did not, as Daniel bade, _break off his sins by righteousness, and his
iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor_. Twelve months afterwards he
was walking in that glorious palace which he had made for himself, and
in a moment of overweening pride he cried, _Is not this great Babylon,
that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power,
and for the honour of my majesty?_ The words had hardly been spoken,
when his doom came upon him. The thick pall of madness[454] settled
down upon him; the mind of a man departed from him, and that of a beast
entered in. Casting off his robes, he refused the food and habitation
of men; mingling with the cattle in the fields, he remained exposed to
the weather day and night, _till his hair was grown as eagles’ feathers,
and his nails like birds’ claws_[455] (Dan. iv. 33).
Meanwhile, as seems most probable, his queen Nitocris administered his
kingdom, and at length, after an interval of four, or perhaps seven
years, as he did not scruple to declare in a proclamation addressed to
his people, he came to himself. His understanding came back to him; he
lifted up his eyes to heaven, and blessed the Most High, and praised
and honoured Him that liveth for ever. With his reason, the glory also
of his kingdom returned. His counsellors and his lords sought him and
brought him back to his palace, _and excellent majesty was added unto
him_. Resuming his great works which had been suspended, he “added
fresh wonders in his old age to the marvellous constructions of his
manhood,” and after a reign of 43 years died, B.C. 561, at the advanced
age of 83 or 84, and was succeeded by his son Evil-Merodach. Shortly
after his accession the new king released JEHOIACHIN, king of Judah,
from the prison where he had been confined for 38 years, set his throne
above the throne of the other captive princes at Babylon, and gave
him a daily allowance from the royal table (2 Kings xxv. 27–30). But
in the course of one or two years he was assassinated, and one of
the conspirators, Neriglissar or Nerigassolassar usurped the throne,
B.C. 559, and held the government for 3 years and a half, bequeathing
it to his son Laborosoarchod, B.C. 556. In the course of nine months,
he was succeeded by Nabonadius[456], or Labynetus, B.C. 555.
Meanwhile the neighbouring kingdom of Media had been the scene of
a great revolution, in which Babylon eventually became involved.
Mandane a daughter of Astyages, who mounted the Median throne B.C. 595,
married Cambyses, a Persian of the royal family of the Achæmenidæ, and
became the mother of CYRUS _the Great_[457]. Alienated by his tyranny
and wearying of his rule a large body of the subjects of Astyages
transferred their affections to this prince, who heading a revolt,
defeated and captured the Median king near Pasargadæ, B.C. 559, and
obtained the supremacy over the combined Medo-Persic empire. At first
the conqueror did not march against Babylon, and Nabonadius formed an
alliance with Crœsus king of Lydia, and employed himself diligently
in strengthening his capital, storing up provisions, and erecting
defensive works.
But Cyrus gained a complete victory over the Lydian king B.C. 546, and
at the end of about six years appeared before Babylon. After a single
engagement he drove the Babylonians within their defences (Jer. li. 30),
and commenced a regular siege. At this time Nabonadius does not appear
to have been present in his capital, having fled to Borsippa after
the late engagement. But he left behind him a son whom he had a few
years before admitted to a share in the government[458]. This was
_Bil-shar-uzar_, the _Belshazzar_ of the Scripture narrative. This
prince made a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, his wives
and concubines, and high estates of the realm, in the midst of which,
heated with wine, he commanded that all the gold and silver vessels,
which his grandfather[459] Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the plunder
of Jerusalem, should be brought forth, and from them the assembled
guests drank in honour of their various gods. But in the midst of their
festivities the Fingers of a Man’s Hand were seen to write mysterious
words on the plaister of the palace wall. Instantly all the brightness
of Belshazzar’s countenance vanished, _his thoughts troubled him,
his knees smote one against another_. With loud voice he bade the
astrologers and soothsayers be brought before him, and promised honour,
place, and power to any that would interpret the mystic words. But
this none of the wise men of his realm could do. Amidst the alarm and
confusion, the Queen-mother now entered, and advised that they should
consult Daniel, who seems at this time to have been living in close
retirement. Accordingly he was brought in, and after declining all the
monarch’s promised rewards, sternly rebuked him, for that though he
knew all that his grandfather’s pride had brought down upon him, he
had yet lifted up himself against the Lord of Heaven, and in impious
triumph profaned the sacred vessels once dedicated to that God who
now had sent him this message, MENE, _God hath numbered thy kingdom
and finished it_; TEKEL, _thou art weighed in the balances and found
wanting_; PERES, _thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes
and Persians_ (Dan. v. 25–28). That very night the Prophet’s words
were fulfilled. Having diverted the course of the Euphrates, Cyrus
assaulted the city from the dry bed of the river, captured it, and
slew Belshazzar, B.C. 538, thus fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah
(xxi. 9; xlv. 1) and Jeremiah (li. 31–39).
Hastening on to other conquests, Cyrus entrusted the captured city
to a viceroy[460], known in Scripture as _Darius the Mede_[461].
He signalized his accession to power by setting over the kingdom of
Babylon Proper, either as a body of councillors or provincial governors,
120 princes, subject to the authority of three presidents, of whom
Daniel, now far advanced in life, was chief (Dan. vi. 2). Old and
grey-headed, he still remained faithful to the God of his fathers. And
now moved with jealousy at his elevation, the other nobles resolved
to compass his ruin. Unable to accuse him of any failure in the
administration of the kingdom, they persuaded Darius to pass an
irrevocable decree, like the law of the Medes and Persians, ordaining
that for a space of 30 days no one should offer up any petition to
any god or man save to the monarch himself, on penalty of being flung
into a den of lions. This decree Daniel regarded not; steadfast in the
religion of his fathers, he opened the windows of his chamber towards
Jerusalem, and three times a-day, as had been his wont, offered up his
prayers to his God. The nobles now had the opportunity they had coveted,
and they reported his conduct to the king. Sorely against his will,
and after fruitless efforts to deliver him from their malice, Darius
bade the sentence be executed. The aged prophet was flung into the den,
the mouth thereof was closed, and sealed with the royal signet, and
the signet of the lords and princes. Fasting and sleepless the monarch
passed the night, neither were instruments of music brought before
him. Rising early in the morning he sought out the lions’ den, and to
his great joy found that Jehovah had protected His faithful servant,
had sent His angel, and shut the lions’ mouths. Thereupon he ordered
him to be brought forth, and then issued instructions for the immediate
execution of his accusers, who, according to the cruel but usual
Oriental custom, were with their wives and children flung into the
den and torn in pieces. Not content with this, he proclaimed that
throughout his vast empire adoration should be paid to the God of
Daniel, _the living God, steadfast for ever, who worketh signs and
wonders in heaven, and hath delivered His servant from the power of
the lions_ (Dan. vi. 27).
CHAPTER III.
_REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE. ESTHER AND AHASUERUS._
EZRA I.–IV. ESTHER I.–X. B.C. 536–479.
AT the time when Cyrus thus became the ruler of an empire greater even
than Assyria itself, seventy[462] years had elapsed since the capture
of Jerusalem in the reign of Jehoiakim (Dan. ix. 1, 2). The prosperity
he had already enjoyed under so many sovereigns Daniel still retained
under the new monarch, and it was probably through his influence that
in the first year of his reign, or B.C. 536, Cyrus issued a decree
giving permission to the Jews to return to their native land and
rebuild their Temple. To aid them in so doing he restored to them the
sacred vessels which Nebuchadnezzar had carried off from Jerusalem, and
instructed the pashas throughout the various provinces to afford them
every facility for their return (Ezra i. 1–6).
The majority, however, of the Jews who had for years been comfortably
settled in the land of exile, and had there risen to affluence and high
positions, preferred to retain their settlements[463], and only 42,360
attended by 7,337 servants were found willing to return to their native
land. Over this body ZERUBBABEL, the head of the house of Judah, and
grandson of King Jehoiachin, was invested with the supreme authority.
He had held some office in the Babylonian court, and had received the
Chaldæan name of Sheshbazzar. Appointed by Cyrus to the governorship of
Jerusalem, and accompanied by the high-priest JESHUA, and possibly the
prophets HAGGAI and ZECHARIAH, with copious presents of silver and gold
(Ezr. i. 7–11), he set out at the head of the returning colonists and
before long reached Jerusalem[464].
Seven months after their return, the Altar of Burnt-sacrifice was
re-erected on its ancient site, and the priests and Levites offered
burnt-offerings and sacrifices. This done, preparations were made by
the _Prince of the Captivity_ for his great work, the rebuilding of the
Temple. A grant of money for this purpose having been already received
from Cyrus, cedar trees were brought from Lebanon to Joppa; masons and
carpenters were hired; and in the 2nd month of the 2nd year of their
return, the foundations of the second Temple were laid, with all the
pomp and ceremonial that circumstances admitted. _The priests in their
apparel with trumpets, the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals_
(Ezr. iii. 10, 11), sang the same Psalms, to the sound of which the
first Temple had been dedicated, and the people responded with a
great shout, which, however, was well-nigh drowned by the sobs and
lamentations of many, especially the older men, who had beheld the
glories of the former Temple.
But the good work was not to proceed unopposed. Informed of their
design, the Samaritans requested to be allowed some share in its
promotion. This Zerubbabel and Jeshua unwisely rejected, and the
Samaritans thereupon exhausted every artifice to prevent the completion
of the work. After putting them to various other annoyances, they hired
counsellors to misrepresent them at the court of Persia, and eventually
succeeded in preventing any further progress during the reign of Cyrus,
and of his successors Cambyses and Smerdis, B.C. 525–521 (Ezr. iv.
11–24).
But in the second year of Darius Hystaspes, B.C. 520, the stirring
words of the prophets HAGGAI and ZECHARIAH (Hag. i. 1–8; Zech. i. 1–6)
roused once more the spirits of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, and a fresh and
determined effort was made to complete the work. The Persian satraps
of the province, Tatnai and Shetharboznai, came to Jerusalem, and after
an inspection of the work applied to the Persian court for instructions
whether it was to be permitted to go on (Ezr. v. 6–17). Darius caused
the archives at Ecbatana to be searched, and at length the original
decree of Cyrus being discovered, he reissued it, and at the same time
commanded the Persian satraps instead of offering any molestation to
the Jewish colony, to promote the work to the utmost of their power
(Ezr. vi. 5–13). Thus aided, the Jews pressed forward with such vigour
that, in the 8th year of the reign of Darius, the Temple was completed
and ready for dedication, B.C. 516. This ceremony was performed with
every solemnity, numerous sacrifices were offered, the priests were
redistributed into courses, and the Passover was celebrated with great
rejoicings (Ezr. vi. 15–22).
During the remainder of the long reign of Darius, the Jews enjoyed
a continuance of peace and tranquillity. But in the year B.C. 485,
AHASUERUS[465], the XERXES of profane history, ascended the Persian
throne. When he had reigned three years, this capricious despot made a
feast for all his nobles at Susa, and on the seventh day of the revels
ordered Vashti his queen to grace the banquet with her presence. With
a due concern for her own dignity the queen declined, which so enraged
her lord that he issued a decree deposing her from her royal station,
and ordering a general levy of beautiful virgins, that he might select
from them a new queen (Esth. ii. 1–4). At this time there was living
at Susa a Jew named Mordecai, of the tribe of Benjamin (Esth. ii. 5).
Having no child of his own, he had adopted his cousin HADASSAH or
ESTHER, a beautiful orphan. Together with the other virgins she was
brought into the royal harem, and found such favour with the monarch
that in the seventh year of his reign, without enquiring into her
kindred or people, he ordered her to be crowned in place of the deposed
queen (Esth. iii. 16).
By virtue of his relationship Mordecai, too, shared in the prosperity
of his niece, and became one of those who _sat in the king’s gate_
(Esth. ii. 41). In this capacity he discovered a plot of the eunuchs to
assassinate the king, which he duly divulged, and they were executed,
while a record of his services was entered in the royal chronicles. But
Mordecai had a rival for the royal favour in the person of HAMAN, an
Agagite, _i.e._ probably a descendant of the ancient Amalekite kings.
Rapidly outstripping all his other competitors, the new favourite was
advanced to the highest position in the kingdom, and was treated with
the utmost reverence by everyone, save Mordecai only. Stung to the
quick at this slight, and having discovered the secret of his rival’s
lineage, Haman resolved to strike a blow against the nation to which
Mordecai belonged. Accordingly he represented to his royal master
that the Jews, scattered and dispersed throughout the provinces of
his empire, were a dangerous and turbulent race, of alien habits and
religion, who ought to be put to death; and from the confiscation of
their property he promised to place in the royal coffers upwards of
10,000 talents of silver. The prospect of so large an increase to his
dilapidated fortunes was eagerly favoured by the reckless despot, and
assenting to the cruel scheme, he placed his signet-ring in the hands
of Haman, who quickly saw that a decree was issued for the wholesale
destruction of the Jewish exiles throughout the Persian dominions,
without regard to sex or age (Esth. iii. 8–15).
News of what was designed before long reached the ears of Mordecai.
Knowing that he himself was the main cause of this bloodthirsty decree,
he was filled with the utmost alarm, and sat down arrayed in sackcloth
and ashes at the king’s gate. His strange conduct being reported to
Esther, she sent to her relative to ascertain the cause, and then for
the first time learnt the contents of Haman’s edict. In this awful
crisis she resolved to _put her life in her hand_, and to intercede
with the king in behalf of her people. Meanwhile, at her suggestion,
all the Jews at Susa maintained for three days a solemn fast, and then,
arrayed in her royal apparel, and radiant in her beauty, she presented
herself before the king. The captivated monarch stretched forth the
golden sceptre, and invited her to prefer her petition. Let the king
and Haman, she begged, come to a banquet of wine. They came, but
declining to make known her petition for the present, she invited the
two to a similar feast on the following day (Esth. v. 8).
Overjoyed at these special marks of honour, Haman eagerly recounted
them to his wife and family, but declared that they availed him nothing
so long as his rival was permitted to retain his place at the king’s
gate. They, therefore, advised that a gallows 50 cubits high should
be erected, and that he should request the king’s permission to hang
Mordecai thereon. But that night, the monarch, unable to sleep, ordered
certain of the chronicles to be read before him, and now for the first
time learnt the service the Jewish exile had rendered by revealing
the plot against his own life. In answer to his enquiries, he had just
ascertained that no mark of the royal approval had been bestowed upon
his benefactor, when Haman entered the court in the early morning to
request that execution might be carried out upon his hated rival. The
king enquired what ought to be done to the man he delighted to honour.
Imagining that none but himself could be intended, the favourite
suggested that he should be clad in royal apparel, crowned with the
king’s diadem, and mounted on the royal mule, be conducted through the
streets of Susa by one of the king’s most noble friends. The monarch
approved, and bade him straightway confer all these marks of honour on
no other than Mordecai. Not daring to disobey, he arrayed his rival in
the gorgeous robes of the king, and conducted him through the streets
of the city. Then with a heavy heart he returned home, and recounted
to his family the strange events of the day. A presentiment of coming
doom came over his relatives, but a hasty summons to the royal banquet
cut short their deliberations. For the second time the monarch desired
to learn the queen’s petition, and Esther now revealed the danger of
her nation, and denounced the wicked conspirator. Filled with wrath
Ahasuerus ordered his instant execution, and at the suggestion of one
of the eunuchs he was hanged on the very gallows he had constructed for
his rival (Esth. vii. 7–10).
But the execution of Haman was but a step in Mordecai’s designs for the
delivery of his nation. The edict for the massacre was still in force,
and couriers had already gone forth with it to the various provinces
of the empire. Its revocation was forbidden by Persian law, but a
second edict empowered the Jews to assume the defensive against their
adversaries, of whom, banding themselves together, they slew 800 at
Susa (Esth. ix. 6, 15), and 75,000 in the various provinces, while
Haman’s ten sons shared their father’s fate (Esth. ix. 12, 16). In
memory of this signal deliverance the Jews to this day celebrate the
Feast of PURIM or _Lots_, in ironical commemoration of their great
enemy, who had resorted to this mode of augury for ascertaining an
auspicious day for executing his bloody design against their nation.
Preceded by a strict fast on the 13th of Adar[466], the festival is
celebrated on the 14th and 15th with great rejoicings. According to
modern usage the book of Esther is read in the Synagogue, and when
the reader comes to the name of Haman, the entire assembly shout, _Let
his name be blotted out, let the name of the ungodly perish_; and the
conclusion of the service is followed by feasting and merriment.
CHAPTER IV.
_TIMES OF EZRA AND NEHEMIAH. CLOSE OF THE CANON._
EZRA VII.–X. NEH. I.–XIII. B.C. 457–415.
IN the year B.C. 464 Artaxerxes Longimanus succeeded to the Persian
throne. His reign was favourable to the Jews, and was signalised, B.C.
458, by a fresh migration to Jerusalem headed by EZRA, a descendant
of Hilkiah the high-priest in the time of Josiah. A royal ordinance
empowered him not only to receive contributions from his own nation
scattered throughout Babylonia for the adornment of the Temple at
Jerusalem, but also to establish magistrates and judges throughout
all Judea, and to claim assistance from the various pashas of the
provinces through which he would pass (Ezr. vii. 11–26). Thus aided and
encouraged, Ezra persuaded about 6,000 of his countrymen to take part
in this second migration, amongst whom were many of the priesthood,
both of the higher and lower orders. After a fast of three days at the
river Ahava[467], to supplicate the Divine blessing on the enterprise,
the expedition set out, and, though not escorted by a royal guard,
reached Jerusalem in safety (♦Ezra viii. 32).
Ezra was well received by the Jewish governors, but was pained to
find much to blame in the conduct of his countrymen. Forgetful of
the commands of the Law, they had in many instances intermarried with
the surrounding heathen tribes. He therefore devoted himself with all
zeal to the correction of these abuses; proclaimed a fast by way of
atonement for past transgressions, and succeeded in inducing many to
put away their strange wives. At the same time he commenced a more
complete reorganization of the people according to the Mosaic Law and
the institutes of David, and, it is not improbable, a revision and
rearrangement of the sacred Books (Ezra x. 1–17).
But though the Persian monarchs had not been unwilling to render aid
in the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple, their policy had hitherto
forbidden the re-erection of the city itself, which still lay exposed
and defenceless, _its walls broken down and its gates burned with fire_
(Neh. i. 3), the Temple, and a few private dwellings, being the sole
result of 80 years of effort. In the 20th year, however, of Artaxerxes,
or B.C. 444, there arrived at Shusan a deputation from Jerusalem, with
a sad account of the condition of the city, which they laid before
NEHEMIAH, a Jew, probably of the tribe of Judah, who held a high
position amongst the royal cup-bearers. Nehemiah instantly conceived
the patriotic design of quitting the comforts of his present position,
and aiding his countrymen in their difficulties. With fasting and
prayer he sought the blessing of the Most High on his design, and
shortly afterwards, in reply to the enquiries of the king _why his
countenance was so sad_, poured forth the deep desire of his heart, and
begged that he might be allowed to go to Judea, and rebuild the city of
his fathers. Artaxerxes consented[468], on condition that he returned
within a certain period; and having appointed him Tirshatha or governor
of Judea, gave him letters to the pashas of the provinces through
which he would pass, as also to Asaph the keeper of the royal forests,
directing him to supply timber and other necessaries for the work
(Neh. ii. 1–8).
Thus empowered and guarded by a troop of cavalry, Nehemiah set out
on his journey. On his arrival at Jerusalem he for three days kept
silence as to his intentions, but after a midnight survey of the ruined
condition of the city, openly proclaimed the purport of his visit, and
the royal commission under which he was acting. He advised the instant
rebuilding of the city walls, till which was done the colony could not
but be a reproach to the surrounding tribes, with their city almost
deserted, and the Temple itself falling into decay (Neh. ii. 12–20).
His project was received with acclamation, and a resolution was formed
to press on with the work without delay. But the coming of the new
governor had reached the ears of the Samaritans, and Sanballat the
Horonite[469], Tobiah an Ammonite, and Geshem an Arabian, employed
every artifice to defeat his designs. Nehemiah, however, was not to be
daunted. His object was to finish the walls in the shortest possible
time, and he therefore directed that while one half of the people
wrought at the work, the other should stand by armed and ready to
defend them, and that the workmen should hold in the one hand a weapon,
and in the other their tools. Thus by dint of incredible exertions,
within the brief space of 52 days Jerusalem was again girded and
enclosed, the walls were rebuilt, the ancient towers set up, and
the gateways were ready for the doors to be swung upon them (Neh.
iv. 13–23).
Unable to impede by open violence the progress of the enterprise,
Sanballat and his friends resorted to various stratagems to get
Nehemiah out of the city. They began by proposing a conference with the
governor in one of the villages of the plain of Ono in Benjamin. Four
times was the proposition made, and as often declined. Then resort was
had to a still more cunning artifice. Sanballat sent to Nehemiah an
apparently friendly letter, announcing the prevalence of a rumour among
the heathen nations settled in Samaria that he intended Jerusalem to
become the capital of an independent kingdom, and had suborned prophets
to prophesy of himself, _There is a king in Judah_. Such rumours were
sure to reach the Persian court, but might be dissipated by a friendly
conference. At the same time Noadiah a prophetess and others were
bribed to represent to the governor the risk he was running, and to
persuade him to take refuge in the fortress of the Temple. But Nehemiah
saw through their designs, and refused to give them any pretext for
accusing him of conscious guilt (Neh. vi. 1–14). In addition to these
plots the governor had to be on his guard against treachery within
the city itself, where many of the Jewish nobles were carrying on a
secret correspondence with Tobiah, and even espoused his cause. But in
spite of all obstacles the work went on, and the essential part of the
governor’s design, the building of the gates, was accomplished.
Having thus provided for the external security of the city, Nehemiah
applied himself with equal zeal to the correction of internal abuses.
One of these was the high rate of usury, which those who had any money
at their command, exacted from their poorer brethren. To such an extent
was this the case, that some mortgaged their fields, vineyards, and
houses; others sold or pledged the freedom of their children; while
many borrowed at the most exorbitant rates sufficient to pay the royal
taxes (Neh. v. 1–14). The discovery of this nefarious system roused
the governor’s indignation. Himself noble, generous, and highminded,
he declined even the usual supplies for his own table which former
governors had received; defrayed many expenses out of his own purse;
and even entertained the poorer classes of his countrymen at his own
table (Neh. v. 14–19). With righteous sternness, therefore, he rebuked
the nobles who connived at this disgraceful traffic, and convoking an
assembly demanded that his enslaved country men should be set free,
their debts remitted, and the enormous interest foregone. His rebukes
had their effect. The assembly unanimously announced their willingness
to accede to his demands, and abstain from such conduct in future.
Other measures for the internal welfare of the city were then proceeded
with. The doors having been set up in the gates, the custody of the
city was committed to Hanani, a relative of the governor; a register
of the people was taken, the Law was solemnly read in their hearing by
Ezra (Neh. viii. 1–16), and the Feast of Tabernacles was celebrated
with due solemnities, from the 15th to the 22nd of the month Tisri[470].
Two days afterwards a Fast was proclaimed, and the people made a formal
confession of their national sins, and enumerated the gracious dealings
of the Most High with them, from the Call of Abraham to the return
from the Captivity (Neh. ix. 6–37). At the same time they ratified
a solemn covenant to serve the Lord with all their heart, and keep
the ordinances of the Lord; to avoid intermarriages with heathens;
to observe the Sabbaths and other holy days, and neither buy nor sell
goods thereon; to keep the seventh or Sabbatical year, and remit all
debts during it; to contribute each man one-third of a shekel towards
the support of the Temple-service, and to maintain the customary
first-fruits and tithes (Neh. x. 29–39).
Having in co-operation with Ezra thus restored the national
institutions, Nehemiah returned to the Persian court, B.C. 432.
During his absence the old abuses again began to creep in; the people
contracted alliances with foreigners, neglected the Sabbath, and
forgot the covenant they had so lately sworn to observe. As soon as
he was informed of this, Nehemiah sought and obtained permission to
revisit once more the scene of his former labours, and as Tirshatha
was invested with renewed powers. Returning after an absence of about
nine years, he found that Eliashib the high-priest had permitted Tobiah
the Ammonite to occupy a large chamber in the Temple, which had before
been used as a store for the frankincense, the holy vessels, and the
tithes of corn, wine, and oil. Thereupon he insisted on the expulsion
of the intruder, and the restoration of the ejected vessels and stores,
over which he appointed a Levitical guard (Neh. xiii. 1–15). He next
introduced measures for the prevention of traffic on the Day of Rest,
and the celebration of mixed marriages, alike amongst the lower and the
higher orders of the people, even deposing from his sacred functions
the high-priest Eliashib for permitting his son Joiada to ally himself
with a daughter of Sanballat the Horonite (Neh. xiii. 15–28). Having
thus completed his second administration, this truly patriotic and
upright governor in all probability returned to Persia about B.C. 413,
and there died.
With this date closes the History contained in the Scriptures of the
Old Testament. While the mass of the Hebrew people was scattered among
the nations, carrying with them, wherever they went, their Law and
their Institutions, we have seen a remnant, as had indeed been foretold,
restored to their own land, their holy Temple rebuilt, their glorious
City raised from its ruins. Very different, indeed, was their position
now from that which the nation had occupied during the palmy days of
Solomon, when their kingdom stretched from “the river of Egypt” to the
Euphrates, from the mountains of Lebanon to the Red Sea. Different,
too, and far less costly was their Temple in comparison with that which
the artisans of Hiram had built for the Son of David, but in its moral
and spiritual condition the remnant of the nation far excelled the
contemporaries of its greatest king. In the furnace of affliction
it had been thoroughly purified from all tendencies to idolatry. The
dreary years, when _their harps hung upon the willows by the waters of
Babylon_, had not been without their salutary effect upon the people.
There was no division now in the objects of their worship. No high
places were to be seen crowned with temples dedicated to Baal or
Chemosh; no groves screened with their leafy covert the impure orgies
of ♦Ashtaroth; no drums and cymbals drowned with their horrid clang
the wail of infants in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, as they were passed
through the fire to appease the cruel Moloch. These “oracles” were
“dumb.” The Jew was no longer an idolater. The Divine Unity was now
the central truth of his creed. The Law once neglected was now read,
copied, studied. While Nehemiah had earnestly applied himself to the
civil administration, Ezra[471], and others after him, with no less
zeal devoted their energies to collecting, transcribing, arranging
the Sacred Books. These were ultimately classed under three divisions;
(i) _The Law_, containing the five Books of Moses; (ii) _The Prophets_,
which included the historical and prophetical writings; (iii) _The
Psalms_, or Hagiographa (_sacred writings_), comprising the poetical
works.
Meanwhile varied as had been the fortunes of the Chosen People, the
Assurance of a Saviour, of God’s purpose of love in the promised Seed,
had never been forgotten. As first made known to man in Paradise,
it did perhaps, as we have seen[472], little more than assure him of
a future interposition in his behalf, without informing him whether
his Redeemer should be one or many, the collective race, or a single
deliverer. But once given, the realization of the Promise becomes the
goal of Sacred History.
Through one of the sons of Noah[473], it is limited to a particular
race; through the call of Abraham[474] to a particular nation; through
Judah to a particular tribe. When the people flee away from the terrors
of Sinai, Moses predicts the coming of a greater _Prophet_[475], and
a mightier Mediator. When the Sceptre rises from Judah[476]. and David
sits upon his throne, he himself speaks of a Greater King[477], of ONE
he calls his Lord, _who shall sit upon his throne, and of whose kingdom
there shall be no end_. When the mournful close of Solomon’s reign
proves that he could not be the destined king, when his kingdom is
rent in twain, and his subjects become a prey to their enemies, and
are carried off into far distant lands, even then the very sadness of
the Captivity only serves to correct the idea of the Messiah, and the
“Son of David” gives place in the writings of Daniel to the “Son of
Man[478].” Thus each crisis of the nation’s history serves to bring the
Promise within narrower limits, and to illustrate it with fresh details.
Meanwhile, as time rolls on, and one prophet after another brings
out some new particular, foreshadowing the birth-place[479], or the
offices[480], or the works of the Messiah, another Voice begins to be
heard in the Temple of Prophecy. It is not jubilant and glad, telling
of triumph and of glory, of the subjugation of nations, or the setting
up of a kingdom. It is subdued and mournful. It whispers of suffering
and rejection, of a triumph indeed, but not the triumph of an earthly
conqueror. It speaks of the coming[481] of _a man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief_; of His being _wounded for transgressions
and bruised for iniquities_; of His being _cut off, but not for
Himself_[482].
The earliest prophecy had declared that the seed of the woman
should _bruise the Serpent’s head_, but had whispered that the
Serpent would _bruise his heel_. The latest declared that the Messiah
should _triumph_, but also that He should _die_. Thus gradually, but
harmoniously, was the person and work of man’s Redeemer unfolded.
And at length in _the fulness of time_[483] a Babe was born in
Bethlehem, and laid in a manger. Seed of the Woman, of the race of
Shem, of the descendants of Abraham, of the tribe of Judah, of the
lineage of David, He lived, He died, He rose again. Prophet like
unto, but infinitely greater than Moses, He gave us a law which shall
never pass away[484]; Priest like unto, but not as Aaron _compassed
about with infirmity_, He offered up on the Altar of His Cross a full,
perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, atonement, and satisfaction for
the sins of the whole world; King like unto, but infinitely higher
than David, He sitteth at the right hand of God, clad in the glorified
nature of the race He came to save, the predicted Redeemer of the Old,
the revealed Deliverer of the New Testament, in _whom there is neither
Jew nor Gentile, neither male nor female, neither bond nor free_[485].
APPENDIX.
I.
THE PATRIARCHS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS.
┌ Iscah
┌ Haran ──┤ Milcah
│ └ LOT ────────┬ Moab
│ └ Ammon
│
│ ┌ Laban ────┬ LEAH
TERAH ┤ Nahor ─── Bethuel ────┤ └ RACHEL
│ └ REBEKAH
│
│ ┌ (of Hagar)
│ │ Ishmael
│ │ ┌ ESAU
└ ABRAHAM ┤ │ ┌ (of Leah)
│ │ │ Reuben
│ │ │ Levi
│ (of Sarah) │ │ Issachar
└ ISAAC ────┤ │ Simeon
│ │ Judah
│ │ Zebulun
│ │ Dinah
└ JACOB ────┤ (of Bilhah)
│ Dan
│ Naphtali
│ (of Zilpah)
│ Gad
│ Asher
│ (of Rachel)
│ JOSEPH ───┬ Ephraim
│ └ Manasseh
└ Benjamin
II.
LEVI AND THE PRIESTHOOD.
┌ MIRIAM
│ ┌ Nadab
│ AARON ──┤ Abihu
┌ Kohath ─ Amram ──┤ │ Eleazar ― 16 courses
│ │ └ Ithamar ― 8 courses
LEVI ─┤ │ (of Priests.)
│ └ MOSES
│ Gershon
└ Merari
III.
KINGS OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL.
B.C.
Saul 1095
David 1055
Solomon 1015
Division of the Kingdom, B.C. 975.
KINGDOMS OF JUDAH AND ISRAEL.
LINES OF POLICY. │KINGS OF JUDAH.│B.C.│KINGS OF ISRAEL. DYNASTIES.
──────────────────┼───────────────┼────┼────────────────────────────
│ 1 Rehoboam │ 975│ 1 _Jeroboam_ }
│ 2 Abijah │ 958│ } I.
I. │ 3 Asa │ 955│ }
B.C. 975–918 │ │ 954│ 2 Nadab }
Period of mutual │ │ 953│ 3 _Baasha_ } II.
hostility. │ │ 930│ 4 Elah }
│ │ 929│ 5 _Zimri_ III.
│ │ 929│ 6 _Omri_ }
──────────────────┤ │ 918│ 7 Ahab }
│ 4 Jehoshaphat │ 914│ } IV.
II. │ │ 898│ 8 Ahaziah ]
B.C. 918–884 │ │ 896│ 9 Jehoram }
Period of mutual │ 5 Jehoram │ 892│
alliance, and │ 6 Ahaziah │ 885│
hostility to │ 7 (_Athaliah_)│ 884│10 _Jehu_ }
Syria. │ 8 Joash │ 878│ }
│ │ 856│11 Jehoahaz }
──────────────────┤ │ 841│12 Jehoash }
│ 9 Amaziah │ 839│ } V.
│ │ 825│13 Jeroboam II. }
│10 Uzziah │ 810│ 1st interregnum }
│ │ 783│of about 11 years*}
III. │ │ 773│14 Zachariah }
B.C. 884–588 │ │ 772│15 _Shallum_ VI.
Renewal of mutual │ │ 772│16 _Menahem_ } VII.
hostilities, │ │ 761│17 Pekahiah }
gradual decline │ │ 759│18 _Pekah_ VIII.
of both kingdoms │11 Jotham │ 758│
before the power │12 Ahaz │ 742│
of Assyria. │ │ 737│ 2nd interregnum
│ │ 730│19 _Hoshea_ IX.
│13 Hezekiah │ 726│
│ │ 721│Capture of Samaria
│14 Manasseh │ 698│and captivity of
│15 Amon │ 643│Israel.
│16 Josiah │ 641│
│17 Jehoahaz │ 610│
│18 Jehoiakim │ 610│
│19 Jehoiachin │ 599│
│ or Coniah │ │
│20 Zedekiah │ 599│
│ Jerusalem │ 588│
│ destroyed │
* See Clinton’s _Epitome_, p. 133.
IV.
THE PROPHETS.
│ │ PERIOD ILLUSTRATED BY THEIR PROPHECIES.
│ PROBABLE ├───────┬──────────────┬──────────────────
GENERAL │ CHRON. │ │ KINGS OF │ KINGS OF
DIVISION. │ ORDER │ B.C. │ ISRAEL. │ JUDAH.
────────────┼────────────────┼───────┼──────────────┼──────────────────
MAJOR │ PROPHETS. │ │ │
PROPHETS. │i. _Before the │ │ │
│ Babylonian │ │ │
_Four._ │ Captivity._ │ │ │
1 Isaiah │*1 Jonah │840–784│Jehoash, │Joash, Amaziah
│ │ │ Jeroboam II.│
2 Jeremiah │ 2 Joel │810–795│Jeroboam II. │Joash
3 Ezekiel │ 3 Amos │810–785│Jeroboam II. │Uzziah
4 Daniel │ 4 Hosea │800–725│Jeroboam II.– │Uzziah, Jotham,
│ │ │ Hoshea │ Ahaz
│ 5 Isaiah │758–699│Pekahiah– │Ahaz, Hezekiah
│ │ │ Captivity │
――― │ 6 Micah │765–698│Menahem– │Uzziah, Jotham,
│ │ │ Captivity │ Ahaz, Hezekiah
│ │ │ │
MINOR │ii. _Near to │ │ │
PROPHETS. │ and during │ │ │
│ the Captivity_│ │ │
_Twelve_ │ 1 Nahum │720–698│Captivity of │Manasseh, Amon,
│ │ │ Israel │ Josiah
1 Hosea │ 2 Zephaniah │640–609│ │Josiah, Jehoahaz
2 Joel │ 3 Habakkuk │612–598│ │Josiah–Zedekiah
3 Amos │ 4 Jeremiah │628–585│ │Jehoahaz–Captivity
4 Obadiah │ 5 Daniel │606–534│ │The Captivity
5 Jonah │†6 Obadiah │588–583│ │Captivity of Judah
6 Micah │ 7 Ezekiel │595–574│ │Zedekiah, Captivity
7 Nahum │ │ │ │
8 Habakkuk │iii. _After the │ │ │
9 Zephaniah│ return from │ │ │
10 Haggai │ the Captivity_│ │ │
11 Zechariah│ 1 Haggai │520–518│ │The Rebuilding of
12 Malachi │ │ │ │ the Temple
│ 2 Zechariah │520–510│ │Rebuilding and
│ │ │ │ Dedication
│ 3 Malachi │420–397│ │2nd Reformation
│ │ │ │ of Nehemiah
│ │ │ │Close of the Canon
* The order of the first six Prophets is much disputed, but the one
above given seems to receive most support.
† By some the prophecies of Obadiah are referred to the reign of
Hezekiah, B.C. 726–698.
V.
ISRAEL IN CONNECTION WITH THE SURROUNDING NATIONS.
1. THE LATER ASSYRIAN EMPIRE.
B.C.│ CONTEMPORANEOUS KINGDOMS.
├────────────┬────────────┬────────────┬────────────┬─────────────
│ ASSYRIA. │ BABYLON. │ EGYPT. │ JUDAH. │ ISRAEL.
────┼────────────┼────────────┼────────────┼────────────┼─────────────
742 │TIGLATH- │Nabonassar │ │ │
│ PILESER │ │ │ │
│ invades │ │ │ │
│ Babylon │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
741 │ │ │ │AHAZ │PEKAH
│ │ │ │ │
740 │Takes │ │ │ │Pekah
│ tribute │ │ │ │tributary
│ from PEKAH │ │ │ │
│ Defeats │ │ │ │
│ Rezin │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
737 │ │ │ │Pays homage │PEKAH slain
│ │ │ │ to Tiglath-│
│ │ │ │ Pileser at │
│ │ │ │ Damascus │
│ │ │ │ │
730 │ │ │ │ │HOSHEA
│ │ │ │ │
726 │Accession of│Elulæus │ │HEZEKIAH │Submission to
│ SHALMANESER│ │ │ │ Shalmaneser
│ │ │ │ │ (2 K. xvii. 3)
│ │ │ │ │
725 │ │ │Sabaco I.? │ │Alliance with
│ │ │ So │ │ So (2 K.
│ │ │ │ │ xvii. 4)
│ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
723 │Siege of │ │ │ │Siege of
│ Tyre │ │ │ │ Samaria
│ │ │ │ │
722 │Rebellion │ │ │ │
│ of SARGON │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
721 │SARGON takes│Merodach │ │ │Samaria
│ Samaria │ Baladan │ │ │ taken
│ │ │ │ │
715 │Attacks │ │Sabaco II.? │ │CAPTIVITY of
│ Arabia │ │ Wars with │ │ ISRAEL
│ │ │ Sargon │ │
│ │ │ │
713 │ │ │ │HEZEKIAH’S
│ │ │ │ illness
│ │ │ │ Embassy of
│ │ │ │ Merodach
│ │ │ │ Baladan
│ │ │ │
711 │Takes Ashdod│Attacked by │ │(See p.434
│ │ Sargon │ │ n.)
│ │ │ │
702 │SENNACHERIB │Belybus │ │
│ expels │ │ │
│ Merodach │ │ │
│ Baladan │ │ │
│ │ │ │
700 │Advances │ │ │First
│ against │ │ │ attack of
│ Philistia │ │ │ Sennacherib
│ and Egypt │ │ │ on
│ │ │ │ Jerusalem――
│ │ │ │ makes
│ │ │ │ HEZEKIAH
│ │ │ │ tributary
│ │ │ │
699?│Defeated │Asshur-Nadin│ │Second
│ before │ │ │ attack
│ Pelusium │ │ │
│ │ │ │
698 │ │ │ │MANASSEH
│ │ │ │
690 │ │ │Tirhakah │
│ │ │ │
680 │Accession of│Esarhaddon │ │
│ ESARHADDON │ │ │
│ (2 K. │ │ │
│ xix. 37) │ │ │
│ │ │ │
676?│ │Manasseh │ │The captains
│ │ brought to │ │ of
│ │ Babylon │ │ Esarhaddon
│ │ (See p. │ │ remove
│ │ ♦445 n.) │ │ MANASSEH
│ │ │ │ to Babylon
│ │ │ │
660?│Assur-bani- │Saosduchinus│ │
│ pal │ │ │
│ │ │ │
664 │ │ │Psammetichus│
│ │ │ │
647 │Asshur-emit-│Cinneladanus│ │
│ ili │ │ │
│ │ │ │
643 │ │ │ │AMON
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
630 │Scythian │ │ │JOSIAH
│ invasion │ │ │
│ │ │ │
625 │Destruction │Nabopolassar│ │
│ of Nineveh │ │ │
│ by Cyaxares│ │ │
│ │ │ │
⁂ This and the following Tables are framed from those given in
Rawlinson’s Herodotus, Vol. I. pp. 489, 530, Clinton’s Epitome,
and Prideaux’s Connection of Sacred and Profane History.
2. BABYLONIAN EMPIRE.
B.C.│ BABYLONIA. │ MEDIA. │ EGYPT. │ LYDIA. │ JUDAH.
────┼────────────┼────────────┼────────────┼────────────┼─────────────
625 │Nabopolassar│8th year of │39th year of│Alyattes │15th year of
│ │ Cyaxares │Psammetichus│ │JOSIAH
│ │ │ │ │
615 │Cyaxares │ │ │Attacked by │
│ attacks │ │ │ Cyaxares │
│ Lydia │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
610 │Makes peace │ │NECO (2 K. │Peace made │
│ between │ │ xxiii. 28) │ │
│ Cyaxares │ │ │ │
│ and │ │ │ │
│ Alyattes │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
609 │Attacked by │ │Invades │ │JEHOAHAZ
│ Neco │ │ Syria │ │ JEHOIAKIM
│ │ │ Defeats │ │
│ │ │ JOSIAH │ │
│ │ │ │ │
606 │Sends │ │Defeated at │ │Submits to
│ Nebuchad- │ │ Carchemish │ │ Nebuchad-
│ nezzar │ │ │ │ nezzar
│ against │ │ │ │
│ Nico │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
604 │NEBUCHAD- │ │ │ │
│ NEZZAR │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
602 │ │ │ │ │Rebels
│ │ │ │ │
599 │Besieges │ │ │ │
│ Tyre │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
597 │Besieges │Assists │ │ │JEHOIACHIN
│ Jerusalem │ Nebuchad- │ │ │ 3 mo.
│ │ nezzar │ │ │ ZEDEKIAH
│ │ │ │ │
595 │ │Astyages │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
594 │ │ │Psammetichus│ │
│ │ │ II. │ │
│ │ │ │ │
588 │Second │ │Apries │ │Attacked by
│ siege of │ │ (Ezek. │ │ Nebuchad-
│ Jerusalem │ │ xvii. 15) │ │ nezzar
│ │ │ │ │
586 │Takes │ │ │ │Taken
│ Jerusalem │ │ │ │ prisoner
│ │ │ │ │
585 │Takes Tyre │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
581 │Invades │ │ │ │CAPTIVITY
│ Egypt │ │ │ │ of JUDAH
│ │ │ │ │
570 │Second │ │Deposed by │ │
│ Invasion │ │ Nebuchad- │ │
│ of Egypt │ │ nezzar │ │
│ │ │ (Jer. xliv.│ │
│ │ │ 30; Ezek. │ │
│ │ │ xxix. xxx. │ │
│ │ │ xxxii.) │ │
│ │ │ │ │
561 │EVIL- │ │ │ │JEHOIACHIN
│ MERODACH │ │ │ │ released
│ │ │ │ │
560 │ │ │ │Crœsus │
│ │ │ │ │
559 │Neriglissar │Defeated by │ │ │
│ │ Cyrus at │ │ │
│ │ Pasargadæ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
556 │Laboroso- │ │ │ │
│ archod │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
555 │Nabonadius, │ │ │ │
│ Alliance │ │ │ │
│ with Crœsus│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
546 │ │ │ │Defeated by │
│ │ │ │ Cyrus │
│ │ │ │ │
539 │Associated │ │ │ │
│ with │ │ │ │
│ BELSHAZZAR │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │
538 │Conquered │ │ │ │
│ by CYRUS │ │ │ │
3. THE PERSIAN EMPIRE AND GREECE.
B.C.│ JUDEA. │ PERSIA. │ GREECE.
────┼─────────────────────┼─────────────────────┼─────────────────────
537 │ │Supremacy of Cyrus │
│ │ │
536 │Return of the Jews │Decree for the return│
│The Altar set up │ of the Jews │
│ │ │
534 │Interruption of the │ │
│ Samaritans │ │
│ │ │
529 │ │Death of Cyrus │
│ │ │
525 │ │Accession of CAMBYSES│
│ │ │
522 │ │DARIUS HYSTASPES │
│ │ │
520 │Prophecies of Haggai │ │
│ and ZECHARIAH │ │
│Building of the │ │
│ Temple resumed │ │
│ │ │
516 │ Temple dedicated │ │
│ │ │
510 │ │ │Expulsion of the
│ │ │ Pisistratidæ
499 │ │Burning of Sardis by │
│ │ the Ionians │
│ │ │
493 │ │Darius declares war │
│ │ against Greece │
│ │ │
490 │ │ │Battle of Marathon
│ │ │
485 │ │Accession of XERXES │
│ │ (_Ahasuerus_) │
│ │ │
480 │ │ │Battle of Salamis
│ │ │
479 │ │Returns defeated │
│ │ from Greece │
│ │Era of _Esther_ and │
│ │ _Mordecai_ │
│ │ │
466 │ │ │Battles at the
│ │ │ Eurymedon
│ │ │
465 │ │Death of Xerxes │
│ │ │
464 │ │Accession of │Themistocles goes to
│ │ ARTAXERXES │ Persia
│ │ │
458 │EZRA comes to │ │
│ Jerusalem │ │
│Last prophecies of │ │
│ ZECHARIAH │ │
│ │ │
449 │ │Artaxerxes makes │Victory of the
│ │ peace with the │ Athenians at Salamis
│ │ Athenians │ in Cyprus
│ │ │
444 │NEHEMIAH rebuilds the│ │
│ walls of Jerusalem │ │
│Opposition of │ │
│ Sanballat │ │
│ │ │
433 │ │Nehemiah returns to │
│ │ Persia │
│ │ │
432 │ │ │Peloponnesian war
│ │ │ begins
│ │ │
428 │Return and further │ │
│ reformations by │ │
│ NEHEMIAH │ │
│ │ │
423 │ │Accession of DARIUS │
│ │ NOTHUS │
│ │ │
420 │Prophecies of MALACHI│ │
│ │ │
413?│ │Final return of │
│ │ Nehemiah │
VI.
TABLES OF WEIGHTS, MEASURES AND MONEY.
1. _Jewish Weights reduced to English Troy Weight._
lbs. oz. dwts. grs.
The gerah, 1/20th of a shekel 0 0 0 12
Bekah, ½ a shekel 0 0 5 0
The shekel 0 0 10 0
The maneh = 60 shekels 2 6 0 0
The talent = 50 maneh = 3000 shekels 125 0 0 0
2. _Scripture Measures of Length reduced to English Measure._
Eng.
feet. inches.
A digit, Jer. lii. 21 0 0·912
┌────┐
│ 4│ A palm, Exod. xxv. 25 0 3·648
├────┼───┐
│ 12│ 3│ A span, Exod. xxviii. 16 0 10·944
├────┼───┼───┐
│ 24│ 6│ 2│ A cubit, Gen. vi. 15 1 9·888
├────┼───┼───┼──┐
│ 96│ 24│ 12│ 4│ A fathom, Acts xxvii. 28 7 3·552
├────┼───┼───┼──┼──┐
│ 144│ 36│ 18│ 6│1½│ Ezekiel’s reed, Ezek. xl. 3–5 10 11·328
├────┼───┼───┼──┼──┼──┐
│ 192│ 48│ 24│ 8│ 2│1⅓│ An Arabian pole 14 7·104
├────┼───┼───┼──┼──┼──┼──┐
│1920│480│240│80│20│13│10│ Schœnus, or Measuring line, 145 11·040
└────┴───┴───┴──┴──┴──┴──┘ Ezek. xl. 3
3. _The Long Scripture Measures._
Eng.
miles. paces. feet.
A cubit 0 0 1·824
┌─────┐
│ 400│ A stadium or furlong, Luke xxiv. 13 0 145 4·6
├─────┼───┐
│ 2000│ 5│ A Sabbath day’s journey, Acts i. 12 0 729 3·0
├─────┼───┼──┐
│ 4000│ 10│ 2│ An eastern mile, Matt. v. 41 1 403 1·0
├─────┼───┼──┼──┐
│12000│ 30│ 6│ 3│ A parasang 4 153 3·0
├─────┼───┼──┼──┼──┐
│96000│240│48│24│ 8│ A day’s journey 33 172 4·0
└─────┴───┴──┴──┴──┘
4. _Scripture Measures of Capacity for Liquids,
reduced to English Wine Measure._
gal. pints.
A caph 0 0·625
┌────┐
│ 1⅓│ A log, Lev. xiv. 10 0 0·833
├────┼────┐
│ 5⅓│ 4│ A cab 0 3·333
├────┼────┼───┐
│ 16 │ 12│ 3│ A hin, Exod. xxx. 24 1 2
├────┼────┼───┼──┐
│ 32 │ 24│ 6│ 2│ A seah 2 4
├────┼────┼───┼──┼──┐
│ 96 │ 72│ 18│ 6│ 3│ A bath, or ephah, 1 Kings vii. 26;
│ │ │ │ │ │ John ii. 7 4
├────┼────┼───┼──┼──┼──┐
│960 │♦720│180│60│30│10│ A kor or homer,
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ Ezek. xlv. 14; Isaiah v. 10 75 0
└────┴────┴───┴──┴──┴──┘
5. _Scripture Measures of Capacity for things Dry
reduced to English Corn Measure._
pks. gal. pints.
A gachal 0 0 0·1416
┌────┐
│ 20│ A cab or chœnix, 2 Kings vi. 25; Rev. vi. 6 0 0 2·8333
├────┼────┐
│ 36│ 1⅘│ An omer, Exod. xvi. 36 0 0 5·1
├────┼────┼────┐
│ 120│ 6 │ 3⅓│ A seah, Matt. xiii. 33 1 0 1
├────┼────┼────┼──┐
│ 360│ 18 │ 10 │ 3│ An ephah, Ezek. xlv. 11 3 0 3
├────┼────┼────┼──┼──┐
│1800│ 90 │ 50 │15│ 5│ A letech, Hos. iii. 2 15 1 7
├────┼────┼────┼──┼──┼──┐
│3600│180 │100 │30│10│ 2│ A homer or kor, Num.
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ xi. 32; Hosea iii. 2. 31 1 6
└────┴────┴────┴──┴──┴──┘
6. _Jewish Money reduced to English Standard._
£ s. d.
A gerah, Exod. xxx. 0 0 1·3687
┌─────┐
│ 10│ A bekah, Exod. xxxviii. 26 0 1 1·6875
├─────┼────┐
│ 20│ 2│ A shekel, Exod. xxx. 13; Isa. vii. 23 0 2 3·375
├─────┼────┼────┐
│ 1200│ 120│ 60│ A maneh or minah Hebraica 6 16 10·5
├─────┼────┼────┼──┐
│60000│6000│3000│50│ A talent 342 3 9
└─────┴────┴────┴──┘
A solidus aureus, or sextula, was worth 0 12 0½
A siculus aureus, or gold shekel, was worth 1 16 6
A talent of gold was worth 5475 0 0
In the preceding table, silver is valued at 5s. and gold at £4 per oz.
INDEX.
A.
Aaron
his parentage, 81;
appointed spokesman to Moses, 85;
fashions the calf, 112;
rebuked by Moses, 113;
made the first High-priest, 130;
rebels against Moses, 171;
priesthood of his race confirmed, 178;
excluded from the Promised Land, 180;
his death on Mount Hor, 182
Abana
river, 412
Abdon
the judge, 258
Abednego
at Babylon, 457;
in the fiery furnace, 456
Abel
his sacrifice, 10;
death of, 11
Abel Beth-Maachah
death of Sheba at, 343;
its position, 343
Abel Meholah
meaning of, flight of the Midianites to, 249;
residence of Elisha, 391
Abiah
son of Samuel, 275
Abiathar, the priest
joins David, 305;
has charge of the Ark, 326, 338;
rebels against David, 347;
degraded from the Priesthood, 352
Abigail
David’s wife, 309, 318
Abihu
the sin of, 131
Abijah
king of Judah, 376;
defeats Jeroboam, 377
Abimelech
made king of his tribe, 252;
destroys Shechem, 254;
his death, 255
Abiram
rebellion of, 176, 177
Abishai
David’s nephew, 304, 310, 319;
captain of the mighty men, 329, 343;
saves David’s life, 345
Abner
Saul’s general, 310;
supports Ishbosheth, 319;
kills Asahel, 320;
joins David, 320;
killed by Joab, 321;
effect of his death, 321
Abraham
the call of, 26, 36;
his descent and abode, 27;
promises to him, 28, 34, 37;
sets out for the Promised Land, 28;
arrives at Shechem, 31;
builds his first altar there, 32;
removes to Bethel, 32;
goes down to Egypt, 33;
returns to Bethel, 33;
separates from Lot, 34;
removes to the oak of Mamre, 34, 44;
rescues Lot, 35;
blessed by Melchizedek, 36;
solemn covenant to him, 37;
his name changed, 38;
entertains three angels, 39;
pleads for Sodom and Gomorrah, 40;
his offering of Isaac, 43;
his subsequent history, 44;
death, and burial at Machpelah, 45;
summary of his character, 76
Absalom
murders Amnon, 336;
forgiven by David, 336;
his rebellion, 337;
enters Jerusalem, 339;
his defeat and death, 341
Achan
his transgression and death, 208
Achish
his policy towards David, 303, 311
Achor
valley of, 208
Adam
the creation of, 3;
placed in Paradise, 3;
his life there, 4;
his disobedience, 6;
the curse upon him, 7;
the Promise to him, 8;
his expulsion, 10;
his sons and descendants, 10, 11;
their longevity, 12;
their general wickedness, 12
Adoni-bezek
his capture, 226
Adonijah
rebels against David, 347;
his life spared, 348;
his rebellion against Solomon, 350, 351;
put to death, 352
Adoram
stoned to death, 369
Adullam
David at, 303
Agag
chief of the Amalekites, 103;
spared by Saul, 292;
slain by Samuel, 293
Ahab, king of Israel
married to Jezebel, 381;
effects of her influence on him, 383;
the drought during his reign, 385;
denounced by Elijah, 383, 385, 397;
his wars with Benhadad, 391–395;
his death, 399;
slaughter of his descendants, 421
Ahasuerus
the Xerxes of history, 471;
chooses Esther for queen, 472;
exalts Mordecai, 474
Ahaz
king of Judah, 433;
his idolatry, 434
Ahaziah
king of Israel, 400;
summons Elijah, 403
Ahaziah
king of Judah, 418
Ahinoam
David’s wife, 309, 318
Ahithophel
joins Absalom, 337;
his counsels, 340
Aholiab
artificer of the tabernacle, 119
Ai
Abraham settles near, 33;
its position, 207;
reverse of the Israelites there, 207;
its destruction by Joshua, 209
Altar of Burnt Sacrifice
in the Tabernacle, 120;
in Solomon’s Temple, 357;
its re-erection after the Captivity, 470
Altar of Incense
in the Tabernacle, 123;
in Solomon’s Temple, 357, 358
Amalekites
their settlements, 103;
attack the Israelites, 103;
their defeat, 104;
destroyed by Saul, 292;
they burn Ziklag, 312;
David’s vengeance upon them, 313
Amasa
Absalom’s general, 341;
promoted by David, 342;
slain by Joab, 343
Amaziah
king of Judah, 427;
taken captive by Jehoash, 428
Ammonites
their ancestry, 41;
invasion of, 255;
overthrown by Jephthah, 256;
defeated by Saul at Jabesh-Gilead, 284;
David’s conquests over them, 331–335
Amnon
killed by Absalom, 336
Amon
king of Judah, 446
Amorites
their locality, 32, 184, 201;
their total defeat, 185;
their five kings killed by Joshua, 211–213
Amos
the prophet, 428
Anak
the sons of, 173, 216
Animals
prohibited by the Mosaic law, 156
Aphek
its position, 393;
defeat of the Syrians at, 394
Araunah, threshing-floor of
purchased by David, 346;
becomes the site of the altar of Burnt Sacrifice, 358
Ark, Noah’s
its construction and dimensions, 14;
locality of its resting-place, 17
Ark of the Covenant
in the Tabernacle, 124;
directs the march of the Israelites, 168;
at the passage of the Jordan, 203;
at the destruction of Jericho, 206;
taken by the Philistines, 271;
placed in the Temple of Dagon, 272;
its sanctity vindicated, 273, 274;
given up to the Israelites, 273;
removed to Kirjath-jearim, 274;
removed from thence, 326;
rests with Obed-edom, 326;
its procession to the new tabernacle in Jerusalem, 326;
placed in Solomon’s Temple, 358, 359;
displaced under Manasseh, 444
Armenia
the probable site of Paradise, 3;
of the Ark’s resting-place, 17
Army of David
its organization, 329
Asa
king of Judah, 377;
reforms the religion, 377, 378;
overcomes the Egyptians, 378;
attacked by Baasha, 378;
his alliance with Benhadad, 379
Asahel
David’s nephew, 319;
killed by Abner, 320
♦Asenath
Joseph’s wife, 63
Ashdod
Philistine city, 259, 263, 272;
the Ark carried there, 272
Asher
Jacob’s son, 52;
the tribe of, its portion, 220;
its neglect of duty, 221
Ashkelon
Philistine city, 259, 263;
Samson’s exploit there, 260
Assyrian Empire
the rise of, 430;
its decline, 448;
table of its connection with Israel, 488
Athaliah
married to Jehoram, 397;
her usurpation and death, 424
Atonement
the day of, 146
Azariah, or Uzziah
king of Judah, 428;
his prosperous reign, 429;
struck with leprosy, 429
Azazel
explanations of, 147
B.
Baal, worship of
established by Jezebel, 383;
overthrown by Elijah, 387;
by Jehu, 423
Baalath
fortified by Solomon, its position, 360
Baal-Peor
the apostasy at, 193;
the plague there, 193
Baasha
usurps the throne of Israel, 377;
his hostility to Asa, 378, 379;
murder of his family, 380
Babel
Tower of, 18;
Town of, founded by Nimrod, 21
Babylon
captivity of Judah there, 452;
contrasted with Jerusalem, 455;
condition of the Jews there, 455;
taken by Cyrus, 456
Babylonian Empire
table of its connection with Israel, 488
Balaam
his country, 187;
sent for to curse Israel, 188;
his failure, 188–192;
his ass speaks, 189;
his prophetic parable, 191, 192;
his wiliness, 193
Balak
king of Moab, 187;
entreats the aid of Balaam, 188;
his disappointment, 191
Barak
summoned by Deborah, 238;
overthrows Sisera, 240
Bashan
the land of, 185
Bathsheba
David’s sin with, 333;
the mother of Solomon, 334
Beer-Elim
the Israelites at, 183
Beersheba
Abraham at, 41;
Isaac at, 48;
Jacob’s vision there, 69
Belshazzar
the feast of, 466
Belus, or Bel
first worship of, 21
Benaiah
his command in David’s army, 329;
kills Adonijah, 352;
Joab, 352;
Shimei, 353
Benhadad I.
his alliance with Asa, 378;
with Omri, 381
Benhadad II.
his wars with Ahab, 391–395;
with Jehoram, 414–416;
his death, 418
Benjamin
birth of, 57;
goes with his brethren to Egypt, 66;
Joseph’s conduct to him there, 66, 67;
the cup found in his sack, 67;
tribe of, its portion, 217;
the war against, 232;
massacre of, 233;
revolt of, against David, 342
Berachah
valley of, 401
Bethel
Abram settles near, 32;
its position, 51;
Jacob’s vision and vow there, 51;
its fulfilment, 56;
acquired by the descendants of Joseph, 226;
school of the prophets there, 276;
Jeroboam establishes idolatry there, 372;
Josiah overthrows it, 446
Beth-horons
the two, 212;
the battle there, 213;
fortified by Solomon, 360
Beth-shan
situation of, 316;
Saul’s body there, 316
Beth-shemesh
the ark at, 273;
battle at, between Jehoash and Amaziah, 428
Bezaleel
artificer of the tabernacle, 119
Bildad
friend of Job, 24
Birthright
oriental privileges of, 46
Boaz
his kindness to Ruth, 265;
marries her, 266
Brazen Serpent
the uplifting of, 182;
destroyed by Hezekiah, 436
Breast-plate
of the High-priest, 132
Burning bush, the
vision of, 84–86
Burnt-offerings
137;
ceremonies for, 137;
their symbolical meaning, 137
C.
Cain
his sacrifice, 10;
murders Abel, 11;
his condemnation, 11;
his descendants, 11;
builds the first city, 11;
sin of his posterity, 12
Caleb
the faithful spy, 173;
the promise to him, 175;
his portion, 215, 216
Calendar
of Jewish Months and Seasons, 155
Calf, the
construction of, 112;
its destruction by Moses, 113
Canaan
son of Ham, 17;
the land called by his name, 20
Canaan
the seven nations of, 32, 201
Canaanites
their locality, 32, 201;
their position at the death of Joshua, 224
Candlesticks, the golden
in the Tabernacle, 122;
in Solomon’s Temple, 357, 358
Canon, the
of the Old Testament, close of, 481
Captain, the
of the Lord’s host, 204, 207
Captivity, the
period of, 450–469;
its effects on the Jews, 470
Carmel, Mount
Elijah’s sacrifice there, 386
Census
of Israelitish forces at Sinai, 167
commenced by David, 345
Character
Mosaic laws regarding, 164
Chedorlaomer
defeated by Abram, 35
Cherubim
in the Tabernacle, conjectures upon, 124
Children
Mosaic law regarding, 159
Christ
typified in Melchizedek, 35;
in Joseph, 76;
in Moses, 199;
in Joshua, 223;
in David, 351
Circumcision
established, 39;
renewal of, after passing the Jordan, 204
Cities of Refuge
the institution of, 164;
names of, 220
Civilization
in the Patriarchal age, 74
Cluster, Valley of the
173, 215
Commandments, the Ten
delivered from Sinai, 108;
written on the Tables of Stone, 111
Confusion, of Tongues
16–20;
approximate date of, 19;
its teaching, 20
Coniah
_see_ Jehoiachin.
Convocation
days of, 144
Courses
of the priests, 358
Covenant, the
with Noah, 16;
with Abram, 37;
with Moses on Sinai, 106;
its condition, 107;
its solemn ratification, 110;
broken in absence of Moses, 113;
further renewal of, 116;
its fulfilment under David, 342
Creation, the
1–4;
heathen notions of, 1;
Scripture declaration concerning it, 1;
its progressive order, 2
Cyrus
captures Babylon, 466;
permits the return of the Jews, 469
D.
Dagon
the Philistine Deity, 263;
the Ark in his temple, 272
Damascus
Elisha at, 417
Dan
Jacob’s son, 52;
tribe of, its portion, 218;
dispossessed by the Amorites, 227;
expedition of, to Laish, 229;
oppressed by the Philistines, 259
Daniel
taken captive to Babylon, 450;
his life there, 457;
interprets the visions of Nebuchadnezzar, 458, 463;
his exaltation, 459;
interprets the writing on the wall, 467;
preserved in the lions’ den, 468
Darius
viceroy of Babylon, 467
Dathan
the rebellion of, 176, 177
David
his genealogy, 294;
anointed by Samuel, 295;
his shepherd life, 295;
slays Goliath, 297;
his friendship with Jonathan, 298, 302, 306;
persecuted by Saul, 300;
flies to Naioth, 301;
to Nob, 303;
seeks refuge with the Philistines, 303, 311;
at Adullam, 303;
Ziklag, 306, 309;
spares Saul at Engedi, 308;
and at Ziph, 309;
his reign over Judah at Hebron, 319;
becomes king of all Israel, 323;
removes to Jerusalem, 325;
his army and its conquests, 329–335;
his deed of shame, 333;
denounced by Nathan, 334;
Absalom rebels, 337;
his flight from Jerusalem, 338;
grief for Absalom, 342;
numbers the people, 346;
the plague sent, 346;
purchases the Temple site, 346;
makes Solomon his successor, 347;
his last charge, and death, 349;
summary of his life, 349;
his character, 350;
a type of Christ, 351
Day of Atonement, the
146;
rites observed upon it, 146;
its distinction from other solemn rites, 148;
its typical meaning, 149
Dead Sea, the
its low level, 30
Debir
captured by Othniel, 216
Deborah, the prophetess
summons Barak, 238;
rouses the tribes, 239;
her song of triumph, 242
Debt
Mosaic laws regarding, 166
Dedication
the feast of, 154
Delilah
betrays Samson, 263
Dinah
Jacob’s daughter, 52;
outrage upon, 55
Disobedient Prophet, the
372;
his tomb spared by Josiah, 446
Divining cups
the use of in Egypt, 67
Doeg
the treachery of, 305
Dothan
Joseph sold at, its position, 58, 59;
Elisha’s miracle there, 414
Drink-offerings, the
134
Dura
the plain of, the golden image upon, 460
E.
Ebal, Mount
the altar there, 209;
ratification of the law there, 210
Ed
the Altar of, 222
Edom
Esau so called, 47;
gives the name to a country, 55;
passage through it refused to the Israelites, 181
Edomites, the
David’s conquests over, 330;
defeated by Amaziah, 427
Eglon
killed by Ehud, 236
Egypt
Abram goes there, 33;
Joseph carried there, 54;
the seven years’ famine in, 63;
Joseph’s government of, 63, 64;
Jacob settles there, 69;
its idolatrous worship, 79;
the plagues of, 88, 94–96
Ehud
kills Eglon, 236
Ekron
Philistine city, 259, 263, 272;
refuses to receive the Ark, 273
Elah
king of Israel, 380
Eldad
the elder, 170
Elders, the seventy
appointed, 169
Eleazar
succeeds Aaron as high-priest, 181
Eli
high-priest and judge, 267;
wickedness of his sons, 269;
rebuked by God, 269;
through Samuel, 270;
his death, 272
Eliab
David’s brother, 294;
his taunts, 297
Eliakim
_see_ Jehoiakim.
Elihu
friend of Job, 24
Elijah
his denunciations to Ahab, 383, 385, 397;
fed by ravens, 384;
his miracles at Zarephath, 389;
overcomes the prophets of Baal, 386;
flies from Jezebel, 389;
his interview with the Lord at Horeb, 390;
calls Elisha, 391;
his interview with Ahaziah, 403;
his translation, 404
Eliphaz
friend of Job, 24
Elisha
called by Elijah, 390;
witnesses his translation, 404;
his miracles, 404, 408–410, 413, 426;
cures Naaman, 411;
his sickness and death, 426
Elkanah
father of Samuel, 267
Elon
the judge, 258
Endor
Saul at, 314
Engedi
David’s generosity at, 308
Enoch, son of Cain
11;
the first city named from him, 11
Enoch, son of Jared
his translation, 12
Ephod, the
of the high-priest, 131
Ephraim
Joseph’s son, 63;
Jacob’s dying blessing upon, 70;
the tribe of, its position, 218;
its rivalry with Judah, 370
Ephraimites, the
chide Gideon, 249;
their complaint to Jephthah, 257;
massacred by him, 258
Esau
character of, 46;
sells Jacob his birthright, 47;
his marriage, 48;
threatens Jacob, 50;
his reconciliation to Jacob, 55
Esdraelon
plain of, its fertility, 219
Eshcol
the valley, 173, 215
Esther
queen of Ahasuerus, 472;
intercedes for her nation, 473, 474
Euphrates
River, 3, 17, 18
Eve
the creation of, 3;
beguiled by Satan, 5;
the curse upon her, 7;
its mitigation, 8
Evil
the origin of, 6
Exodus, the
from Egypt, 96
Ezekiel
prophecies of, 457
Ezra
his reforms at Jerusalem, 476
F.
Fall of man, the
4–9;
its teaching, 6
Family
relations in the patriarchal age, 74;
under the Mosaic law, 159
Famine
seven years’, in Egypt, 63;
three years’, in reign of David, 344
Feast
of the New Moon, 143;
of Trumpets, 144;
of the Passover, 95, 150;
of Weeks, 152;
of Tabernacles, 153;
of Purim, 154;
of Dedication, 154
First-born
death of the, 96
First-fruits and tithes
offerings of, 134
Flood, the
10–16;
Scripture account of, 15;
its duration, &c., 15;
numerous heathen traditions of, 16
Frankincense
description of, 135
G.
Gad
Jacob’s son, 52;
tribe of, their pastoral character, 78, 194;
the portion of, 195
Gad, the prophet
David’s friendship with, 301, 304;
his mission to David, 346
Galilee
position and extent of, 219
Gath
Philistine city, 259;
the ark removed there, 273
Gaza
Philistine city, 259, 262;
Samson carries off its gates, 263
Geba
Jonathan at, 286
Gedaliah
assassination of, 452
Gehazi
the sin and punishment of, 413
Gerizim, Mount
ratification of the law on, 209;
Jotham’s parable from, 253
Gershonite
section of Levites, 127
Gezer
probable site of, 361
Gibeah
outrage at, 231;
taken by the tribes, 233;
Saul’s retirement there, 283
Gibeon
situation of, 210;
the Tabernacle there, 126;
combat at, 319;
Solomon’s convention there, 353
Gibeonites, the
embassy of, 210;
its result, 211;
the covenant with them broken by Saul, 344;
their vengeance, 344
Gideon
the Angel’s message to him, 244;
throws down the altar of Baal, 245;
the sign given him, 246;
his army at the spring of Jezreel, 247;
enters the camp of the Midianites, 247;
his victory over them, 248, 249;
slays their kings, 250;
declines being king, 251;
his ephod, 252
Gihon, River
3
Gilboa, Mount
313;
the battle there, 315
Gilgal
encampment at, 204, 210;
school of the prophets there, 276;
inauguration of Saul there, 284;
general gathering at, 286;
Elisha’s miracles at, 410
Golden Altar
of the Tabernacle, 123
Golden Lamp
of the Tabernacle, 122
Goliath
defies the Israelites, 296;
killed by David, 297
Gomorrah
34;
its destruction, 41
Goshen
meaning of the word, 68, 77;
Jacob settles there, 70;
its position and fertility, 77;
escapes the plagues of Egypt, 91, 94
Greeks
their tradition of the Flood, 16
H.
Hadad
his revolt against Solomon, 365
Hagar
gives birth to Ishmael, 38;
dismissed by Abraham to the wilderness, 42
Haggai
the prophet, 470, 471
Ham
son of Noah, 14;
mocks his father, 17;
the curse upon him, 18;
its fulfilment, 18;
his descendants and their settlements, 19
Haman
his jealousy of Mordecai, 472;
his execution, 474
Hannah
mother of Samuel, 266
Hanun, king of Ammon
insults David’s embassy, 331
Haran
its situation, 27;
Jacob serves Laban there, 52
Hazael, king of Syria
his interview with Elisha, 417;
success against Judah, 425;
and Israel, 425
Hazor
its position, 201;
its destruction by Joshua, 215;
fortified by Solomon, 361
Heathens
their notions of the Creation, 1;
their numerous traditions of the Flood, 16
Hebron
Abram dwells near, 34, 36;
Jacob dwells near, 57, 58;
its conquest by the tribe of Judah, 215;
David king there, 318;
Absalom at, 337
Heroes of David’s army
329
Hezekiah, king of Judah
his religious reforms, 436;
his policy, 437;
contention with Sennacherib, 438–441;
his life prolonged, 441;
his death, 442
High-priest, the
lineage of, 131;
his vestments, 131;
his peculiar functions, 132
Hiram or Huram
architect of Solomon’s Temple, 356
Hiram, king
his embassy to David, 325;
his treaty with Solomon, 355
Hittites
their locality, 32, 201
Hivites
their locality, 32, 201
Hobab
accompanies the Israelites, 168
Holy Convocation
days of, 144
Holy of Holies
in the Tabernacle, 123;
in Solomon’s Temple, 357
Holy Place
of the Tabernacle, 122;
of Solomon’s Temple, 357
Homicide
Mosaic law regarding, 163
Hophni, son of Eli
wickedness of, 269;
his death, 271
Hor, Mount
death and burial of Aaron there, 181
Horeb
the scene of the burning bush, 84;
Elijah at, 390
Hosea
the prophet, 428
Hoshea
king of Israel, 435;
deposed by the Assyrians, 434
Huldah
the prophetess, 447
Husbands
Mosaic law regarding, 160
Hushai
the friend of David, 338;
his policy with Absalom, 339
I.
Ibzan
the judge, 258
Ichabod
birth of, 272
Idolatry
the rise of, 21;
its prevalence under the Judges, 227, 234, 243, 252, 255
Incense
offering of, 135;
its composition, 135
Interregnums
in Israel, 432, 435
Isaac
the promise of, 39;
his birth, 41;
offered by Abraham, 43;
marries Rebekah, 45;
his two sons, 46;
the promise confirmed to him, 47, 48;
his blessing on Jacob, 49;
and on Esau, 49;
his death, 57;
his character, 76
Isaiah
the prophet, 437;
encourages Hezekiah, 439, 440, 441;
his violent death, 444
Ishbosheth
succeeds Saul, 319;
quarrels with Abner, 320;
his murder, 321
Ishmael
the promise concerning him, 38;
is circumcised, 39;
his subsequent history, 42
Israel
Jacob so named, 54
Israel, kingdom of
first called so, 342;
its extent and area, 371;
drought in, during Ahab’s reign, 385;
interregnums, 432, 435;
its extinction, 436;
its connection with the surrounding nations, 488
Israel and Judah
alliance between, 397;
summary of their duration, 453;
of their mutual relations, 453;
of their contrasts, 454
Israelites, the
in Egypt, their numbers, 78;
their pursuits, 78;
corrupted by its idolatry, 79;
their grievous bondage, 80, 83;
Moses announces himself their deliverer, 86;
their toil increased, 87;
their Exodus, 96;
their numbers at Sinai, 167;
their wanderings in the wilderness, 175;
their position at the death of Joshua, 224;
they demand a king, 278
Issachar
Jacob’s son, 52;
tribe of, its portion, 219