Return this book on or before the Latest Date stamped below. University of Illinois Library L161 — H41 OUTLINE i /, / OF BIBLE HISTORY. By JOHN F. HURST. NEW YORK: NELSON & RHIRRIPS. CINCINNATI: HITCHCOCK & WALDEN. SUNDAY-SCHOOL DEPARTMENT. I i i M [ I I > ' ' OV'iU ' V- V -I V, ^ • Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by NELSON & PHILLIPS, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. PREFATORY NOTE. Though the following Outline of Bible History has been prepared for use in the Normal Department of Sun- day-school instruction, at the request of Rev. Dr. J. H. Vincent, the attempt has been made to give it other adaptations; and it is hoped that it may fill a place in all circles where the study of the Bible in historical or- der is desired and appreciated. The difficulty of conden- sation to the compass of the present little volume has been extremely embarrassing ; if it had been treble the size, or much greater still, it would have been much more easi- ly, and we think better, written. Within the last few years quite a large number of works have appeared in England, giving a synoptical view of several branches of both sacred and secular science, and biblical history and chronology have received, perhaps, their due share of attention. Pinnock’s Analysis of Scripture History, Smith’s Student’s Old and New Testament History, (re- published in this country by the Harpers,) Maclear’s Class-Books of Old and New Testament Histories, and Curtis’s Outlines of Scripture History, may be mentioned as examples. These, with such other authorities as could serve our purpose, have been used to advantage in portions of the present Outline, though, to our regret, its circumscribed limits have prevented the full refer- ence and due acknowledgment which, in a larger work, could have been conveniently rendered. The maps are 99033 4 PREFATORY NOTE. selected from that best of all practical works on the theme it treats, and one fully commensurate with the results of the most recent scientific investigation, Pro- fessor Whitney’s Hand-Book of Bible Geography. One of the most difficult tasks in connection with the study of the Bible is the matter of dates. There is lit- tle or no harmony, indeed, in the authorities in which we are accustomed to confide, and on which most reliance has been placed in the preparation of the Outline. It will give the author great pleasure to be informed, especially by teachers — for, after all, the teaching of a book is the best crucible for its testing — of any points which may seem to need alteration or amendment. A summary of the History of the Church, and another of the History of Christian Doctrine, both similar in general character to the present, are in course of prepa- ration for the Normal Outline Series. 5 Outline of Bible History. TABULAR VIEW. Note to the Instructor: The following Outline should be studied in connection with the ac- companying skeleton table of General Periods of Bible History and Index Table of Bible History, the former of which, as will be seen, is but an abridgment of the latter. The student should have in mind a correct idea of ail the periods, in historical order, with the exact dates. These can be enlarged, first, by the Index Table, then by the Outline, and then to the fullest extent by the detailed accounts in the Bible itself. Instead of giving questions, we prefer to leave them to be suggested by the wisdom and care of the teacher. Nothing but con- stant repetition can fix the biblical history in the memory, and make it available for future service. We earnestly advise the invariable use of maps in connection with the history. It is one of the forms of ob- ject-teaching which never fail to produce the most gratifying results. Those maps which we have given should be kept before the eye as much as may be. Care should be taken that the student should like- wise draw his own maps, on paper or the blackboard, beginning with the mere outline of the country, and filling up with all the important topographical features of the lands of the Bible. This will be an inval- uable aid, both in accuracy and interest, to the study of the scriptural periods. I. GENERAL PERIODS OF BIBLE HISTORY. THE OLD TESTAMENT. Chapter I. — From the Creation to the Deluge. B. C. 4004-2348. Chapter II. — From the Deluge to the Call of Abraham. B.C. 2348-1921. Chapter III. — From the Call of Abraham to the Descent into Egypt — The Patriarchal Age. B. C. 1921-1706. Chapter IY. — From the Descent into Egypt to the Exode. B. C. 1706-1491. 6 Outline of Bible History. Chapter V. — From the Exode of the Israelites to their Passage of the Jordan. B. C. 1491-1451. Chapter YI. — From the Passage of the Jordan to the Monarchy. B. C. 1451-1095. Chapter VII. — From the Establishment of the Monarchy to its Divis- ion. B. C. 1095-9*5. Chapter VIII. — From the Division of the Monarchy to the Final Cap- ture of Jerusalem. B. C. 975-587. Chapter IX. — From the Final Capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchad- nezzar to the Close of the Old Testament History. B. C. 587-397 Chapter X. — Interval between the Close of the Old Testament His- tory and the Commencement of the New. B. C. 397-6. THE NEW TESTAMENT. Chapter I. — From the Beginning of the New Testament Period to the Ascension of Christ. B. C. 6-A. D. 30. Chapter II. — From the Ascension of Christ to the Close of the Apos- tolic Period. A. D. 30-101. JI. INDEX TABLE OF BIBLE HISTORY. THE OLD TESTAMENT. Chapter I. — From the Creation to the Deluge. B. C. 4004-2348. — 1. The Creation; 2. Seven Days; 3. The Fall; 4. The Antedilu- vian Patriarchs, B. C. 4003-2348 ; 5. Great Increase of Wicked- ness ; The Flood. Chapter II. — From the Deluge to the Call of Abraham. B. C. 2348- 1921. — 1. Distribution of the Human Family ; 2. Call of Abraham. Chapter III. — From the Call of Abraham to the Descent into Egypt — The Patriarchal Age. B. C. 1921-1706.— 1. Abraham in Pales- tine and Egypt ; 2. Later Life of Abraham ; 3. Jacob ; 4. Joseph in Egypt. Chapter IY. — From the Descent into Egypt to the Exode. B. C. 1706-1491. — 1. Blessings and Death of Jacob and Joseph ; 2. The Bondage of Israel and Call of Moses ; 3. Divine Preparations for the Deliverance of the Israelites ; 4. The Plagues ; 5. The Expde. Outline of Bible History. 7 Chapter Y. — From the Exode of the Israelites to their Passage o? the Jordan. B. C. 1491-1451. — 1. Beginning of the Pilgrimage of Israel; 2. Water from Horeb; 3. Gift of the Law; 4. The Golden Calf; 5. Erection of the Tabernacle ; 6. The March from Sinai; 7. Rebellion against Moses — Fiery Serpents ; 8. Prophecy of Ba- laam ; 9. Death of Moses. Chapter VI. — From the Passage of the Jordan to the Monarchy. B. C. 1451-1095. — 1. First Events after Entering Palestine; 2. Yictories ; 3, Result of the War; 4. Division of the Coun- try; 5. Death of Joshua; 6. Capture of Jerusalem, and Idolatry in the North ; 7. Beginning of the Period of the J udges ; 8. Re- lapse into Idolatry ; 9. The History of Ruth, the Moabitess ; 10. Yictory of Deborah and Barak; 11. Gideon; 12. Abimelech — Tola — Jair — Jephthah ; 13. Samson ; 14. Defeat of Israel, and Loss and Return of the Ark ; 15. Samuel’s Effort at Reformation, and the Anointment of Saul as King; 16. Judges in Chronological Order. Chapter YII. — From the Establishment of the Monarchy to its Divis- ion. B. C. 1095-975. — 1. Reign of Saul; 2. Sins of Saul; 3. Da- vid designated King ; 4. David fleeing before Saul ; 5. Death of Samuel and Saul; 6. David’s Reign; 7. Reign of Solomon. Chapter YIII. — From the Division of the Monarchy to the Final Cap- ture of Jerusalem. B. C. 975-587. — 1. Table of the Kings of Ju- dah and Israel ; 2. (Kings op Judah and Israel in Connection,) Hostility between the two Kingdoms — Idolatry in Israel ; 3. Abi- jah, Asa, and Kings of Brief Reign — Ahab ; 4. Jehoshapliat ; 5. The Prophet Elijah ; 6. War with the Assyrians — The Prophet Elisha; 7. Jehoram, Ahaziah, Athaliah, Joash, Monarchs of Ju- dah; 8. Ahaziah, Joram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Kings of Israel; 9. The Prophet Jonah; 10. Amaziah, Uzziah, and other Kings; 11. Captivity of 'the Ten Tribes; 12. (Kings of Judah: B. C. 721-587,) Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, Jehoahaz; 13. Captures of Jerusalem. Chapter IX. — From the Final Capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchad- nezzar to the Close of the Old Testament History. B. C. 587-397. — 1. The Jewish Captives; 2. Destruction of Babylon — Daniel; 3. The Return from Captivity ; 4. Opposition of the Samaritans — Decree of Ahasuerus ; 5. Another Return — Ezra ; 6. The Proph- ets; 7. The Prophets in their supposed Chronological Order. Chapter X. — Interval between the Close of the Old Testament and the Commencement of the New. B. C. 397-6. — 1. Division of the 8 Outline of Bible History. Time; 2. War between Syria and Egypt; 3. Revolt of Judea and Persecution of the Jews ; 4. Rise of the Maccabeans ; 5. Career of Judas Maccabeus; 6. Simon, John Hyrcanus, Aristobulus, Alexander Jannseus ; 7. Reduction of Syria to a Roman Prov iuce ; 8. The Apocryphal Books ; 9. Jewish Sects. THE NEW TESTAMENT. Chapter I. — From the Beginning of the New Testament Period to the Ascension of Christ. B. C. 6-A. D. 30. — 1. Birth of John the Baptist and Jesus; 2. Ministry of John the Baptist — First Year of Christ’s Ministry, A. D. 27 ; 3. Second Year of Our Lord’s Ministry; 4. Last Year of Christ’s Ministry; 5. Passion of Our Lord ; 6. The Crucifixion ; 7. The Resurrection ; 8. The Ascension. Chapter II. — From the Ascension of Christ to the Close of the Apos- tolic Period. A. D. 30-101. — 1. Pentecost — Stephen; 2. Conver- sion of Saul ; 3. Paul’s First Missionary Journey ; 4. Paul’s Second Missionary Journey; 5. Paul’s Third Missionary Jour- ney; 6. Arrest of Paul — Journey to Rome — Shipwreck; 7. Paul’s Further Travels ; 8. Chronology of the Epistles — Supposed Fields of Apostolic Labor. t MAPS. No. 1 . Scripture World Pages 11-14 No. 2. The Holy Land “ 31-34 No. 3. Modern Jerusalem “ 51, 52 No. 4. Travels of St. Paul “ 57-60 L OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY THE OLD TESTAMENT. CHAPTER I. FROM THE CREATION TO THE DELUGE. B. C. 4004-2348. 1. The Creation. — In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. This first statement of the Bible is in utter antagonism to, and is a complete refutation of, all pagan and pantheistic notions of the origin of the universe, since it declares that the world is not eternal, nor the result of chance, nor of self-generation, nor of various unconscious and impersonal agents, nor of emana- tion from God, but a creation from nothing, the work of the one personal and omnipotent Supreme Being. The work of creation was completed in six days, as follows : 2. Seven Days. — First day : God created light, and divided the light from the darkness. Second day : The firmament was created, and called heaven. Third day : Water and land were separated, and the earth covered with vegetation. Fourth day : God created the sun, moon, and stars. Fifth day : He created the fish of the sea and the fowls of the air. Sixth day: Creation of the higher, or land animals; finally, man was created in God’s image, after his likeness. Adam placed in the Garden of Eden, and commanded to dress and keep it. Eve created, and marriage instituted. Eden supposed to have been the country lying between the highlands of Arme- nia and the Persian Gulf. Two of its four rivers are the Tigris and Euphrates. Seventh day : God rested from all his work. The Sabbath instituted. 3. The Fall. — Adam and Eve, by eating of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, disobeyed God, and fell. Expelled from the Garden of Eden ; but a Saviour promised, who was to be of the seed of the woman. 10 Outline of Bible History. 4. The Antediluvian Patriarchs, B. C. 4003-2348.— Birth of Cain, ( gotten , or acquired ;) birth of Abel, ( breath , or transi- toriness.) Cain’s sacrifice rejected by God ; Abel’s accepted, being offered in faith. Cain murdered his brother, and a curse pronounced upon him for his crime. Driven from the region of Eden, and removed to the land of Nod ; built a city, called Enoch, after his eldest son ; became the father of a numerous posterity. Gain' s descendants : Enoch, Irad, Mehujael, Methu- sael, Lamech. Lamecli the first to practice polygamy ; of his three sons, Jabal taught the art of tent-making, Jubal the use of musical instruments, and Tubal-Cain the art of working in metals. Descendants of Seth , ( substituted , given to Adam in place of Abel) : Enos, Cainan, Malialaleel, Jared, Enoch, Methu- selah, Lamech, Noah. Enoch, (born B. C. 3382,) one of the best of Seth’s descendants, led a life of intimate communion with God. He warned the evil-doers of his day against the impending judgment of God, and was the first of the prophets. Translated to heaven in the 36oth year of his age, (B. C. 3017.) Noah, the son of Lamech, born B. C. 2948. 5. Great Increase of Wickedness; the Flood.— As a con- sequence, God threatened to destroy the earth ; commanded Noah to build an ark, which was the means of the preservation of Noah and his wife, 1 and his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their wives, and two of every species of “unclean” birds and beasts, and seven of every species accounted “ clean.” The waters of the flood prevailed one hundred and fifty days, and on the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark rested on one of the peaks of Ararat. CHAPTER II. FROM THE DELUGE TO THE CALL OF ABRAHAM. B. C. 2848-1921. 1. Distribution of the Human Family.— Noah, after leav- ing the ark, offered a sacrifice of burnt-offerings to the Lord. The place where the ark rested was a convenient center for the sons of Noah to set out from, and, through their posterity, to CLASSI FI CAT I ON of the Bl BLE LANDS WJ 1 Y DISTRICTS First Dtsl net: North luidKastof the Euphrates ARMENIA, MEDIA.PARTHIA, PERSIA, CHALDF.A, MESOPOTAMIA, AS Second District II cl wt*'il theEupl antes fuidtlmMeditprraneati . ARABIA PHILISHA CANAAN, PHENICIA.SYRIA. 'niirdDistnrt . South of the Mediterranean ARABIA, EGYPT, LIBYA FouitiiDimncI North of the Mediterranean. SPAIN , ITALY, GREECE ASIA MINOR. -Y" JIYHISTOItiC .\SSOClATION T S IJ.nnds oftlioboginnin^: ARMEN IA.CHALDEA, MESOPOTAMIA jMeouI oflfebnew bondage: EGYPT . 3. Lai id o!'IIehivvrw*uidoiint> ARABIA PETRAEA 4 TheLand of Promise : CANAAN . j.Tliel.iuuls of the Jewish warsiPHILISTIA, SYRIA, ARABIA ti Tilt-Land* ofllie Cat*ivuies ASSYRIA, BABYLONIA 7. Tho Lands of Cyrus tbeEuuinripai.or: MEDI A PERS IA 8. The Lands of thnlhuporsion Xve-AcL-i IJ. MEASUREMENTS r» St. AS LAKKB IfcHlYEnS. orilOWTAIN S Etc: or DiSTAXCKfcuHl.t .Mediterranean Sea.. xns\«i' Alx>ve-MrdUcnnne(ut\ 1rn Jerusalem to tin Cibmlhirto Jo/v>ct,..2W0 'iltArarat ft. 17.323 Cairn oc^ u. nDeadSoa . I j Sea ot Galilee i [Black Sea Jj Caspian Son lilt OulfvrSuez. ..ISO ; Honnon the Tarcheii . Ai diocli ,\yA\vruV v i iwbiijttii gi %^•'. A. Outline of Bible History. 15 overspread the earth. But his descendants remained for a time in the plain of Shinar, and attempted to build a tower, (B. C. 2247*) Babel, whose top might reach heaven. God frustrated their effort by confounding their language. They were then scattered over the earth. - Abram, the son of Terah, born B. C. 1996, in Ur of the Chaldees. Terah, with his son Abram, his daughter-in-law Sarai, and his grandson Lot, left Ur and settled in Haran, (Charran.) Job, who probably lived about this period, was a powerful and prosperous Eastern prince ; suddenly stripped of his prop- erty and children, and personally afflicted with a loathsome disease; endured his trials patiently, trusting in God, who afterward gave him more property than he had ever possessed, and made him the father of seven sons and three daughters. 2. Call of Abraham. — (1921.) — Abram, the man chosen by God to be the head of a family and nation who should be his witnesses on earth, and from whom the promised Messiah should come. At the age of seventy-five, in obedience to the divine command, he left Ilaran, accompanied by his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot, and, taking with him all that he possessed, went to the land of Canaan. CHAPTER HI. FROM THE CALL OF ABRAHAM TO THE DESCENT INTO EGYPT — THE PATRIARCHAL AGE. B. C. 1921-1706. 1. Abraham in Palestine and Egypt— Abram crossed the Jordan and went to Shechem, where he built an altar to God. Removed to the country east of Bethel, or Luz. In consequence of a famine he went down to Egypt, whence he returned, after much increase in cattle, gold, and silver, and dwelt again be- tween Bethel and Ai. Abram and Lot separated, Lot choosing the plain south of the Jordan, and Abram remaining alone in Canaan. Here the latter was assured by God that the land should be given to his seed, which should be as numerous as the sand on the sea-shore. Abram removed southward, and 16 Outline of Bible History. dwelt near Hebron. The king of Sodom and four other kings, who had rebelled against Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, being defeated in the yale of Siddim, and Lot taken prisoner, Abram pursued the conquerors northward, smote them, and chased them to Hobah, near Damascus. Met on his return by Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God, and blessed by him. Ishmael, the son of Abram and Hagar, born B. C. 1910. 2. Later Life of Abraham — God renewed his covenant wdtli Abram, (B. C. 1897,) whose name was now changed to Abraham, ( < father of a multitude ) The rite of circumcision instituted. Sarai’s name changed to Sarah, {princess.) The Lord and two attendant angels in human form entertained by Abraham. Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire and brimstone because of their wickedness. Birth of Isaac. Ish- mael, being sent away in compliance with the demand of Sarah, married an Egyptian woman, and became the ancestor of a large part of the Arabian tribes. While living near Beersheba, Abraham’s faith in God was se- verely tried. He was commanded to offer his only son Isaac for a burnt-offering. After making all the preparations, was spared this sacrifice by the miraculous presentation of a ram instead of his son. Sarah died at Hebron. Esau and Jacob, twin sons of Isaac and Kebekah, born B. C. 1886. Death of Abraham at Beersheba, B. C. 1821. 3. Jacob. — Esau sold his birthright to Jacob; Jacob, fearing his brother’s anger, fled to his uncle Laban, in Mesopotamia. When on his way, near Luz, (Bethel,) he had a vision of a ladder, reaching from earth to heaven, on which the angels of God ascended and descended. Here God foretold to him the blessings of his posterity. Jacob had twelve sons and one daughter: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Uaplitali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah, Joseph, and Benjamin. Jacob, returning secretly to Canaan, had a vision at Mahanaim. He wrestled with an angel at Peniel, and his name was changed to Israel, {a prince of God) He met his brother Esau, and they were reconciled ; after which he settled at Succoth, (booths) on the eastern side of the Jordan. Removed thence to the interior of Palestine, and pitched his tent before the city of Shechem. By divine command he went to Bethel and dwelt there, where Outline of Bible History. 17 God appeared to him and blessed him. Subsequently he lived at Hebron. 4. Joseph in Egypt. — Joseph dreamed two dreams, in one of which he saw the sun, moon, and stars make obeisance to him; and in the other, sheaves, which his brothers bound, doing homage to his. His brothers, excited by envy, sold him to some Ishmaelite or Midianite merchants, who carried him down into Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, an officer of the king and captain of the guard. Joseph, after having risen to be over- seer of Potiphar’s house, was thrown into prison on a false accusation of his wife. Pharaoh’s prophetic dreams of famine being interpreted by Joseph, the latter was made governor over all the land of Egypt. His wife was Asenath, daughter of the priest of On, (Heliopolis.) Commencement of the seven years of plenty, B. C. 1715. Birth of Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Commencement of the seven years of famine, B. C. 1708. Jacob sent his ten sons into Egypt to buy com. Joseph, at the second visit of his brothers for corn, made him- self known to them, and sent for his father. The same year (B. C. 1706) Jacob and his family went into Egypt, and settled in Goshen. CHAPTER IY. FROM THE DESCENT INTO EGYPT TO THE EXODE. B. C. 1706-1491. 1. Blessings and Death of Jacob and Joseph.— The whole land of the Egyptians, except that of the priests, was bought by J oseph for corn. Jacob, when about to die, blessed first Ephraim and Manasseh, and then his sons, and predicted their subsequent history. To Judah was assigned the blessing of the first-born, with the promise that from him the Saviour would descend. The remains of Jacob were borne in great state to Palestine, and deposited beside those of Abraham, Isaac, and Sarah in the cave of Maclipelah, at Hebron. Joseph, when about to die, predicted the return of the Israelites to the Promised Land, and charged his brethren to carry his bones from Egypt on their 18 Outline of Bible History. return to Palestine. He died at tlie age of one hundred and ten years. 2. The Bondage of Israel and Call of Moses.— The Israel- ites greatly increased in Egypt, not only tending their flocks and herds in the land of Goshen, but settling in cities and towns and villages, and learning many useful arts, such as writing, the working of precious and common metals, carpen- tering, pottery, gardening, artificial irrigation, agriculture, em balming, and the manufacture of cloth. On the accession of a new king to the throne, the Israelites, because of their wonder- ful prosperity, were regarded with suspicion and hostility, and were converted into bondmen. Task-masters were set over them, and they were commanded to bear unjust burdens ; they increased, nevertheless, even in spite of an order of the king to cast all the male children into the Nile. Moses, the son of Amram and Jcchebed, was born B. C. 1571. Miriam was his sister, and Aaron his brother. He w r as hidden three months, and then placed in an ark of bulrushes by the side of the river, where he was found by Pharaoh’s daughter and adopted by her. He was brought up at Pharaoh’s court, and educated in a manner becoming his elevated position. He shared the hopes and traditions of his people, however. At forty years of age he slew an unmerciful Egyptian task-master, and hid his body in the sand. On discovering that the murder was no secret, he fled to the land of Midian, or the Sinaitic peninsula, in Arabia, on the east of the Red Sea, where the descendants of Abraham by Keturah had settled. Here he married Zipporah, a daughter of Jethro, priest of Midian, and for forty years followed the occupation of a shepherd. 3. Divine Preparations for the Deliverance of the Is- raelites. — God appeared to Moses in a burning bush in Horeb, and appointed him to deliver the Israelites from bondage, (B. C. 1491.) In confirmation of the lofty commission, and to inspire Moses with confidence, God performed two miracles : the rod of Moses was turned into a serpent, and then restored to its previous form ; and the hand of Moses was withered with leprosy, and then healed. Moses was endowed with power to work those two miracles, and to turn water into blood. Aaron ■was appointed to assist Moses. Moses returned to Egypt, and he and Aaron appeared before Pharaoh, and requested that the Outline of Bible History. 19 Israelites might be permitted to depart from the country. The request was not only rejected, but the burdens of the Israelites were increased. 4. The Plagues. — Ten plagues inflicted on the Egyptians : 1, the water of the Nile was turned into blood ; 2, the plague of frogs; 3, of lice; 4, of flies; 5, murrain among cattle; 6. plague of boils and blisters; 7, thunder and hail; 8, locusts ; 9, darkness; 10, destruction of the first-born of man and beasts. Before the ninth plague the Passover was instituted, the Lord sparing the first-born of Israel if the lintels and side-posts of the doors of their houses were sprinkled with blood, when he passed through the land to destroy the first-born of the Egyptians. Milman places the date between B. C. 1310 and 1320. 5. The Exode. — (B. C. 1491.) Pharaoh finally drove the Israelites out of the country, and then pursued them. He and his army were destroyed in the Red Sea, after the Israelites had passed safely over dry-shod. CHAPTER Y. FROM THE EXODE OF THE ISRAELITES TO THEIR PASSAGE OF THE JORDAN. B. C. 1491-1451. 1. Beginning of the Pilgrimage of Israel— The Israelites, after crossing the Red Sea, (near the present Suez,) entered the Wilderness of Shur. In three days they reached a well of bitter water, which they called Marah, ( bitterness .) Here they mur- mured; but on Moses casting into the waters a tree, which the Lord showed him, they were sweetened. After a halt at Elim they entered the Wilderness of Sin. Their bread being con- sumed, they murmured against Moses and Aaron; but on the same evening God sent them quails and manna. The manna was to be gathered on each day except the Sabbath. 2. Water from Horeb. — At Rephidim, (places of rest,) which the Israelites reached after seven days, there was no longer 20 Outline of Bible History. any water, and the people were so incensed against Moses that they were ready to stone him; but God directed him to strike a rock in Horeb, from which the waters gushed out in abun- dance. Here the Israelites were attacked by the Amalekires, a tribe descended from Esau ; but were defeated under tiie leader- ship of Joshua, assisted by the prayers of Moses. Encampment on a plain at the base of Mount Sinai. 3. Gift of the Law. — (B. C. 1491.) The Lord descended in fire on the mountain, and called Moses to the top. Here Moses was informed of God’s intention to enter into a covenant with the people. The people should not come near to the mountain, lest they be destroyed. The Lord, out of thick darkness, pro- claimed the moral law, known as the Decalogue, or Ten Com- mandments. Various political and judicial laws were enjoined. Moses was appointed mediator between God and the people, and in this office he again ascended the mountain, and during forty days and nights continued in God’s presence and received his further commands. The ceremonial law was instituted, and Aaron and his sons set apart for the priesthood. God gave Moses two tables of stone, on which the law was inscribed with his own finger. The solid blocks or tables on which the Ten Commandments were written were of the granite rock of Sinai, as if to teach us that all the great laws of duty to God and duty to man were like that oldest primeval foundation of the world — more solid, more enduring than all the other strata ; cutting across all the secondary and artificial distinctions of mankind; heaving itself up, now here, now there; throwing up the fantastic crag, there the towering peak, here the long range which unites or divides the races of mankind. That is the universal, everlasting character of Duty. But as that granite rock itself has been fused and wrought together by a central fire, without which it could not have existed at all, so also the Christian law of Duty, in order to perform fully its work in the world, must have been warmed at the heart and fed at the source by a central fire of its own — and that central fire is Love — the gracious, kindly, gen- erous. admiring, tender movements of the human affections ; and that central fire itself is kept alive by the consciousness that there has been in the world a Love beyond all human love, a devouring fire of Divine enthusiasm on behalf of our race, which is the Love of Christ, which is of the inmost essence of the Holy Spirit of God. It is not contrary to the Ten Commandments. It is not outside of them ; it is within them ; it is at their core : it is wrapped up in them, as the particles of the central beat of the globe were encased within the granite tables of the Ark of the Temple. — Stanley : History of the Church of Scotland. 4. The Golden Calf. — The people grew impatient during the long absence of Moses, and induced Aaron to make a golden calf, (probably in imitation of the Egyptian Apis, an ox or calf dedicated to the god Osiris,) that they might worship it. Moses, on his return, cast the tables of the law out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mount ; he then seized the golden Outline of Bible History. 21 calf, burned it with fire, strewed the ashes in a neighboring brook, and c ompelled the people to drink the water containing the dust. The sons of Levi were found faithful to God, and slew three thousand of the people. Moses then ascended the mountain and interceded with God in behalf of the people, when the tables of the law were given again, and God’s cove- nant with the people renewed. After returning to assure the people of the restoration of the divine favor, Moses again ascended the mount, and received commands concerning the government of the host, and the mode of worshiping God. 5. Erection of the Tabernacle. — (B. C. 1490.) During the encampment before Sinai, which lasted more than a year, God gave Moses directions for constructing a Tabernacle, where religious services were to be conducted. When completed, the glory of the Lord tilled it. Aaron and his sons consecrated to the priesthood. Among other regulations, laws were now enjoined concerning festivals. There were three great annual festivals of the Jews, when all males were required to appear before the Lord. 1. The Passover, lasting from the 14th to the 21st of Nisan, or Abib, to commemorate the destruction of the first-born of the Egyptians and the preservation of the first-born of the Israelites, and the departure of the latter from Egypt. 2. Pentecost, (from the Greek word for the fiftieth day,) or Feast of Weeks, or of Harvest, at the end of seven complete weeks from the 16th of Nisan, a thanksgiving for harvest. It lasted one day. 3. Feast of Tabernacles, lasting seven days, kept in the autumn, from the 15th of the seventh month Tisri, to commemorate the sojourning of the Israelites in the wilderness when they dwelt in tents ; hence during it the people were commanded to live in tents, or booths of green boughs of various trees. It was also called the Feast of the Ingathering, to celebrate the gathering of the fruits in the autumn. 6. The March from Sinai. — Shortly after the march was resumed the people murmured, and God destroyed the mur- murers by a supernatural fire, on which account Moses called the place Taberali, {the burning.) The people complaining for flesh, God sent them quails in great abundance ; after eating them the Israelites were smitten with a severe plague, which destroyed many mighty men. The place where they were buried was called Kibroth-hattaavah, {graves of lust.) Pro- ceeding to Hazeroth they were joined by Zipporah, the Ethiopian wife of Moses, who excited the jealousy of Miriam ; for this sin Miriam was smitten with leprosy, but was healed at the inter- cession of Moses. From Kadesh-barnea twelve spies, the most prominent being Caleb and Joshua, were sent to search the land of Canaan and report concerning it. All the spies, except 2 22 Outline of Bible History. Caleb and Joshua, brought back an unfavorable report. The Israelites were stricken with terror at the news, and wished to return to Egypt, even threatening to stone Caleb and Joshua. God would have punished the people with death but for the intercession of Moses. All who were twenty years old and upward, except Caleb and Joshua, were to die in the wilderness for their unbelief. An attempt to enter Canaan by a way con- trary to God’s will, frustrated by a signal defeat by the Amorites and the Amalekites. 7. Rebellion against Moses; Fiery Serpents. — Korah, Dathan, and Abiram rebelled against* Moses. Moses leaving the issue with God, the earth opened and swallowed them up, and all belonging to them, and a fire from heaven destroyed two hundred and fifty who dared to offer incense at the sanctuary. On the Israelites murmuring against Moses and Aaron, a plague broke out, which destroyed fourteen thousand and seven hundred of them. God expressed his approval of Aaron as high priest by causing his rod to bud. Aaron died on Mount Hor, and w as succeeded by his son Eleazar. King Arad, the Canaanite, attacked the Israelites, and was defeated at Hormah. The people, murmuring afresh against Moses, bitten by fiery ser- pents. On the people repenting, God directed Moses to make a brazen serpent, and set it on a pole; all who had been bitten, wdien they beheld it, were healed. 8. Prophecy of Balaam. — Sibon, king of the Amorites, who occupied the country between the Arnon and the Jabbok, was defeated by the Israelites when attempting to prevent their pas- sage through his territory. Og, king of Bashan, which lay between the Jabbok and Mount Hermon, w T as defeated and slain at Edrei ( strength ) by the Israelites. Balak, king of Moab, desired Balaam, a celebrated heathen prophet, to arrest the prog- ress of the Israelites by his curses ; but Balaam w 7 as compelled by God’s Spirit to bless them. Balaam prophesied the coming of the Messiah. At Baal-peor the Israelites committed idolatry, and twenty thousand were destroyed by a plague. The Mid- ianites defeated and routed by the Israelites, under the com- mand of Pliineh as. Balaam slain. Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseli w r ere assigned settlements east of the Jordan. 9 Death of Moses. — Moses, admonished by God of his ap- proaching death, gave instructions for the future government Outline of Bible History. 23 of tlie people, and repeated the moral, ceremonial, and political law. After pronouncing his last blessing he ascended Mount Nebo, from the plains of Moab, and beheld the Promised Land. He died there, (B. C. 1451,) and God buried him in the valley of Moab. His sepulcher has remained unknown. Joshua, by God’s appointment, succeeded Moses, and sent spies to Jericho; they were received and concealed by Rahab. A CHAPTER VI. FROM THE PASSAGE OF THE JORDAN TO THE MONARCHY. B. C. 1451-1095. 1. First Events after Entering Palestine. — The Israelites crossed the Jordan, (B. C. 1451,) the waters dividing for their passage. Twelve stones, taken from the bed of the river, were set up at Gil gal. The rite of circumcision renewed, and the Passover celebrated. Jericho, which lay in the way of Israel, besieged and miraculously destroyed, with great spoils at the mercv of the Israelites. At Ai the Israelites were defeated, through the sin of A chan, who had secretly appropriated part of the spoils of Jericho ; he and all his family destroyed. Ai, attacked for the second time, now captured. The command of Moses relating to the ratification of the law on Mounts Ebal and Gerizim carried out, half of the tribes ascending Ebal, and the other half Gerizim. The priests, who stood in the intermediate valley, read the blessings and the curses of the law; to the former the six tribes on Gerizim responded with a loud Amen, and to the latter those on Ebal made a similar response. 2 Victories. — Joshua entered into a league wdth the Gibeon- ites, who, by a special embassy, had deceived him ; the bond kept, but tke-Gibeonites were made hewers of wood and drawers of water. Five Canaanite kings made war upon the Gibeonites, because of their defection to what was considered the national cause, and were defeated by Joshua at the battle of Betli-boron, {the house of caves.) During the battle the sun and moon stood still at the command of Joshua, thus giving sufficient time to pursue the enemy to Makkedah, in the maritime plain, and 24 Outline of Bible History. make the defeat an utter route. The five kings, who hid them- selves in a cave, slain. This great battle, the most important in its bearings on the future of the country ever fought in Palestine, followed by the conquest of the seven kings of Mak- kedah, Libnah, Lachish, Gezer, Eglon, and Hebron. 3. Result of the War. — The campaign gave the southern half of Palestine to the Israelites, and they then inarched back to their camp at Gilgal. Jabin, ( the wise ,) king of Hazor, the chief city of northern Palestine, gathered his confederates to defeat Israel. But though their army was “ as the sand on the sea-shore for multitude,” they were routed by Joshua at the waters of Merom, (B. C. 1445.) The whole land, save some Canaanite remnants, in the hands of the Israelites. They had conquered six nations and thirty-one king's since crossing the Jordan, seven years previously. 4. Division of the Country.— Reuben, Gad, and the half- tribe of Manasseh, before crossing the Jordan to take possession of the territory already assigned them, erected the altar Ed, (wit- ness?) which was regarded by their brethren as a proof of apostasy, and, therefore, a just ground of war. The nine and a half tribes disabused of their error on the return of an embassy, consisting of Phinehas and ten princes, sent to the two and a half tribes. The country west of the Jordan divided between the nine and a half tribes; the allotments made not only to the tribes as a whole, but to the families of each tribe ; the preponderance given to Judah and Joseph, because of their pre-eminence as prince and heir of the whole family. Six cities of refuge appointed, three west of the Jordan, (Kadesh, Shechem, Hebron,) and three east, (Bezer, Ramoth, Golan.) 5. Death of Joshua. — Joshua gave his final exhortation to the people at Shechem, reviewing their history, and exhorting them to perform all their duties faithfully in future. The people solemnly renewed their covenant with God. Joshua, after dismissing them to their homes, died, about B. C. 1426-25, and was buried at Timnath-serah. 6. Capture of Jerusalem, and Idolatry in the North,— Judah, in alliance with Simeon, attacked and captured Bezek ; they slew ten thousand inhabitants, and mutilated its king, Adoni-bezek, as a retribution for his treatment of his prisoners. The lower part of the city of Jerusalem captured. The people Outline of Bible History. 25 rebuked by an angel of the Lord at Bocliim for not driving the Canaanites completely out of the land. The results of the dis- obedience constantly seen in the military opposition to the tribes and the constant temptations to idolatry. Micah, an Ephraimite, set up two graven images in his house, and a young Levite, who was a descendant of Moses, was his priest, and received for his services ten shekels of silver, suitable vestments, and his living. The images captured by six hundred Danites, who were guided by five spies that had been sent northward to select a more favorable settlement for the tribe. The conquerors themselves became idolators, having set up the images in the new city of Dan, built on the site of Laish, which they had burned down, and whose inhabitants they had massacred. The great tribal war, (B. C. 1413,) caused by the crime of the Benjaraites of Gibeah, for which they nearly suffered exter- mination. 7. Beginning of the Period of the Judges.— There were great disorders during this period, chiefly owing to the heathen sympathies of the tribes. Their condition grew worse, and God withdrew his presence from them. On their repentance he heard their cry, and raised them up Judges, or Deliverers, who were the instruments of saving them from their enemies. The eastern tribes were grievously oppressed for eight years by Chuslian-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, because of their idolatry; delivered by the first of the judges, Othniel, {lion of God ,) son-in-law of Caleb, after w'hich the land had rest for forty years. 8. Relapse into Idolatry. — After the death of Othniel the eastern tribes again fell into idolatry, and were oppressed by the Moabites, Ammonites, and Amalekites, who crossed the Jordan and seized the site of Jericho. From this point Eglon, king of Moab, extended his dominion over at least the tribe of Benjamin, and exacted from the people for eighteen years an annual tribute, which was brought to him at Jericho. Ehud, a Benjamite, slew Eglon, and afterward the Israelites killed ten thousand of the Moabites, who had fled toward the fords of the Jordan to cross. Ehud now became Judge, and Benja- min had rest eighty years. The south-west borders invaded and ravaged by the Philistines, who were resisted and defeated by Shamgar. 26 Outline of Bible History. 9. The History of Ruth, the Moabitess.— The exact time when Ruth lived is uncertain, some placing it in the days of Ehud, and others later, in the judgeship of Gideon. During a famine in Bethlehem-judali a family, consisting of Elimelech, Naomi, and their sons, Mahlon and Chilion, crossed the Jordan and sought a home in Moab. Elimelech having died, his sons married two Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. After ten years their husband died, and their mother-in-law returned to her native land, Ruth resolving to accompany her. Ruth gleaned near Bethlehem in the fields of Boaz, a wealthy kins- man of Elimelech. Boaz redeemed the land which had belonged to Elimelech, and married Ruth, by whom he became the father of Obed, the grandfather of David, and ancestor of Jesus. 10. Victory of Deborah and Barak. — The northern tribes became idolatrous after the death of Ehud, and were oppressed by Jabin, king of the Canaanites. The land seemed without a deliverer. Finally, (B. C. 1285,) help appeared in the persons of Deborah, a prophetess, and Barak, ( lightning ,) who defeated the Canaanites in the battle of Megiddo, or of the Kishon. Sisera, the commander of the defeated army, was killed by Jael, wife of Heber, the Kenite. Deborah composed a song of triumph. 11. Gideon. — The Israelites of the north and east relapsed into all the abominations of the idolatrous worship of the heathen, and their country was invaded by Midianites, and op- pressed by them for seven years. The Lord appeared to Gideon, who was now commissioned to deliver Israel. The enemy routed by him at Jezreel. Gideon refused to be king. The land had rest from its enemies for forty years. After the death of Gideon, (B. C. 1235,) Abimelech, his illegitimate son, murdered all his brethren, except Jotham, the youngest, and was crowned king by the people of Sliechem. 12. Abimelech — Tola— Jair — Jephthah.— The people in- duced to rebel by Gaal, the son of Ebed, in consequence of which Abimelech destroyed Sliechem, killed all the people, and sowed the site of the city with salt. When Abimelech was besieging Thebez a woman threw a piece of millstone upon his head, fracturing his skull ; but lie, unwilling to die by the hand of a woman, ordered his armor-bearer to kill him with a sword. He can hardly be reckoned as a Judge, but rather an un- Outline of Bible History. 27 principled adventurer, a usurper, recognized as king only by the Shechemites. Tola, (little worm) of the tribe of Issachar, was Judge twenty-three years: and Jair, (enlightening) a Gileadite, twenty-two years. The land conquered, and the people oppressed by the Philistines and Amorites as a punish- ment for relapsing into gross idolatry. Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim ravaged by the enemy. In answer to their penitent prayer, however, the Lord raised up a deliverer, Jephthath, who routed the Amorites at Aroer, and captured twenty cities from that city to Minnith. Jephthah, in performance of a vow that, in case of victory, he would offer up whatever came out of his house first to meet him on his return, sacrificed his own daughter as a burnt-offering. Hales holds that Jephthah did not sacrifice his daughter, and that it is a mis translation in our version which gives the account that appearance. Richard Watson : If it could be more clearly established that Jephthah actually immo- lated his daughter, there is not the least evidence that his conduct was sanc- tioned by God. He was manifestly a superstitious and ill-instructed man, and, like Samson, an instrument of God’s power rather than an example <3f his grace. The Epliraimites quarreled with Jephthah for not giving them a share in his victorious campaign, and he slew forty-two thousand of them. Jephthah was Judge six years, after which he died. In north western Israel, Ibzan, of Bethlehem in Zebulun, judged aPer him seven years ; Elon, of the same tribe, ten years ; Abdon, of Pirathon, near Shecliem, eight years. The Philistines, after establishing themselves in the south-western lowlands, com- menced a systematic course of deadly hostility against the Israelites. Dan, already hard pushed by the Amorites, suf- fered the most. 13. Samson. — Samson, (the sunlike, or the strong) born B. C. 1155. He was distinguished for supernatural strength; married a Philistine woman; inflicted severe blows on the Philistines, the first in consequence of his wife being given by her father to another man; revealed the secret of his strength to Delilah, another Philistine woman ; and fell into the hands of his enemies, who destroyed his eyes, and made him grind corn in the prison-house at Gaza, (the strong) The Philistines, in honor of deliverance from their foe, held a great festival to Dagon, their national deity. Samson was brought out of prison to make sport for his captors; but, having recovered 28 Outline of Bible History. his strength, he pulled down the temple, killing himself and the great numbers who were within it and on the roof. 14. Defeat of Israel, and Loss and Return of the Ark.— Eli was high-priest at Shiloh during the twenty years that Samson was judge. Within this time Samuel {the asked , or heard of God) was born, and devoted by his mother Hannah to the Lord. At the battle of Aphek the Philistines defeated the Israelites, with a loss of four thousand men ; in a second con- flict they slew thirty thousand Israelites, and among the number the two wicked sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas. Eli, on learn- ing the sad news, fell from his seat and broke his neck and died. In this battle the Philistines captured the ark and carried it off to Ashdod, and placed it in the temple of Dagon, their god. But the idol of the Philistines fell down twice, and the second time was broken to pieces; the crops were destroyed, and the people afflicted in body by a plague. The ark was considered an unfortunate possession, and the Philistines placed it on a new cart, to which two milch-kin© were tied that had never before borne a yoke, and it was drawn to Betli-shemesh. Many people of that place, fifty thousand and seventy in number, were stricken instantly with death for looking into it. It was then taken to Kirjath-jearim, {the fields of the wood) where it remained until the time of David, who removed it to Jerusalem. 15. Samuel’s Effort at Reformation, and the Anoint- ment of Saul as King. — Samuel censured the people at Miz- peh, and urged them to repent of their idolatry. They heeded his admonition, and the Philistines, who heard of the assembly, immediately attacked them, but were defeated with great slaughter and utterly disorganized. A stone set up by Samuel in commemoration of the victory ; it was called Ebenezer, {the stone of help) Samuel, now confirmed as judge, assisted later by his sons Joel and Abiah, who became odious to the people because of their excessive usury. The people now demanded a king, Samuel being old, his corrupt sons giving no ground of hope, and the enemies on both the east and south-west frontiers threatening to make war upon their country. But the demand was contrary to God’s command and wish. Samuel, by God’s direction, privately anointed Saul, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, as king, B. C. 1095. Outline of Bible History. 29 16. Judges in Chronological Order.— There were fourteen judges, Deborah being reckoned with her male associate, Barak : Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah and Barak, Gideon, Abime- lech, (only as king,) Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, Samson, Eli, Samuel. Their periods of judgeship extended over about three hundred and fifty years. CHAPTER VII. FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MONARCHY TO ITS DIVISION. B. C. 1095^975. 1. Reign of Saul. — The new king, privately anointed, but still needing a public confirmation ; the people came to Mizpeli at Samuel’s command, and the lot fell on Saul, who was now proclaimed king. The Ammonites shortly after besieged Jabesh-gilead, under their king, Nahash, and were defeated by Saul with great slaughter. Formally inaugurated king at Gilgal. Samuel made his first address to the people, exhorting them to the faithful service of God. 2. Sins of Saul, — The Philistines terribly oppressed Israel, and made them hopeless of resistance. Saul, weary of waiting for the aged Samuel to come to Gilgal and offer sacrifice, prob- ably preparatory to some fixed plan of action, offered sacrifices himself, and was therefor rebuked by Samuel, and told by him that the kingdom would depart from his family. The Philis- tines routed at Mich mash. Successful wars carried on against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the Philistines, and the kings of Zobah, a region east of Ccelo-Syria, and extending toward the Eu- phrates. Saul sinned a second time by sparing Agag, king of the Amalekites, whom he had completely defeated in battle, and was ordered by the Lord to utterly destroy. Agag hewed in pieces by Samuel before the Lord. 3. David designated King. — David, the youngest son of Jesse, of Bethlehem, privately anointed future king by Samuel at command of God. The Philistines rising in war against the Israelites, their champion, Goliath, was slain by David. David 30 Outline of Bible History. was lauded very much by the people ; he thereby provoked the jealousy of Saul, who now regarded him with aversion; and though David married Michal, Saul's daughter, and was cap- tain of the king’s body guard, Saul gave orders to kill him. 4. David fleeing before Saul. — David meeting with new successes against the Philistines, Saul employed fresh measures to take his life. David fled to Naiotli, (huts, or habitations ,) where he was with Samuel. The friendship formerly existing between him and Jonathan, Saul’s son, renewed, and he then, in order to escape from Saul, fled in turns to Nob ' near Jerusalem) to the court of Achisli, king of Gath, and to the cave of Adul- lam, near Bethlehem. A band gathered about him, consisting of his brethren, his nephews Joab, Abishai, and Asahel, and four hundred men besides. He sent his father and mother across to Moab for protection, and established himself as an independent chieftain. Taking the advice of the prophet Gad, he went to the forest of Hareth, and then to Keilah, where he gained a victory over the Philistines. A plot being laid for his surrender to Saul, he removed to the wilderness of Ziph, between Carmel and Juttah. Saul learned of his movements and pursued him further. David fled to the wilderness of Maou, and then to the wilderness of Engedi, ( the spring of the wild goats,) on the western shore of the Dead Sea, whither he was pursued by Saul with three thousand men. Saul was twice at his mercy, but David spared him. 5. Death of Samuel and Saul.— Samuel died, B. C. 1060. David fled to Aehish, who gave him the city of Ziklag for a dwelling-place. Thence he made an expedition against the Amalekites and other tribes, and acquired much spoil. He accompanied the Philistines in their attack on Saul at Gilboa ; but, being distrusted by some of the Philistine chiefs, was dis- missed. Saul and three sons slain on Mount Gilboa, and greatly lamented by David. 6. David’s Reign. — B. C. 1056-1016. David, after the death of Saul, went to Hebron, where he was proclaimed king of Judah. Ishbosheth, son of Saul, proclaimed king of Israel by the remaining eleven tribes, through the advice and assistance of Abner, and civil war ensued. Abner forsook Ishbosheth and joined David; treacherously slain by Joab, in revenge for Abner’s slaying Joab’s brother Asahel. Ishbosheth was mur- Outline of Bible History. 35 clered by liis two captains, Bn an ah and Rechab. The assassins punished by David, who was now proclaimed king over all Israel, B. C. 1048, at the age of thirty-seven years. Jerusalem captured by him, and made the capital of his kingdom. He brought the ark from Kirjath-jearim, and placed it in a new tabernacle on Mount Zion, near his own residence. David now desired to build a temple for the worship of Jehovah, but was forbidden by God through the prophet Nathan, because he had shed much blood. Early period of David’s reign marked by great military suc- cesses: 1. Conquest of the Philistines and capture of the city of Gath ; 2. Victories over the Moabites, Syrians of Damascus, Edomites, and Ammonites. He committed the double crime of adultery and murder, previous to which he had been uniformly successful over his enemies. The reduction of Rabbath was the last important conquest before his kingdom reached the climax of its magnitude. David had fifteen sons, six born in Hebron and nine in Jeru- salem, besides those by his concubines. The most noted were Amnon, Absalom, Adonijah, and Solomon. David’s daughter Tamar dishonored by her half-brother Amnon, who was slain by Absalom. Absalom conspired against his father, but was defeated by David’s forces in a dense forest near Mahanaim, and slain by Joab as he hung in a tree by his long hair. Sheba, a Benjamite, revolted; pursued by Joab, and slain by his own followers at Abel, near the waters of Merom. A famine occurred, lasting three years. The Philistines, growing rebel- lious under their subjection, were defeated, and after four great battles their land was reconquered by David. David, in opposition to God’s will, took a census of his peo- ple, followed by a plague which destroyed seventy thousand persons. He made preparations for the building of the temple, which should be consummated by his son Solomon. Adoni- jah conspired against his father David, when the latter gave orders that Solomon should be formally anointed and pro- claimed king. Adonijah submitted to Solomon. David in his final charge to his people exhorted them to fear God, and gave Solomon a plan for the temple, and such materials for its construction as he had collected. Death of David, B. C. 1016 . 36 Outline of Bible History. 7. Reign of Solomon. — B. C. 1016-976. Solomon offered at Gibeon one thousand burnt offerings, and on the following night the Lord appeared to him and bade him ask what He should give him. Solomon asked for wisdom, which, with both wealth and honor, was granted him. Adonijah, who again exhibited treacherous designs, was put to death. Vigorous measures employed for building the temple. Hi- ram, king of Tyre, furnished the timber, and Solomon paid him yearly therefor both wheat and oil. Solomon married the daughter of the King of Egypt. Foundations of the temple laid on Mount Moriah, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign. Dedicated B. C. 1004. Dur- ing the dedication God gave a visible sign of his favor by fire coming down from heaven and consuming the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filling the house. The festival lasted seven days, and was followed by the Feast of Tabernacles, which continued fourteen days. The sacrifices consisted of twenty-two thousand oxen, and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. The Ark was removed from David’s Tabernacle, and deposited in the Holy of Holies. God, in a second vision to Solomon, assured him of His favor if he proved faithful, and warned him of certain retribution in case of sin. Solomon built other structures and cities of great splendor, such as a palace for Pharaoh’s daughter, one of his wives; fortifications of Baalath, Gezer, Beth-horon, Hazor, Megiddo; the city of Tadmor, afterward called Palmyra, and Tiplisah, or Thapsacus. He was visited by the Queen of Sheba, who had heard in her own country of his great wisdom. Solomon was led into idolatry by his wives, whom he had taken from heathen nations, and he set up altars in Jerusalem to Baal, Ashtaroth, Molech, and Chemosh. Enemies now ap- peared: first, Hadad the Edomite, and Rezon, the king of Damascus; then, Jeroboam, of the tribe of Ephraim. This last had been told by the prophet Ahijah that the kingdom would be divided, and that the Lord would make him king of Israel. Solomon died, B. C. 975, at the age of fifty-eight years. Solomon’s dominion was more widely extended than that of any other Hebrew monarch. During his earlier years he was blessed with uninterrupted peace; Outline of Bible History. 37 under him the Jews first exhibited a genius for commerce, and the national wealth was largely increased. Only three of Solgmon’s writings are extant and belong to the Biblical Canon : Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and The Song of Solomon. The Book of Wisdom and Ecclesiasticus have been ascribed to him. Josephus says that Solomon wrote three thousand books of Proverbs. His works on nature are alleged by some to have been translated into the writings of Aristotle and Theophrastus ; Eusebius says they were suppressed by Hezekiah. CHAPTER VIII. FROM THE DIVISION OF THE MONARCHY TO THE FINAL CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM. B. C. 975-587. 1. Table of the Kings of Judah and Israel. B. C. Judah. Israel.- B.C. Judah. Israel. 976 Rehoboam. Jeroboam. 823 Jeroboam II. 959 Abijah, or 808 Uzziah, or Abijam. Azariah. 956 Asa. 783 Interregnum . 955 Nadab. 771 Zechariah. 953 Baasha. 770 Shallum. 931 Elah. 770 Menahem. 930 Zitnri. 759 Pekahiah. 930 Omri. 757 Pekah. 919 Ahab. 756 Jotham. 915 Jehoshaphat. 741 Ahaz. 898 Ahaziah. 738 Interregnum . 895 Jehoram, or 730 Hoshea. Joram. 726 Hezekiah. 891 Jehoram ? 721 The Ten Tribes (in coni unc- carried into tion with his Captivity. father.) 697 Manasseh. 889 Jehoram, 642 Amon. (alone.) 640 Josiah. 884 Ahaziah. 609 Jehoahaz, or 883 Athaliah. Jehu. Shallum. 877 Joash. or Je- 609 Jehoiakim. hoasn. 598 Jehoiachin, 855 Jehoahaz. Coniah, or 841 Jehoash, Jeconiah. (in conjunc- 598 Zedektah. tion with his 587 Jerusalem father.) finely taken. 839 Jehoash, 837 Amaziah. (alone.) Rehoboam, son and successor of Solomon, was forty-one years old on his accession to the throne, B. C. 975. The people demanded redress for their grievances, and, being refused, ten 38 Outline of Bible History. tribes revolted and made Jeroboam king. Two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, remained faithful to Rehoboam, who became king of Judah. Judah still worshiped the true God at Jeru- salem, but Jeroboam made two golden calves, probably after the Egyptian Apis, for Israel, one in Bethel and the other in Dan. Tiie kingdom of Israel lasted two hundred and fifty-four years, (B. C. 975-721,) and that of Judah three hundred and eighty- seven years, B. C. 588. Israel had nineteen kings, and Judah twenty, counting Athaliah. KINGS OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL IN CONNECTION. 2. Hostility between the Two Kingdoms. Idolatry in Israel. — Shechem rebuilt by Jeroboam, and made the capital of Israel. Constant hostilities prevailed between the rival king- doms. Rehoboam fortified his kingdom. The true servants of God in Israel left the country, because of the growing idolatry, and went to Judah. Rehoboam and his subjects now fell into idolatry and other grievous sins. Jerusalem surrendered to Sliishak, king of Egypt, at the head of a great army of Libyans, Nubians, and Ethiopians, and the temple and Solomon’s palace were despoiled, B. C. 972. 3. Abijah, Asa, and Kings of brief Reign ; Ahab. — Death of Rehoboam, B. C. 959, succeeded by his son Abijah, who made a desperate attempt to recover the ten tribes, and defeated the forces of Jeroboam in the mountain range of Ephraim with great loss. Abijah died after a reign of three years; succeeded by his son Asa, B. C. 956. Asa’s reign distinguished by the removal of idols and a general religious reform, the fortification of frontier towns, the defeat of Zerali the Ethiopian at the head of a great army, a solemn covenant with God to put to death all who proved unfaithful to him, the hostility of Baaslia, king of Israel, and — the one great sin of his life — a league with Ben- had ad, king of Syria, against Baasha. Jeroboam’s successor was his son Nadab, a wicked prince, who was killed at the siege of Gibbethon by Baasha. Baasha had risen from the ranks ; he usurped the throne, and de- stroyed the whole family of Nadab. Baasha died, and was succeeded (B. C. 931) by his son Elah, who was barely on the throne before being assassinated by Zimri, one of his captains. Zimri's brief reign of seven days Outline of Bible History. 39 was terminated by Omri, El all’s chief captain ; he attacked Zimri at Tirzali. Zimri fired his palace and perished in the flames. Omri succeeded him, and lived the former part of his reign in Tirzah, and the latter part in Samaria, a city built by himself as a capital for his kingdom. Ahab, his son, succeeded him. These Israelitish kings were all gross idolaters. Allah's wife was the cruel and wicked Jezebel. 4. Jehoshaphat. — Asa, after along reign, succeeded by Jeliosh- aphat, his son. Jehoshaphat garrisoned his fenced cities, pulled down the heathen altars and groves, instructed the people in the law, defeated the Philistines and Arabians, who became tributary to him ; united with Ahab in an unsuccessful war against the Syrians, and combined with Joram and the king of Edom in a victorious war against the Moabites. 5. The Prophet Elijah— During Ahab’s reign a great famine occurred, owing to a drought which lasted three years and a half. Elijah foretold to Ahab the famine, and then fled to the brook Cheat h, where he was supported some time by ravens. He then went to Zarephatli, where he lodged with a poor widow, and miraculously supplied her barrel with meal and her cruse with oil, and restored her child to life. Great triumph of the worship of Jehovah on Mount Carmel, in a con- test between Elijah and the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. The prophets of Baal slain by the people at the command of Elijah. Abundant rain in answer to Elijah’s prayer. The prophet then withdrew to Beersheba, and thence to Horeb, and anointed Elisha his successor as prophet. 6. War with the Assyrians. The Prophet Elisha.— Samaria besieged by Benhadad, king of Syria, B. C. 902. Ahab, king of Israel, successful over him. Israel again invaded, but the Syrians were defeated with great slaughter at Aphek. Ahab and Jehoshaphat in war with the Syrians six years later; Ahab killed, and succeeded by his son Ahaziah, who died B. C. 895. Elijah was translated to heaven in a chariot of fire, and Elisha took his place as prophet. Elisha healed an im- pure spring at Jericho by casting in salt ; multiplied the widow’s oil ; restored to life the son of a wealthy Shunammite woman ; rendered a pottage of poisonous gourds fit for food by pouring in meal; multiplied twenty barley loaves and some roasted corn for one hundred men ; caused an iron ax to float on the 40 Outline of Bible History. water; directed Naaman, the leprous captain of the Syrian army, to bathe seven times in the Jordan; Naaman healed thereby. 7. Jehoram, Ahaziah, Athaliah, Joash, Monarchs of Judah. — Jehoshaphat was succeeded by Jehoram, Ins wicked son, who began his reign by murdering all his brethren. His son, Ahaziah, was also a bad monarch, and an idolater. He was slain by the Israelitish usurper Jehu, and succeeded by Athaliah, his mother, who sought to destroy all the seed royal. Joash, however, Ahaziah’s son, was preserved by the family of Jehoiada, the priest, who in time overcame all opposition, and placed the young prince on the throne. Joash served the true God during the life-time of this good priest, but afterward became an idolater. Zecliariah, the prophet, son of Jehoiada, was stoned to death for proving him. 8. Ahaziah, Joram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Kings of Israel. — Ahaziah, king of Israel, was succeeded by his brother Joram, who was dangerously wounded in battle against Hazael, king of Syria. Jehu slew Joram, and succeeded him as king of Israel. Jehu died B. C. 855 ; his son and successor, Jehoa- haz, was wicked, and fell under the power of Hazael, who com- pelled him to limit his army to fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand infantry. His reign inglorious ; followed by Jehoash, who, with his people, remained in idolatry. Jehoash three times victorious over the Syrians ; defeated Amaziah, king of Judah, in battle; dismantled the northern wall of Jerusalem, and carried off the sacred treasures. Jehoash suc- ceeded by Jeroboam II. * 9. The Prophet Jonah. — Jonah was commissioned, B. C. 850, to go to Nineveh, the capital of the great empire of Assyria, and foreteli its destruction. Shrinking from the task, he took ship for Tarshish; but a great storm arising, he was cast over- board. A whale swallowed him, and after three days cast him up on dry land. Again commanded to go to Nineveh, he no longer refused, and declared the destruction of that city in forty days. The people sincerely repenting, the city was spared more than another century. 10. Amaziah, TJzziah, and other Kings.— Joash slain by his servants ; succeeded by his son Amaziah, a bad man. Amaziah slain, B. C. 808, and succeeded by his son Uzziah, who reigned fifty-two years, and was a wise, good, and successful king • Outline of Bible History. 41 Being elevated beyond measure by his successes, he one day entered the Holy Place in the temple to offer incense on the golden altar, and was stricken with leprosy. Ilis son Jotham was appointed regent, and succeeded him on the throne. Jero- boam II., of Israel, son of the wicked Jehoash, reigned forty-one years; he died B. C. 783, after which there was an interregnum of eleven years. Zeehariah, son of Jeroboam II., became king of Israel; he reigned six months, and was assassinated by Shal- lum, who reigned but one month, and was deposed by Menahem. Menahem succeeded by his son Pekahiali, who was slain by Pekah. Isaiah began to prophesy. Jotham, king of Judah, succeeded by Ahaz, the most wicked of all the kings of Judah. Judah invaded by Pekah, in alliance with Rezin, king of Damascus, B. C. 742. The intended alliance of Ahaz with Assyria denounced by Isaiah, who predicted the ruin of Damas- cus and the ten tribes. 11. Captivity of the Ten Tribes. — Ahaz defeated by Pekah ; one hundred and twenty thousand soldiers slain, and two hun- dred thousand women and children led into captivity. Ahaz, by giving the temple treasures, secured the aid of Tiglatli-pileser, king of Assyria, who now slew the king of Syria, took possession of his dominions, ravaged the east Jordan country, and carried into captivity Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseli. Pekah, king of Israel, succeeded by his son Hoshea. Samaria besieged by Shal- maneser, successor of Tiglath-pileser. Sargon, who revolted against Shalmaneser, continued the siege, and Samaria was captured, B. C. 721. The ten tribes were carried into captivity, and Israel as an independent monarchy ceased to exist. KINGS OF JUDAH. B. C. 721-587. 12. Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, Jehoahaz.— Heze kiah had succeeded Ahaz, B. C. 726. He was a good and just king , put away the idolatrous objects of his people ; per- suaded the people to renew their vows to God. Sennacherib, Saigon’s successor, invaded the country, first, B. C. 713, and again, B. C. 710. The second time his Army was miraculously destroyed. Hezekiah was dangerously ill, and his death was predicted by Isaiah. Hezekiah prayed for the prolongation of 3 42 Outline of Bible History. • his life, and fifteen years were added to it. Death of Hezekiah, B. C. 697 ; succeeded by his son Manassek, who restored idolatry. Jerusalem invested by the captains of Esarh addon ; Manasseh taken captive to Babylon and thrown into prison. He was afterward restored to his throne, and was thenceforth a good ruler. Manasseh died B. C. 642, and was succeeded by his son Amon. Amon slain by his servants, and his son Josiah, who was only eight years old, succeeded him, and became one of the purest and wisest kings of Judah. In accordance with a proph- ecy uttered before King Jeroboam I., more than three hundred years previously, Josiah suppressed idolatry, renewed the cove- nant with God, and celebrated the Passover with imposing grandeur. He was defeated and slain in his attempt to resist the passage of Necho, king of Egypt, through his dominions on the way to obtain possession of Charcliemisli, which com- manded the passage of the Euphrates. He was succeeded by his son Jehoahaz; the latter reigned but three months, and was succeeded by Jehoiakim. The seventy years’ Captivity predicted by Jeremiah. 13. Captures of Jerusalem. — Jerusalem captured by Nebu- chadnezzar, B. C. 606. Jehoiakim put in chains, but afterward restored to the throne; the temple rifled; Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (the names of the latter three changed in Babylon to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) taken to Baby- lon. Jehoiakim revolted against Nebuchadnezzar ; died a violent death, B. C. 598 ; was succeeded by his son Jelioiachin, or Jeconiab, who reigned but three months. Jerusalem again taken by Nebuchadnezzar; he made Zedekiah, the youngest son of Josiah, king over the country. Zedekiah rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, B. C. 598, and the latter besieged Jerusalem again. Jeremiah twice imprisoned in Jerusalem for prophesy * ing the fall of the city. Capture of Jerusalem, B. C. 587. Zedekiah was led captive to Babylon; Jeremiah liberated; the temple burned; the city nearly razed ; the most of the people led off into captivity Outline of Bible History. 43 CHAPTER IX. FROM THE FINAL CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM BY NEBUCHADNEZZAR TO THE CLOSE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY. B. C. 58T-397. 1. The Jewish Captives. — Gedaliah made governor of Jeru- salem, but slain by Ishmael. Nebuchadnezzar having com- manded all his subjects to fall down and worship the golden image he had set up in the plain of Dura, three Jewish youths w T ho had been carried captive to Babylon — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — refused, and were cast into a fiery furnace. By divine aid they escaped unharmed. Daniel, a fellow Jewish captive, rose to a very high position because of his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, and became the means of the promo- tion of his three friends. A second dream of Nebuchadnezzar was interpreted by Daniel, when the king’s fall and insanity were foretold. Nebuchadnezzar, after a period of insanity, re- stored to reason and his kingdom; died B. C. 561, and suc- ceeded by Evil-merodach, who released Jehoiacliin, the last of the royal line of Solomon who was accorded kingly honors. 2. Destruction of Babylon. Daniel. — Belshazzar, king of Babylon, B. C. 538, made a great feast, and in the midst of the revelries mysterious words were written on the wall. These were interpreted by Daniel as predicting the fall of the kingdom and its possession by the Medes and Persians ; and on the same night the city was captured by Cyrus and Belshazzar slain. Cyrus intrusted the city to a viceroy, Darius the Mede, whom he made king-. Darius is supposed by some to be Cyaxares, the uncle of Cyrus ; by others he is thought to be Astyages, grandfather of Cyrus. Daniel cast into a den of lions, because he continued to pray to God, contrary to a decree which some of the nobility, Daniel’s enemies, had induced Darius the king to pass. Daniel miracu- lously preserved, but his enemies and their families, who were afterward cast in, were devoured by the lions. 3. The Return from Captivity— A decree was now issued (B. C. 536) by Cyrus for the return of the Jews to their county, the restoration of the sacred vessels, and the rebuilding of the 44 Outline of Bible History. temple. The captivity had lasted seventy years. Few, com- paratively, availed themselves of the permission to return. Zerubbabel, grandson of Jelioiachin, led back to Jerusalem forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty Jews, attended by seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven servants. 4. Opposition of the Samaritans. Decree of Ahasuerus.—- In the second year after the return, the foundations of the new temple were laid ; an altar, however, had been set up in the first year. The Samaritans, being refused to share in the erection of the new temple, retarded its erection. It was continued and completed in harmony with a decree of Darius, the Persian king ; dedicated B. C. 515. The Jews had peace during the rest of the reign of Darius ; but Ahasuerus, the Xerxes of profane his- tory, issued, at the instance of Haman, a decree for the destruc- tion of all the Jewish exiles throughout the Persian dominions. Haman fell a victim to his own plot, being hung on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai, the guardian of Esther, the Jewish maiden whom Ahasuerus had married in place of the divorced queen, Yashti. 5. Another Return. Ezra. — In the sixth year of the reign of Alexander Longimanus, B. C. 458, a new band of exiles set out for Jerusalem under Ezra, who, on arriving at Jerusalem, induced the people to put away the strange wives they had taken. In B. C. 444 Nehemiali was commissioned to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and in fifty-tw T o days the city was inclosed with new walls and the ancient towers. The law was read by Ezra, and the city dedicated. Ezra, after effecting various important reforms, returned to Persia, B. C. 482, but went back to Jerusalem after an absence of about nine years, and reformed the old abuses which had taken fresh root during his absence. 6. The Prophets. — There were sixteen prophets, whose writ- ings are preserved in the Canon. They were distinguished by important characteristics, and were a great power in their several periods of time. They were the national poets of the chosen peo- ple, the annalists and historians of their country, the out-spoken patriots, the reformers of morals and pure religion, the preachers of righteousness and exponents of the law, and, most of all, the revealers of God’s grand design of effecting our redemption through Jesus Christ. The sixteen prophets may be divided Outline of Bible History. 45 into four groups : — Prophets of the Northern Kingdom : Hosea, Amos, Jonah : — Prophets of the Southern Kingdom : Joel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah. Prophets of the Captivity : Ezekiel and Daniel. Prophets of the Return : Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. The four major prophets were, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel; the twelve minor prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. 7. The Prophets in their supposed Chronological Order. Whole Period covered by the Prophecies. Prophets. B. C. Kings of Judah. Kings of Israel. 1 . Jonah. 840-784 Joash, Jero- boam II. 2. Joel. 810-795 Uzziah. Jeroboam II. 3. Amos. 810-785 Uzziah. 4. Hosea. 800-725 Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz. Jeroboam II., Hoshea. 5. Isaiah. 765-698 Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Heze- kiah, perhaps Manasseh. 6. Micah. 758-699 Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah. Pekah, Hoshea. 7. Nahum. 720-698 Probably toward close of Hezekiah’ s reign. 8. Zephaniah. 640-609 Josiah. 9. Jeremiah. 628-585 Josiah — the Captivity. 10. Habakkuk. 612-598 Probably in the reigns of Jehoahaz or Jehoiakim. 11. Daniel. 606-534 During the whole Captivity. 12. Ezekiel. 595-574 Zedekiah — Captivity. 13. Obadiah. 588-583 'Between the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchad- nezzar and the conquest of Edom. 14. Haggab Zechariah. 520-518 After the Return. 15. 520-510 u u 16. Malachi. 420-397 a a CHAPTER X. interval between the close of the old testament HISTORY AND THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE NEW. B. C. 397-6. 1. Division of the Time.— The interval between the close of the Old Testament history and the beginning of the New, the \atter being a little overlapped, falls into four periods: Con- 46 Outline of Bible History tinuance of the Persian dominion until B. C. 831 ; Greek Em- pire in Asia, B. C. 331-167 ; Independence of Judea under the Asmonean princes, B. C. 167-63; Rule of the Herodian House from B, C. 40 to the destruction of Jerusalem, A. H. 70. The relations of. Judea to Rome are embraced in the last two periods. There is a tradition that Alexander the Great, after destroying Tyre, visited Jerusalem peaceably, B. C. 332. Ptolemy Soter, (son of Lagus,) of Egypt, besieged and took Jerusalem, and, according to Aristeas. carried off one hundred thousand Jewish and Samaritan captives to Alexandria. 2. War between Syria and Egypt. — Ptolemy IV. Philop ator, became king of Egypt, B. C. 222, and Antiochus III., the Great, king of Syria, made war on him for the possession of the provinces of Phoenicia, Coele- Syria, and Palestine, but was defeated at the battle of Raphia, near Gaza, B. C. 217. Emboldened by his victory, Ptolemy went to Jerusalem, and, not content with simply offering sacrifices, he entered the Holy of Holies, but was driven out, it is said, by a supernatural terror. He gave vent to his resentment by a persecution of the Jews at Alexandria, the consequence of which was the alienation of the Jews of both Palestine and Egypt. 3. Revolt of Judea and Persecution of the Jews. — Antio- chus IY. Epiphanes, w r ho reigned in Syria B. C. 175-164, (called Epimanes , madman ,) conducted four successful cam- paigns against Egypt. Once, when in Egypt, the report reached him that Judea had revolted, and he hastened up to Jerusalem in great rage and slew forty thousand of the inhabitants, and sold an equal number into slavery. He profaned the sanctities of the temple, and carried off eighteen hundred talents’ worth of sacred vessels and other treasures. Two years later, B. C. 167, he began one of the most cruel persecutions of the Jews recorded in the history of any people. 4. Rise of the Maccabeans. — Mattathias, an aged Jewish priest, set* Antiochus at defiance, and headed a revolt against the Syrian domination and the heathen worship, long before introduced into Palestine. Mattathias died in the midst of his expedition, B. C. 166, and was succeeded as military leader by his third son, Judas, surnamed Maccabeus, (the Hammerer ,) with Simon Thassi, his second son, as counselor to his brother. Judas aimed not only at political independence, but perfect Outline of Bible History. 47 religious freedom. After great successes over the Syrians he gained possession of Jerusalem, restored the temple, and in- stituted the Feast of Dedication, B. C. 166. 5. Career of Judas Maccabeus.— An tiochus died in a rav- ing frenzy when he heard of the successful revolt of the Jews. Judas Maccabeus defeated the surrounding nations, who had confederated for his destruction, carried on a border war, and unsuccessfully attempted to reduce Acra. Judea invaded by Lysias and Antiochus Eupator. Peace between Judas and Syria. Judas appointed governor of Judea, under the king of Syria. Demetrius Soter, successor of Antiochus Eupator, sent an army against Judea; Judas formed an alliance with Rome; slain in battle, B. C. 161. Jonathan, brother of Judas, chosen his successor. 6. Simon, John Hyrcanus, Aristobulus, Alexander Jan- nseus. — Jonathan murdered at Bascama, B. C. 161. The high priesthood and civil government settled on Simon, his brother, and his heirs. Simon completed the fortifications of Jerusalem, reduced Acra, and was recognized at Rome as High Priest and Prince of Judea. Simon murdered, B. C. 135, and succeeded by his son, John Hyrcanus. Aristobulus I. succeeded Hyrcanus, and by cruelties to his family obtained sole control and assumed to be king, the first claim of the kind since the Captivity. Alexander Jannaeus, the eldest of the three brothers of Aris- tobulus, became his successor. He had petty wars with the neighboring nations, and, after a great reverse, achieved an important success, and died while besieging Ragaba, east of the Jordan. Succeeded by his wife Alexandra, who made her son Hyrcanus high priest. Alexandra died B. C. 70, and was succeeded in the throne by Hyrcanus II. He reigned but three months, when he was dethroned by his brother Aristobulus II. 7. Reduction of Syria to a Roman Province— Roman in- terference; Pompey arbitrated between Hyrcanus II. and Arie tobulus; captured Jerusalem, and restored Hyrcanus II. to tho- Jewish throne. The restoration purely nominal ; Syria reduced by Pompey to a mere Roman province. The government changed by Gabinius to an aristocracy. The temple plundered by Crassus. Jerusalem taken by Pompey, and Judea made 48 Outline of Bible History. tributary to Rome. Antipater appointed Procurator of Judea by Julius Caesar. Antipater’s son Herod made governor of Galilee, and Phasael, Herod’s elder brother, governor of Jerusalem. Antipater poisoned by Malichus. The Parthians, under their king's son, Pacorus, captured Jerusalem, and made Antigonus king. Herod escaped to Rome, B. C. 40, and obtained the kingdom of Judea from the Triumvirate. Antigonus executed at Antioch ; thus terminating the Maccabean dynasty. Jerusa- lem taken by Herod the Great, B. C. 37. He began to rebuild and enlarge the temple, B. C. 17. 8. The Apocryphal Books, fourteen in number : 1 Esdras, or Ezra; 2 Esdras; Tobit; Judith; Rest of the Chapters of the Book of Esther; Wisdom of Solomon; Ecclesiasticus, or Wis- dom of Jesus the Son of Siracli ; Book of Baruch ; Song of the Three Holy Children; History of Susanna; Bel and the Dragon ; Prayer of Manasseh, king of Judah ; 1 Maccabees ; 2 Maccabees. 9. Jewish Sects. — 1. The Pharisees originated about B. C. 135, and were so called from the Hebrew word pharash, to separate. They held that Moses received on Mount Sinai an oral law — intended to complete and explain the written law — which was transmitted by him to posterity. They ascribed all things to fate or providence ; yet not so fully as to take away free-will from man, for fate does not co-operate in every action. They also believed in the existence of spirits and angels, the resurrection of the dead, and that God stood engaged to bless the Jews, to make them all partakers of the Messiah’s terrestrial kingdom, to justify them, and make them eternally happy. 2. The Saddu- cees appear first in history about B, C. 250. They denied the oral law of the Pharisees, and held that the written law alone was of value ; they also denied the resurrection of the dead, and the existence of saints and angels. According to some early Christian writers, they rejected all the sacred Scriptures except the Pentateuch. 3. The Essenes originated about B. C. 110, and represented a tendency rather than an organization. They were absolute predestinarians ; observed the seventh day with peculiar strictness ; reverenced the Scriptures highly, but ex- pounded them allegorically ; sent gifts to the temple, but offered no sacrifices ; abstained from wine ; held celibacy in high esteem, and led an austere and retired life, THE NEW TESTAMENT. CHAPTER I. FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW TESTAMENT PERIOD TO THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST. B. C. 6-A. D. 30. [The Christian era begins, in reality, four years too late, but was erroneously so established in the Sixth Century. The birth of Christ took place, not A. D. 1, but B. C. 4.] 1. Birth of John the Baptist and Jesus.— Annunciation to Zacharias, by the angel Gabriel, of the birth of John the Bap- tist. Sixth months later £he same angel foretold to the Virgin Mary at Nazareth the birth of Jesus Christ. Birth of John the Baptist ; circumcision eight days thereafter. Universal peace in the Roman Empire. Joseph and Mary set out for Beth- lehem, the home of their forefathers, to be taxed according to law. Birth of . esus at Bethlehem. A company of shepherds, while watching their flocks by night, were astonished by the appearance of a multitude of angels, one of whom announced the nativity of the Saviour. Directed by the angels, the shep- herds proceeded to Bethlehem, and worshiped their Lord. He was circumcised on the eighth day, and on the fortieth was presented in the temple. The aged Simeon and the prophetess Anna prophesied concerning Christ. Wise men from the East having been guided by a star to Jerusalem, and afterward to Bethlehem, to worship Jesus, the jealousy of Herod was aroused for his dynasty, and he ordered all the male children in Bethlehem two years old and under to be slain. But Joseph, who was divinely warned of the danger in a dream, took Jesus and Mary, and fled to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod, B. C. 3, when he returned to Pales- tine and dwelt at Nazareth. Jesus, arriving at the age of twelve years, went with his par- ents to Jerusalem to attend the Passover, A. D. 8. He aston- ished the doctors in the temple by his wisdom. 50 Outline of Bible History. 2. Ministry of John the Baptist. First Year of Christ Ministry. A. D. 27.— (1.) Beginning of John the Baptist' public ministry and baptizing, A. D. 26. Multitudes were at- tracted to him ; he preached repentance and the nearness of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus was baptized by John ; he was afterward tempted by the devil in the wilderness, where he remained forty days without food. Andrew, his brother Simon Peter, John, Philip, and Nathanael acknowledged him, and became his disciples. (1.) First miracle (changing of water into wine) performed by Jesus at Cana in Galilee, at a marriage-feast. Accompanied by his mother, brethren, and five disciples, he went to Caper- naum, on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias. (2.) Celebration of the First Passover of his public ministry at Jerusalem. Indignant at the sacrilege done to the temple, Jesus cast out the money-changers and dove-sellers from the sacred precincts. He performed many miraculous cures, and multitudes were attracted to his ministry. His interview with Nicodemus. (3.) Departure of Jesus and his disciples to the north-eastern parts of Judea, fl is disciples baptized many people. John the Baptist announced the speedy close of his own career, and the rise and power of Christ’s. Imprisonment of John the Baptist, probably in the castle of Machserus, on the western shore of the Dead Sea. (4.) Jesus departed for Galilee ; conversation with the Samar- itan woman at Jacob’s well. While at Cana he healed a noble- man’s son, who was lying sick at Capernaum; the father and the family believed on Christ. After a brief stay in Galilee, Christ went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Purim. He healed the paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda. (5.) The hostility to him in Judea increasing, Jesus withdrew to Galilee again, and took up his residence there, and taught in the synagogues. His first appearance as priest in Nazareth ; anger of the people, who attempted to kill him by casting him down a high hill. Departure from Nazareth and resi- dence in Capernaum. Formal commencement of his public ministry. (6.) Final call of Peter, Andrew, James, and John ; healing of the demoniac ; of Peter’s mother-in-law ; other miracles the '/ERF. 'LL & PEwOZTK LtTHF'O $ V ZOlDST.N. /. Outline of Bible History. 5S same evening. Departure for Capernaum the following morn ing; the first Galilean circuit. A. D. 28. — A leper healed in Galilee; return of Christ to Capernaum ; healing of a paralytic in presence of the Pharisees and doctors; call of Matthew; various miracles. End of first year of Christ’s ministry. 3. Second Year of our Lord’s Ministry. A. D. 28.— (1.) Departure of Jesus for Jerusalem to his Second Passover. Healing of the cripple at Bethesda on the Sabbath day, and defense of his act against the censure of the Jews. First great discourse, a vindication of his divine authority. (2.) Formal choice of the twelve apostles : Simon, Andrew, James the son of Zebedee, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Judas surnamed Thaddeus, Simon Zelotes, Judas Iscariot. Delivery of the Sermon on the Mount. Return of Jesus to Capernaum. Healing of the cen- turion’s servant, and raising of the son of the widow of Nain. (3.) John the Baptist sent a message of inquiry to Jesus; Jesus replied, and testified finally to John. The cities around the Sea of Galilee upbraided for their unbelief. A sinful woman anointed his feet while he was eating in a Pharisee’s house; her sins forgiven. (4.) Second journey of Jesus through Galilee, and return to Capernaum. His cure of a deaf and dumb demoniac aroused the anger of the Pharisees, who declared that Christ derived his authority from Beelzebub. He delivered parables to the multitude: the sower; the wheat and tares; the seed growing secretly ; the grain of mustard-seed ; the leaven ; the hid treas- ure; merchant and pearl; the draw-net. He calmed the great tempest on the Sea of Galilee ; healed the Gadarene demoniac. (5.) Return of Jesus to Capernaum; healed the woman with sm issue of blood; restored the daughter of Jairus; restored the blind man to sight; cured a dumb demoniac. Visited Nazareth, and was again rejected. Third circuit through Galilee. (6.) A.D. 29. The apostles sent /orth. Herod (the Tetrarch) beheaded John the Baptist through the plan of Herodias; but when he heard of the fame of Jesus, he believed John had risen from the dead. Consternation among the Jews because of the death of John the Baptist; Herod’s conscience troubled him. 54 Outline of Bible History. (?.) Miracle of feeding five thousand with five loaves and two fishes ; its effect upon the Galileans was to lead tl.em to wish to make Jesus king. Jesus walked upon the water; saved Peter from sinking. Many followers deserted Jesus ; watched by emissaries from Jerusalem. End of the second year of the ministry of Jesus. 4. Last Year of Christ’s Ministry. A. D. 29. — (1.) With- drawal from Capernaum, and departure for Phoenicia and Decapolis. Healing of the Syro-Phoenician woman ; of the deaf and dumb; four thousand people miraculously fed with seven loaves and a few small fishes. Healing of a blind man at Bethsaida. Departure for Cesarea Philippi ; Jesus foretell- ing his death and resurrection. (2.) The Transfiguration of Jesus, (most likely on Mount Her- mon) ; he was accompanied by Peter, Janies, and John. A deaf and dumb spirit cast out ; Jesus prophesied a second time of his death and resurrection. At Capernaum lie paid the tribute money of half a shekel by performing a miracle ; taught his dis- ciples various duties bearing on their future mission; parable of the unmerciful servant. Departure of Jesus by way of Gal- ilee for Jerusalem to attend the Feast of Tabernacles. Hostility of the Sanhedrin. The adulteress released ; the man born blind restored to sight ; Jesus announced himself as the Good Shepherd ; attended the Feast of Dedication. Attempt of the Jews to stone him, and his tour in Peraea, where many believed on him. (3.) Be turn of Jesus to Bethany, and Baising of Lazarus. A. D. 30. — Besolution of the Sanhedrin to put Jesus to death, and his withdrawal to Ephraim. Last circuit in Galilee. The seventy sent forth to teach and heal. Their return, and an- nouncement of success. Journey of Jesus toward Jesusalem; heaied a man with the dropsy ; parables of the lost sheep, lost piece of silver, prodigal son, unjust steward, rich man and Lazarus. On his journey through Samaria and Galilee he healed ten lepers ; departure from Galilee for Persea ; the mul- titude taught, and the sick pealed ; parables of the unfortunate widow, the Pharisee and Publican, and the laborers in the vineyard. Jesus predicted a third time his death and resurrection Blind Bartimeus healed at Jericho. Outline of Bible History. 55 5. Passion of our Lord. — Monday, April 1. [Lewin, author of Fasti Sacri , makes the date March 29.] Christ’s triumph- al entry into Jerusalem; the people strewed garments and branches in the way. Jesus wept oyer the city ; he healed the blind and the lame in the temple ; returned to Bethany. Tues- day, April 2. The barren fig tree cursed; the temple cleansed; return of Jesus to Bethany. Wednesday, April 3. Return to Jerusalem ; parables of the two sons, the wicked husbandmen, and the marriage feast. Denunciation of the Scribes and Pharisees; destruction ot Jerusalem predicted; final judgment described. Treason of Judas Iscariot. Thursday, April 4. Peter and James sent to prepare the Passover. Washing the disci pies’ feet. The Lord’s Supper instituted. Departure about midnight for the Mount of Olives. Intercessory prayer. Fri- day, April 5. The agony and bloody sweat of Jesus in the Garden of G-ethsemane. Betrayal of Judas; arrest of Jesus; denial of Peter; condemnation of Jesus by the Sanhedrin; arraignment before Herod; delivered over by Pilate to be scourged and crucified. 6. The Crucifixion. — The place, Golgotha or Calvary; Simon, the Cyrenian, bearing the cross. The two thieves. Jesus crowned with thorns. Railings by the people. His thirst. Darkness prevailed. His death. Rending of the vail of the temple, and the rising of the dead. The centurion’s testimony to Christ as Son of God. The body taken from the cross. Burial by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. 7. The Resurrection. — Saturday, April 6. The watch and seal set upon the sepulcher. Sunday, April 7. Easter Day. The resurrection of Christ. Visit of the women to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. They found the stone rolled away. Vision of an angel by the women. 8. The Ascension.— The appearances of Jesus, first to the women, and last to the apostles at Jerusalem ; final com mission of the eleven apostles. The ascension from Mount Olivet on the side near Bethany, the fortieth day after the resurrection, that is, on Thursday, May 16, A. D. 30. 56 Outline of Bible History. CHAPTER n. FROM THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST TO THE CLOSE OF THE APOS- TOLICAL PERIOD. A. D. 30-101. 1. Pentecost— Stephen. Matthias chosen to fill the apostle- ship in place of Judas Iscariot. Descent of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost. Preaching of Peter; three thousand converted. Healing of the lame man at the temple by Peter and John. Community of goods ; sin and judgment of Ana- nias and Sapphira ; imprisonment and deliverance of the apos- tles. Appointment of seven deacons. Stephen’s defense ; his martyrdom, and Saul’s share in it. General persecution ; dispersion of the disciples from Jerusa- lem. Philip’s preaching and miracles at Samaria. Conversion of Simon Magus. Conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch, and baptism by Philip. 2. Conversion of Saul. A. D. 37. — Conversion of Saul on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christians there. Baptism by Ananias, and withdrawal to Arabia. His return, and preach- ing in the synagogue of the Jews. Cessation of the persecution. Paul at Jerusalem ; the Jews sought to kill him, and he retired to Tarsus. Peter cured iEneas of palsy at Lydda, and at Joppa raised Dorcas to life. Conversion of Cornelius, the first Gentile convert. Barnabas took Paul from Tarsus to Antioch in Syria. Famine ; death of Herod Agrippa I. Barnabas and Paul went to Jerusalem with alms ; their return to Antioch, accompanied by John Mark. Barnabas and Paul consecrated by the Holy Ghost to be apostles to the Gentiles. 3. Paul’s First Missionary Journey. A. D. 44. — Paul, ac- companied by Barnabas and John Mark, sailed from Seleucia to Cyprus. Tour of the island, and conversion of the pro-con- sul, Sergius Paulus. Journey to Perga, in Pamphylia ; to An- tioch, in Pisidia ; to Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. Return to Lystra, Iconium, Antioch in Pisidia, Perga, Attalia, and An tioch in Syria. Dissension at Antioch concerning the circum- cision of Gentile converts. The assembly at Jerusalem; the decision that Gentile converts should not be circumcised. — x . A, i:aeorAm/trA Cbujrt sfffic. 'ihdzeoL skates ror s tr r Smidu v SchoolTOnian Pi nils tour witj/ Bamctbcts 4 ft* SOTjXIVL . . _ » « » -Silas Acts X.V, _Xv lit— , » third miss? tour -Arts 1VIH11.V . NELSON <& PHILLIPS 805 BROADWAY NEW YORK KSMiUSH MIXES I _ Direction of' Trawl iruUcctted by anon- hco ds I Modem names thus . (.Matte L OTcgittxde Outline of I3ible Histoi Outline of Bible History. 61 4. Paul’s Second Missionary Journey. A. D. 48.— Paul, accompanied by Silas, went through Syria and Cilicia. Jour- ney through Phrygia and Galatia. P^ul directed by a vision at Troas to go over into Macedonia. Accompanied by Luke, he went to Philippi. Conversion of Lydia. Paul and Silas im- prisoned, but miraculously delivered. Journey through Am- phipolis and Apollonia to Thessah nica ; thence to Berea. Departure for Athens; discourse on Murs’ Hill ; went to Corinth, where he was joined by Silas and Timothy ; remained eighteen months in Corinth. He sailed from Cenchrea to Ephesus, and thence went to Jerusalem by way of Cesarea. He returned to Antioch. 5. Paul’s Third Missionary Journey. A. D. 52. — He visited the Churches in Galatia and Phrygia. Preaching of Apollos in Ephesus. Paul went to Ephesus, and preached and wrought miracles there for three months ; departed from Eph- esus, and journeyed through Macedonia ; labored in Macedo- nia and Illyricum ; departed from Phillippi, and met his com- panions at Troas. He then went by way of Assos, Mitylene, Chios, Samos, Trogyllium, to Miletus; and by way of Coos, Rhodes, Patara, Cyprus, Tyre, Ptolemais, and Cesarea, to Jerusalem. 6. Arrest of Paul ; Journey to Rome ; Shipwreck. — Plot against Paul’s life in Jerusalem; was sent to Cesarea. His de- fense before Felix, and two years’ imprisonment in Cesarea. Felix superseded by Festus. Festus determined to try Paul at Cesarea, but Paul appealed to Cesar. Paul started for Rome in the custody of Julius, a centurion. At Myra he was transferred to a ship of Alexandria, and was wrecked at the island of Malta. He remained three months at Malta, and again set sail for Rome. Landed at Puteoli and proceeded by land through Appii Forum and The Three Taverns to Rome. Paul remained two years in Rome. A. D. 59-61. 7. Paul’s Eurther Travels.— After his liberation occurred his traditional journey to Spain. Paul visited Crete, Mace- donia, and Corinth, and wintered at Nicopolis. He traveled through Dalmatia, was arrested in Asia, and again brought a prisoner to Rome. Martyrdom of Paul at Rome A. D. 66. Martyrdom of Peter about A. D. 65. It is not certain that Peter was ever in Rome ; the probability is against it. 62 Outline of Bible History. Destruction of Jerusalem, A. D. 70. John was banished to the Island of Patmos by the Emperor Domitian, A. D. 96, where he wrote the Apocalypse. About A. D. 101 lie wrote his Gospel. 8. Chronology of the Epistles.— The following are the most probable dates of Paul’s Epistles : A. D. 50 — The Epistles to the Thessalonians, written at Corinth. A. D. 55 — First Co- rinthians, at Ephesus; Second Corinthians and Galatians, in Macedonia. A. D. 56 — Epistle to the Romans, at Cenchrea. A. D. 60 — Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, Philippians, at Rome. A. D. 63— Hebrews, in Italy. A. D. 64 — To, Titus, from Macedonia. A. D. 65 — First Timothy, from Nicopolis. A. D. 66 — Second Timothy, at Rome. James wrote his Epistle at Jerusalem, A. D. 61 ; Peter his first Epistle, A. D. 59, and liis second Epistle A. D. 64 or 65 ; John wrote his Epistles about A. D, 68; and Jude his Epistle about A. D. 70. Supposed Fields of Apostolic Labor. NAME OF CHURCHES. Palestine and Syria. Mesopotamia, (Turkey in Asia.) Persia. India. Thrace, (Turkey in Europe.) Scythia, (Russia.) North Africa, (Egypt and Algiers.) Ethiopia, (Central Africa.) Arabia. Asia Minor, (Turkey in Asia.) Macedonia, (Turkey in Europe.) Greece and Italy. BY WHOM FOUNDED. All the Apostles. Peter and Jude. Bartholomew and Jude. Bartholomew and Thomas. Andrew. The Church of Constan- tinople afterward sprang up here. Andrew. Simon Zelotes. Mark especially connected with Alexandria. Matthew. Paul. Paul and John. Paul. Paul. THE END. . ; - y\ \ ■ *