CHAPTER IV.

Chapter 11915,211 wordsPublic domain

_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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jabal introducer of nomadic life, 11 Jabesh Gilead its destruction, 233; the Ammonites defeated there, 284; its position, 316 Jabin the country of, 201; withstands the Israelites, 214; overcome and killed by Joshua, 215 Jabin, 2nd invasion of, 237; his success, 238; reverses under Sisera, 240 Jacob his disposition, 46; buys Esau’s birthright, 47; craftily obtains the blessing, 49; flies from the wrath of Esau, 50; his vision and vow at Bethel, 51; the promise renewed to him, 51, 56, 69; serves Laban 20 years, 52; his wives and children, 52; separates from Laban, 53; wrestles with the Angel, 54; name changed to Israel, 54; reconciled to Esau, 55; dwells at Shechem, 55; fulfils his vow at Bethel, 56; his preference for Joseph, 57; and grief at his supposed death, 59; parts with Benjamin, 65; goes down into Egypt, 69; settles at Goshen, 70; blesses his children, 70, 71; his death, 72; his burial in the cave of Machpelah, 72; his character, 76 Jael kills Sisera, 242 Jair the judge, 255 Japheth son of Noah, 13; the blessing upon, 18; his descendants and their settlements, 19 Jebusites their locality, 32, 201; their fortress at Jerusalem, 323; captured by Joab, 325 Jeconiah _see_ Jehoiachin. Jedidiah a name of Solomon, 334 Jehoahaz king of Israel, 425 king of Judah, taken captive to Egypt, 449 Jehoash king of Israel, 426; his interview with Elisha, 426; overcomes the Syrians, 426; captures Amaziah, 428 Jehoiachin, or Jeconiah or Coniah king of Judah, carried captive to Babylon, 451; released from prison, 465 Jehoiakim, or Eliakim king of Judah, overcome by Nebuchadnezzar, 450; his death, 450 Jehonadab joins Jehu, 422 Jehoram, king of Israel 403; his idolatry, 406; overthrows the Moabites, 407; his wars with the Syrians, 414; slain by Jehu, 420 Jehoram, king of Judah marries Athaliah, 397; threatened by Elijah, 403; death of, 418 Jehoshaphat king of Judah, 379; his successful reign, 382; his alliance with Ahab, 397; his wars, 400 Jehu, king of Israel anointment of, 419; kills Jehoram, 420; puts down the worship of Baal, 422; his reign, 423 Jephthah overthrows the Ammonites, 256; his vow, 256; sacrifices his daughter, 257; massacres the Ephraimites, 258 Jeremiah the prophet, 449, 457; his prophecies in the reign of Zedekiah, 451; shares the lot of his countrymen, 452 Jericho its important position, 201; mission of the spies there, 202; divine instructions for its capture, 205; the fall of, 206; the curse upon rebuilding it, 206; its fulfilment, 206; Elisha there, 404, 413 Jeroboam I. assured of being king, 366; his appeal to Rehoboam, 368; declared king of Israel, 371; establishes idolatry, 372; denounced, 372; defeated by Abijah, 376; extinction of his race, 377 Jeroboam II. king of Israel, his prosperous reign, 428 Jerusalem its elevated site, 30; the city of the Jebusites, 32, 201; the lower city captured, 226; its peculiar situation, 323; the fortress taken, 324; becomes the city of David, 325; effects of its conquest, 325; occupied by Absalom, 339; invested by Shishak, 370; taken by Jehoash, 428; delivered from Sennacherib, 440; taken by the Assyrians, 445; by Nebuchadnezzar, 450, 451, 452; its destruction, 452; its contrast to Babylon, 455; rebuilt by Nehemiah, 477 Jeshua high-priest at the restoration, 471 Jesse genealogy of, 294 Jethro father-in-law of Moses, 83; meets Moses at Rephidim, 104; his advice, 105 Jewish Calendar, the, 155; weights and measures, 492; money, 493 Jews taken captive to Babylon, 451; their condition there, 456; their return to their native land, 469; effects of their captivity, 470; their position at the close of the Canon, 481. _See_ Israelites. Jezebel married to Ahab, 381; her character, 383; establishes the worship of Baal, 383; threatens Elijah, 389; causes Naboth’s murder, 396; Elijah’s denunciation of her, 397; its fulfilment, 421 Jezreel meaning of the word, 219; Ahab at, 383, 391; death of Jezebel at, 421 Jezreel, the spring of Gideon’s army at, 247 Joab David’s nephew, 304, 319; kills Abner, 320; cursed by David, 321; takes the fortress of Jerusalem, 325; made commander-in-chief, 325, 329; kills Absalom, 341; and Amasa, 343; rebels against David, 347; put to death, 352 Joash, father of Gideon 244 Joash, king of Israel _see_ Jehoash. Joash, king of Judah 424; restores the temple, 425; his apostasy, 425; death, 425 Job probable country and era of, 22; his character, 23; afflicted by Satan, 23; his resignation, 24; his three friends, 24; his contrition and recompence, 25; his death, 25; the Book of, uncertainties concerning it, 22, 26 Joel son of Samuel, 275 Jonah the prophet, 428; his mission to Nineveh, 430 Jonathan at Geba, 286; his valour at Michmash, 288; falls under Saul’s curse, 290; saved by the people, 291; his friendship for David, 299, 302, 306; his death, 315; David’s lament for him, 317 Joppa the one port of Palestine, 29 Jordan, River its physical features, 30; the passage of the, 203 Joseph son of Jacob and Rachel, 52; his father’s favourite, 57; meaning of his coat of many colours, 57; his dreams, 58; their fulfilment, 64; cast into a pit, 58; sold to the Ishmaelites, 59; carried into Egypt, 59; bought by Potiphar, 59; his prosperity and its termination, 60; interprets dreams in prison, 61; and Pharaoh’s, 62; his exaltation, 62; his wife and sons, 63; his government of Egypt, 63, 64; his conduct to his brethren, 64–67; makes himself known to them, 68; sends for Jacob, 68; their meeting in Egypt, 69; Jacob’s dying blessing upon him, 70; buries his father, in the Promised Land, 72; his death and commandment concerning his bones, 72; his character, 76; a type of Christ, 76; probable place of sepulture of his bones, 210, 222; conquests of his descendants in the Promised Land, 226 Joshua defeats the Amalekites, 104; ascends Sinai with Moses, 111; one of the twelve spies, 173; the promise to him, 175; assumes the leadership of the Israelitish forces, 200; crosses the Jordan, 203; mysterious appearance to him, 204; his curse upon Jericho, 206; takes Ai, 209; his ratification of the Law, 209; commands the sun to stand still, 212; his military successes, 215; his division of the Land, 215; his inheritance, 220; his last address to the Tribes, 222; his death, 222; a type of Christ, 223; the position of the Israelites at his death, 224 Josiah, king of Judah foretold, 372; his religious reformations, 446; restores the Temple, 447; killed at Megiddo, 449 Jotham, king of Judah 430 Jotham, son of Gideon his parable, 253 Jubal inventor of musical instruments, 11 Jubilee the year of, 145 Judah, Jacob’s son 52; pleads with his father, 65; with Joseph in Egypt, 67; Jacob’s dying blessing upon, 71 Judah, Tribe of its portion, 217; its conquest of Hebron, 215; its subsequent conquests, 226; its degraded state, 262; its rivalry with Ephraim, 370 Judah, Kingdom of physical geography of, 30; its area and extent, 370; its degradation under Jehoiakim, 450; the captivity of, 452 Judah and Israel, kingdoms of alliance between, 397; summary of their duration, 453; their mutual relations, 453; their contrasts, 454 Judges, Hebrew word denoting them, 234; their office and position, 235 Judges, Book of purport of its last five chapters, 227

Kadesh-Barnea encampment at, 172; mutiny of Israelites there, 175; rebellion of Korah at, 176; the Plague at, 177; Miriam buried there, 179 Keilah rescued by David, 305 Kerak (Kir-haraseth) situation of, 407 Keturah Abraham’s second wife, 45 King the Israelites demand one, 278; Divine promises concerning, 279; Saul elected, 282; regulations of the office, 282 Kings of Judah and Israel chronological table of, 486 Kirjath-jearim the ark removed to, 274; fetched thence by David, 326 Kirjath-sephir taken by Othniel, 216 Kishon, River account of, 241 Kohathite section of the Levites, 127 Korah rebellion of, 176, 177

Laban Jacob’s uncle, 50, 51; his unfairness towards him, 52 Laish 229; taken by the Danites, 230 Lamech institutes Polygamy, 11 Lamp, the golden of the Tabernacle, 122 Land Mosaic laws regarding, 166 Land of Promise description of, 28; Abram arrives there, 32. _See_ Palestine. Laver for purification, 121 Law, the delivered from Sinai, 108; committed to writing by Moses, 109; copy of, given by Moses to the Priests, 196; its ratification by Joshua, 209 Laws, Mosaic of purity, 156 Leah, Jacob’s wife substituted for Rachel, 52; her children, 52 Lepers Mosaic laws regarding them, 157 Leprosy description of, 157 Levi, Jacob’s son 52; attacks Shechem, 56; Jacob’s dying blessing upon, 71 Levi, the sons of their zeal in the destruction of the Calf, 114, 126; separated for the Service of the Sanctuary, 126; the Cities of Refuge assigned to them, 195; the portion of, 220 Levi and the Priesthood genealogical table of, 485 Levites their special functions, 127, 128, 354; the three sections of, 127; tithes assigned to them, 128; transgressions of two of them, 221, 231 Life Mosaic laws affecting, 162; the sacredness of, 163 Longevity of the antediluvians advantage of, 12 Lot nephew of Abram, 27; accompanies him in his journeys, 33; they separate, 34; rescued by Abram, 35; escapes from Sodom, 40; his wife perishes, 41

Machpelah, Cave of purchased by Abraham, 44; he is buried there, 45; and Sarah, 44; and Jacob, 72 Mahanaim origin of its name, 53; Ishbosheth reigns there, 319; David retreats to, 341 Makkedah, the Cave of 213 Mamre, the Oak of Abraham dwells under, 34, 36, 44; and Isaac and Jacob, 57 Man the creation of, 2; his distinctive position, 3; the fall of, 4; his sinfulness before the Flood, 12, 14; after the Flood, 26 Manasseh, Joseph’s son 63; Jacob’s dying blessing upon, 70; the portions of, 195, 218 Manasseh, king of Judah his idolatry, 443; taken captive to Babylon, 445; his return and repentance, 445 Manna in the wilderness conditions regarding it, 102 Manoah father of Samson, 259 Marah the waters of, 101 March of the Israelites from Sinai order of, 168 Marriage-bond in the Patriarchal age, 74; Mosaic law regarding it, 160 Masters Mosaic law respecting, 161 Mattaniah _see_ Zedekiah. Measures, Scripture table of, 493 Meat-offerings, the 134 Medad the Elder, 170 Megiddo a Canaanite stronghold, 226, 240; position of, 361; Josiah killed there, 449 Melchizedek conjectures concerning him, 35; blesses Abram, 36; a type of Christ, 36 Menahem king of Israel, 432 Merab Saul’s daughter, 300 Merarite section of Levites, 128 Mercy-seat in the Tabernacle, 124 Merom battle of, 214 Meshach at Babylon, 457; in the fiery furnace, 461 Methuselah great age of, 12 Micah idolatry of, 228 Micaiah the prophet, 398 Michal, David’s wife her devotion, 301; is taken from him, 309; restored, 320; scoffs at him, 328; her punishment, 329 Michmash occupied by the Philistines, 286; Saul there, 286; battle of, 289 Midian Moses dwells there, 82 Midianites sacred war against, 194; the invasion of, 243; overthrown by Gideon, 248, 249 Mighty men of David’s army, 329 Miriam sister of Moses, 81; her song at the Red Sea, 99; rebels against Moses, 171; struck with leprosy, 172; her death, 179 Mizpeh assembly of the tribes at, 231; Jephthah at, 257; Philistines defeated there, 275; school of the prophets there, 276; Saul chosen king there, 281; the station of the Chaldæan Guard, 452 Moabites their ancestry, 41; their territory, 187; the invasion of under Eglon, 235; David’s conquest over, 330; routed by Jehoram, 406 Money, Jewish table of, 493 Month-Sabbath or New Moon festival, 143 Moon the Eastern worship of, 144 Mordecai Haman’s jealousy of, 472; his triumph, 474 Moriah, Mount the site of the Temple, 43, 346, 356 Mosaic Law the chief features of, 117 Moses his parentage, 81; rescued from the Nile, 81; meaning of his name, 81; his education, 81; flies to Midian, 82; his life there, 83; vision of the burning bush, 84; is called by God, 84; returns to Egypt, 86; appears before Pharaoh, 87–94; works signs and wonders in Egypt, 88–94; leads out the Israelites, 96; draws water from the rock, 103; the covenant renewed to him on Sinai, 106, 116; receives the two tables of stone, 111; intercedes for the people, 114; Miriam and Aaron turn against him, 171; his position confirmed, 172; pleads for the people at Kadesh-Barnea, 174, 177; his sin at the ‘Waters of Strife,’ 180; appoints Joshua his successor, 195; his final counsels to the people, 196; views the promised land from Mount Nebo, 197; dies, 198; summary of his career, 198; a type of Christ, 199 Murder Mosaic law regarding, 163

Naaman cured of his leprosy, 411 Nabal his churlishness to David, 308; his death, 309 Naboth the murder of, 396 Nadab, Aaron’s son the sin of, 131 Nadab, king of Israel 377 Nahash besieges Jabesh-Gilead, 283 Naomi mother-in-law of Ruth, 265 Naphtali Jacob’s son, 52; tribe of, its portion, 219; its neglect of duty, 227; its firmness under Barak, 239 Nathan the prophet confirms the kingdom to David, 328; denounces his sin, 334 Nazarites their vows, 158; Samson becomes one, 259 Nebo, Mount Moses views the Promised Land from, 197 Nebuchadnezzar captures Jerusalem, 450, 451, 452; his visions interpreted by Daniel, 458, 463; his golden image, 460; his greatness and power, 462; stricken with madness, 464; his recovery and death, 465 Necho, king of Egypt overcomes Josiah, 449; takes Jehoahaz captive, 449; defeated by Nebuchadnezzar, 449 Nehemiah rebuilds Jerusalem, 477; opposed by Sanballat, 478; his reforms, 477; his death, 481 New Moon festival or Month-Sabbath, 143 Nile, the Moses rescued from, 81; its position in Egyptian theology, 89; turned into blood, 89 Nimrod the empire of, 21; worshipped as Bel or Belus, 21 Nineveh founded by Nimrod, 21; Jonah’s mission to, 430 Noah his righteousness, 13; his three sons, 13; builds the Ark, 14; saved from the Flood, 15; leaves the Ark, 16; his sacrifice, 16; the covenant made with him, 16; plants the vine, &c., 17; his prophecy on his sons, 17; his descendants and their dispersion, 19 Nob David at, 303; Saul’s massacre of the priests there, 305 Nomadic character of the Patriarchal age, 73

Obed-Edom the Ark at his house, 326 Offerings, the of the Mosaic Law, 133 Og king of Bashan, 185; routed by the Israelites, 186 Omri usurps the throne of Israel, 380; opposed by Tibni, 380; builds Samaria, 381 Ophir conjectures regarding, 362 Order of the March from Sinai, 168 Othniel takes Kirjath-Sephir, 216; his exploits, 236

Palestine its position and extent, 28; its adaptation to the Divine purpose, 29; ancient routes through it, 29; its physical geography, 30; its produces and fertility, 31; its division amongst the twelve tribes, 195, 216–222 Palmyra built by Solomon, 361 Paradise its probable position, 3; life of our first parents there, 4 Paran, deserts of the long wandering in, 178 Parents Mosaic law regarding, 159 Passover, the institution of, 95; rites observed at, 150; its typical meaning, 151; celebration of, on the plains of Jericho, 204 Patriarchal age, the survey of, 73 Patriarchs, the their nomadic life, 73; their family relations, 74; civilization, 74; religion and worship, 76; their character, 76 Patriarchs, the twelve and their descendants, genealogical table of, 485 Peace offerings various kinds of, 138; the ritual observed at, 138; meaning of, 139 Pekah king of Israel, 433; defeated by the Assyrians, 434 Pekahiah king of Israel, 433 Pentecost the feast of, 152 Penuel fortified by Jeroboam, 371 Perizzites their locality, 32, 201 Persian Empire table of its connection with Israel, 491 Pharaoh his dreams, 61; interpreted by Joseph, 62; he exalts Joseph, 62; receives Jacob’s blessing, 70 his hardness of heart, 87–94; lets the Israelites go, 90, 96; pursues after them, 97; drowned in the Red Sea, 99 Pharpar, River 412 Philistines, the their immigration into Palestine, 258; their five cities, 259; Samson’s exploits against them, 261–264; their deities, 263; they capture the ark, 271; defeated at Mizpeh, 275; and by Jonathan at Michmash, 291; their invasion under Achish, 311; their victory, at Gilboa, 315; their defeat in the valley of Rephaim, 325; David’s conquest over them, 329, 345 Phinehas, grandson of Aaron his righteous zeal, 193; the priesthood settled in his race, 193; routs the Midianites, 194 Phinehas, son of Eli wickedness of, 269; his death, 271 Phrygians their tradition of the Flood, 16 Pillar of cloud 67, 98, 167 Pillar of fire 97, 98 Pison, River 3 Plague, the at Kadesh-Barnea, 177; at Baal-Peor, 193; in the reign of David, 346 Plagues of Egypt, 88–94, 96 Polygamy institution of, 11; Mosaic law regarding it, 160 Porch of Solomon’s Temple, 357 Potiphar buys Joseph, 59; etymology of his name, 59; profligacy of his wife, 60 Priests, the their consecration, 128; their vestments, 129; the qualifications necessary for, 129; their duties, 130; their provision, 130, 134; their functions and courses, 358 Prince, the of the army of Jehovah, appears to Joshua, 204 Promise, the to Adam, gradual fulfilment of, 482–484 Property Mosaic law respecting, 165 Prophetical order, the its duties and position, 276, 277 Prophet the disobedient, 373; his tomb spared by Josiah, 446 Prophets the Chronological Table of, 487 Proverbs of Solomon, 354 Psalms of David, their pre-eminence as sacred poetry, 350 Pul, king of Assyria bought off by Menahem, 432 Purim the feast of, 154 Purity Jewish laws regarding, 156

Quails sent in the wilderness, 170

Rabbah trophy of Og there, 186; its position, 332; besieged by Joab, 333; taken by David, 335 Rachel her meeting with Jacob, 51; becomes his wife, 52; the mother of Joseph, 52; and of Benjamin, 57; her death, 57 Rahab protects the spies, 202; preserved at the destruction of Jericho, 206 Rainbow, the pledge of the Covenant with Noah, 17 Ramah the residence of Samuel, 275; school of the prophets there, 276 Rameses its probable position, 97 Ramoth-gilead situation of, 398; the battle of, 399 Rebekah wife of Isaac, 45 Redemption the first promise of, 8; its gradual fulfilment, 482–484 Red Sea, the Israelites arrive at, 97; their passage over it, 98 Refuge the cities of, 164; their names, 220 Rehoboam succeeds Solomon, 368; his impolitic conduit, 369; the ten tribes revolt from him, 369; his idolatry, 375; overcome by Shishak, 376; his death, 376 Religion in the Patriarchal age, 75 Rephidim Moses smites the rock there, 103; the Israelites attacked by the Amalekites at, 103; Jethro meets Moses there, 104 Reuben Jacob’s son, 52; intercedes for Joseph, 58; Jacob’s dying blessing upon, 71; tribe of, rebels against Moses, 176; its pastoral pursuits, 78, 194; its portion, 195 Revolt of the ten tribes, 369; predisposing causes of, 370 ♦Rezin revolts against Solomon, 365 Riblah position of, 449 Rimmon, the fortress of 233 Rimmon, the Syriac deity 412 Rizpah her sons killed, 344; her devotion, 344 Ruth history of, 265; its value and interest, 265

Sabbath, the institution of, 102; Mosaic law regarding it, 142 Sabbatical year, the 144; its meaning, 145 Sacrifice first institution of, 10; Noah’s, 16; Abraham’s, 43; Elijah’s, 386 Sacrifices of the Mosaic law unbloody, 133; of blood, 137 Samaria built by Omri, 381; its position, 218, 381; sieges of by Benhadad, 391, 414; slaughter of priests of Baal there, 422; besieged by Shalmaneser, 435; captured by Sargon, 435 Samson his birth announced, 259; his exploits, 260–264; his riddle, 261; betrayed by Delilah, 263; his death, 264 Samuel his early dedication to the Lord, 268; called by God, 270; recognized as a Prophet, 271; becomes Judge, 274; establishes Schools of the Prophets, 276; meets Saul, 280; declares him king, 281; his farewell to the people, 285; rebukes Saul at Gilgal, 287; rejects Saul, 292; anoints David, 295; his death, 308; appears to Saul at Endor, 314; traditionary site of his tomb, 267 Sanballat his opposition to Nehemiah, 478 Sarah wife of Abraham, 27; her name changed, 39; gives birth to Isaac, 41; her death and burial, 44 Sargon, king of Assyria captures Samaria, 435; ends the kingdom of Israel, 436 Satan Scripture testimony respecting, 5; tempts Eve, 5; is cursed, 8; afflicts Job, 25 Saul met by Samuel, 280; anointed, 281; joins the prophets, 281, 301; chosen king, 282; defeats the Ammonites, 284; assumes the government, 285; his sin, 287; rebuked by Samuel, 287; destroys the Amalekites, 292; his disobedience, 292; rejected by Samuel, 292; his jealousy of David, 299; his cruelty at Nob, 305; spared by David, 307; at Endor, 314; Samuel’s sentence upon him, 315; his death, 315; his body rescued, 316; his sons crucified, 344 Saviour, the first promise of, 8; its gradual fulfilment, 482–484 Scape-goat, the 148; its meaning, 149 Schools of the Prophets established by Samuel, 276; their object and purpose, 276 Seir mountains of, 55 Sennacherib invades Judah, 438; summons Jerusalem, 439; destruction of his army, 440 Serpent, the Brazen 182; typical of Christ, 183; destroyed by Hezekiah, 436 Serpents in the Wilderness the plague of, 182 Servants Mosaic law regarding, 161 Seth son of Adam, 11; his descendants, 12; their righteousness, 12; repositories of the promise, 12; they become corrupt, 13 Shadrach at Babylon, 457; in the fiery furnace, 454 Shallum usurps the throne of Israel, 432 Shalmaneser, king of Assyria invades Israel, 435 Shamgar, the Judge assaults the Philistines, 237 Sharon, the vale of its position, 30 Sheba, Queen of visits Solomon, 364 Sheba revolts against David, 342; his death, 343 Shechem description of, 31; Abram builds his first altar there, 32; Jacob’s abode there, 55, 58; Joseph’s bones buried there, 210, 222; Joshua assembles the tribes at, 222; temple of Baal there, 252; destroyed by Abimelech, 254; Rehoboam’s convention at, 368; rebuilt by Jeroboam, 371 Shem son of Noah, 13; the blessing upon, 18; his descendants and their settlements, 20 Shew-bread account of, 122; obtained by David, 303; placed in Solomon’s Temple, 357, 358 Shibboleth meaning of, 258 Shiloh conjectures concerning, 71; the tabernacle there, 125, 267; its position, 217; the rape at, 234; Samuel ministers there, 268; Eli dies at, 272; date of its supposed destruction, 272 Shimei curses David, 339; is forgiven, 342; put to death, 353 Shinar the Plain of, 18; the site of Nimrod’s Empire, 21 Shishak king of Egypt, 366; overcomes Rehoboam and despoils the Temple, 376 Sihon, king of the Amorites opposes the Israelites, 184; is slain, 185 Simeon Jacob’s son, 52; attacks Shechem, 56; bound hostage for Benjamin, 64; Jacob’s dying blessing upon, 71; tribe of, its portion, 217 Sinai, Mount the Israelites encamp before it, 105, 117; scenery around it, 106; the Covenant renewed there to Moses, 106, 116; the Law delivered from, 108; the ascents of Moses, 111, 116; events accomplished there, 167 Sinai, Peninsula of Moses flies there, 82; description of it, 100 Sin-offering, the 139; its peculiar ritual, 140; its intention, 141 Sisera Jabin’s captain, 237; overthrown by Barak, 240; killed by Jael, 242 Slavery in the Patriarchal age, 74; under the Mosaic law, 161 Sodom Lot settles there, 34; its destruction, 41 Solomon the birth of, 334; proclaimed king, 347; David’s last charge to him, 348; his accession, 350; his prayer for Wisdom, 353; his judgment, 354; his proverbs and songs, 354; commences the Temple, 355; dedicates it, 358; his public works, 360; commercial activity of his reign, 361–363; bad tendency of this, 363; his splendour, 364; his failings, 363, 367; his troubles, 365; his death and character, 366; causes of the dismemberment of his kingdom, 370 Song of Witness composed by Moses, 197 Songs of Solomon 354 ‘Sons of God’ conjectures concerning, 13 Spies mission of the twelve, 173; the faithless ten struck dead, 175; two sent to Jericho, 201 Springs in the East 183 Succoth Jacob settles at, 55; the Israelites first halt there, 97

Tabernacle, the pattern of, revealed to Moses, 111, 118, 125; its construction, 119; its area, 119; description of, 121; its history, 125; fixed at Shiloh, 216; David’s new one on Zion, 326 Tabernacles the feast of, 153; its observances, 153; other customs connected with it, 154 Table of Shewbread in the Tabernacle, 122; in Solomon’s Temple, 357, 358 Tadmor built by Solomon, 361 Tarshish probable situation of, 362; Jonah at, 430 Tekoa position of, 401 Temple, the site of purchased by David, 346, 356; treasures accumulated for it, 356; the building of, by Solomon, 355–358; its dedication, 358, 359; despoiled by Shishak, 376; repaired by Joash, 419; rifled by ♦Jehoash, 425; despoiled by Nebuchadnezzar, 450, 451; its destruction, 452; the rebuilding of, commenced, 469; its interruption and completion, 470, 471 Ten Tribes their revolt, 368 Terah father of Abraham, 27 ♦Tarshish silver mines of, 362 Thebez its position, 255 Theft Mosaic law regarding, 165 Things unclean forbidden by the Law, 156 Tiberias Lake of, 30 Tibni rival king to Omri, 380 Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria his successes, 433 Tigris, River 3, 17, 18 Tiphsah position of, 361 Tirzah capital of Israel, 380 Tithes assigned to the Levites, 128; and Priests, 134 Tola the Judge 255 Tongues the confusion of, 16–20 Tree of Knowledge 4 Trespass Offering, the 141; occasions for presenting it, 141 Tribal wars, the 232, 256 Trumpets, feast of 144; its intention, 144 Tubal Cain inventor of metal working, 11

Unclean things forbidden by the law, 156 Ur probable locality of, 27 Uriah David’s treachery to, 333 Urim, the, and the Thummim 132 Uz, the land of its probable site, 22 Uzzah sudden death of, 326 Uzziah, king of Judah. _See_ Azariah.

Victims used for sacrifice, 135; the requisites of, 136

Wanderings, the in the desert, 175–178 ‘Waters of strife,’ the 180 Weeks, the feast of or Pentecost, 152; its character, 152 Weights Jewish Tables of, 492 Wells in the East 183 Widow’s son, the raised by Elisha, 409 Wives Mosaic law regarding, 160 Worship, religious of the Patriarchs, 75

Year of Jubilee, the 145 Year-Sabbath, the 144

Zachariah, king of Israel brief reign of, 432 Zadok the priest joins David, 323; has charge of the Ark, 326, 338; anoints Solomon, 347; becomes High-priest, 352 Zarephath the widow of, 384; Elijah there, 384 Zebulun Jacob’s son, 52; tribe of, its portion, 219; its neglect of duty, 227; its firmness under Barak, 239 Zechariah the stoning of, 425 Zechariah, the prophet 471 Zedekiah the false prophecy of, 398 Zedekiah or Mattaniah king of Judah, 451; taken captive to Babylon, 452 Zerah invasion and defeat of by Asa, 378 Zerubbabel Governor of Jerusalem at the restoration, 469 Ziklag David at, 311 Zimri usurps the throne of Israel, 380 Ziph David at, 306; spares Saul there, 310 Zipporah wife of Moses, 83 Zobah defeated by David, 330 Zophar friend of Job, 24

THE END.

CAMBRIDGE: PRINTED BY C. J. CLAY & SONS, AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

Footnotes.

1 – The Edition of Dr Robinson’s _Biblical Researches_ referred to is the second American Edition, 3 Vols. 1860; that of Dean Stanley’s _Sinai and Palestine_, the 3rd, 1856.

2 – Hence the idea of an _envious_ and jealous God so common in heathenism, as in Herodotus, I. 32, III. 40, VII. 46.

3 – The Ninth Article of the Church of England.

4 – Kurtz’s _History of the Old Covenant_, I. 49: “However weakened and darkened by sin, the divine image in man is not wholly destroyed (Gen. ix. 6, James iii. 9), and even after the Fall man continues the offspring of God (Acts xvii. 28).”

5 – Kurtz’s _Sacred History_, p. 48.

6 – Davison, _On Prophecy_, p. 55.

7 – This seems to be the true meaning of the expression, _the Lord set a mark upon Cain_. Compare the sign given to Noah (Gen. ix. 13), to Moses (Ex. iii. 2, 12), to Elijah (1 Kings xix. 11), to Hezekiah (Isai. xxxviii. 7, 8).

8 – Smith’s _Bibl. Dict._ Art. _Noah_.

9 – The traditions of many nations preserve the recollection of the Flood. They may be found in the Chaldæan and Phœnician mythology, among the Persian, Indian, Chinese, and American nations. The Greeks had their tradition of Deucalion and Pyrrha. Among the Phrygians was a legend of a King Annakos or Nannakos in Iconium, who lived to the age of 400 years, foretold the Flood, and in prospect of the destruction awaiting them, wept and prayed for his people. As late as the time of Septimius Severus, a medal was struck at Apamea commemorating this event. On it is the representation of a square vessel floating on the water, and through an opening in it two persons, a man and a woman, are visible. On the top a bird is perched, while another is flying towards it carrying a branch between its feet. In front of the vessel the same pair stand as though they had just landed on dry ground. On some specimens the letters ΝΩ or ΝΩΕ have been found. See Kurtz’s _Sacred History_, p. 56.

10 – This prediction that Canaan should become the servant of Shem is thought to have been primarily fulfilled, when the nations of Palestine were conquered by Joshua (Josh. xviii. 10; xxiii. 4; 2 Chron. viii. 7, 8), when Tyre fell before the arms of Alexander, and, again, when the Carthaginians were subdued by the Romans.

11 – The words _he shall dwell in the tents of Shem_ are somewhat obscure. If they denote that God would dwell in his tents, they probably refer to the fact that the “promised Seed” was restricted to this line, and the special presence of God with the Jews (Rom. ix. 4, 5); if they mean that Japheth should dwell in his tents, they probably point to the occupation of Palestine and the surrounding countries by the Romans, and in a spiritual sense to the adoption of the Gentiles into the Church of God (Eph. iii. 6).

12 – An approximate indication of the Time when this Dispersion took place is afforded in Gen. x. 25, where we find one of the descendants of Shem named Peleg (“_Division_”), _for in his days was the earth divided_.

13 – Smith’s _Dictionary of the Bible_, Article _Nimrod_.

14 – Jemima = _day_ or a _dove_, Kezia = _cassia_, a sweet aromatic plant, and Keren-Happuch = either _horn of antimony_, the pigment used by Eastern ladies to colour the eye-lashes, or, according to the LXX., _horn of plenty_.

15 – Called by the Greeks Edessa, and Callirrhoe, “the Beautiful Spring,” from a “pool of transparent clearness” hard by. Others place Ur at _Mugheir_, much further to the south, and on the right bank of the Euphrates, about six miles from the present course of the stream.

16 – Haran, or Charræ, now _Harrán_, in N.W. Mesopotamia, situated “on the point of divergence between the great caravan routes towards the various fords of the Euphrates and the Tigris,” was afterwards celebrated for its temple of Luna, the Moon-goddess, and still more as the scene of the famous defeat of Crassus by the Parthian general Suræna. Here the descendants of Abraham’s brother Nahor settled, so that Haran is called _the city of Nahor_ (Gen. xxiv. 10; xxvii. 43).

17 – The distance from London to York or Exeter. The limits here taken are the parallels of 31° and 33½° north latitude, and the meridian of 34° to that of 36° east longitude. “In Palestine, as in Greece, every traveller is struck with the smallness of the territory. He is surprised, even after all that he has heard, at passing, in one long day, from the capital of Judea to that of Samaria; or at seeing within 8 hours, three such spots as Hebron, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem.” Stanley, _Sinai and Palestine_, 114; see Note 337.

18 – Stanley’s _S. and P._ p. 113.

19 – Kurtz’s _History of the Old Covenant_, I. 147, 8.

20 – “All the _routes_――both by land and water――which connected the three parts of the ancient world, passed through Palestine. The commerce between Asia on the one, and Europe and Africa on the other hand, had its centre in the great mercantile cities of Phœnicia and Philistia. Towards the South the ♦Arabah led to the Gulf of Elath, and the Shephelah to that of Heroopolis, while toward the East the ordinary caravan road led to the neighbouring Euphrates, to the Persian Gulf, and thence to the important countries of Southern Asia. Even the highways which connected Asia and Africa touched Palestine. A much frequented commercial route led from Egypt to Gaza, and from Damascus over the plain of Jezreel to the Phœnician coast.” Kurtz, I. 149.

21 – Hence the cities of Judah are higher than the summits of many mountains of Samaria and Galilee. Thus while Tabor is 1865 feet above the sea-level, and Carmel 1800, as high as the Peak in Derbyshire, Jerusalem is 2610 feet, or higher than Plynlimmon, and Hebron 3029 feet, or nearly as high as Helvellyn.

22 – While the lake of Cinneroth (or as it is called in the New Testament _Tiberias_), is only 653 feet below the same level. The two principal features in the course of the Jordan are its _descent_ and its _sinuosity_. From its fountain-head it rushes down one continuous plane, only broken by a series of rapids or precipitous falls, traversing, in a space of 60 miles of latitude and 4 or 5 miles of longitude, at least 200 miles. See Smith’s _Bib. Dict._ Article _Jordan_.

23 – “Shechem” (now _Nablous_) = “shoulder,” “ridge,” like _dorsum_ in Latin, was situated on the “saddle” or “shoulder” of the heights which divide the waters there that flow to the Mediterranean on the west and the Jordan on the east.

24 – “Here there are no impetuous torrents, yet there is water; water, too, in more copious supplies than any where else in the land; and it is just to its many fountains, rills, water-courses, that the valley owes its exquisite beauty.” Van de Velde, I. 386. Stanley, _S. and P._ 142, 235. “The whole valley,” writes Dr Robinson, “was filled with gardens of vegetables, and orchards of all kinds of fruits, watered by fountains, which burst forth in various parts and flow westwards in refreshing streams,” _Bibl. Res._ II. 275.

25 – “_The Canaanite was then in the land_,” Gen. xii. 6. Of these seven Canaanitish nations, descended from Canaan the son of Ham (Gen. x. 15–19), (i) the JEBUSITES inhabited Jerusalem (Jebus) and its neighbourhood (Num. xiii. 29; Josh. xi. 3; xv. 8, 63); (ii) the HITTITES, Hebron and its vicinity (Gen. xxiii. 7, 10; Num. xiii. 29); (iii) the HIVITES were located (a) north of the Jebusites about Gibeon and Bethel (Josh. xi. 19) and Shechem (Gen. xxxiv. 2), (b) in the neighbourhood of Hermon (Josh. xi. 3; Judg. iii. 3); (iv) the AMORITES, or “_highlanders_,” the most powerful and warlike tribe, occupied the country (a) between the Hittites and the Dead Sea (Gen. xiv. 7, 13; Judg. i. 34–36); (b) at a later period, the east of Jordan, where they founded two great kingdoms, that of Og in Bashan and Sihon in S. Gilead (Num. xxi. 13–26; Deut. iii. 8; Judg. xi. 13, &c.); (v) the CANAANITES, “_lowlanders_,” were distributed along the sea-coast (Gen. xv. 21; Exod. xxiii. 23; Josh. xi. 3) and the valley of the Jordan (Num. xiii. 29), thus encircling (vi) the PERIZZITES, who probably inhabited the high plains of the west country under the range of Carmel (Gen. xiii. 7; Josh. xi. 3); the position of (vii) the GIRGASHITES (Gen. x. 16; Deut. vii. 1) is uncertain.

26 – Stanley’s _S. and P._ 218.

27 – See Article _Oak_, in Smith’s _Bibl. Dict._

28 – For other notices of Melchisedec see Heb. vii. 1–21; Psalm cx. 4. His relation to Christ, as type and antitype, consists in the fact that each was a priest, (i) not of the tribe of Levi, (ii) superior to Abraham, (iii) whose beginning and end are unknown, (iv) and not only a priest, but a priest-king, of righteousness and peace.

29 – Corresponding to _Padishah_ (_father-king_) the title of the Persian kings, and _Atâlîh_ (father) the title of the Khans of Bucharia. Smith’s _Bibl. Dict._ Art. _Abimelech_.

30 – Either, (1) according to the prevailing belief, the hill at Jerusalem on which the Temple was afterwards built, or (2) Mount Gerizim, near Sychem. See Stanley’s _S. and P._ 251; and compare Thomson’s _Land and the Book_, 474, 475.

31 – “The tomb of Machpelah is a proof, standing to this day, of the long predetermined assurance that the children of Abraham should inherit the land in which this was their ancestor’s sole, but most precious possession. It is like the purchase of the site of Hannibal’s Camp by the strong faith and hope of the besieged senators of Rome.” Stanley, _Lectures on the Jewish Church_, p. 40.

32 – On the consistent insignificance of Bethuel in this affair, see Blunt’s _Coincidences_, p. 32.

33 – On Abraham’s character, see p. 76.

34 – The red lentile is still a favourite article of food in the East. “I can testify,” writes Dr Thomson, “that when cooking, it diffuses far and wide an odour extremely grateful to a hungry man. It was, therefore, no slight temptation to Esau, returning weary and famished from an unsuccessful hunt in this burning climate.” _Land and the Book_, p. 587. See also Robinson, _Bib. Res._ I. 246.

35 – From this transaction Esau acquired the name of EDOM, or “_Red_,” though the name is more usually applied to the land of his descendants. “The ruddy hue of the mountain-range given to Esau would at once suggest the word _Edom_, and cause it to be preferred to the better known Esau.” Comp. Obad. 8, 9, 21.

36 – For the fulfilment compare 2 Kings viii. 20–22; 2 Chron. xxi. 8–10, and see p. 327.

37 – Bethel lay in the direct thoroughfare of Palestine. “... The track of this thoroughfare winds through an uneven valley, covered, as with gravestones, by large sheets of bare rock; some few here and there standing up like the cromlechs of Druidical monuments.”――Stanley, _S. and P._ 219.

38 – Mount Seir (“rough” or “rugged,” see Jer. xlix. 16, Obad. 4) extended along the east side of the Arabah, from the Dead Sea to the Elanitic gulf, and “was originally inhabited by the Horites, or ‘troglodytes,’ who were doubtless the excavators of those singular rock-dwellings found in such numbers in the ravines and cliffs around Petra.” These Horites were dispossessed by the descendants of Esau, who gave to the country the name of Edom, and were divided into tribes under a sheikh or duke (Gen. xxxvi. 15–19).

39 – See Smith’s _Bib. Dict._ I. 452 b.

40 – Dothan has been discovered by Van de Velde and Dr Robinson, “still bearing its ancient name, and situated at the S. end of a plain of the richest pasturage, 4 or 5 miles S. W. of En-gannim or _Jenîn_, and separated only by a swell or two of hills from the plain of Esdraelon.”――Smith’s _Bib. Dict._

41 – Close to the large mound, on which Dothan stood, “is an ancient road running N. and S., the remains of the massive pavement of which are still visible. The great road from _Beisân_ to Egypt also passes near _Dothân_.” Rob. III. 122. The caravan coming from the spice-district of Gilead would cross the Jordan below the Sea of Galilee, pass over the plain of Jezreel, and thence proceed along the sea-shore to Egypt. Thomson’s _Land and the Book_, 466.

42 – Also written Potipherah = the Egyptian PET-P-RA or PET-PH-RA, “_belonging to the sun_.” Compare Pharaoh = P-RA or PH-RA, “_the sun_,” as the representative on earth of the god RA, “_the sun_.”

43 – The Greek translation of the Septuagint, which was made in Egypt, has here the word “_Psonthomphanech_” = “the preserver of the world” or “of the land.”

44 – Asenath, interpreted by some “_the servant of Neith_,” the Egyptian Minerva. Others take it to be a Hebrew word, denoting “_storehouse_.”

45 – Divining out of cups was practised in Egypt. “The soothsayer drew his auguries either from the rays of light which played upon the water in the cup, or threw in pieces of gold and silver with jewels, and then pretended to see signs of future events from the figures which appeared on the surface, after an incantation had been pronounced.” For instances of a similar mode of divination in the South Sea Islands, see Kitto’s _Daily Biblical Illustrations_, I. 424.

46 – Comp. Is. ix. 6. Others, not understanding the word to have a personal reference, translate it “Rest.”

47 – “The reason of this may be attributed to political circumstances, with which we are unacquainted. So large a procession, attended by an armed guard, would probably have met with difficulties from the contentious Philistines. It is a remarkable coincidence, however, that Jacob’s corpse should have taken, or have been compelled to take the same road, which his descendants were afterwards obliged to follow in their journey to the Promised Land.” Kurtz, _History of the Old Covenant_, II. 91. Abel-Mizraim is placed by some on the east, by some on the west of the Jordan.

48 – See Kurtz, _History of the Old Covenant_, II. 115.

49 – Blunt’s _Scriptural Coincidences_, Pt. I. 1.

50 – Smith’s _Bibl. Dict._ I. 1140 b.

51 – This, with the keepers of his flocks and herds, would make the adult males in his service certainly not less than 500 or 600, “implying a household of about 2000.” See Kurtz, II. 149.

52 – Kurtz’s _History of the Old Covenant_, II. 156–161.

53 – Stanley’s _Jewish Church_, p. 90.

54 – Josephus tells us that he became a distinguished military commander, and led an expedition against Meroe, and married an Egyptian princess. _Ant._ Lib. II. 10. 1.

55 – Called also Jether “_excellence_,” Ex. iv. 18 (marg.), Hobab “_beloved_,” Num. x. 29, and Reuel or Raguel, Ex. ii. 18.

56 – “The wild acacia (_Mimosa Nilotica_) under the name of ‘sont,’ everywhere represents the ‘seneh’ or ‘senna’ of the Burning Bush.”――Stanley’s _S. and P._ p. 20.

57 – On account, however, of the incident related in Ex. iv. 24–26, Zipporah and her sons returned to Midian.

58 – Their names are given in 2 Tim. iii. 8, as _Jannes_ and _Jambres_. The same names are also found in the Targum and the Talmud.

59 – As Oceanus, or the “Watery Element,” the Nile was a member of the first Ogdood of the Egyptian theology, and the opponent of Phtah or the “Element of Fire;” its sacred emblem was the “tame crocodile.” On the monuments it is still called the god Nile, “the life-giving Father of all that exists,” “the Father of the Gods,” &c. “What the heart is to the body,” says an Egyptian, “the Nile is to Egypt; it is one with Osiris and the Supreme God.” Herodotus (II. 90) speaks of priests of the Nile, and at Nilopolis there was a temple to it. “Flowing, as it did, between sand and rock, the sole giver and sustainer of life in that valley of death, it was both in its increment and its decrease, in its course through vast solitudes and thronged populations alternately, the most expressive and suggestive of emblems for a religion which represented in such marked contrast the realms of creation and destruction, of Osiris and Typhon.”――See Kurtz, II. 273, 4, and Article _Nile_ in Smith’s _Bibl. Dict._

60 – Frogs were regarded as sacred by the Egyptians; like the crocodile they were included in the second class of objects of worship. Smith’s _Bibl. Dict._ Article, _Plagues of Egypt_.

61 – The meaning of the Hebrew word is doubtful. The LXX. has σκῖφες, and the Vulgate _sciniphes_, mosquitos; which Herodotus (II. 95) mentions as an intolerable plague in Egypt. Josephus (_Ant._ II. 14. 3) makes them lice; if so, this would have been especially humiliating to the priests, who regarded cleanliness as a religious duty.

62 – The exact meaning of the Hebrew word is here also unknown: 1. Some, as the English Version, understand it to denote _swarms of flies_, but see Margin at Ex. viii. 21; 2. Others, as the LXX., take it to be the _dog-fly_; 3. Others, the _beetle_.

63 – Stanley’s _Lectures_, p. 119. Smith’s _Bibl. Dict._ II. 885.

64 – Hail and thunderstorms are by no means of rare occurrence in Egypt, but by the concurrent testimony of all travellers mild and harmless in their effects.

65 – For a wonderfully vivid description of the ravages of the locust see Joel ii. 1–11.

66 – The horrors of the Egyptian Samoom or _Chamsîn_, which is regarded by some as the basis of this Plague, has been described by many travellers. See Robinson’s _Bib. Res._ I. 207. Kurtz, II. 287. Smith’s _Bib. Dict._ II. 888.

67 – Moses had already _before_ the tenth day of Nisan (Ex. xi. 1–3) notified to the elders (xii. 21) what was to be done respecting the Departure, and, therefore, ample preparations had doubtless been made.

68 – The triangular peninsula of Sinai, bounded on the west by the Gulf of Suez, and on the east by the Gulf of Akaba, consists of three main divisions. (i) The northern part, the desert of Et-Tîh, or “the Wanderings,” is a high table-land of limestone, of which the _western_ portion is called in Scripture _the wilderness of_ SHUR (Ex. xvi. 22), and the _eastern, the wilderness of_ PARAN. (ii) To this succeeds a range called _Jebel-et-Tîh_, which extends in a curved direction from the upper end of the Gulf of Suez to that of the Gulf of Akaba, and skirts the sea for some distance on either side. (iii) South of this ridge, and separated from it by “a narrow plain or belt of sand” is the great triangular mass of red granite mountains called the Tôr (_rock_), the approach to which from its three sides is through rugged passes leading upwards to the cliffs and mountains, “beginning in a gradual, but terminating usually in a very steep ascent――almost a staircase of rock.” Of this mountain-mass the chief heights are (a) on the N.W. _Jebel-Serbâl_, overlooking _Wady Feirân_ = Rephidim; (b) in the centre, _Jebel Katherin_ (5705 ft.) and _Jebel Mousa_ (7560 ft.); (c) on the S. _Um Shômer_ (8850 ft.). On which summit the Law was given is uncertain, but not improbably it was the majestic height of _Ras Sasâfeh_ at the N.W. end of Jebel Mousa, which overlooks the plain of _Er-Raheh_. The country between the _Jebel-et-Tîh_ and the Gulf of Suez is called in Scripture the wilderness of ETHAM (Num. xxxiii. 8); that between the Gulf and the western base of the Tôr _the wilderness of_ SIN (Num. xxxiii. 11, 12) = the N. portion of the present _plain of El-Kâa_, which must be carefully distinguished from _the wilderness of_ ZIN (Num. xx. 1;