for illegally putting certain thieves to death-Meditates the destruc-

tion of Hyrcanus and the whole Sanhedrim-Receives from Sixtus the

government of Cœlo-Syria

SECTION III.-The Julian Year-Death of Cesar-Malichus, his influence and

character-Death of Antipater-Battle of Philippi-Antigonus, young-

est son of Aristobulus, claims the Kingdom - The Parthians again

cross the Euphrates-Are hired to invade Judea to make Antigonus,

son of Aristobulus, King-His adherents are resisted by Herod and

Phasael-Civil war within the city of Jerusalem-Flight of Herod and

death of Phasael

PAGE

555

. 559

SECT. IV.-Herod obtains the favour of Antony, and is solemnly appointed

King of Judea-Is successful against his enemies-Antony sends him

two legions to reduce Jerusalem, still in the possession of Antigonus-

Herod goes to Samosata to meet Antony-Returns to Judea with fresh

forces-His brother Joseph slain in an expedition against Jericho-

Herod lays siege to Jerusalem-Mariamne the wife of Herod-Jeru-

salem taken and given up to pillage-Abject spirit of Antigonus . 562

SECT. V.-Herod established on the throne of Judea-Destroys the whole

Sanhedrim except two-Hillel and Shammai -Their distinguished

descendants-Simon-Gamaliel-Judah Hakkadosh-Scholars of Hillel

-Chaldee Paraphrases-Their high estimation among the Jews-Jona-

than Ben Uzziel and Onkelos .

.

. 565

SECT. VI.-Ananelus made High-Priest-Hyrcanus a captive among the Par-

thians-His desire to return-Alexandra, the mother of Aristobulus

and Mariamne his sister, dissatisfied that he was passed over when

Ananelus was exalted to be High-Priest-Herod causes Aristobulus to

be drowned-Cleopatra visits Jerusalem-Her manners so licentious

that even Herod is disgusted-Great earthquake in Judea-Antony

entirely defeated at Actium-Herod now seeks to conciliate the favour

of the conqueror, and succeeds-Mariamne manifests the utmost hatred

of Herod-Herod became furious with jealousy, and put both his

uncle Joseph and Mariamne to death-Immediately he was seized with

intolerable remorse, and fell sick-Becomes more severe-Is insti-

gated to acts of cruelty by Alexandra and others-Conspiracy against

his Life

. 569

SECT. VII.-Divine judgments on the land-Herod erects a stately palace

on Mount Zion-Erects another palace on a beautiful hill seven miles

from Jerusalem-Aristobulus and Alexander, sons of Mariamne sent to

Rome for education-Herod repairs to Mitylene, to visit Agrippa-

Augustus himself visits the East-Is waited on by Herod-All accusa-

tions against him turn out to his benefit-Undertakes to rebuild the

Temple-The work commenced just forty-six years before Christ's

first passover

. 574

SECT. VIII.-Herod visits his sons at Rome-Attends the Olympic Games on

his way-Is received with honour by Augustus-Brings his sons back

to Jerusalem-The rebuilding of the Temple is driven on-Imprudent

speeches of Herod's sons, Alexander and Aristobulus-Domestic

troubles of Herod increase-Becomes more suspicious-The young

men, his sons, continue to indulge in rash speeches-Archelaus, king of

Cappadocia and father-in-law to Alexander, comes to Jerusalem-

Herod's expedition to Arabia-Difference between him and his sons

increases Augustus recommends a council-Herod accuses his sons,

and the judges pronounce sentence of condemnation against them-

Herod causes this sentence to be carried into execution at Sebaste,

by strangulation

SECT. IX.-Antipater conspires agansit the life of his Father-Pheroras dis-

pleases his brother by refusing one of his daughters and marrying a

maid-servant-He joins the plot of Antipater-The Temple of Janus at

Rome closed-The Angel Gabriel sent to Mary at Nazareth-Birth of

Jesus Christ at Bethlehem-The registration which called them thither

-Luke and Josephus reconciled-Visit of the Magians-Massacre of

the Infants-Herod causes his son Antipater to be put to death-Gives

orders to slay all the eminent men of the country, that there might be

mourning at his own death, which he perceived was near-Death of

Herod His family and descendants-Division of the kingdom among

SECTION X.-Joseph returns from Egypt-Vulgar Era-Archelaus goes to Rome

and is deposed-Cyrenius governor of Syria-The Jews resist the

taxation by the Romans-Annas appointed High-Priest by the Romans

-Death of Augustus

PAGE

582

. . 587

SECT. XI.-Procuratorship of Valerius Gratus-Annas removed from the office

of High-Priest and Ishmael substituted-Eleazar, son of Annas, is put in

his place, and the next year Gratus removes him, and substitutes

Simon son of Cannith-Caiaphas-Gratus recalled and succeeded by

Pontius Pilate-Preaching of John the Baptist-Baptism of Christ-

Death of John-Public ministry of Christ-Death of Christ-His Resur-

rection and Ascension-Pilate's account of Christ, sent to the empe-

ror-Pilate removed by Vitellius, Governor of Syria, and sent to Rome,

whence he was banished to Gaul-Tiberius dies, and is succeeded by

Caius Caligula.

589

SECT. XII.-Preaching of the Apostles-Martyrdom of Stephen and ensuing

persecution-Conversion of Paul-Caiaphas removed from the High-

Priesthood by Vitellius, and Ananas substituted-Agrippa acquires the

supreme power of Judea-Herod Antipas banished to Gaul-Embassy

from Alexandria to Rome-Philo Judeus-Caius succeeded by Claudius

-Theophilus removed from the priesthood and Simon put in his

place-Petronius, Governor of Syria, succeeded by Marsus-Agrippa

zealous for the Jewish religion, but severe towards the Christians-

Remarkable death of Agrippa-His character and successors

592

SECT. XIII.-Fadus made Procurator of Judea-Dearth in the reign of Clau-

dius-Proselytes to Judaism-False Messiah-Fadus recalled, and suc-

ceeded by Tiberius Alexander-Herod, King of Chalcis, displaced Joseph

the son of Camus from the High-Priesthood, and substituted Ananias

the son of Nebedeus-Tiberius Alexander recalled, and Cumanus ap-

pointed to succeed him-Commotions at Jerusalem-Dispute between

the Galileans and Samaritans-Cumanus recalled and Felix appointed

Procurator-Tumultuous conduct of the Jews-Death of Claudius-

Succeeded by Nero-Anarchical state of Judea during the Procurator-

ship of Felix-Is succeeded by Festus-Both reside at Cesarea-Festus

dies-Is succeeded by Albinus-State of society more and more disor-

dered-Ananus made High-Priest-Cestius Gallus visits Jerusalem . 597

SECT. XIV.-Rome set on fire by Nero-Disturbances at Cesarea-Florus,

the Procurator, excites insurrection-His cruelty-The Jews complain

to Agrippa-Eleazar, son of the High-Priest, and Master of the Temple,

persuades the priests to reject all Pagan sacrifices-Dreadful commo-

tions in Judea, and massacres in the Temple-Cestius Gallus marches

an army towards Jerusalem-The Jews assembled at the Feast of

Tabernacles, furiously rush on the hostile army, and slay five hundred

men-Agrippa interposes-Persuades the Jews to make peace, but in

vain-Gallus brings back his army to the gates of Jerusalem-Retires

again to Scopas-Is attacked in the defile of an ambuscade, and flies

with a few hundred men-Josephus, the historian, appointed to the

command of Galilee and Gamala-Nero sends Vespasian to Judea-He

first subdues Galilee-Bands of robbers infest the country-The Zeal-

ots-Parties in Jerusalem-Cruelties perpetrated

604

SECT. XV.-Vespasian's preparations for carrying on the war-State of parties

in Jerusalem-Titus marches his army to Jerusalem and commences

the Siege-Great multitudes of people within the walls-External part

of the city taken by Titus-Great efforts made to bring the Jews to

terms, but in vain-Castle of Antonia demolished-A lady eats her

own child in the famine-The Temple is set on fire and destroyed,

contrary to the wishes and orders of Titus-The walls thrown down,

and the site of the Temple ploughed over-Dreadful infatuation of the

Jewish nation-Their restoration clearly predicted

. . 612

HISTORY OF THE ISRAELITISH NATION.

PART I.

THE PATRIARCHS.

SECTION I.

CREATION-GARDEN OF EDEN-ENDOWMENTS OF MAN.

WHEN God in the beginning created the heavens and the earth, it pleased him to bring the work to perfection not in a moment, but gradually, through a period of six days. At first, "the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep." To reduce this confused mass to order, "The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters, and God said, Let there be light, and there was light." The expanse or atmosphere was next produced, in which the clouds and vapours were suspended. The great body of the waters were gathered unto one place, and thus the dry land arose to view. The name EARTH was given to the dry land, and SEAS to the collection of waters.

The vegetable world, in all its freshness, beauty, variety, and fruitfulness, now sprung into existence, at the command of the Creator. "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit-tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself upon the earth: and it was so.'

From the beginning, there was an alternation of darkness and light, causing evening and morning; but it was not until the fourth day of creation that the luminaries-the sun, moon, and stars-were placed in the heavens; or became visible in the heavens. "The waters now brought forth abundantly the moving creature, that hath life;" and winged fowls of every kind were formed "to fly above the earth, in the open firmament of heaven." And a command was given that these

inhabitants of the water and of the air should be fruitful and multiply.

The sea and air being thus stocked with inhabitants, possess ing natures suited to their respective elements, God proceeded to create the animals adapted to the earth. "And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind; and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind." When the world was thus furnished and prepared, "God said, Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

In the creation of other things, nothing was necessary, but a simple expression of the divine will; but when the lord of this lower world was to be brought into existence, a council is called, and it is said, "Come, let us make man." With whom did the great Creator take counsel on this memorable occasion, but with his Son and Spirit? both of whom we know were efficient agents in the work of creation.

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth on the earth. And God said, Behold I have given every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed: to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat."

In this grant of food to man there is no mention of the flesh of animals: it has therefore been generally believed that animal food was not in use before the flood.

We have a still more particular account of the formation of man. "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, (lives,) and man became a living soul."

"And the Lord God planted a garden, eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food. The tree of life (lives) also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil."

This garden was watered by a river which went out of Eden, and was divided into four heads. Two of these, it is thought, were the Euphrates, and the Tigris, called by Moses, Hiddekel,

but nothing satisfactory has been ascertained respecting the other two. Indeed, although the situation of Paradise seems to have been well known when Moses wrote, great obscurity now rests upon the whole subject; and the conjectures of commentators have served rather to darken than to elucidate it. The most judicious, however, for a long time supposed that the terrestrial Paradise must have been situated not very far from the mouth of the two rivers before mentioned; and they conjectured, that the other two rivers were streams passing from one of these to the other, as it is known that a communication of this kind did exist between them in after-ages. But the more modern cultivators of sacred geography seem more generally inclined to look for the site of this famous garden at the source of these rivers; and allege, that two other rivers running to the north-east and to the north-west, have their source in the same region.

Man, when created, was taken and put into the garden of Eden, "to dress it and keep it." Even in Paradise idleness was not tolerated. Activity and occupation are among the essential ingredients of human happiness.

The permission to eat freely of all the trees of the garden was explicitly granted, with one only exception. "But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die." But why this prohibition? Was the fruit of a poisonous nature? So some have supposed. But no; it was "good for food," and beautiful in its aspect. Why, then, was man interdicted its use? Simply as a test of his obedience to his Creator. That all creatures should make it their first and highest object to glorify Him, from whom they received their being, and on whom they depend, is one of the plainest dictates of reason and conscience. It was therefore reasonable and proper that the Lawgiver should require some test or proof of obedience, before man should be confirmed in a state of blessedness. And God selected this thing, in itself of an indifferent nature, as furnishing a fair probation of man's obedience.

It has already been mentioned, that God made man male and female; but the woman was not created as early as the man. For awhile he was alone. "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make an help meet for him." "And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, (sides,) and closed up the flesh instead thereof. And the rib (side) which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man. Therefore shall a man leave