERAHIAH, high-priest, 266.               ZOAR, called also Bela, the city to which Lot
ZERUBBABEL, grandson of Jehoiakim, 422;   escaped, 102.
the leader of the Jews out of captivity to ZOBAI, a country toward the Euphrates,
Palestine; appointed governor of Judaea,   315.
427.                                    ZOROASTER, his doctrines and important reZERUIAII, mother of Joab and Abishai, 290;   forms traced to his intercourse with Jewish
sister of David, 326.                     captives, 413.
ZIBA, the faithless steward of Mephibosheth, ZUMPT, interpretation of a passage of Tacitus,
825.                                      522.








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Publisher.




JUST PUBLISHED.
AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY
OF
THE HOLY BIBLE:
BEING A CONNECTED ACCOUNT OF THE REMARKABLE EVENTS AND DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS CONTAINED
IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, AND IN JEWISH HISTORY DURING THE FOUR HUNDRED YEARS
INTERVENING BETWEEN THE TIME OF MALACHI AND THE BIRTH OF CHRIST; INCLUDING ALSO THE
LIFE OF CHRIST AND HIS APOSTLES: THE WHOLE EMBRACING A PERIOD OF FOUR THOUSAND
YEARS, WITH NOTES CRITICAL, TOPOGRAPHICAL, AND EXPLANATORY.
BY JOHN KITTO, 1).D., F.S.A.,
AUTHOR OF "THE LONDON PICTORIAL BIBLE," " CYCLOPIEDIA OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE,   ETC., ETC.
EDITED BY
ALVAN BOND, D.D.,
FORMERLY PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE IN THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT BANGOR, ME., AND
FOR MANY YEARS PASTOR OF THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN NORWICH, CONN.
ASSISTED IN GEOLOGY BY PROF. C. H. HITCHCOCK,
LATE OF AMHERST COLLEGE.
Embellished and Illustrated by about Three Hundred Engravings from designs by PORA and other celebrated
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the Bible, and a Portrait of the Author engraved on steel.
The present edition has been carefully revised by the editor, and contains the latest discoveries of modern travellers in the Holy Land, and the results of the researches of the most eminent biblical scholars. It is
enriched by a learned and very valuable contribution by the distinguished geologist, Prof. C. H. HITCHCOCK,
late of Amherst College, on the relation of geology to the Mosaic record.
It is printed on new and large type, in double columns, and is illustrated by about three hundred engravings, being accurate copies from the Nineveh Marbles, Ancient Egyptian Paintings, and from articles
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for the Sabbath-school teacher and scholar.
The publisher is confident that this work will be regarded by intelligent readers, and especially by the lovers
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The name of the Rev. ALVAN BOND, D.D., by whom the work is edited, and who is well known as an
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This great work we design to place beside the Bible in every family in the land.
For an agency for this book, application should be made immediately, as the territory is being rapidly
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HENRY  BILL, Norwich, Conn.,
-Publisher.




RECOMMENDATIONS
OF
KITTO'S ILLUSTRATED HISTOBY OF THE BBL.E.
From Rev. Leonard Bacon, D.D.                  From Rev. Joel Hawes, D.D.
Any book in explanation of the Bible, from the   An admirable family and Sabbath-school book,
learned Dr. Kitto, must be valuable. The Rev. and a fit companion for a minister's study.
Dr. Bond, I cannot doubt, will add to the value Deeply interesting and instructive in the subject
of Kitto's " History of the Bible," in the proposed of which it treats, and abounding in striking picAmerican edition.    LEONARD BACON.   torial illustrations, it should be in every houseNew Haven, Aug. 6, 1866.                   hold, to assist parents in the study of the Bible,
and also to teach the knowledge of it to their
From Rev. Theo. L. Cuyler, D.]D.     children.  Sabbath-school teachers will find it an
I so much approve of this "Illustrated History excellent help in preparing themselves to meet
of the Holy Bible," that I wish it might be laid their classes in the most interesting and instructive
beside the Blessed Book of which it treats, in manner; and all who desire to enrich their minds
thousands of dwellings.                      and hearts with the treasures of God's Word will
THEO. L. CUYLER,   find this volume of inestimable value to them.
Pastor Lafayette Avenue Church.   Hartford, May 12, 1867.      J. HAWES.
Brooklyn, N.Y., Nov. 16, 1866.                       From Rev. H. M. Storrs, D.D.
From Rev. Benjamin Adams.             With so much of considerate commendation
I have examined "The Illustrated HIistory of from the highest sources spread before the eye,
the Bible" with great pleasure. In my  opinion upon the fly-leaves of this volume, it hardly
it is a book well qualified  to do good, espcially  seems desirable that I should add any thing, and
among the  young and those who have not time yet I am gratified in being permitted to encourage
~~~~~~~~among  ~thee circulation of a work containing so much of
for more careful and lengthy study of the great the best, in so small compass.  Dr. Kitto's
works on the Bible.    Yours,
the best, in so small compass.  Dr. Kitto's
BENJAMIN ADAMS,   writings throughout are an endless pleasure and
Pastor of Fleet Street M. E. Church. profit. Here le has brought together in biblical
Brooklyn, N.Y., Nov. 12, 1866.               service the richest gains of his studious life.
H. M. STORRS.
From Rev. R. S. Storrs, D.D.         Brooklyn, N.Y., Jan. 24, 1868.
"The Illustrated History of the Bible," by Dr.     From Rev. John P. Gulliver, D.D,
Kitto, edited by Dr. Bond, contains a great   Kitto's "Illustrated  History of the Bible"
amount of valuable matter in a small compass, and appears to be a narration of the facts recolded
will be found, by those who study it, very helpful in the Scriptures, with the addition of a brief histo a clear and large understanding of the scriptu- tory of events down to the destruction of Jerusaral narrative.       R..S. STORRS, JUN.   lem, written in a simple and attractive style, and
Brooklyn, N.Y., Nov. 16, 1866.             free from the minuteness of detail which often
From Rev. G. H. Gould.            renders more recondite works unfit for popular
use. It seems specially adapted to the wants of
No modern writer has contributed more largely Sabbath schools and Bible classes. The names
to enrich the biblical literature of our time, or of the author and editor furnish an ample guarto clothe with a fresh and living interest the main anty of the trustworthiness of the work.
personages and incidents in Old Testament this-                 JOHN. GULLIVthework.,
tory, than John Kitto. The present volume -        Pastor of New-England Church, Chicago.
" History of the Bible" - bears all the marks of
his wide learning, patient and accurate scholar-        From Rev. D. N. Thrall.
ship, fervent piety, and graceful and popular style.   Dr. Kitto being widely known as a learned
The book is amply and finely illustrated, and and judicious historian of the Scriptures, I can
edited by a competent American scholar, Rev. safely recommend his work upon the Bible to my
Alvan Bond, D.D., of Norwich. It deserves a people as a valuable aid in their studies of the
wide circulation among all who love and prize the sacred Word.  GEORGE E THRALL,
the Bible.                 G. H. GOULD,                 Rector of the Church of the Messiah.
Pastor 1st Cong. Church, Hartford, Conn. Clinton Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y., Nov. 17, 1866.
741




2
From Rev. S. D. Phelps, D.D.             From Rev. Edgar F. Clark of Norwich.
From what I know of the writings of Dr. Kitto,   Kitto, the author, is the best recommendation,
and from the specimens of " The History of the and the only one needed. It cannot fail to add a
Bible " which I have seen, I am sure it will be a charm to the Sacred Oracles, and fit it eminently
work of great interest and value. The editorial for home reading. As far as it is known, the
labors of the Rev. Dr. Bond, together with its work has had and is having an extensive sale, far
many excellent and life-like illustrations, cannot exceeding the most sanguine expectations of the
fail to largely increase the interest and value of publisher.
the work. I cheerfully commend it.                                  EDGAR F. CLARK,
New Haven, Aug. 6, 1866.  S. D. PIIELPS.             Pastor M. E. Church, Norwich, Conn.
From Rev. Noah Porter, D.D, and others.
From Prof, Pond, and others, of Bangor, Me. 
From Prof. Pond, and others, of Bangor,  e.,Kitto is one of the best writers of our age on
The service which Dr. Kitto rendered to the the Scriptures.  I have no doubt that his "I1world by his various writings explanatory and lustrated History of the Bible" is an excellent
illustrative of the Scriptures, it is difficult to over- book, and particularly desirable for Sabbath-school
estimate. There can be no risk in saying that scholars or teachers.     NOAH PORTER.
his "Illustrated History of the Bible" must be
superior to any thing else of the kind within the   I cordially subscribe to what has been written
same compass; and the name of the American  above. The book is one of great value for family
editor is a sufficient guaranty that the work will not reading and study of the Holy Scriptures.
suffer in passing through his hands.   The book                              L. L. PAINE.
will he a treasure in any family.               From what I know  of KIitto's works, I fully
GEO.  SHEPARD,                    believe this will be a very valuable book. I
GEO. SIIEPARD,1  Professors
D. F. TALCOTT,   Theo. Sem.  especially recommend it to Sabbath-school teachJ. R. HERRICK,                    ers.                         E. S. HART.
Rev. A. W. P. SMI ALL,  Rev. J. B. GOULD,   I consider Kitto's " Illustrated History of the
Rev... FICHASELD, Rev.. GOODWIP. FAY, Rev.   Bible " a work that will be of permanent interest
S. L. B. CHASE, Rev. S. P. FAY, Rev. A.                             the Bible.
BAT TLE S, Rev. B. A. CHASE.                  to all who love to study the Bible.
BATTLES, Rev. B. A. CHASE.                                         SAMUEL S. COWLES.
The very high rank which John Kitto holds as           From Rev. D.N. Moore.
a biblical student justifies in most heartily recommending his "History of the Bible," as a   Dr.Ritto's "History of the Bible" is an excellent
work of complete reliability, and of popular work, well stored with useful information on the
interest.                                     best of all subjects, and must prove a valuable aid
C. C. EVERETT,   to a proper understanding of the divine word.
Pastor Unitarian Church. It will be found especially helpful in elucidating
the historic portions of the Bible, and will well
From Rev. Robert Allyn, D.D., of Illinois.    repay a careful perusal.  D. MOORE,
I have examined with considerable attention       Pastor Washington Ave. Baptist Church.
an " Illustrated History of the Holy Bible," by   Brooklyn, N. Y., Nov. 21, 1866.
Dr. Kitto of England, published by Henry Bill of
Norwich, Conn. It is a work of great research,From Rev. Edw Strong, D.D.
fully equal to any other work by the same dis-   "The History of the Bible," by so eminent a
tinguished author, whose life has been devoted to scholar as Dr. John Kitto, needs no recommenthe study and illustration of learning and litera- da tion. If it did, the fact that Rev. Dr. Bond
ture. The work contains an historic and literary has edited the American edition, offered to the
introduction, a connected account of the events public by Henry Bill of Norwich, Conn., should
recorded in the Bible, a narrative of the events commend it to the entire confidence of Christian
occurring between the writing of the Old Test- citizens. The work cannot be read, I think, withament and the New, and a life of Christ and his out great interest and great profit.
apostles.  All these things are not only useful,                       EDW. STRONG,
but absolutely necessary for the information of                    Pastor So. Cong. Church.
ministers and Sunday-School officers and teachers.   Pittsfield, Mass., Nov. 19, 1866.
Indeed every intelligent Christian, or reader of 
the Bible, ought to possess a copy of this book, to
be kept on the shelf with the word of God. The   "The Illustrated History of the Holy Bible"
work has been carefully edited and revised by has already been of great service to me in my
Dr. Alvan Bond of Norwich, Conn., whose accur- studies of the Holy Scriptures. It presents the
ate scholarship and extensive learning add a new  narrative portion of the divine word in a simple
value to the book. I can very cordially and con- and easy, yet highly fascinating style, besides inscientiously commend this History of the Bible to terweaving many historical facts and explanations,
all who desire to know more of the oldest and which throw great light upon the meaning of the
best, and most original of all books.        sacred text.
ROBERT ALLYN,                          M. EMORY WRIGHT,
President McKendree College.       Pastor 1st Methodist Episcopal Church,
McKendree College, Lebanon, St. Clair Co., Ill.                         Newburyport, Mass.
July 5, 1867.                                June 24 1867.
742 




From Rev. Samuel Wolcott, D.D.                 From Rev. W. B. Sprague, D.D.
In the author of this work, Dr. Kitto, who has   I have long been impressed with the idea that
devoted his life to biblical investigation and ex- there is no department of religious knowledge in
position, and in Dr. Bond, who is widely known which the mass of Christians are so deficient as
as an able, sound, and judicious divine, we have the knowledge of the Old Testament; and I canevery security that in its execution it is all that it not recall a work which seems to me so admirably
claims to be. I am certain that no one can read fitted to supply this deficiency as " Kitto's Illusthrough this connected and illustrated " History trated History of the Bible."
of the Bible," carefully compiled, without finding   Not only are the facts all presented continuthat he has enlarged his knowledge of the con- ously and in their legitimate connection, but light
tents of the sacred volume, and is enabled to is often shed upon difficult passages, and lessons
bring to the perusal of detached sections of it a of the highest wisdom are made palpable which
clearer insight and intelligence.             would otherwise have been overlooked.
SAMUEL WOLCOTT.   All Sabbath-school teachers will find it a most
Cleveland, Nov. 26, 1866.                   important auxiliary in their work; and even
those who are in some degree familiar with bibliFrom Rev. N. C. Cooley, D.D.          cal history, will not read this volume without
The works of Dr. Kitto are justly held in high feeling that they have reason to bless the provirepute, and I have the fullest confidence that his dence that has thrown it in their way. It should
Bible History will be a valuable addition to any make part of every Sunday-school library, and
library that may be in want of such a work.   of every private religious library also, wherever it
N. C. COOLEY, D.D.,    is practicable.
Associate Minister of Trinity Episcopal Ch.,                  W. B. SPRAGUE, D.D.,
Cleveland.              Pastor of 2d Presbyterian Church.
Albany, N.Y., Dec., 1867.
From Rev. Edward Goodrich.
I regard Dr. Kitto's "History of the Bible"          From Rev. R. W. Clark, D.D.
as a most instructive and interesting work for the   I cordially recommend Kitto's Illustrated Hisgeneral reader. Its author has. attained eminence tory of the Bible to teachers in the Sabbath
as a Bible scholar, and has long been a popular school, to parents, and to all who desire to obwriter upon subjects connected- with the sacred tain an accurate and practical knowledge of the
volume.                                       Sacred Scriptures.
EDWARD, GOODRICH,                                 R. W. CLARK, D.D.,
Pastor of St. James Church.   Pastor North Reformed Church, Albany, N. Y.
Glastenbury, Conn., Oct. 24, 1866.
From Rev. W.- H. Goodrich, D.D.               From Rev, C. D. W. Bridgeman.
From  my knowledge both of Dr. Kitto and of   I unite most heartily with these brethren in
Dr. Bond, I can add my cordial concurrence commending Dr. Kitto's History of the Bible to
with the above recommendation (Dr. Wolcott's). the favorable consideration of the Christians of
with the above recommendation (Dr. Wolcott's).
W. H. GOODRICH, D.D.,   Albany.
PaDr. Goodrich is one of st Presbyterian Church. Pastor North Pearl Street Baptist Church.
[Dr. Goodrich is one of the big guns.]
From Rev. John B. Falkner.
From Rev. Joseph Crehore.
I cordially recommend the "Bible History," by   I have examined Dr. Kitto's History of the BiDr. Kitto, to all who are interested in the study ble, edited by Rev. A. Bond. D.D)., and find it a
of the Bible. It is one of the most valuable aids most valuable work. It is a very desirable book
to the Christian student, an interesting work for both for the critical student and for the general
the family, and especially serviceable to the Sab- reader.
bath-school teacher.                            Dr. Kitto is so well known as an exact and
JOSEPH CREHORE,   profound scholar, an earnest Christian, and an inPastor Universalist Church, Fitchburg, Mass. teresting writer, that any work coming from his
pen ought to be, and I doubt not will be, warmly
From Rev. Henry L. Jones.           welcomed by all classes who take the least interest
The narrative is concise, clear, and attractive, as in biblical studies.
well as faithful. Here and in the notes we have,                   JOHN B. FALKNER,
in simple language, the result of the latest and     Rector Christ Church, Bridgeport, Conn.
ripest scholarship. A copious index makes it an   Bridgeport, Conn., April 22, 1867.
excellent book of reference for the biblical student
connected with the Sabbath school.                  From Rev. A. H. Washburn, D.D.
HENRY L. JONES,          The works of Kitto are so well and so favorably
Rector Christ Church, Fitchburg, Mass. known to scholars that they require no recommendation. But to any who may not have met
From Rev. B. P.- Johnson.          with them, it gives me pleasure to say that any
From my examination of this work I judge it thing coming from his pen cannot be otherwise
to be a very valuable one. I wish it might be than valuable
possessed by every Bible reader.                             A. H. WASHBURN, D.D.,
B. P. JOHNSON, Presbyterian.               Rector of Grace Parish (Episcopal).
743




4
From Rev.,q. Graves, D.D., Norwich, Conn.         From Rev. WV. W. Everts, D.D,
I have examined the " Illustrated History of the   The history of a book, as of a man, rises in
Holy Bible," and find it an interesting and valua- importance with its greatness. As the Bible has
ble book, worthy of the candor and piety of its achieved more for the world than all other books,
distinguished author- I)r. Kitto. It is avolume its history is more important than that of univerof great value to all Bible students, and should sal literature. Kitto's work has been prepared
be in the hands.of every Sunday-school and Bi- with such accuracy and fidelity, as to be a proper
ble-class teacher.  The editor and publisher of companion of the Bible in the public or private
the American edition have shown excellent judg- library.
ment and taste in their part of the work.                       W. W. EVERTS, D D.,
S. GRAVES,                        Pastor of 1st Baptist Church.
Pastor of the Central Baptist Church.   Chicago, Feb. 29, 1867.
Norwich, Conn., Oct. 22, 1866.
From Rev. E. J. Goodspeed.
From Rev. S. G. Buckingham, D.D.
The ability of Dr. Kitto in this department of   The interest of the Bible narratives is really
scholarship, and the value of his writings, are well diminished by its being broken up into chapters
known to all biblical students.  And such a and verses. Dr. Kitto, one of the ripest scholars
work as this would be sure to interest and profit of Europe, has given us here a continuous, harany family. Its numerous and nice illustrations monized history of events recorded in the Bible,
add to its worth. I cheerfully commend it as an and thus contributed to the clearer understanding
interesting and useful work to this community.   and the more thorough appreciation of God's
-S. G. BUCKINGHAMR,    dealings with mankind. I cheerfully commend
Pastor South Cong. Church. the work.
Springfield, Mass.                                               E. J. GOODSPEED,
Pastor of 2d Baptist Church, Chicago.
Fron Rev. G. H. Ludlow, D.D.
The name of Kitto, as the author of a work,           From Prof David Swing.
well nigh renders it unnecessary for the publisher   I do not believe that any one could have conto annex certificates of its value. This beautiful ceived of or produced a work in this field of
edition of the " Illustrated Bible History," with thought and labor that would surpass this one of
its numerous and excellent plates and notes, can- Dr. Kitto, in its promise as to interest and usenot fail to have an extensive sale, as it meets the fulness. It makes the disjointed facts of sacred
wants of all who are desirous to ascertain the history into quite a complete story, and thus enameaning of the "Lively Oracles of God."       bles the memory to hold the truth, and the heart
H. G. LUDLOW, D.D. to love its study.
DAVID SWING,
From Rev. Edward W. Bently.                  Pastor of Westminster Church, Chicago.
Few men have done more than Dr. Kitto to adFrom Rev. Robert Laird Collier.
vance a knowledge of the Bible. I can therefore
most cordially recommend the present work. I   From the examination I have been able to give
know Dr. Bond, and know that he is abundantly  "Dr. Kitto's History of the Bible," I am free to
qualified to do his part well.                give it my hearty commendation. The Bible and
EDWARD W. BENTLY,   all its literature centre so fully in the great purPastor R. P. D. Church. pose of God to save the world through Jesus
Christ, that I hear with gratification of the publiFrom Rev. James Green.             cation of a work by so eminent an author as Dr.
Having examined the Bible History of Dr. Kitto, which puts in so brief a space matter of
Kitto, I find it not only interesting, but well cal- such eternal importance.
culated to benefit the general reader.                       ROBT. LAIRD COLLIER,
JAMES GREEN,                 Pastor of Church of Messiah, Chicago.
Presiding Elder Dist. M. E. Ch. Cleveland.
From Rev. C. Holliday, D.D,
From Rev. J. H Means.               The high reputation of Dr. Kitto as a biblical
From my knowledge of Dr. Kitto's writings on scholar, his familiarity with the entire range of
biblical subjects, and from the standing of Dr. sacred literature, and the acknowledged learning
Bond, the editor of the present work, I have no and ability of Rev. Dr. Bond, the editor, furnish
doubt it will be found a reliable and instructive a satisfactory guaranty of this work.
guide to the contents of the Scriptures.                        F. C. HOLLIDAY, PD.,
J. H. MEANS.                                 Indianapolis, Inld.
Dorchester, Dec., 1866.
From Rev. A. N. Littlejohn, D.D.                 From Rev. Alfred E. Ives.
Dr. Kitto's History of the Bible is a valuable   The works of John Kitto, D.D., have obtained
compend, and may be read with profit by all a wide celebrity, and I take pleasure in commendwho desire to be improved upon the great subjects ing his Illustrated History of the Bible to all whio
of which it treats.                          prize the Holy Bible.
A. N. LITTLEJOHN, D.D.                              ALFRED E. IVES;
Rector Holy Trinity Church.                         Pastor Cong.. Church.l
Brooklyn, N.Y., Nov. 19, 1866.               Castine, June 5th, 1867.
744




5
From  Rev. C. H.. A. Bulkley, and others,          F-om  Rev. Henry I. Van Dyke.
To the members of the Brooklyn Young Men's   I)Dr. Kitto is universally recognized as a writer
Christian Association, and othelrs:-           of profound learning, an;d sincere  piety.  Few
l)r. Kitto's Illustrated History of the Bible, men have succeeded as he has, in putting the reedited by Dr. Bond, is unquestionatly a work of suits of biblical criticism  into an attractive and
simple form.  His "Illustrated History ofo the
value, well worthy of perusal arlrl study by every sibple "rm. s is an e llelstwratel iistoluy   of -the
one interested in the Scriptures.  For teachers of  Bible" is an excellent wor   ve   ited to m
Bible classes and Sabb~ath schools it; is of gresat the Word of God more intelligible to readers of all
service.                                        ages and capacities.  It will be a valuable addiC. rH. A. BULKLEY,    tion to the household treasures of any Christian
Chaplain and Actuary of the Brooklyn Young family.
Men's Christian Association, Brooklyn, April                     HENRY  I. VAN  DYKE,
Pastor of 1st Presbyterian Church, Biooklyn,
10th  1867N.Y., April 30th, 1867.
From Rev. J. B. Cleveland.
From Rev. Samuel A. Clark.
The History of the Bible, by Dr. Kitto, a book
of uncommon merit, instructive and exceedingly    I have no doubt the History of the Bible by
interesting, and which ought to be possessed by  Kitto, will prove a valuable edition to the library
every family in the land, is now being circulated of every one who may subscribe for it, and I
in this region.  It is an invaluable Bible illumi- should be glad to see it extensively circulated.
nator, and richly deserves the liberal patronage it                 SAMUEL A. CLARK,
is receiving.  Its history of events during the    Pastor St. John's Church, Elizabeth City, N.J.
400 years intervening between the Old Testament
dispensation and the New, is of very great value,           From Rev. A. M. Wylie.
and ought to be read by all persons professing to    I am in possession of Dr. Kitto's Daily Bible
respect the Bible.                              Readings, and consider them  to be among the
W   C. CLEVELAND,   most valuable productions in my library; and friom
Pastor Cong. Church. the well-known character of the distinguished
New Hartford, Conn.                             author, we feel safe in assuring any one who may
purchase a work fi'om the same pen.
From Elder 0. A. Burgess.                                         A. M. WYLIE,
Rector of Ascension Church
Dr. Kitto, one of the most eminent of biblical                   Rector of Ascension C
scholars, both thorough and comprehensive in his      iver, Mass.
literary  researches, author of various valuable
and standard religious works, will doubtless con-        From Rev. John Duncan, D.D.
nect in his Illustrated History of the Bible, both    Dr. Kitto's History of the Bible is a work of
history and commentary, in such a manner as great value — every student of the sacred volume
to render it, under the labors of the editor, Rev. will here find an inestimable mass of information
Dr. Bond, one of the most convenient, instructive, and illustration.  I know of no similar work that
and useful books of the day.                    contains so many excellences.
O. A. BURGESS,                            JOHN  DUNCAN, D.D.,
Of Christian Church, Indianapolis, Ind.                      Pastor 2d Baptist Church.
Fall River, Mass., May 30th, 1867.
From Rev. W. C. Richards.
From Rev. H. Bross, D.D.
The examination I have been able to make of   I take great pleasure in recommending this
Kitto's "Illustrated History of the Bible" h      I take great pleasure in recommending this
Kitto's " Illustrated History of the Bible " has work to the families of the parish, and I should
satisfied me of the great excellence and woith of be glad if it could find its place in every housethe book. The work is clear and simple in its hold.
plan, graphic and attractive in its style, copious                              H. BROSS,
and trustworthy in its information, and imbued
with a spirit of catholic and active piety. I takeMillburn, Ill.
pleasure in commending it to all classes of readers who prize and desire to know the word of                  From Rev. N. N. Hyde.
God.
W. C. RICHARDS,            The world-wide reputation of Dr. Kitto, and the
Pastor Baptist Church, Pittsfield. scholarship of the editor, Rev. Alvan Bond, D.D.,
are, in my judgment, an entirely satisfactory guarFrom  Rev, Thomas M. Eddy, D.D.          auty for the value of this book
N. A. HYDE,
Dr. Kitto needs no commendation from me or   Pastor of Plymouth Church, Indianapolis, Ind.
any one else — his reputation is world-wide. The
volume here presented is one of value to the pro-        From  Rev. Charles W. Buck.
fessional biblical student, while to the general   As a compendious arrangement of the Bible
reader whose library is not stocked with works on narratives, I should think that Kitto's History
interpretation, it is invaluable.  I give it my would be of great use to the biblical student.
hearty commendation.                                                    CHAS. W. BUCK,
THOMAS M. EDDY, D.D.                                   Pastor Unitarian Church.
Editor North-western Christian Advocate. Fall River, Mass., June 1, 1867.
745




From the Norwich (Conn,) Bulletin.               From the Norwich (Conn.) Aurora.
Kitto's Illustrated History of the Bible is a work    KITTO'S  ILLUSTRATED  HISTORY  OF TIHE
that, even upon the most superficial examination, BIBLE. -It is but a few months since it was
strongly impresses its merits upon the mind of announced, that a new American edition of this
any person who is at all interested in the sacred  celebrated work was in the course of preparation,
writings.  The plan of the work is in itself a rec- by Rev. Dr. Bond, of this city, and was to be inommendation.   The narrative is enriched by troduced to the public by our townsman, Hon.
critical and explanatory notes, carefully selected  Henry Bill.  Yet the orders for it have already
from the results of long years of severe and intel- reached the large number of more than fifty thouligent labor. These notes are necessarily brief, sand, and the demand is still unabated. It is embut they happily meet the wants of the general phatically, and in the best sense of the term, a
reader, who  cannot find the time to wander popular book.  It will make every family where
through a wilderness of commentaries, and indeed  it is read, wiser and better.  It interferes with
in many cases sufficient for the more critical stu- the sectarian prejudices of no man; for it is not a
dent. For the preparation of this part of the commentary on doctrinal points, but a plain, clear,
work the eminent author was peculiarly well and connected narrative from the point where the
qualified.  He brought to the illustration of the Bible commences down to the destruction of JeruSacred Scriptures a living knowledge of Eastern  salem by the Romans, A. D. 38. Any one, not a
manners, traditions, geography, and natural his- professional biblical scholar, will acquire a far
tory, acquired during three years of travel in the more distinct view of sacred history by reading
Holy Land and adjacentcountries. To the knowl- this book than he will by reading the Bible itself,
edge acquired during these original researches, was for the narrative is connected, and divested of all
added the fruit of a quarter of a century spent in the irrelevant matter.  If we take any single character
most careful study. It is said of him that he was in the Bible - David as a striking example - we
in the habit of going several miles to the British  shall find all the events of his life grouped and
Museum, in the reading room of which he spent connected with the vividness of a picture. And
six hours a day consulting rare and expensive the manners and customs of the people at each
books; and usually when laboring in his own epoch, their laws and religious observances, their
study he devoted sixteen hours a day to the pre- great public works, and the political relations of
paration of his publications. As the result of such  States, are minutely described and illustrated, not
research, such experience, and such labors, the only according to the Bible narrative, but by all
contributions made  by Dr. Kitto  to  biblical the lights that modern research and investigation
literature has been of the greatest value —the can throw upon them. The work cannot be too
crown of all being the History of the Bible now  strongly recommended to all who would become
under consideration.                            familiar with Bible history, for their own improveThe publisher, Henry Bill, of this city, was for- ment, or for the purpose of communicating the
tunate in being able to secure for the preparation  same to others.
of this edition the services of Rev. Alvan Bond,
D.D., who brought to his editorship a ripe and              From Rev, J. EJ.. Adams.
accurate scholarship, and an enthusiasm  for the
I value any thing from the pen of Dr. Kitto.
work, which have not only given the present His Cyclopaedia of Biblical Literature, Daily Bible
volume an increased value to the general reader, Illustrations, pictorial Sunday books, &c., are rich
but have made it a rare monumient to his own
~Christian culture.  ~sources of infolmation on all Bible matters. I
refer to them with almost entire confidence that
From Rev. E. E. Cummings.              his conclusions are safe.  This prepares me to
recommend his History of the Bible, edited by
I have examined with some care Kitto's "His-t be valuable to any Bible
tory of the Bible, Illustrated," and have formed a  tudent, and  especially to the Sabbath-school
high opinion of it, as a help in giving a knowledge teachers.
in Holy Scripture.  The embodied history can-                                J. E. ADAMS,
not fail to awaken a deeper interest in the facts                    Pastor ist Cong. Church.
contained in the Bible, while the notes throw additional light on the sacred text, and the illustra-,,
tions give the needed information in regard to the       F     R     E  T
-customs and habits of the times in which the
Bible was written.  I most cheerfully bespeak    I have before recommended Kitto's History of
for the work a wide circulation.                the Bible to the people of this place, and take pleasE. E. CUMMINGS,   ure in repeating that every family and SabbathPastor Pleasant St. Baptist Church. school teacher, and indeed every student of the
Concord, N.H., Dec. 20, 1866.                 Bible, will find a great help in this work in his
study of God's word.
From Rev. A. F. V. Bartlett.                                      E. THURSTON,
I cordially concur in the numerous testimonies                       Pastor 2d Cong. Church.
to the value of the "Illustrated History of the Fall River, Mass., June 1, 1867.
Holy Bible " by Dr. Kitto, and I trust that it may
be widely received among the people of the South            From Rev. Geo. Bowler.
Church.                                           I heartily concur in the above recommendation.
A. F. V. BARTLETT,                                   GEO. BOWLER,
Pastor South Cong. Church.                   Pastor St. Paul's M. E. Church.
Concord, N.H., Dec. 20, 1866.                   Fall River, Mass., May 31, 1867.
746




7
From Rev. IH. G. Hinsdale.                   From Rev. Alfrel Emerson.
My acquaintance with the " Daily Bible Illus-   The narrative is concise, clear, and attractive, as
tration," the " Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature," well as faithful. Here, and in the notes, we have,
and " History of Palestine," by Dr. Kitto, lead in simple language, the result of the latest and
me to welcome the publication in this country of ripest scholarship.  The history of the events
his " Illustrated History of the Bible," as bringing which occurred between the closing period of the
within the reach of the Christian public an attract- Old Testament, and the beginning of the New,
ive and valuable help in the study of the Word of as well as at the destruction of Jerusalem, essenGod. One of its important features is the history tially add to its value. A copious index makes it
of the four centuries intervening between the an excellent book of reference for biblical stuclose of the Old and the opening of the New  dents connected with the Sabbath school.  I
Testament. The name of the American editor should be happy to learn, that this volume had
affords additional guarantee of the value of the found a place in every family among my people.
book.                                                            ALFRED EMERSON,
H. G. HINSDALE,                       Pastor Congregational Church.
Pastor Presbyterian Church. Fitchburg, Mass., May 14th, 1867.
Bridgeport, Conn., April 22, 1867.
From Rev. C. P. Osborne, and others.
From Rev. Z. M{. Humphrey, D.D.
From a brief examination of the Prospectus of
I have examined " Dr. Kitto's Illustrated His- Kitto's Illustrated History of the Bible, and from
tory of the Bible," so far as to satisfy myself that the known reputation of the author and editor, I
it is a valuable work fbr biblical students. It judge that the book will be found to be a vaiuwill be found especially useful to Sunday-school able aid in the study of God's word, and a happy
teachers and Bible classes.                  addition to the library of any family who may
Z. M. HUMPHREY, D.D.,    feel able to purchase it.
Pastor 1st Presbyterian Church.                          C. P. OSBORNE.
Chicago, Feb. 25, 1867.                      Bristol, R. I., May 8, 1866.
From Rev. W. W. Patton, D.D.           We concur in the recommendations given above
of Kitto's Illustrated History of the Bible.
I cheerfully coincide in the judgment expressed   T. Snowden Thomas, John Blain, J. Livesey,
above by Rev. Dr. Humphrey.                  A. F. Spaulding, George Wheeler, Wm. C.
W. W. PATTON, D.D.,   Mills, Rector of St. Mark's Church.
Pastor of 1st Congregational Church, Chicago.
From Rev. E. H. Towner.
From Rsv. R. W. Patterson, D.D.
From Rv. R.. Patterson, D.D.  Dr. Kitto's works are among the very best in
I fully coincide in the opinion expressed above the whole range of biblical literature. Any thing
by Dr. Humphrey and Dr. Patton.              from  him  illustrative of the great events and
R. W. PATTERSON, D.D.,   glorious characters of the Old and New TestaPastor of 2d Presbyterian Church, Chicago. ments is of sterling value and may be safely trustFrom Rev. Arthur Swazey, D.D.         ed; while the praise of Dr. Bond, the accomplished editor of the " Illustrated History of the Bible,"
I coincide in the opinions above expressed by " is in all the churches."  I cordially commend
Drs. Humphrey, Patton, and Patterson.        the work to the reading and religious people of
ARTHUR SWAZEY, D.D.,  this place, as one eminently fitted to interest and
Pastor of 3d Presbyterian Church, Chicago. improve themselves and families.
E. D. TOWNER,
From Rev. Jesse T. Peck.                 Pastor of Baptist Church, Hartford, N.Y.
I consider "Kitto's History of the Bible" a
work of great value.                                 From Rev. Wm. A. Bartlett.
JESSE T. PECK,         This Illustrated History of the Holy Bible, so
Pastor Hudson St. M. E. Church, Albany, N.Y. accurate and graphic in its text, and so helpful
and pleasing in its accompanying plates, cannot
fail to supply a popular need. We wish it the sucI cordially concur in the above recommendation cess which the theme, the distinguished author,
of this most excellent work.                 and the decided merit displayed in its preparation,
EBENEZER HALLEY, D.D.,            demand.
Pastor of 3d Presbyterian Church.                   WM. A. BARTLETT,
From S. N. Wyckoff, D.D.            Pastor Elm Place Cong. Church, Brooklyn, N.Y.
I am confident and happy to say, that among       From Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage.
most Protestants Kitto stands second to none in   I consider the Illustrated History of the Bible
interpreting the Bible.                      to be a reliable book, and worthy of a wide cirJ. N. WYCKOFF, D.D. culation among those who desire to become well
Fromz Rev. Joachim Elendorf.        acquainted with the Scriptures.
T. DEWITT TALMAGE,
I cordially and confidently indorse the above.   Pastor of Dutch Reformed Church, Philadelphia,
JOACHIM  ELENDORF,             Penn.
Pastor of 2d Reformed Church. Sept. 17th, 1867.
747




From. Rev. J. E. Rockwell.                 From Rev. John M. Holmes.
I have been familiar for many years with the   I make constant use of the various works of Dr.
works of Kitto, and have regarded them as among Kitto, and regard him as one of the most intermy most valuable aids in the study and illustration esting and valuable of biblical critics.
of the Holy Scripture.  His History of the Bible   "The History of the Bible" has this special
is a collection in one volume of all the treasures of advantage, that it meets a popular want in the
his learning and research. Its illustrations are information given in the introduction, and in the
drawn from  the most authentic sources, and great light which is thrown upon the word of God
altogether it forms a most valuable work for fam- by explanations which are woven into a continuilies, and all persons who desire to understand ous history, including the interval between the
the Scriptures. I most cheerfully commend it to Old and New Testaments.
all who may have the opportunity of possessing   I can therefore cordially recommend this work
themselves of the book.                      as a good one.
J. E. ROCKWELL,                              JOHN M. HOLMES.
Pastor Central Presbyterian Church. Jersey City, Jan. 10, 1867.
Brooklyn, N. Y., April 27th, 1867.                  From Rev. James M. Maxwell.
From Rev. James M. Maxwell.
From Rev. Samuel S. Drake.            Having examined Dr. Kitto's " Illustrated HisThis may certify, that I am acquainted with tory of the Bible," I take great pleasure in comthe works of Dr. Kitto, an English author, pos- mending it to every member of my congregation
sess them myself, and consider them invaluable. who may be disposed to purchase such a work.
I am also personally acquainted with Dr. Bond, the   It ought to be in every family and in the hands
editor of this work, having received instruction of every Sabbath-school teacher.
from him, and know him to be one of the first                 JAMES M. MAXWELL,
biblical scholars in the country.  It is therefore         Pastor 12th Presbyterian Church.
safe, in my opinion, and of great utility, to possess Baltimore, April 28, 1868.
Dr. Kitto's literary works.
SAMUEL S. DRAKE,
Pastor Cong'l Church.      From Rev. Win. B. Edwards, D.D.
Deer Isle, Maine, May 2d, 1867.                Few writers of modern times have done more
From. Rev. Nath. Seaver.          to illustrate the history of the Bible than Dr.
Kitto.  His "Daily Bible Readings" are well
I have subscribed for the work herein named, known and highly appreciated by both ministers
although the views contained in it are Trinitarian. and laymen of all denominations of Christians;
I think it valuable. Dr. Kitto is a fine scholar, and and from a cursory examination of his work, enhis other works are held in esteem by all theo- titled an "Illustrated History of the Holy Bible,"
logical scholars. This book makes readable and I am prepared to recommend it as fully sustaining
interesting what is often obscure in the common the author's well-earned reputation.
version.  It also throws light on the later                       WM. B. EDWARDS,
political condition of the Jewish nation.               Pastor ]Fayette Street M. E. Church.
NATHAN SEAVER, JR.,
Pastor Unitarian Church.
Walpole, Dec. 3d, 1866.                              From Rev. Wm. S. Edwards.
I take pleasure in subscribing my name to the
From Rev. M. M. Longly.            above. 1 accord with all it says.
I have made a hasty examination of "Dr.                         WM. S. EDWARDS,
Kitto's History of the Bible" and am exceedingly      Pastor of Eutaw Street M. E. Church.
pleased. It cannot fail to be a valuable auxiliary Baltimore City, Md.
in the study of the Bible, and will be a treasure   F
to any family.                                      From Rev. John McCron, D.D.
M. M. LONGLY,        Knowing the high value of Dr. Kitto's "His.
Pastor Trinitarian Church. tory of the Bible," to all persons desirous of exFitchburg, Mass., May 15th, 1867.           tensive and correct information on subjects connected with it, I cordially recommend it to Bible
Frolm Rev Samuel H3. Sxmitfh.        readers, Sunday-school teachers, and others, as a
The works of Dr. Kitto are held in very high most invaluable work.
repute by all biblical students.  They are dis-                      JOHN McCRON,
tinguished for their general accuracy and great                Pastor 1st Lutheran Church.
clearness.  His "Bible History" I regard as Baltimore, Md., Sept. 13, 1867.
among the most desirable of his productions.
SAMUEL H. SMITH,                  From Rev. E. B. Ryckman.
Pastor M. E. Church.   Having some acquaintance with the other pro.
East Bridgeport, May 10th, 1867.             ductions of Dr. Kitto's pen, and having now examined (somewhat hastily) his "History of the BiFrom Rev G. H. HRosmer,            ble," I can recommend it to  Sabbath-school
Dr. John  Kitto  stands high as a biblical teachers and all students of the Word of God
scholar and critic, and I should think this work as a book adapted to assist them in their studies.
would be a valuable aid in the study of the Bible.                  E. B. RYCKMAN,
G. H. HOSMER,                       Wesleyan Methodist Minister.
Pastor Unitarian Cuurch, Deerfield, Mass. Kingston, Canada.
748




9
From Rev. Cyrus Dickson, D.D.                    From Rev. 3. F. Fletcher.
The works of Dr. Kitto are very valuable to   To whom it may concern.  This certifies that
parents and teachers and others in the study of the I have examined " The Illustrated History of the
Holy Scriptures. His " Illustrated History of the Bible," by Dr. Kitto, now offered for sale in this
Bible," besides describing the manners and cus- locality by Mr. Rhodes, and take great pleasure
toms and localities mentioned in the Scriptures, in recommending it to all the lovers of sacred
furnishes an account of the events and revolu- truth, and especially to all who are engaged in
ti.ons in that difficult and important period of imparting religious instruction.  It is a very
some 400 years, extending from the close of the valuable auxiliary to the Holy Bible.
canon of the Old Testament to the incarnation.                          J. FLETCHER,
The twenty-fourth chapter of this work throws                        Pastor Baptist Church,
much reliable light upon this era. I cordially com- Plainwell, Mich., Aug. 7, 1867.
mend the work to any whom my opinion may intluence.                                        I fully concur in the above.
CYRUS DICKSON,                                P. A. McMARTIN,
Pastor Westminster Presbyterian Church.                        Presbyterian Minister.
Sept. 16, 1867.                                         ZFrom Rev. 0. S. Wolfe.
From Rev. Andrew Longacre.             Having examined " The Illustrated History of
DEAR SIR,-With sincere satisfaction I add my the Holy Bible," by Dr. Kitto, I can heartily intestimony to that of the many others in your pos- dose the above, and recommend it to my friends,
session in favor of this work of Dr. Kitto's. A  and all lovers of truth. S WOLFE,
hasty glance over its pages discovers the well-     Pastor 1st Baptist Church, Otsego, Mich.
known traits of his authorship and solid instruction
made very entertaining.  No one can read the        From Rev. Kenneth M. Fenwick.
book without finding both pleasure and profit.  Having full confidence in the writings of the
Yours,                   late Dr. Kitto, and having frequently consulted,
ANDREW  LONGACRE,   with benefit, his " Bible Illustrations," I can very
Pastor Charles Street M. E. Church. cordially reccommend his " History of the Bible."
Baltimore, Sept. 16, 1867.                                   KENNETH M. FENWICK.
Minister of Cong. Church, Kingston, Can.
From Rev. J. R. McJilton, D.D.         Kingston, April 1, 1868.
I have rapidly examined "The History of the           From Rev. Patrick Gray.
Bible" by Dr. Kitto, by whom other excellent
works of similar character were prepared, and   Dr. Kitto's "History of the Bible" is a reliable
believe it will accomplish much good in its use and excellent work, about the best of its kind,
among the members of families by whom it may and will be found a most useful and interesting
be read. The style is plain and clear, and may book in every Christian family.
be understood by any intelligent reader.  The                         PATRICK  GRAY,
work is certainly worthy of an extensive circula-  Minister Chalmer's Church, Kingston, Can.
tion.                                         Kingston, March 31, 1868.
J. R. McJILTON,        I cordially agree with the above recommendaRector Mt. Zion Church (Episcopal). tion.                  J. H. MACKERRAS.
Baltimore, Sept. 14, 1867.
From Rev. Joseph S. Smith, D.D.                    From Rev. J. Jackson.
I am familiar with Dr. Kitto's biblical works,   The above work, like all the productions of
and regard them as among the most valuable of Kitto on the Bible, is as good as any work exall modern works designed to illustrate the Scrip- tant; and I do hereby most heartily recommend
tures.                                       it to all Bible readers and the community genJOSEPH T. SMITH,   erally.
Pastor Central Presbyterian Church.                            J. JACKSON,
Sept. 13, 1867.                                                     Congregational Minister.
ZFrom Rev. R. Fuller, D.D.          Otsego, Mich. Sept. 18, 1867.
It affords me pleasure to concur in the above   I concur in the above.
commendations of Dr. Kitto's work, and to rec-                       A. J. VAN WYCK,
ommend it very highly.  It combines all the                          Pastor M. E. Church.
elements which can render such a work a treasure          From Rev. E. Marble.
in the study, the pulpit, and the Sunday school.
R. FULLER,        From an examination of" The Illustrated HisPastor of 7th Baptist Church. tory of the Bible," by Dr. Kitto, I can cheerfully
recommend it to all lovers of religious literaFrom Rev. Geo. P. Nice.            ture, and especially such as are engaged in BibleRev. John Kitto, D.D., had so pre-eminent class teaching, &c.
qualities as an author, that his works are esteemed                        E. MARBLE,
among the most interesting. They are certainly        Pastor M. E. Church, Richland, Mich.
worthy of a place in every family library.      The work is valuable.
GEO. P. NICE.                          MILTON BRADLEY,
Baltimore, Sept. 14, 1867.           Baptist.    Pastor Presbyterian Church, Richland, Mich.
749




10
From. Rev. Samuel Haskell, D.D.                 From Rev. Charles Shelling.
I concur in regarding this book as one of stand-   Dr. Kitto's writings are of the highest order,
ard value, and worthy of a place among the and generally considered standard authority. I
books that all families ought to desire.      have no doubt but that this " Illustrated History
SAMUEL HASKELL,   of the Bible" will prove a valuable accessory
Pastor 1st Baptist Church, Kalamazoo, Mich. to biblical literature; and I most cordially desire
I. PEARSON,   its circulation, because of its thorough reliability,
Pastor 1st Pres. Church, Kal., Mich. and instructive advantage to all interested in the
SILAS BAILEY,   study of the Bible.
Sen. Prof. in Kal. Theological Seminary.                  CHARLES SHELLING,
From Rev. 3Daniel Putnarm.                 Pastor of Grace M. E. Episcopal Church.
FuKalamazoo, Mich., Sept. 16, 1867.
From my knowledge of " The Illustrated History of the Bible," and of Dr. Kitto's other works,  D1)r. Kitto's works cannot be too highly comI can very (cordially recommend the book as mended.               C. A. FOSTER, LL.D.
worthy of a place in the library of every one who    Rector of St. John's Church, Kal., Mich.
desires to become better acquainted with the his-                    I. R. ANDERSON,
tory and contents of the Bible. I especially com-   Rector of St. Luke's Church, Kal. Mich.
mend it to the notice of all teachers in Sunday
schools.                                                From Rev. R. O. Rogers.
DANIEL PUTNAM,
Pres. Kalamazoo Theo. Seminary.   From my knowledge of Kitto's works in genKalamazoo, Mich., Aug. 27, 1867.              eral, I have little hesitation in recommending this
to Bible students.          R. O. ROGERS.
From Rev. A. McGregor Hopper.          St. James', Kingston.
The History of the Bible, by that distinguished        From Rev. S. T. Spear.
scholar, Dr. Kitto, of London, I regard as a work   I h ead the letter of Dr. 
of great value, and can therefore most heartily   I have read the letter of Dr. Rockwell on the
of g~reat value, and can therefore most heartily previous page; and, so far as I can judge, the opinrecommend it to the public.
A. rMmmcGREGOR HOPPER. ions therein expressed are according to truth.
Bridgeport, Ct., April 17th, 1867.                                        S. T. SPEAR,
Pastor South Presb. Church, Brooklyn, L.I.
From Rev. Joseph A. Rossell.         May 9, 1868.
I rejoice at the circulation of any book which   I am happy to join my brethren in their compromises to illustrate and promote an interest in mendation of this work, and would be glad to see
the reading of the Bible.  From the well-known it in the hands of all Sunday-school teachers and
high reputation of Dr. Kitto, I am persuaded that students of the Word of God in the families of
all those who would indulge themselves in such our church.       JOSEPH T. DURYEA,
a truie luxulry as getting a help to the better under-    Pastor Classon-ave. Presb. Ch., Brooklyn, N.Y.
standing of the Scriptures will make a good in- Feb. 28, 1868.
vestment in the purchase of the volume now presented.           J()SEPH A. ROSSELL,                      From Rev. E. Smith.
Pastor of Brick Church, Wysox, Penn.   I take pleasure in recommending Kitto's " IllusI flly concur in Mr. Rossell's notice of D trated History pf the Bible " to the favorable attenI fully concur in Mr. Rossell's notice of Dr.
wi tion a ndrtily  b p      eople.
Kitto's book, and would join with him in heartily                            E. SITH
recommending it to all who wish to become ac-                       Pastor of M. E. Church.
quainted with the sacred volDume  C           Gainesville, N.Y., Feb. 24, 1868.
DAVID CRAFT,
Pastor of Presb. Church, Wyalusing, Penn.        From Rev. J. Me. Tlanning, D.D.
From Rev. Samuel T. Corneille.          I heartily concur in the recommendation of Dr.
I cordially recommend Dr. Kitto's able work on Blagden, and should be glad if' r. Kitto's work
the history of the Bible to all Bible Christians, upon the Bible might be generally read ple. J. our. MANN
but more especially to those who desire to obtain  Assistant Pastor Old South Church Boston.
in a condensed form a valuable and extensive
amount of information on the history of the sacred      From'Rev J. FN. Voorhis.
volume.        SAMUEL J. CORNEILLE,             I take pleasure in recommending Dr. Kitto's
Rector of All Saints' Church, New York. " History of the Bible," as a work of real merit:
Nov. 13, 1867.                                a work that should be in the possession of every
From Rev. G. W. Blagden, D.D.         family in the land.      J. N. VOORHIS,
Pastor of Reformed Protestant Dutch Church.
I know well the ability of the Rev. Dr. Bond Esopus, Ulster County, N.Y.
to edit the work of Dr. Kitto, and make the useful additions to it he has done. In company with         From Rev. R. G. Adams
most if not all of my brethren in the ministry,   Having examined Kitto's "Illustrated History
I can bear willing testimony to the accuracy of the Bible," I cheerfully recommend it as an inand usefulness of the works of Kitto for all read- dispensable aid in obtaining a thorough knowlers of the Bible, as well as for ministers and edge of Bible history.    R. G. ADAMS,
students.               G. W. BLAGDEN,                                Pastor M. E. Church.
Pastor Old-South Church, Boston. East Pepperell, Mass., Sept. 20, 1867.
750




11
From Rev. S. Barnes.                     From Rev. Samuel P. Halsey.
I have examined with very considerable care-   It is with pleasure I certify to the worth of Dr.
havfulness Dr. Kitto'sed with veHistory fconsiderable care- Kitto's writings. Having examined several of his
fulness Dr. Kitto's "Illustrated History of the works in connection with my studies, and found
Bible," and find it to be a valuable work. The au- works in connection with my studies, and found
thor not only brings out clearly and fairly nearly them important aids to a right understanding of
all important points of biblical history, but, by a the Scriptures, I can but feel that his new work,
judicious interweaving of collateral history and which is presented to the public by so thorough a
explanatory marginal notes, he has rendered his Bible student as Dr. Bond, is calculated to be of
work both very attractive and instructive.    great service in educating families in divine truth.
S. BARNES,   Not only is the style in which it is written attracPastor Monument-street Methodist Church. tive, but the copious notes by Dr. Bond make it a
PastBaltimore, Oct. 29,ument-str d 1867.c   valuable acquisition to every family library. I
hope that it may find its way into every Christian
From Rev. John W. Searles.          family at least, and prove instrumental in God's
hands in leading the youth of our land to the
I think that Dr. Kitto is regarded as one of the study of his word.  SAML. P. HALSEY.
most diligent and devout students of the Sacred   Brooklyn, July 3, 1867.
Scriptures; and that on Bible questions generally
very few men stand higher as authority than he.          From Rev. J. L Jenkins.
This " History of the Bible " by him I esteem a   I take this method of earnestly recommending
great acquisition to my library.              " The History of the Bible," introduced by Mr.
JNO. W. SEARLES,   Payne, to the patronage of the Christian public.
Pastor of the Central Baptist Church, Brooklyn.                       J. L. JENKINS,
Pastor of Congregational Church.
I can heartily indorse the opinion expressed by Gainesville, N.Y., Feb. 24, 1868.
Dr. Searles. Among my teachers in Bible history, Dr. Kitto must always rank high. Should                    Rev. S. S. Blake.
this meet the eyes of any of my people, I hope   I have no hesitation in recommending to the
they will secure so valuable a family book as Dr. favorable notice of every one, Kitto's "History of
Kitto's " History of the Bible."              the Bible." Dr. Bond, the editor, was ripe for his
WM. H. HICKS,   work, and Kitto was a man of rare biblical knowlPastor State-street Cong. Church, Brooklyn. edge. From what I know of this and other works
May 28, 1867.                                 of Kitto, I have no hesitation in saying that this
work will be a valuable acquisition to any family
From Rev. S. H. Elliot.           library.                    S. S. BLAKE,
Pastor Congregational Church.
From what I know of Dr. Kitto's writings ex- Pepperell, Sept. 19, 1867.
planatory of the Holy Bible, and from a hasty examination of the prospectus of his " History of the      From Rev. C. B. Crane.
Holy Bible," I do not hesitate to recommend it as   The " History of the Bible " by Dr. Kitto, ena valuable and interesting work for all; and es- riched bv the learning of Dr Bond, its American
peciallyfor the Sabbath-school teacher, and every editor, deserves the high commendation which
earnest student of the Holy Scriptures.       it has received from eminent men of all branches
S. H. ELLIO T. of the Christian church. Not limited in its range,
Winnoski, Can., Oct. 22, 1867.       as are many minor works, suited to the special
I heartily concur in the above.             requirements of the scholar, but traversing the
GEO. WHITNEY. entire field of divine revelation, and bringing it
all into intelligible unity, it is invaluable to all
From Rev. Edw. E. Herrick.           students of the Bible who have not the means
From some acquaintance with the writings of to procure, nor the time to consult, " many books."
Dr. Kitto, I should not hesitate to recommend them  Dr. Kitto is a wise and safe giide; and he who
to all students of the Bible. His " History of the masters his history will be well instructed in the
Bible" will prove a valuable hand-book of theBible, Sacred Scriptures.    C. B. CRANE,
Pastor of South Baptist Church.
especially to parents and Sabbath-school teachers.
Hartford, Conn., Oct. 16, 1867.
It will be attracting to children on account of its
illustrative style. I wish it might be possessed by      From Rev. A. Blauvelt.
every family in my parish.
EDW.every family in my pais.  Such a work as the " Illustrated History of the
Colchester, Can., Oct. 7, 1867.               Bible," by Dr. Kitto, should be in every Christian
household.               A. BLAUVELT,
rom S.. othrop DPastor Reformed Dutch Church.
From. KR. Lothrop, D.D..Creek Locks, Ulster County, N.Y.
Kitto's Illustrated History of the Bible, —a
work whose established and wide-spread reputa-          From Rev. John H. Bevier.
tion needs no indorsement, - should find a place   Being somewhat acquainted with Dr. Kitto's
in every family library. Dr. Bond's Notes and "History of the Bible," I take pleasure in recomIndex give a largely increased value to the Nor- mending this interesting and valuable book to my
wich edition, published by Henry Bill.        people.               JOHN  H. BEVIER,
S. K. LOTHROP,                 Pastor of Dutch Reformed Church.
Pastor Brattle-Square (Unitarian) Ch., Boston  Rosendale, Ulster County, N.Y.
751




A PICTOBtIAL~
CONTAINING A GENERAL VIEW OF ALL THE VARIOUS NATIONS,
STATES, AND REPUBLICS OF THE
WESTERN CONTINENT;
COMPRISING THE EARLY DISCOVERIES BY THE SPANISH, FRENCH, AND OTHER NAVIGATORS,
AN ACCOUNT OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS, AND A
Complete History of the United States to the Present Time,
INCLUDING THE
French and Indian Wars, the War of the Revolution, that of 1812, the late War with Mexico, and embracing the brilliant career of WASHINGTON, WAYNE, JACKSON, TAYLOR, SCOTT,
GRANT, and SHERMAN, and their Compatriots, and a
COMPLETE HISTORY. OF THE REBELLION TO ITS CLOSE,
With an Appendix, containing important Public Documents, and closing with extensive
and valuable Statistical Tables.
EDITED BY
JOHN LEDYARD DENISON, A.M.,
AUTHOR OF THE " PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE WARS;  "PICTORIAL NAVAL HISTORY;"X
"THE NEW WORLD," IN GERMAN, ETC.
The whole illustrated with over Three Hundred Engravings, some of which are beautifully colored by hand,
true to Nature, consisting of Battle-Scenes, Views of Cities, Flags of the various Nations, Prominent Events,
and Portraits of Distinguished Men, from designs by LOSSING, CROOME, DEVERAUX, and other celebrated
American Artists.
In one large octavo volume, containing about 900 pages, and illustrated with over 300 Engravings, some
of which are Steel, and many beautifully colored by hand, true to Nature, and will be bound in embossed and
gilt leather binding, with marbled edges.
This work was so well received, that already it has been translated into the German Language, under
the title of Illustrated New World (see opposite page), and about 20,000 copies sold in the German Language
in this country alone, and large orders have been received from Germany, for the work in their language.,.For an Agency, apply to the Publisher,
HENRY BILL, Norwich, Conn.




JUST ISSUED.
IuLLUSTRATED HISTORY
OF
WASH TNGION'HAND O HES''M ESTH
EMBRACING A
THE
THE
O1IATION OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION,
AND THE
ADMINISTRATIONS OF WASHINGTON,
EXHIBITING THE DARING EXPLOITS AND HEROIC ENDURANCE OF THE NOBLE PATRIOTS WHO
WON OUR LIBERTIES AND ESTABLISHED OUR INDEPENDENCE.
WI-THI AN APPENIDIX,
Containing Maxims of Washington, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation,
the Constitution of the United States, and Washington's Farewell Address.
EDITED BY REV. WILLIAM HBUTCISON, A. M.
Principal of the Norwich Free Academy, Norwich, Conn.
The book is a large octavo of over 600 pages, illustrated with nearly 100 Engravings on Steel and Wood,
comprising Battle Scenes, the Costumes of the Times, Portraits of Washington and his Generals, views of noted
Buildings, the homes of Distinguished Men, Mount Vernon and the Tomb of Washington as it now appears.
This work is also enriched with the " Maxims of Washington," being his wise utterances on a great variety
of subjects, collected and arranged by the Editor; together with the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of
Confederation, the Constitution of the United States, and Washington's Farewell Address.
A Prospectus Book, showing samples of the pages, Engravings, &c., is now ready, and Agents can canvass
with it, or carry a sample of the book itself. I would recommend to Agents to take a copy of the book with the
Prospectus, as its attractive appearance will induce very many to subscribe.
If you desire an appointment as Agent, please apply in person, if convenient; if not, remit in cash or money
order, $5.00 for a sample copy of the book, and a complete outfit for canvassing, which will be forwarded by
mail, postage paid.
In applying for territory, name half a dozen towns in the order of your choice, and I will give you your first
choice if possible; if not, the nearest not engaged. If the territory is not granted, the money will be promptly
returned. Please state your experience, if any, iu the business, with what book, and your success; also your age
and previous occupation.
Cities or large villages are not recommended for new beginners. All books not sold may be returned within
three months, if in good condition.
For an Agency, apply immediately to the Publisher,
HENRY BILL,
NOREWICHI, COONN.