called Canaan. Contrary to the obscurity in which the origin of othe nations is veiled, we have the evidence of Holy Writ for the rise, progress decline and fall of the Jews. They deduced their descent from Arphax ad the son of Shem; and we have it on record that Abraham, the sixth in descent from Eber, the grandson of Arphaxad, dwelt in Assyria, but removed into Canaan or Palestine, with his family, to the intent that the true religion of God should be preserved by them, his "chosen people" amid the corruptions of the idolaters by whom they were surrounded.

The period of which we are now speaking was about two thousand years before the birth of Christ. At that time the inhabitants of Mesopotamia and Syria appear to have been partly nomadic, or wandering, like the Tartars or Scythians; for we find that Abraham and his descendants sojourned in different parts of Canaan and Egypt, until the time of their protracted residence in the latter country. Abraham at his death transmitted the inheritance of the "promised land" to his son Isaac; and Isaac was succeeded in the patriarchate by his younger son Jacob, also called Israel. Jacob had twelve sons; the descendants of whom remaining distinct, constituted the twelve tribes of the Israelites in after-time. Joseph, the youngest but one of these sons, having unconsciously excited the jealousy of the rest, was sold by them as a slave, to some Arabian merchants, and carried into Egypt; there, as we read, he became known to the king, and was made his chief minister; and in a time of famine, for which his foresight had provided, he was the happy means of providing his aged father and the whole of his family an asylum in the fertile district of Goshen (B. c. 1702).

The pathetic and interesting story of "Joseph and his brethren," as narrated in the Bible, requires no comment in this place; but, we may, perhaps, be allowed slightly to digress, in order to illustrate the case of Joseph's memorable rise from the condition of a slave to that of the chief ruler of Pharaoh's household. European notions of slavery very naturally picture to the mind all that is horrible, cruel, and revolting; and it would seem next to an impossibility that, by any chance, one so helpless and degraded as a slave could become an officer of trust, or-more wonderful still-the chief minister and adviser of a monarch of a mighty kingdom. It is, however, remarked by Marshal Marmont, who some years ago travelled through Turkey, &c., and who evidently paid great atten tion to the condition of the people, and the customs of the countries he visited, that slaves in the East are far from being in the condition we might suppose; and it is therefore not unreasonable to believe that the kindness with which they are treated at the present day is derived from immemorial custom. He observes, "the most docile slave rejects with indignation any order that is not personally given him by his master; and he feels himself placed immeasurably above the level of a free or hired servant. He is a child of the house; and it is not unusual to see a Turk entertain so strong a predilection for a slave he has purchased, as to prefer him to his own son. He often overloads him with favors, gives him his confidence, and raises his position; and, when the master is powerful, opens to his slave the path of honour and public employment." As peaceful dwellers in the rich and fertile valleys of Goshen, the Israelites in process of time became sufficiently numerous to excite the en vious alarm of the Egyptians; and they accordingly underwent many persecutions, until the Almighty raised up Moses as their deliverer. The miracles he was empowered to work, the murmurings and backslidings of the people, their idolatrous propensities, and all other particulars relative to them while travelling through the parched and arid deserts of Arabia, form interesting portions of the sacred volume; we shall therefore pass on briefly to the death of Moses, and the delegation of power to Joshua, the acknowledged chief of the Jewish nation, B. c. 1451. Joshua was

At

now ninety-three years of age, and had under his command six hundred thousand men capable of bearing arms, besides the aged and infirm wo. men, children, and servants. On every side were warlike nations, some of them represented as containing men of gigantic stature and immense personal prowess; their towns were well fortified, and every necessary preparation had been made to repel invasion. The veteran leader was however, undismayed; and relying on that protecting Power who had delivered the people from Egyptian bondage, and brought them safely to the frontiers of Canaan, he went on "conquering and to conquer length, after subduing the "promised land," and establishing its tranquility he divided it among the twelve tribes; charging them, at the same time, to give a tenth part of their goods to the tribe of Levi, who were consecrated solely for the priesthood: and hence proceeds the origin of tithes. Having ruled Palestine as wisely as he had conquered it bravely, and being an hundred and ten years old, the aged warrior resigned his breath. Joshua was no sooner dead than the Jews gave themselves up to anarchy,by which means they shortly fell under the power of Cushan, king of Mesopotamia. After a servitude of eight years, Othoneel became judge of Israel; at whose death, Eglon, king of Moab, reduced them to his obedience; and under his yoke they continued eighteen years. Ehud then ruled as judge of Israel, in whose time they fell under the government of Jabin, king of Canaan, who held them twenty-nine years; when Deborah and Barak, jointly, judged Israel for thirty-three years. A fourth servitude, of seven years, then followed under the Midianites. Then Gideon and his successors, to Jair, ruled Israel as judges thirty-six years; when in the fifteenth year of Jair, the fifth servitude commenced, under the Philistines and the Ammonites. Jephtha succeeded as judge, and was followed in his office by four successors, the last of whom was Samson, (whose superhuman strength was exerted with such terrible effect on his enemies, the Philistines). In his time, however, the Israelites fell again under their oppressor's yoke, and were ruled by them forty years. Eli then became judge, who being nearly a hundred years old, his two sons, Hophni and Phineas, who acted under him, took advantage of his weakness to commit the most profligate abominations. They were, notwithstanding, by no means deficient in bravery: but having sustained a great defeat by the Philistines, in which they lost their lives and the sacred ark, their aged parent was so overcome on hearing the fatal tidings, that he fell backward from his chair and instantly expired. Samuel, at that time but a youth, though divinely inspired, was then chosen judge of Israel; and during the latter part of his administration, the land was in a more peaceful state than it had been for many previous years.

When Samuel had been judge of Israel about twenty years, the people, wishing to imitate the example of their neighbours, demanded that they should have a king to rule over them. Samuel accordingly selected Saul for that high office, and on presenting him for their acceptance, “all the people shouted and said, God save the king!" Although many of the Israelites were afterwards discontented with having a king who had been their companion and equal, the numerous proofs which Saul gave of his military qualifications checked their murmurs. He attacked and defeated the forces of the different nations who harassed the frontiers of his kingdom, and took signal vengeance of their old and implacable enemies, the Philistines. As a warlike monarch he reigned with glory, but put an end to his life.

The judges of Israel are to be considered the defenders of religion, and the protectors of the laws; they decided upon war and peace, and were at all times magistrates and warriors. Saul was succeeded by David, a shepherd of the tribe of Judah, under whom the government gained con iderable strength. He was succeeded by Solomon, his son, celebrated

for his wisdom and his magnificence: he rendered the people happy by continual peace, and the encouragement of commerce; he had the repu tation of being a wise prince, and his writings and his laws were received and esteemed in the most distant countries, with all that veneration they deserved. His son, Rehoboam, an insensible despot, ruled the Israelites with an iron rod. Ten of the tribes separated themselves from the government, and chose Jeroboam for their king. Palestine now became two kingdoms; the one called Judah, and the other Israel. A difference in religion was soon after introduced; that called the Samaritan or Israelite, was embraced by the ten tribes; while Judah and Benjamin kept to the ancient usage of their forefathers.

Under Hosea, king of Israel, the ten tribes were carried away captive to Nineveh, by Salmanezer. Nebuchadnezzar very soon placed the people of Judah in the like unhappy situation of the people of Israel. After having conquered Jerusalem, he transported them to Babylon, the capital of his empire. This captivity lasted seventy years, when Cyrus gave them the liberty of returning to their country. Great numbers accepted the offer, conducted by Zerubabel, Nehemiah, and Esdras. They re-built Jerusalem and the temple. They re-established their state, and lived under their own laws, paying a small tribute to the kings of Persia; and suffered idolatry no more to supplant their devotion to the true God. The Jews were subject to the kings of Persia at the time Alexander made his conquest of that empire. At his death, his vast dominions were divided between his principal captains, and the king of Syria had a part of Judea but lying, as it were, upon the frontiers of both Syria and Egypt, it suffered severely from alternate invasions. Jérusalem, after the Babylonian captivity, had no particular governors who took upon themselves the title of king; the high priests held the interior administration, and were respected as much as if they had actually been in possession of the the throne.

1

Ptolemy Soter besieged Jerusalem, and carried away one hundred thousand captives, whom he dispersed through Egypt, Libya, and the country about Cyrene, where their posterity for many centuries after continued to exist. During this period, Simon surnamed the Just, was high-priest; a man not less remarkable for his merits as a governor, than for his eminent piety. Under his direction the canon of the Old Testament was completed, and thenceforward transmitted to future generations without further revisal: E. c. 202. It was about this time that the sect of the Sadducees arose, who denied the existence of a future state They were, however, inferior in numbers and popularity to the Pharisees, who entertained a decided belief in the resurrection, and in the doctrine of future rewards and punishments. Under the patronage of Ptolemy Philadelphus, the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek, for the benefit of the Jews residing in Egypt. This version is usually called the Septuagint, because, according to tradition, the translation was entrusted to seventy persons.

The situation of the Jews under the Syrians was various. Antiochus Epiphanes, wishing to alter their religious opinions, took the power of the disposal of the high-priesthood into his own hands, which he alternately disposed of, and dispossessed, according to his caprice. He pillaged the temple, and put Eleazer to death; and also the seven brothers, Maccabees, with their mother. He also caused to be put the sword, on the sabbathday, all those that had assembled together for the purpose of devotion. This cruel and unjust persecution caused the Jews to rebel: they were headed by Mattathias; and, after his death, by his son, the celebrated Judas Maccabeus, the defender of the religion, and the saviour of his country. That hero being killed in battle, was succeeded by Jonathan, who united in himself the spiritual and temporal powers. His brother Simon

succeeded, and was equally celebrated for his wisdom as his virtues, and' was the first of his nation, who had governed Judea peaceably and abso lutely, since the return from Babylon. He was killed at a banquet, and was succeeded by his son, John Hyrcanus, who was succeeded by Judas, surnamed Aristobulus, assuming to himself the title of king.

Alexander Jannæus was the next king, a hero very little inferior to David. He left two sons, Hyrcanus and Aristobulus. The former held the sceptre during the life of Alexandra, his mother; but soon after the death of that princess, Aristobulus declared war against his brotiier, and deprived him of his kingdom.

Judea having become a Roman province, Pompey the Great, its conqueror, re-established Hyrcanus in the government, and took with him Aristobulus to Rome, to heighten the glory of his triumph. Phraates, king of Parthia, deposed Hyrcanus, and put in his place Antigonus, son of Aristobulus. Soon after Herod, surnamed the Great, an Idumean by birth, and patronised by Anthony, obtained permission from the Romans This prince, although a tyrant to assume the title of king of the Jews. to his subjects and to his family, added lustre to the Jewish nation; he repaired Jerusalem, rebuilt the temple, and procured to himself successively the favour of Cassius, Cæsar, Antony, and Octavius; augmenting his power by the art which he possessed of pleasing those of whom he held his crown. In this reign JESUS CHRIST was born.

After the death of Herod, Augustus divided the government of Judea between the sons of Herod: he bestowed one half upon Archelaus, and the other half upon Herod-Antipas and Philip. Nine years afterwards, Augustus, being dissatisfied with their conduct, sent them into exile, and placed the government of Judea under the pro-consul of Syria.

The governors appointed by the Romans over the Jews were for the most part tyrants, which served to strengthen in them the propensity for revolt. They had been taught that a descendant of the house of David should deliver them from oppression; they believed that the time was nearly arrived, and their insolence increased as the fulfilment of the prediction, in their opinion, drew near. They were almost in continual sedition; and although severely punished for their turbulence, their ardour in a cause wherein they supposed their own liberties, and those of their posterity depended, was not in the least diminished.

Jerusa

In the year 66 after Christ, the standard of revolt was set up. lem was besieged by Cestius, whom the Jews compelled to retire. Nero, who was then in Achaia, no sooner heard of that event, than he sent Vespasian into Palestine, for the purpose of effecting that conquest which Cestius had been found unequal to obtain. Vespasian, who had already distinguished himself in Germany and Britain, entered this devoted country with a well-disciplined army; and as he encountered everywhere a fierce resistance, he put to the sword men, women, and children. All the cities and towns that lay in the way of his march, were taken and plundered. Those persons who escaped the cruelty of the conqueror, fled to Jerusalem, then in the hands of two furious parties, each of whom persecuted their opponents with unfeeling cruelty. Civil war and assassination became the consequence of their unbridled rage, and the priests themselves were not exempt from the popular fury.

The siege of Jerusalem was suspended by the death of Nero. Three emperors mounted the throne; Galba, Otho, and Vitellius; all of whom died violent deaths. At length Vespasian was elected to the purple. He immediately sent his son, Titus, to Jerusalem, to finish the war which he had so successfully begun. Titus having arrived before Jerusalem previous to the feast of Easter, took his station on the mount of Olives, and, investing the city, he surrounded it with a wall, flanked with thirty tow

ers.

The magazines had been destroyed by fire, and a most cruel famine

raged within the city; but, notwithstanding their terrible situation, the pesieged refused the advantageous conditions offered to them by the Roman general. At length he became master of the city, which was nearly reduced to ashes, and also of the temple. A scene of butchery then com. menced, and was continued for several days, until Jerusalem was left altogether desolate.

According to Josephus, eleven hundred thousand persons perished dur ing the siege, and at the capture; and those that were taken prisoners were made slaves. The misfortunes of Jerusalem were not confined to the Jews of that city, but extended to the whole of that people under the Roman power; some were thrown to ferocious beasts at the public games, and others sold into bondage. The sufferings, indeed, of the devoted inhabitants, fraught as some of the scenes are with thrilling interest, are such as humanity shudders to contemplate, and over which pity is glad to throw a veil.

THE STATE OF THE JEWS SINCE THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM.

THE Jews, obliged to quit their country, irritated and provoked by the cruel treatment they had received, meditated to avenge themselves of their enemies. They began to put their murderous désigns into execution at the city of Cyrene, in Lybia, and in the island of Cyprus, where, since their flight, they had increased considerably. They were headed by an enterprising but artful man, named Andrew, under whom they not only committed the greatest excesses, but also gained some advantages over the Egyptians, and even over the Romans. The emperor Trajan found himself obliged to march an army against them; but they were not reduced until after several engagements, maintained with the greatest obstinacy; they were at length overcome, and were treated by the Romans rather as enemies of the human race, than as rebels against the power of Rome. Lybia became so far depopulated in this conflict, that the Ro mans deemed it necessary to send a colony to repeople the waste.

The Jews, notwithstanding their recent misfortunes in Palestine, again revolted. Adrian, the successor of Trajan, sent Julius Severus against them. This general (according to Dion), killed five hundred and eighty thousand in different battles; and, he further asserts, they could not reckon those that perished by famine, or otherwise; so that very few Jews escaped in this war. They razed (continues Dion), fifty fortified castles, pillaged and burnt nine hundred and ninety-five cities and towns, and made such a general massacre of the inhabitants through the country, that all Judea was in a manner converted into a desert. Before this massacre the number of Jews, according to calculations made under Nero, and estimating those destroyed under Titus, amounted to two million five hundred and forty-six thousand persons. Adrian, after having ruined and massacred the greatest part of the remaining number, prohibited, by a solemn edict, confirmed in the senate, any of those that had escaped the sword, from returning into their own country; and from that time this unfortunate people have been entirely dispersed.

Notwithstanding the prodigious numbers which perished in the succes sive overthrows of the Jewish nation, it is clear that very considerable colonies of them settled in different countries, as the travels of the apostles alone amply testify. In Rome, Alexandria, and many other places, there were flourishing communities. Some devoted themselves to the cultivation of the arts and sciences, others pursued handicraft trades, mary practised as physicians, but most of them turned their attention to umercial speculations, and soon became notorious for their wealth and