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PREFACE
PREFACE
The period represented by this volume is in many ways the most complex and confusing in Israel's history. The record is not that of the life of a nation but of the scattered remnants of a race. It was inevitable that under the influence of their varied environment, the survivors of the Jewish race should develop very different beliefs and characteristics. The result is that many different currents of thought and shades of belief are reflected in the literature of this period; some of it is dross
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Section XCII. EZEKIEL'S MESSAGE TO HIS SCATTERED COUNTRYMEN.
Section XCII. EZEKIEL'S MESSAGE TO HIS SCATTERED COUNTRYMEN.
Ezek. 37, 40:1, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21b, 44-47, 41:1-8a, 43:1-9, 44:9-16, 23, 24, 45:1-8. I. The Home of the Exiles in Babylon.—II. Their New Conditions and Occupations.—III. Their Religious Life. IV. The Prophecies of Ezekiel.— V. The Resurrection of the Dead Nation.—VI. The Divine Shepherd.— VII. Ezekiel's Plan of the Restored Temple....
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Section XCIII. THE CLOSING YEARS OF THE BABYLONIAN RULE
Section XCIII. THE CLOSING YEARS OF THE BABYLONIAN RULE
II Kings 25:27-30, Isa. 9:1-7, 11:1-10, 13:2-4, 11, 17, 18b, 19-22, Ezra 6:3-5, 5:14, 15, 1:5-6, I Esdr. 5:4-6, Ezra 3:2-4, 6b. I. The Transformation of the Jews into a Literary People.—II. The Literary Activity of the Babylonian Period.—III. The Holiness Code.— IV. The Liberation of Jehoiachin and the Hopes of the Jews.—V. The Rule of Nabonidus.—VII. Rise and Conquests of Cyrus.—VII. His Capture of Babylon.—VIII. His Treatment of Conquered Peoples....
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Section XCIV. THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE
Section XCIV. THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE
Hag. 1, 2, Ezra 5:3-6:14. I. The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah.—II. The Chronicler's Conception of the Restoration.—III. Convulsions in the Persian Empire.—IV. Haggai's Effective Addresses.—V. The Attempt to Stop the Rebuilding of the Temple.—VI. The Significance of the Restoration of the Temple....
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Section XCV. ZECHARIAH'S VISIONS AND ENCOURAGING ADDRESSES
Section XCV. ZECHARIAH'S VISIONS AND ENCOURAGING ADDRESSES
Zech. 1:7-4:6a, 11-14, 8b-10, 6:9-15, 7, 8:1-8. I. Zechariah's Ancestry and Point of View.—II. The Book of Zechariah. —III. Problems and Hopes of the Judean Community.—IV. Zechariah's Assurances of Jehovah's Care.—V. Preparations for the Crowning of Zerubbabel.—VI. Disappointment of these Patriotic Hopes.—VII. Zechariah's Later Exhortations and Predictions....
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Section XCVI. ISRAEL'S TRAINING AND DESTINY
Section XCVI. ISRAEL'S TRAINING AND DESTINY
Isa. 40:1-4, 6, 31, 41:1-4, 8-10, 42:1-7, 10-15, 22-28, 44:1-5. I. The Seventy Years Following the Rebuilding of the Temple.— II. Spiritual Forces in Judaism.—III. Evidences that Isaiah 40-66 Were Written in Palestine.—IV. Their Probable Date.—V. Their Literary Characteristics.—VI. Their Theme and Purpose.—VII. Reasons Why Jehovah Will Restore His People....
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Section XCVII. CONDITIONS AND PROBLEMS WITHIN THE JUDEAN COMMUNITY
Section XCVII. CONDITIONS AND PROBLEMS WITHIN THE JUDEAN COMMUNITY
Mal. 1:6-14, 2, 3, 4:1-3, Ps. 22:1-18. I. Date of the Book of Malachi.—II. Neglect of the Temple Service.— III. The Need of a Great Moral Awakening.—IV. The Lot of the Faithful.— V. The Problem of Suffering in the Literature of the Period....
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Section XCVIII. THE PROBLEM AND TEACHINGS OF THE BOOK OF JOB
Section XCVIII. THE PROBLEM AND TEACHINGS OF THE BOOK OF JOB
Job 1, 2 3:2, 11, 13-15, 17, 19, 20-22, 25, 26, 4:1-7, 17-19, 5:17-22, 26, 27, 6:1-4b, 14, 15, 20-30, 7:1-6, 9-18, 20, 21, 8:1-6, 9:1-7, 16-20, 24, 31-35, 10:9-15, 20-22, 11:1, 7-9, 13-15, 12:1-3, 13:7-18, 21-25, 14:7-10, 13-15, 18, 19, 15:4-6, 16:1-4, 11-13a, 18-21, 18:1, 5-7, 19:1, 13-15, 23-27, 20:1-5, 21:1, 7-9, 22:1-5, 23, 27, 28, 23:1-6, 25:1-4, 26:1, 27:2, 4, 5, 7-9, 29:1-5, 30:15-21, 31:5-8, 35-37, 40:2, 8, 9, 38:2-7, 8-11, 39-41, 42:2, 3, 5, 8. I. The Structure of the Book of Job.—II. D
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Section XCIX. THE TRAINING AND MISSION OF THE TRUE SERVANT OF JEHOVAH
Section XCIX. THE TRAINING AND MISSION OF THE TRUE SERVANT OF JEHOVAH
Isa. 49:1-15, 50:4-10, 52:13-15, 53. I. The Different Portraits of Jehovah's Servant.—II. The Prophet's Purpose.—III. The Character and Condition of Those to Whom the Prophet Appealed.—IV. The Task and Training of Jehovah's Servant.—V. Methods of Jehovah's Servant.—VI. Realization of the Ideal of Service....
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Section C. NEHEMIAH'S WORK IN REBUILDING THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM
Section C. NEHEMIAH'S WORK IN REBUILDING THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM
Neh. 1-4, 6, 7:1-5a, 12:31, 32, 37-40. I. Nehemiah's Memoirs.—II. Nehemiah's Response to the Call to Service.— III. Obstacles that Confronted Him.—IV. His Plan of Work.—V. The Restored Walls.—VI. Completion and Dedication of the Walls....
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Section CI. NEHEMIAH'S SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS REFORMS
Section CI. NEHEMIAH'S SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS REFORMS
Isa. 56, 58:2-12, Neh. 5, 13:4-31. I. Cruelty and Hypocrisy of the Jewish Leaders.—II. Nehemiah's Method of Correcting the Social Evils in the Community.—III. The Historical Value of Nehemiah 13.—IV. Regulations Regarding the Temple Service.— V. Provisions Regarding Sabbath Observance and Foreign Marriages.— VI. Significance of Nehemiah's Work....
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Section CII. TRADITIONAL ACCOUNT OF THE ADOPTION OF THE PRIESTLY LAW
Section CII. TRADITIONAL ACCOUNT OF THE ADOPTION OF THE PRIESTLY LAW
Ezra 7:1, 6-10, Neh. 7:73b-8:4a, 5, 6, 9-18, 9:1-3, 6-8. 32-38, 10:28-39b I. The Ezra Tradition.—II. The Historical Value of the Ezra Tradition.— III. The Facts Underlying It.—IV. Origin and Aims of the Priestly Laws.—V. Their Important Regulations.—VI. Their Practical Effects....
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Section CIII. THE JEWISH STATE DURING THE LAST CENTURY OF PERSIAN RULE
Section CIII. THE JEWISH STATE DURING THE LAST CENTURY OF PERSIAN RULE
Ps. 36:5-10, Joel 2:1-29, Jos. Ant. XI, 7-8:2. I. Prosperity of the Judean Community.—II. The Growth of the Psalter.— III. The Prophecy of Joel.—IV. Hopes of the Jews.—V. Rule of the High Priests.—VI. The Date of the Samaritan Schism.—VII. Its Nature and Consequences....
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THE GREEK AND MACCABEAN AGE
THE GREEK AND MACCABEAN AGE
I Mac. 1:1-4, Jos. Ant. XI, 8:7a, e, XII, 1:1b-d, g-j, 2:1a, 5d, e, 4:1d-f, 2a-f, 3b, 4a-c, 5a-c. e, 6a, 3:3a, b, c-e. I. Josephus's Histories.—II. Alexander's Conquests.—III. The Jews in Egypt and Alexandria.—IV. The Rule of the Ptolemies.—V. Fortunes of the Jews of Palestine.—VI. Conquest of Palestine by the Seleucids In 311 B.C....
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Section CV. THE WISE AND THEIR TEACHINGS
Section CV. THE WISE AND THEIR TEACHINGS
Prov. 1:2-6, 8:1-6, 13-27, 29-35, 13:14,20, 24:5, 12:10, 20:13, 23:16, 29-35, 29:20, 15:23, 19:11, 16:32, 23:36-28, 4:25-27, 14:15, 26:12, 27:2, 4:23, 11:6, 21:3, 15:1, 3:27, 14:21, 19:17, 25:21,22, 3:11,12, 1:5,6. I. Structure and Authorship of the Book of Proverbs.—II. Date of the Different Collections.—III. The Wise in Israel's Early History.— IV. Their Prominence in the Greek Period.—V. Their Aims.—VI. Their Methods.—VII. Their Important Teachings....
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Section CVI. THE DIFFERENT CURRENTS OF THOUGHT IN JUDAISM DURING THE GREEK PERIOD
Section CVI. THE DIFFERENT CURRENTS OF THOUGHT IN JUDAISM DURING THE GREEK PERIOD
Ps. 19:7-14, 46, 22:27-30, Jonah 1, 2:1,10, 3, 4, Eccles. 1:12-18, 2:1-17, 24-26. I. The Ritualists.—II. The Legalists.—III. The Disciples of the Prophets.—IV. The Date and Character of the Book of Jonah.—V. Its Teachings.—VI. The Book of Ecclesiastes.—VII. Koheleth's Philosophy of Life....
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Section CVII. THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS THE SON OF SIRACH
Section CVII. THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS THE SON OF SIRACH
B. Sir. 1:1-10, 2:1-9, 3:17-30, 4:2, 9, 10, 20-25, 28-31, 5:1-2, 6:2, 4-8, 14-16, 7:12, 13, 20-22, 28-30. I. Date and Character of Jesus the Son of Sirach.—II. His Writings.— III. The History of the Book.—IV. Its Picture of Jewish Life.—V. Rise of the Scribes.—VI. The Teachings of Ben Sira....
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Section CVIII. THE CAUSES OF THE MACCABEAN STRUGGLE
Section CVIII. THE CAUSES OF THE MACCABEAN STRUGGLE
I Mac. 1:10-22,24-63. I. The Character and Contents of I Maccabees.—II. Character and Contents of II Maccabees.—III. Aggressive Character of Hellenic Culture.— IV. Contrast between Hellenism and Judaism.—V. Apostasy of the Jews and Perfidy of the High Priests.—VI. Character of Antiochus Epiphanes.— VII. His Policy toward the Jews....
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Section CIX. THE EFFECT OF PERSECUTION UPON THE JEWS
Section CIX. THE EFFECT OF PERSECUTION UPON THE JEWS
I Mac. 2, Dan. 7:1-27, 12:1-3. I. The Uprising Led by Mattathias.—II. Party of the Hasideans or Pious.— III. Date of the Visions in Daniel 7-12.—IV. Their Real Character and Aim.—V. The Four Heathen Kingdoms and the Kingdom of God....
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Section CX. THE VICTORIES THAT GAVE THE JEWS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Section CX. THE VICTORIES THAT GAVE THE JEWS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
I Mac. 3:1-43,46-60, 4. I. The Character of Judas.—II. Obstacles against which Judas Contended.— III. Defeat of Apollonius and Seron.—IV. The Battle of Emmaus.—V. The Battle at Bethsura.—VI. Restoration of the Temple Service.—VII. The New Spirit in Judaism....
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Section CXI. THE LONG CONTEST FOR POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE
Section CXI. THE LONG CONTEST FOR POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE
I Mac. 5:1-23, 45, 54, 65-68, 63, 6:18-63, 7, 9:1-31, 10:1-21, 67-71, 74-76, 11:20-29. I. The Political Situation.—II. The Jewish Attitude toward the Heathen Reflected in the Book of Esther.—III. Campaigns against the Neighboring Peoples.—IV. The Battle of Beth-zacharias.—V. Victories Over Nicanor.— VI. The Death of Judas.—VII. Dissensions in the Syrian Court.— VIII. Concessions to Jonathan....
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Section CXII. PEACE AND PROSPERITY UNDER SIMON
Section CXII. PEACE AND PROSPERITY UNDER SIMON
I Mac. 11:38-40, 54-56, 12:39-53, 13:1-11, 20-30, 33, 43-53, 14:16-18, 38-49, 4-15. I. Capture and Death of Jonathan.—II. Character and Policy of Simon.— III. His Conquests.—IV. His Authority.—V. Completion of the Psalter.— VI. The Religious Life Reflected in the Later Psalms....
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Section CXIII. THE RULE OF JOHN HYRCANUS AND ARISTOBULUS
Section CXIII. THE RULE OF JOHN HYRCANUS AND ARISTOBULUS
I Mac. 16:11-22, Jos. Jew. War, I, 2:3c-4b, 4d, 5, 6, Jos. Ant. XIII, 9:1d, e, Jos. Jew. War, I, 2:7a, b, Jos. Ant. XIII, 10:5, 6a, c, 7, 11:1a-c, 3a, 3e. I. Murder of Simon.—II. The Syrian Invasion.—III. John's Military Policy and Conquests.—IV. The Break with the Pharisees.—V. The Reign of Aristobulus....
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Section CXIV THE PHARISEES, SADDUCEES, AND ESSENES
Section CXIV THE PHARISEES, SADDUCEES, AND ESSENES
Jos. Ant. XVIII, 1:2, 3a-c, 3d, 4a, b, 5a, b, Jos. Jew. War, II, 8:2-8, 9a-c, 10b, c, 11b, 12. I. Influences that Gave Rise to the Jewish Parties.—II. Character and Beliefs of the Pharisees.—III. Of the Sadducees.—IV. Of the Essenes....
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Section CXV. THE LIFE AND FAITH OF THE JEWS OF THE DISPERSION
Section CXV. THE LIFE AND FAITH OF THE JEWS OF THE DISPERSION
Jos. Ant. XII, 3:1a, VII, 3:3a, b, 10:2d-3e, XIII, 10:4, Wisd. Of Sol. 6:12-16, 7:25-8:1, 7, 1:1-8, 12-15, 2:23-3:1, 5:15, 16, 11:24-12:2, 15:1-3. I. Conditions of the Jews in Antioch and Asia Minor.—II. In Egypt.— III. The Jewish Temple at Leontopolis.—IV. Translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek.—V. Apologetic Jewish Writings.—VI. The Wisdom of Solomon.—VII. Its Important Teachings....
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Section CXVI. THE DECLINE OF THE MACCABEAN KINGDOM
Section CXVI. THE DECLINE OF THE MACCABEAN KINGDOM
Jos. Jew. War, I, 4:1-4c, 5c, 6a, c, 8c, d, 5:1-7:7. I. The Character and Policy of Alexander Janneus.—II. The Effects of His Rule.—III. Alexandra's Reign.—IV. Quarrels between Hyrcanus and Aristobulus.—V. Rome's Intervention.—VI. Cause of the Fall of the Jewish Kingdom.—VII. Political, Intellectual, and Religious Effects of the Maccabean Struggle....
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THE RULE OF ROME
THE RULE OF ROME
Jos. Jew. War, I, 8:2, 4a, 5-7, 9b, 9:1, 3a-6b, 10:1, 2a, 3a, 4, 5a, b, 11:1, 4, 6, 12:3-5, 13:1a, Jos. Ant. XIV, 13:1, Jos. Jew. War, I, 13:7, 8c, 14:1b, 2, 4, 15:3, 4, 16:1, 17:1, 8, 9a, 18:1, 2c, 4a. I. The Fruitless Struggle against Rome.—II. Antipater's Policy.— III. Herod's Early Record.—IV. The Parthian Conquest.—V. Herod Made King of the Jews....
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Section CXVIII. HEROD'S POLICY AND REIGN
Section CXVIII. HEROD'S POLICY AND REIGN
Jos. Jew. War, I, 19:1, 2a, 20:1, 2, 3b-4a, 21:13, 1-4, 6a-8a, 9a-10a, 11, 22:1-4, 23:1a, d, 2a-c, d-3a, 24:1a, 27:1, 2a, 6b, 28:1a, 29:2c, 30:5a, 31:1a, 33:1, 7, 8a. I. Herod's Character.—II. His Attitude toward Rome. III. His Building Activity.—IV. His Attitude toward His Subjects.—V. The Tragedy of His Domestic Life.—VI. Effects of His Reign....
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Section CXIX. HEROD'S TEMPLE
Section CXIX. HEROD'S TEMPLE
Jos. Ant. XV, 11:1a, 2c, 3a-l, 4a, g, 5a-g, h-k, 6. I. Herod's Motives.—II. Preparations for the Rebuilding of the Temple.— III. The Approaches to the Temple.—IV. The Organization of the Temple....
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Section CXX. THE MESSIANIC HOPES AND THE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF JUDAISM
Section CXX. THE MESSIANIC HOPES AND THE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF JUDAISM
Sibyl. Oracles, III, 7:67-84, 17:23-46, Enoch 46:1-3, 48:3-6, 49:27-29, 51:1, 2. I. The Growth of Israel's Messianic Hopes.—II. The Kingly, Nationalistic Type of Messianic Hope.—III. The Apocalyptic, Catastrophic Type.—IV. The Ethical and Universalistic Type.—V. The Messianic Hopes of Judaism at the Beginning of the Christian Era....
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APPENDIX I. A PRACTICAL BIBLICAL REFERENCE LIBRARY
APPENDIX I. A PRACTICAL BIBLICAL REFERENCE LIBRARY
* * * * * [Sidenote: Lam. 2:1-5] How the Lord hath beclouded in his anger the daughter of Zion! He hath cast down from heaven to earth the beauty of Israel, And he hath not kept in remembrance his footstool in the day of his anger. The Lord hath swallowed up without mercy every habitation of Jacob, He hath thrown down in his wrath the strongholds of the daughter of Judah, He hath struck to the ground, he hath polluted her king and her princes. He hath cut off in the fierceness of his anger all o
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Section XCII. EZEKIEL'S MESSAGE TO HIS SCATTERED COUNTRYMEN
Section XCII. EZEKIEL'S MESSAGE TO HIS SCATTERED COUNTRYMEN
[Sidenote: Ezek. 37:1-6] The hand of Jehovah was upon me, and he brought me by the spirit and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. And he caused me to pass by them round about; and, behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said to me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord Jehovah, thou knowest. Again he said to me, Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of Jeho
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Section XCIII. THE CLOSING YEARS OF THE BABYLONIAN RULE
Section XCIII. THE CLOSING YEARS OF THE BABYLONIAN RULE
[Sidenote: II Kings 25:27-30] Now it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year in which he became king, (561 B.C.) lifted up Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison to a position of honor. And he spoke kindly to him and placed his seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon, and changed his prison garments. And Jehoiachin ate with him continually
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Section XCV. ZECHARIAH'S VISIONS AND ENCOURAGING ADDRESSES
Section XCV. ZECHARIAH'S VISIONS AND ENCOURAGING ADDRESSES
[Sidenote: Zech. 1:7-11] In the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month [February], in the second year of Darius [519 B.C.], this word of Jehovah came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo: I saw in the night and there was a man standing among the myrtle trees that were in the valley-bottom, and behind him there were horses, red, sorrel, and white. Then said I, O my Lord, what are these? And the angel who talked with me said to me, I will show you what these are. And th
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Section XCVI. ISRAEL'S TRAINING AND DESTINY
Section XCVI. ISRAEL'S TRAINING AND DESTINY
[Sidenote: Isa. 40:1, 2] Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God, Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and declare to her, That her hard service is accomplished, her guilt is expiated That she hath received from Jehovah's hand double for all her sins. [Sidenote: Isa. 40:3, 4] A voice is proclaiming: In the wilderness prepare the way of Jehovah, Make straight in the desert a highway for our God! Let every mountain and hill sink down, and every valley be lifted up, And the crooked be made straigh
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Section XCVII. CONDITIONS AND PROBLEMS WITHIN THE JUDEAN COMMUNITY
Section XCVII. CONDITIONS AND PROBLEMS WITHIN THE JUDEAN COMMUNITY
[Sidenote: Mal. 1:6-9] A son honoreth his father, and a servant feareth his master; If then I am a father, where is mine honor? And if I am a master, where is the one who fears me? Saith Jehovah to you, O ye priests, who despise my name. But ye say, 'Wherein have we despised thy name?' Ye offer upon mine altar bread that is polluted And ye say, 'Wherein have we polluted it?' In that ye say, 'The table of Jehovah is contemptible.' And that when ye offer the blind for sacrifice, 'It is no harm!' A
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Section XCVIII. THE PROBLEM AND TEACHINGS OF THE BOOK OF JOB
Section XCVIII. THE PROBLEM AND TEACHINGS OF THE BOOK OF JOB
[Sidenote: Job 1:1-5] There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. And that man was blameless and upright; he feared God and turned away from evil. And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. His possessions also included seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she asses, and an exceedingly large number of servants; so that this man was the greatest of all the peoples of Palestine. And his sons were accustomed to hold a feast in one
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Section XCIX. THE TRAINING AND MISSION OF THE TRUE SERVANT OF JEHOVAH
Section XCIX. THE TRAINING AND MISSION OF THE TRUE SERVANT OF JEHOVAH
[Sidenote: Isa. 49:1-3] Hearken to me, ye coastlands, And listen, ye distant peoples: He hath called me from the womb, From my mother's lap made mention of my name. He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword, In the shadow of his hand he hid me, He made me a polished arrow, In his quiver he concealed me, And he said to me, Thou art my servant, Israel, in whom I will glorify myself. [Sidenote: Isa. 49:4] But I said, I have labored in vain, I spent my strength for nothing and vanity, Nevertheless my
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Section C. NEHEMIAH'S WORK IN REBUILDING THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM
Section C. NEHEMIAH'S WORK IN REBUILDING THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM
[Sidenote: Neh. 1:1-3] Now in the month of Chislev [November-December, 446 B.C.], I was in Shushan the royal palace, when Hanani, one of my kinsmen came, together with certain men from Judah, and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left from the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, The survivors who are left from the captivity there in the provinces are in great misfortune and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates have been d
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Section CI. NEHEMIAH'S SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS REFORMS
Section CI. NEHEMIAH'S SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS REFORMS
[Sidenote: Isa. 56:1, 2] Thus saith Jehovah, Guard justice and practice righteousness. For my deliverance is near at hand, and my righteousness is soon to be revealed. Happy the man who practices, the mortal who holds fast to it, Keeping the sabbath so as not to profane it, and keeping his hand from evil. [Sidenote: Isa. 56:3-5] Let not the foreigner who hath joined himself to Jehovah say, 'Jehovah will surely separate me from his people.' And let not the eunuch say, 'Behold I am a dry tree.
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Section CII. THE TRADITIONAL ACCOUNT OF THE ADOPTION OF THE PRIESTLY LAW
Section CII. THE TRADITIONAL ACCOUNT OF THE ADOPTION OF THE PRIESTLY LAW
[Sidenote: Ezra 7:1, 6-10] In the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra, a descendant of Aaron, went up from Babylon; and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which Jehovah, the God of Israel, had given. And the king granted him all his request, inasmuch as the hand of Jehovah his God was upon him. And some of the Israelites, and of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the porters, and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem [with him]. And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month,
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Section CIII. THE JEWISH STATE DURING THE LAST CENTURY OF PERSIAN RULE
Section CIII. THE JEWISH STATE DURING THE LAST CENTURY OF PERSIAN RULE
[Sidenote: Ps. 36:5-10] Thy loving-kindness, O Jehovah, is in the heavens, Thy faithfulness reacheth to the skies, Thy righteousness is like the mighty mountains, Thy judgments are like the great deep; Thou preservest man and beast. How precious is thy loving-kindness, O God! And the sons of men put their trust in the shadow of thy wings. They are fully satisfied with the rich things of thy house, And thou makest them drink of thy river of delights. For with thee is the fountain of life, And in
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Section CV. THE WISE AND THEIR TEACHINGS
Section CV. THE WISE AND THEIR TEACHINGS
[Sidenote: Pr. 1:2-6] That men may learn wisdom and instruction, May understand intelligent discourses, May receive instruction in wise conduct, In justice, judgment and equity; That discretion may be given to the inexperienced, To the youth knowledge and a purpose; That the wise man may hear and increase in learning, And the intelligent man may receive counsel, That he may understand proverb and parable, The words of the wise and their riddles. [Sidenote: Pr. 8:1-6] Does not Wisdom call? And Un
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Section CVI. THE DIFFERENT CURRENTS OF THOUGHT IN JUDAISM DURING THE GREEK PERIOD
Section CVI. THE DIFFERENT CURRENTS OF THOUGHT IN JUDAISM DURING THE GREEK PERIOD
[Sidenote: Ps. 19:7-14] The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of Jehovah is trustworthy, making wise the simple, The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart, The commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring forever, The judgments of Jehovah are true and altogether just, They are of more value than gold, yea, than much fine gold, Sweeter than honey and the droppings from the honey-comb. By them is thy servant w
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Section CVII. THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS THE SON OF SIRACH
Section CVII. THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS THE SON OF SIRACH
[Sidenote: B. Sir. 1:1-10] All wisdom is from the Lord, And is with him forever. The sand of the seas, and the drops of rain, And the days of eternity—who shall number? The height of the heaven, and the breadth of the earth, And the depths of the abyss—who shall search them out? Wisdom hath been created before all things, And keen insight from everlasting. To whom hath the root of wisdom been revealed? And who hath known her shrewd counsels? There is one wise, greatly to be feared, The Lord sitt
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Section CVIII. THE CAUSES OF THE MACCABEAN STRUGGLE
Section CVIII. THE CAUSES OF THE MACCABEAN STRUGGLE
[Sidenote: I Macc. 1:10-15] Now there came forth from [Alexander's successors] a sinful root, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been a hostage at Rome, and he began to reign in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the Syrian rule (175 B.C.). In those days there appeared certain lawless Israelites who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen about us; for since we have stood aloof from them many evils have befallen us. And the proposal met
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Section CIX. THE EFFECT OF PERSECUTION ON THE JEWS
Section CIX. THE EFFECT OF PERSECUTION ON THE JEWS
[Sidenote: I Macc. 2:1-4] At that time arose Mattathias the son of John the son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, from Jerusalem; and he dwelt in Modein. And he had five sons, John, who was surnamed Gaddis, Simon, who was called Thassi, Judas, who was called Maccabeus, Eleazar, who was called Avaran, Jonathan, who was called Apphus. [Sidenote: I Macc. 2:5-14] When he saw the sacrilegious acts that were being committed in Judah and in Jerusalem, he said, Woe to me! Why was I born To see
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Section CX. THE VICTORIES THAT GAVE THE JEWS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Section CX. THE VICTORIES THAT GAVE THE JEWS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
[Sidenote: I Macc. 3:1-9] Then his son Judas, who was called Maccabeus, rose up in his place. And all his brothers helped him, as did all those who had supported his father, and they fought with gladness the battle of Israel. He spread far and wide the fame of his glory And put on his breastplate like a giant, And girded on his weapons of war, And set battles in array, Protecting the army with his sword. He was like a lion in his deeds, And as a lion's whelp roaring for prey. He pursued the lawl
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Section CXI. THE LONG CONTEST FOR POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE
Section CXI. THE LONG CONTEST FOR POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE
[Sidenote: I Macc. 5:1-5] Now when the heathen round about heard that the altar had been built and the sanctuary dedicated as it was formerly, they were very angry and concluded to destroy the race of Jacob that was in the midst of them, and they began to slay and destroy among the people. Judas, however, fought against the people of Esau in Idumea at Akrabattine, because they besieged Israel, and he defeated them with a great slaughter and humbled their pride and took their spoils. He remembere
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Section CXII. PEACE AND PROSPERITY UNDER SIMON
Section CXII. PEACE AND PROSPERITY UNDER SIMON
[Sidenote: I Macc. 11:38-40] And when King Demetrius saw that the land was quiet before him and that no resistance was made to him, he sent all his forces, each one to his own home, except the foreign mercenaries, whom he had enlisted from the isles of the heathen. All the troops, however, who had served his father hated him. Now Tryphon was one of those who had formerly belonged to Alexander's party, and when he saw that all the troops were murmuring against Demetrius, he went to Yamliku, the A
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Section CXIII. THE RULE OF JOHN HYRCANUS AND ARISTOBULUS
Section CXIII. THE RULE OF JOHN HYRCANUS AND ARISTOBULUS
[Sidenote: I Macc. 16:11-17] Now Ptolemy the son of Abubus had been appointed commander over the plain of Jericho. He possessed much silver and gold, for he was the high priest's son-in-law. Then he grew ambitious and determined to make himself master of the country. So he formed treacherous plots against Simon and his sons, to make away with them. Now Simon was visiting the cities that were in the country and providing for their good management. And he went down to Jericho with Mattathias and J
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Section CXIV. THE PHARISEES, SADDUCEES, AND ESSENES
Section CXIV. THE PHARISEES, SADDUCEES, AND ESSENES
[Sidenote: Jos. Ant. XVIII, 1:2, 3a-c] The Jews have three sects of philosophy: the Essenes, the Sadducees, and those called Pharisees. The Pharisees do not yield to luxury but despise that kind of life; and they follow the guidance of reason, and what that prescribes to them as good, they do. They also pay respect to those advanced in years nor are they so bold as to contradict them in anything which they have introduced. While they believe that all things are done by predestination, they do no
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Section CXV. THE LIFE AND FAITH OF THE JEWS OF THE DISPERSION
Section CXV. THE LIFE AND FAITH OF THE JEWS OF THE DISPERSION
[Sidenote: Jos. Ant. XII, 3:1a] The Jews obtained honor from the kings of Asia when they became their auxiliaries; for Seleucus Nicator made them citizens of those cities which he built in Asia and in lower Syria, and in Antioch, the metropolis, and gave them privileges equal to those of the Macedonians and the Greeks who were its inhabitants. [Sidenote: Jos. Jew. War, VII, 3:3a] For the Jewish race is widely dispersed among the inhabitants of all the world; and especially was it intermingled wi
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Section CXVI. THE DECLINE OF THE MACCABEAN KINGDOM
Section CXVI. THE DECLINE OF THE MACCABEAN KINGDOM
[Sidenote: Jos. War, I, 4:1] After Aristobulus died, his wife Salome, who by the Greeks was called Alexandra, released his brothers from prison (for Aristobulus had kept them in confinement), and made Alexander Janneus, who was the oldest, king. [Sidenote: Jos. War, I, 4:2] Now there was a battle between him and Ptolemy, who was called Lathyrus, who had taken the city of Asochis. He indeed slew many of his enemies, but the victory rather inclined to Ptolemy. But when this Ptolemy was pursued by
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Section CXVIII. HEROD'S POLICY AND REIGN
Section CXVIII. HEROD'S POLICY AND REIGN
[Sidenote: Jos. Jew. War, I, 19:1, 2a] Now when the war about Actium broke out, Herod prepared to come to the assistance of Antony, but he was treacherously hindered from sharing the dangers of Antony by Cleopatra, for she persuaded Antony to intrust the war against the Arabians to Herod. This plan, however, proved of advantage to Herod, for he defeated the army of the Arabians, although it offered him strong resistance. [Sidenote: Jos. Jew. War, I, 20:1] Now Herod was immediately concerned abou
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Section CXIX. HEROD'S TEMPLE
Section CXIX. HEROD'S TEMPLE
[Sidenote: Jos. Ant. XV, 11:1a] Now Herod, in the eighteenth year of his reign, undertook a very great work, that is, to rebuild the temple of God at his own expense, and to make it larger in circumference and to raise it to a more magnificent height. He thought rightly that to bring the temple to perfection would be the most glorious of all his works, and that it would suffice as an everlasting memorial. [Sidenote: Jos. Ant. XV, 11:2c] So he prepared a thousand wagons to bring stones, chose ten
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Section CXX. THE MESSIANIC HOPES AND THE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF JUDAISM
Section CXX. THE MESSIANIC HOPES AND THE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF JUDAISM
[Sidenote: Sibyl. Oracles, III 767-784] Then a kingdom over all mankind for all times shall God raise up, who once gave the holy law to the pious, for whom he pledged to open every land, the world and the portals of the blessed, and all joys, and an eternal, immortal spirit and a joyous heart. And out of every land they shall bring frankincense and gifts to the house of the great God. And to men there shall be no other house where men may learn of the world to be than that which God hath given f
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APPENDIX
APPENDIX
Books for Constant Reference. The complete text of the biblical writings of the post-exilic period are found in Volumes II to VI of the Student's Old Testament . A careful, thorough résumé of the history is contained in Riggs's History of the Jewish People during the Maccabean and Roman Periods . Professor Bevan, in his Jerusalem Under the High Priests , presents, especially from the ecclesiastical point of view, a fresh survey of the history during the Greek and Maccabean periods. The geographi
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II
II
The General Questions, as in the preceding volumes, follow the main divisions of the book, and are intended to guide the student in collecting and co-ordinating the more important facts presented in the biblical text or in the notes. The Subjects for Special Research are intended to guide the reader to further study in related lines, and, by means of detailed references, to introduce him to the most helpful passages in the best English books of reference. In class-room work many of these topics
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