to Power-Is reconciled to the Pharisees-Hyrcanus reigns-Deposed by his Brother Aristobulus-Antipater supports Hyrcanus-Pompey takes Jerusalem by Assault, and restores Hyrcanus-Antipater governs in his Name Judea divided into Districts with an Aristocratical Form of Government-Antipater relieves Julius Cæsar in Egypt-An- tipater poisoned-Hyrcanus deposed, and Antigonus seated on the Throne by the Par- thians-Herod appointed King of Judea by the Senate of Rome-Antigonus deposed and THE RELIGION OF THE HEBREWS FROM THE RESTORATION TO THE TIME OF STATE OF RELIGION AFTER THE RESTORATION-Ezra and Nehemiah-Messianic Prophe- cies of Haggai-Of Zechariah-And of Malachi-THE DOCTRINES HELD RESPECTING THE DIVINE NATURE, and the promised REDEEMER-The Jews believed in a Plurality in the Divine Existence-Which is limited to three-But they did not regard the promised Messiah as one of these-But expected him as a Prophet and Prince who would act un- der the Guidance of a visible Revelation of the glorious Word, as Moses did-THE OR- DINANCES OF RELIGION, INSTRUCTION, AND WORSHIP-The Services of the Temple-And of the Synagogue, including reading the Scriptures, Preaching, Prayer, and religious conversational Intercourse-Efficiency of these Means-THE PECULIARITIES, CHARAC- TER, AND INFLUENCE OF THE SEVERAL RELIGIOUS SECTS WHICH OBTAINED AT THIS TIME -The Pharisees-Their Origin-Distinguished by great apparent Sanctity of Life-Doc- trines and Power-Their Influence opposed to the Purposes of Grace-The Sadducees- Their Origin-Doctrines-Learning and Wealth-The Essenes-Their Doctrines-Insti- tutions-Worship—And Character-THE VIEWS ENTERTAINED ON PERSONAL RELIGION— Repentance-Pardon-Faith-The Effect of these Doctrines practically destroyed by the Adoption of Tradition-A Reliance on Rites-And the Rejection of spiritual Re- THE Mosaic Economy a new Dispensation, which exhibits, I. A UNIQUE DEVELOPMENT OF DIVINE GOVERNMENT-The Election of a Family to distinguished civil and religious Pri- vileges-The continued Application of Divine Interposition, adapted to their varying Cir- cumstances-And the providential Arrangements of the World made with Reference to their Interest and Destiny. II. A REMEDIAL AGENCY, which afforded an Authentication of revealed Truth-Removed dangerous Error-Perpetuated the Divine Will in written Oracles-Gave typical Illustrations of the Messiah's Kingdom-And dispensed the Light and Influence of Prophecy. III. A MEANS OF EFFEctuating the PROMISED REDEMP- TION-It supplied all the essential Elements of Knowledge necessary to identify the Mes- siah at his Coming, and to exhibit the true Character of his Mission-And maintained and illustrated the Doctrine of Atonement-Yet it did not produce the intended Results to the Hebrews-But was, nevertheless, in their Excision, made an efficient Means of Circumcision, p. 509.-Jacob's Pottage, p. 509.-Esau's Sale of his Birthright, p. 510.- the Israelites from Egypt, and miraculous Passage of the Red Sea, p. 515.-The Song of Moses, p. 516.-The Healing of the Waters, p. 516.-The Laws given at Marah, p. 517. -Quails, p. 517.-The Manna a Miracle, p. 518.-The smitten Rock, p. 519.-Amalek, p. 519.-Jethro's Visit to Moses, p. 520.—The Meekness of Moses, p. 521.-The Situation of Kadesh, p. 521.-Absurdity of rationalistic Interpretation, p. 521.-Miriam, p. 522.- The Sin of Moses, p. 522.-The brazen Serpent, p. 522.-The Plains of Moab, P. 522.- Numbering of the People, p. 523.-The patriarchal Priesthood, p. 523.-The Place of Patri- archal Worship, p. 525.-Cause of the Similarity between the Religious Institutions of the Hebrews and those of Heathen Nations, p. 526.—The proper Division of the Decalogue, p. 527.-The Mosaic Tabernacle, p. 528.-The Cherubim, p. 529.-The Shekinah, p. 531. -The Levitical Priesthood, p. 533.-The Urim and Thummim, p. 533-Harmony of the Mosaic Laws, p. 535. The Grounds on which the Hebrews claimed a Right to Pales- tine, p. 540.-The Gibeonites, p. 541.-The Miraculous Hail-stones, p. 541.-The Mira- cle of Joshua, p. 542.-Two Tribes of Amorites expelled by the Hornets, p. 545.-Relative Chronology of the War with Benjamin, p. 545.-Extent of the Authority of the Judges, p. 546.-The House of Heber, p. 546.-The Sin and Punishment of Beth-shemesh, p. 546. -Samuel and the Philistines, p. 547.-The judicial Circuit of Samuel, p. 548.—The Schools of the Prophets, p. 548.-The Cause of Hebrew Monarchy, p. 549.-The Threat of Nahash, p. 550.-Public and private anointing of Kings, p. 551.-Difficulties in the Scriptural Narrative of David's Entrance on his public Career, p. 551.-The Apparition of Samuel, p. 552.-The Treason of Absalom, p. 554.-The Slaughter of the Gibeonites, and its Punishment, p. 554.-The Sin of numbering the People, p. 555.—Solomon's Mar- riage with Pharaoh's Daughter, p. 556.-Ships of Tarshish, p. 556.--The Situation of Ophir and its Trade, p. 558.--The Geography of Sheba, p. 559.-The Effect of Solomon's commercial Policy upon the conduct of Egypt toward Israel, p. 560.-Reason why the spiritual Religion of the Patriarchs was not more fully recorded by Moses, p. 560.--Pecu- liar Attestation to the Truth of the Hebrew Faith, p. 561---Israel taught and trained by God, p. 562.-The Computation of Sabbatical Years, p. 563.-The Ephod of Gideon, p. 563.-Teraphim, p. 563.-Jephthah's Daughter, p. 565.-The Sons of the Prophets, p. 566. --Typical Importance of David's Tabernacle, p. 567.-Origin of Synagogues, p. 569.— Hyssop, p. 570.-The Conduct of Rehoboam, p. 570.-The Divine Purpose in the Division of the Kingdom, p. 570.-Peculiar Religious Character of this History, p. 571.-The Sin of Jeroboam, p. 571.-The Statutes of Omri, p. 572.-The Malediction of Joshua, and its Accomplishment on Hiel, p. 572.--The Case of Hazael, p. 573.-Geographical Extent of the Kingdom of Judah, p. 574.—High Places, p. 574.-The Burning for Asa, p. 576.— The Letter of Elijah, p. 577.--The Sacrifice of Children to Moloch, p. 577.-The Promise of Immanuel, p. 578.-The Connection of the Sacred History with that of Assyria, p. 578.-The Language employed by the Hebrews in speaking of Deity, p. 579.-The mi- raculous Destruction of the Assyrian Army, p. 579.-Sacred Groves, p. 580.-The Chro- nology of the Deliverance of Jerusalem by Judith, p. 580.--The Route of Pharaoh-Necho to Carchemish, p. 581.--The Chronology of Daniel, p. 581.--Chronological Arrangement of Nebuchadnezzar's Dreams, p. 582.-The Death of Belshazzar, p. 582.-The Vision of Ezekiel, p. 583.-When were the discourses of the Prophets written and collected? p. 583.-Prophetic Vision, p. 586.--The Rationale of the Golden Image, p. 586.-The pre- dicted Invasion of Persia by Greece, p. 590.--Daniel's Notation of Prophetic Times, p. 590, -The Knowledge which the Hebrews obtained of the Personality and Influence of Satan, p. 590.-The Testimony of Josephus, p. 591.-The Rising Power of Rome, p. 591.-The Prevalence of the Greek Language, p. 592.-The Origin of the Sanhedrim, p. 592.-The Hebrew Community in Egypt, p. 593.-The Samaritans, p. 595.--Violent Party Contest of Jews and Samaritans in Egypt, p. 596.-The Coins of Simon Maccabeus, p. 596.-The Religious Literature of the Jews, p. 597.-The unfounded Claims of the Mishnaic Tradi- tions, p. 601.-The Karaites, p. 604.-Were the Essenes Christians? p. 605.-The Divine INTRODUCTION. THE Origin of Nations usually obscure-That of the Hebrews an Exception-Owe their national Existence to divine Election. I. PERSONAL AND FAMILY HISTORY OF THE HEBREW PATRIARCHS as bearing upon this Election. Scripture Promises exhibiting this divine Purpose-This Purpose asserted-Abraham-Isaac-Jacob and Esau-Their Relation to the Promise-Esau sells his Birthright-Jacob obtains the Blessing-He journeys to Padan-aram-The Vision at Bethel-His Sojourn with Laban-He returns-Is pursued -Wrestles with an Angel-Its religious Effect-Meets Esau happily-Jacob dwells in Canaan-Partiality to Joseph, who is sold into Egypt by his Brethren-His conduct there -Made Governor of Egypt-Brings his Father and Family into that Country-Intense Interest which the Hebrews felt in the divine Promises-Their Confidence and HopeAre persecuted by the Egyptians. II. THE MIRACLES WHICH PRECEDED AND EFFECTED THE EXODUS. The peculiar State of the Israelites, and their future Destiny, required the Power and Wisdom of God to be displayed in their Deliverance-Birth and Preservation of Moses—His noble Choice and mighty Faith-His Interposition, Flight, and Sojourn in Midian-Is sent by God to demand the Release of the Israelites-The Miracle of the Serpent-The Water turned into Blood-The Plague of Frogs-Of Lice-Of Flies -Of Murrain-Of Boils-Of Hail-Of Locusts-Of Darkness-The Passover appointed, and the First-born of Egypt slain-The Israelites leave Egypt-Their March-Are pursued by Pharaoh-Their Danger-A Passage opened for them through the Sea-Their Enemies destroyed-The Hebrews, in Safety and Freedom, return Thanksgiving to God. THE origin of nations is usually much obscured by fiction and fable, if not enveloped in darkness. The annals of almost every people describe them, at a certain period of their history, as emerging from a cloudy obscurity into which the eye of the historian cannot penetrate, so as to trace with distinctness and precision their previous career. To this general rule the Hebrew nation forms a very remarkable exception. The origin of this people is not only clearly exhibited by authentic history, but, like their whole course, stands prominently before us as a part of divinely revealed truth. Nor does the information thus afforded serve merely to show the source whence this wonderful race of men arose, or the fostering circumstances which multiplied a family into a nation: it clearly displays the great purpose of God, of which his continual interposition throughout their national history was the development. The history and religion, the character and destiny, of the Hebrew people cannot, therefore, be profitably discussed, without a careful investigation into the circumstances of their ancestors, from the vocation of Abram to the period of the Exodus. It is the object of this introductory chapter to trace these circumstances as they arose out of the election of the house of Israel, and the obedient faith of Abram, Isaac, and Jacob, under the continued interposition of Jehovah for the accomplishment of his own declared purpose, until the Hebrews are presented to the world as a separate and independent people. In the prosecution of this purpose, two important subjects are presented to our attention: The family history of the Hebrew patriarchs, as exhibiting and illustrating the divine election of the house of Israel to be a great and favored nation; and the continued series of miraculous interpositions which preceded and which effected the Exodus. A careful consideration of these subjects will form a suitable and essential preliminary to an investigation into the history and religion of the Hebrew people. I. The personal and family history of the Hebrew patriarchs, as exhibiting and illustrating the divine election of the house of Israel. When Moses informs us that the family of Terah had emigrated from Ur of the Chaldees, and taken up their residence in Haran, he assigns no reason or cause for this movement. But the information withheld in the Old Testament is supplied in the New. In the memorable speech of Stephen, the inspired deacon says, "The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, and said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee. Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran." Acts vii, 2-4. Here the important information is given, that the first movement of Abraham from his native place was in obedience to a direct communication from God. But we have no intimation that any promise was given at this time. Jehovah appears to have announced his will, which the patriarch implicitly obeyed. The first intimation given in Holy Scripture of the special appointment of the Hebrew people to be a great and favored nation, is contained in the divine communication made to Abram, when he was called to leave Haran. A particular locality was then indicated, and a specific promise given: "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee and I will make of thee a great nation." Gen. xii, 1, 2. After the patriarch had obeyed, and journeyed into the land of Canaan, he was told that this was the country which his descendants should occupy; for "the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land." Gen. xii, 7. This promise was confirmed and expanded after Lot left the company of his uncle. Then "the Lord said unto Abraham, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee." Gen. xiii, 14-17. Further revelations afterwards defined the extent of country which had been so fully promised, and the period when the family of Abram should take possession of it. On that memorable occasion when God entered into covenant with this patriarch, He said unto him, "Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; and also that nation whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. . . . In that same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: the Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites." Gen. xv, 13-21. Thus was Abram assured, in explicit terms, of the extent of the country which his seed should inhabit, the precise time when they should take possession of it, and the various tribes or nations which should be cast out before them. After the birth of Ishmael, when the Lord appointed the rite of circumcision (see Appendix, note 1) as a sign of the special covenant which he had made with Abram, and when his name was altered by divine command, further intimations were given of the number of the patriarch's posterity, and especially of that branch unto whom the covenant was to descend. On that occasion, God said unto Abram, "I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram; but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." Gen. xvii, 2-8. And at the same time, after having appointed the rite of circumcision, the Almighty proceeded to promise, in the clearest and most explicit manner, that Abraham should |