History of the Jewish nation : after the destruction of Jerusalem under Titus

250 Pages·2011·1.78 MB·English

by  Warren Doud

History of the Jewish Nation
after the Destruction of Jerusalem under Titus

by Rev. ALFRED EDERSHEIM, M.A., D.D., Ph.D.

a Grace Notes study
Grace Notes – Warren Doud, editor http://www.gracenotes.info
Jewish Nation after the Destruction of Jerusalem 2

History of the Jewish Nation after the Destruction of Jerusalem under Titus

by Rev. ALFRED EDERSHEIM, M.A., D.D., Ph.D.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Third Edition ................................................................................................................................................ 3
Author’s Preface ....................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Editorial Note ............................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Chapter 1 – The Hebrew Commonwealth ..................................................................................................................... 6
Chapter 2 – Closing Scenes of the Jewish War of Independence ....................................................................... 18
Chapter 3 – The Dispersed of Israel ............................................................................................................................... 27
Chapter 4 – Political and Religious State of the Jews after the Destruction of Jerusalem ....................... 44
Chapter 5 – Internal History of the Synagogue from the Return of the Captivity to the Destruction of
Jerusalem .................................................................................................................................................................................. 53
Chapter 6 – History of the Synagogue from the Destruction of Jerusalem to the Jewish War of
Liberation ................................................................................................................................................................................. 67
Chapter 7 – The Last Jewish War under Bar Cochba .............................................................................................. 87
Chapter 8 – State of the Synagogue after the Last Jewish War ........................................................................ 101
Chapter 9 - Social Condition of Palestine .................................................................................................................. 119
Chapter 10 – Progress of Arts and Sciences among the Hebrews .................................................................. 155
Poetry and Music ................................................................................................................................................... 155
The Eighteen Berachas .......................................................................................................................................... 162
Scientific Knowledge ............................................................................................................................................. 166
Jewish Law ............................................................................................................................................................. 170
Chapter 11 – Theological Science and Religious Belief in Palestine .............................................................. 180
Interpretation of Scripture .................................................................................................................................... 180
Mysticism and Philo .............................................................................................................................................. 191
Mysticism and Philo ................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
The Essenes ........................................................................................................................................................... 199
Jewish Theology .................................................................................................................................................... 200
Chapter 12 – The Patriarchate under the Last Pagan Emperors .................................................................... 209
Chapter 13 – Extinction of the Patriarchate and Final Dispersion of the Jews ......................................... 226
Appendix I. The Great Synagogue ................................................................................................................................ 242
Appendix II. The President of the Sanhedrin .......................................................................................................... 244
Appendix III. The Site of Bethar .................................................................................................................................... 245
Appendix IV. Rabbinical Exegesis ................................................................................................................................ 246
Jewish Nation after the Destruction of Jerusalem 3

consequent upon his conversion to Christianity,
Preface to the Third Edition
it is indeed remarkable.
The years which have elapsed since the death of
In preparing a new edition, two objects had to
Dr. Edersheim have served to enhance rather
be kept in view. It was of course essential to go
than to diminish the sense of his loss. He had
through Dr. Edersheim's own later work, so as
more than one contemporary who was, like
to take account of every modification or
himself, at once Jew and Christian, and, like
development of opinion in the author himself;
himself, had command of the common ground
and it was also desirable to check the results by
of both. In particular, there was a group
comparison with the collateral literature which
gathered round the great Franz Delitzsch, Dr.
has appeared since 1856, and especially with
Ferdinand Weber, whose System der altsytia
the great work of Schurer, Geschichte der
jogalen palastinischen Theologie, published
judischen Volkes im Zeitalter Jesu Christi, now
posthumously under the editorship of Delitzsch
translated into English (first edition, 1874;
and Schnedermann, is a work of the highest
second edition, 1886-1890; Eng. translation,
utility, and Dr. J. H. E. Biesenthal, who left
1885-1890). Dr. Schiirer and Dr. Edersheim
behind an edition of the Epistle to the Hebrews,
may be said to be the complements of each
which contains some information not accessible
other : with the one the centre of gravity rests
to everyone. At Christiania there was Dr. C. P.
in the Greek and Roman sources, and in the
Caspari, a giant of learning, whose field of labor
balanced judgment of the trained Western
was, however, less characteristic of his origin.
philologist; with the other, in the Talmud and
In England we had also here and there a
the inborn imaginative sympathy with every
Christian rabbi. But now all these, or nearly all,
side of Jewish life. I hope and believe that
are gone; and though there still remain some
something of these double excellences will be
distinguished Jewish scholars who treat of
found in this new edition as it has been
things Christian, and some distinguished
prepared by Mr. H. A. White, to whose loyalty
Christian scholars who treat of things Jewish, I
and care I gladly bear witness.
know not where we could point either to the
Thanks are also due to the publishers, who,
Jew whose Christian profession opened to him
although they had acquired possession of the
the secret of the New Testament, or to the
stereotyped plates, liberally consented to
Christian whose Jewish birth gave him the
forego the use of these, and to issue the work in
almost indispensable key to the stores of the
a form which is altogether improved, and, in its
Talmud.
present shape, a fitting memorial to its author.
For these reasons, every work of Dr.
W. Sanday. Oxford, November 1895.
Edersheim's is invested with peculiar value;
and it will, I think, be felt that this applies in a Author’s Preface
high degree to the work which is now once
Foe many years have I cherished the desire of
more offered to the public. The first edition
writing a History of the Jewish Nation. It is
appeared in 1856, and was quickly followed by
remarkable, that a work apparently of such
a second. The book was written some ten years
interest and importance to the Christian
after the author's admission to the Scottish Free
student should not long ere this have been
Church, and when he was engaged in active
supplied. It is my deliberate conviction that
parochial work at Old Aberdeen. A brief
Jewish History casts much light on the
account of this period is given in the Memoir
evangelical accounts in the Gospels, on the
prefixed to the collection of Thoughts and
Book of Acts, and on later Ecclesiastical History,
Aphorisms published after his death under the
both in its records of the spread of Christianity,
title Tohu-wa-Bohu (Longmans, 1890). As the
and of the origin and development of heretical
work of a young man of thirty, whose career
sects.
had been broken by the struggles and sacrifices
The illustrations which Jewish History affords
of the New Testament are not confined to a
Grace Notes – Warren Doud, editor http://www.gracenotes.info
Jewish Nation after the Destruction of Jerusalem 4

description of the circumstances, social misbelief to its source and origin, and to
relations, and religious opinions which are connect it, as far as possible, with the erroneous
there assumed as well known. It is impossible tendency in the Church from which it sprung,
to read even a single page in the Gospels and to which it claims kindred. It is thus only
without being struck with the contrast between that Ecclesiastical History, in its facts,
the spiritual tendency and direction of the Old development, and contests, can be satisfactorily
Testament, as there brought to light, and the presented. To these considerations it is
formalism and literalism of the Synagogue. A unnecessary to add anything regarding the
simple and impartial account of Judaism on the interest which must attach to the history of the
one hand, and a perusal of .the Gospels on the Jewish Elation in the minds of those who take a
other, constitutes one of the most convincing proper view of their past, their present, and
proofs of the Divine origin of the Christian their future.
religion, and of its organic connection with that In preparing my materials for this volume, I
of the Old Testament. have freely availed myself of the labors of any,
Again, it is impossible to read the Gospel Jews or Christians, historians or antiquarians,
narrative in the light of Jewish history without whose productions were within reach, or could
feeling that the notions and circumstances to be of use. This general acknowledgment must
which it alludes, are exactly those of the time in be taken instead of detailed references in every
which Jesus Christ lived and taught on earth. case to special sources of information, which
They apply to that period, and to that period would needlessly have encumbered the book.
only. The notions, the modes of speaking, the To have mentioned once a work or a section to
opposition and its very manner, to which the which I was indebted, must be held to imply
New Testament refers, are exactly those of that that I availed myself as frequently and fully of
period. If a copy of the Gospels were put into its aid as I felt requisite. The researches, of
the hands of an impartial Jewish historian, he which this volume is the result, have been
could not fail to discover that the events there laborious and conscientious. They have been
chronicled must have taken place exactly at the unremittingly prosecuted during four years, so
time when, according to Christian belief, Jesus far as ministerial and other engagements have
walked amongst men. The Gospels, historically permitted. I can only add, that I have attempted
speaking, cannot be an after-production. to write fairly and impartially, and, although
However, as it was my purpose not so much to thoroughly convinced of the truth of
illustrate the New Testament as rather to give Christianity, and cordially attached to my
an account of the Jewish nation, I have, in this nation, have not allowed either the one or the
book, almost entirely omitted direct references other to bias me in the representation of facts.
to its statements. The information which this volume is intended
In the course of this history I have sometimes to communicate has hitherto been scattered
indicated the bearing of Jewish upon over a large number of books and pamphlets,
Ecclesiastical History, and especially on the and been partly buried in ancient and neglected
origin of Gnosticism. Without entering on the records. Amongst ourselves, later Jewish
common causes of all mysticism, every student History has been almost entirely neglected.
must have felt some difficulty in accounting for With all respect for the writers, it can scarcely
the sudden rise of the Gnostic sects, and for the be maintained that in the existing manuals the
apparent extravagancies of their systems, the History of the Jews, after the destruction of
more so as coming so soon after the Jerusalem, has ever been satisfactorily written
promulgation of Christian truth. in the English language.
But if it be true that these sects found their Even the minute investigations of the Germans
prototype in Jewish mysticism, their origin and have produced a large variety of treatises
spread is explained. In general, it may be rather than a connected history. The first and
desirable to trace back every heresy or the most impartial of modern German Jewish
Jewish Nation after the Destruction of Jerusalem 5

historians was Dr. Jost of Frankfort, whose this History to our own days, will shortly
history, extending over ten volumes, opened appear.
the way. The work of Dr. Gratz (of which only Any disproportion between the period over
one volume has as yet appeared) contains later, which this volume extends, and that which the
and in many respects more accurate next is to describe, can readily be explained.
information, but is disfigured by violent Many previous facts of Jewish History which
partisanship, and an uncompromising enmity could not be taken for granted, had to be
to Christianity, which often does violence to introduced in the first volume, and in general
plain historical facts. the commencement of the Christian era seemed
The short sketch in Ersch's Encyclopedia, by to require a more elaborate record. Besides, in
Sehg Cassel, who, I am glad to know from his deference to the judgment of those in whom I
later writings, has since become a convert to have full confidence, I resolved to condense in
Christianity, is, as all the writings of that author, one volume what had originally been meant to
replete with sound sense, and contains most extend over two.
extensive and accurate information. To these In acknowledging my obligations to others, I
historians I have been deeply indebted, as well have specially to thank the authorities of King's
as to the researches of Prideaux, Lightfoot, College, Aberdeen, for the liberal use which
Selden, Buxtorf, Bartolocci, Wolfius, and the they have allowed me to make of its library; Dr.
classical labors of Winer, Delitzsch, Zunz, Jost of Frankfort, for his advice, as also the Rev.
Frankel, Hirschfeld, Dukes, Franck, Dahne, Dr. Hanna of Edinburgh for the encouragement
Ideler, Gfrorer, Forbiger, Hartmann, Schwartz, given by him. My friend the Rev. Walter Wood,
etc. Basnage is not always accurate, and adds of Elie, has rendered me most valuable
little to one's stock of information; but he was assistance, both during the composition of the
one of the first in the field. The works of manuscript and the revision of the proofs, by
Eisenmenger, Wagenseil, and others of the the suggestions which his extensive reading
same stamp, are disfigured by their violent and elegant taste have prompted.
hatred of Judaism and the Jews. Of the works of
In bringing these labors to a close, I may
Christian Fathers and of ecclesiastical writers I
perhaps be allowed to plead the extent and
have availed myself so far as requisite.
difficulty of the undertaking, in extenuation of
It was the peculiar object of this History, not any imperfections which may be pointed out.
only to give an impartial account of facts, but Still, I am thankful and glad that these, the
.especially to describe the state of society, of “first-fruits” of my studies in Ecclesiastical
trades, commerce, agriculture, arts, sciences, History, should be devoted to a cause and
theology, etc., during the first centuries of our service which I have so deeply at heart.
era. In this respect I beg to refer the reader
Old Aberdeen, 3rd May 1856.
more especially to Chapters IX., X., and XI.,
which have probably cost more labor and Editorial Note
involved more research than any other part of
A FEW words of explanation must be given with
the book. Too often, in the narrative of events, it
regard to the additions and alterations
has been necessary to indicate that some Jewish
introduced into the present edition of the
accounts were apparently more or less
History of the Jewish Nation. Where small
legendary or exaggerated,, a circumstance
changes or obvious corrections were required,
which could perhaps scarcely be avoided in the
they have been made without acknowledgment.
then state of science, and by writers who
Larger alterations, on the other hand, are
composed their accounts very much in the
enclosed within square brackets, except where
spirit of religious partisanship.
the editor had the express authority of any of
The materials for it being ready, I hope that the Dr. Edersheim's more recent writings. It did
second volume, in which I intend to bring down not, however, seem to be necessary to mark in
any special way passages which have been
Jewish Nation after the Destruction of Jerusalem 6

simply abridged, or passages in which a truths, which ultimately could not belong, and
quotation has been corrected by a comparison were not meant to be confined to any one race.
with the words of the original author. It has not These realities are necessarily universal; they
been possible to be quite consistent in are designed for and apply to all, both to those
indicating the fresh matter, for which the who are afar off, and to those who are nigh.
present editor is alone responsible; but the Another, and a kindred feature, of the
endeavor has been made, in no case to seem to preparatory dispensation, was its typical
attribute to Dr. Edersheim opinions which he character. Israel, its history, its ordinances, its
perhaps would not have himself endorsed. In prophecies, all were not only so many present
the preparation of this edition the valuable realities, they pointed also to something future,
library of Dr. Edersheim, which was presented to which they stood in the relationship of
after his death to Exeter College, has been of the shadows. The grand end and meaning of the
greatest service. preparatory stage was to show the need of, and
References to the Mishnah are given according to open the way for, the advent of the Savior.
to the edition of Surenhusius, but in the tractate With His coming, what was typical gave place to
Firke Ahoth according to the edition of Strack what is real, what was preparatory ceased. “
(Berlin, 1888). In Philo the pages cited are Grace and truth have been brought to light by
those of Mangey. In quotations from the the Gospel.”
Talmud and Midrashim, use has generally been The truths which the Old Testament
made of the translations of Wunsche, where dispensation and history embodied, were
available. chiefly these,, that Jehovah is the living, and that
He is the true God. In opposition to heathenism,
Chapter 1 – The Hebrew Commonwealth
it exhibited the unity, the personality, the
In the Divine dispensation, Israel was destined
character, and the purposes of the Deity. We do
to sustain the highest and most important part
not deny that certain traditions, containing
that can be assigned to any nation. Originally
some portions of spiritual truth, circulated
chosen to be the depositary of spiritual truth,
amongst the heathen, nor that the spirit of God
and separated from all other nations in order to
who moved over that chaotic deep awakened
fulfill this mission, it was preserved till the
amongst them aspirations after, and ultimately
Divine purposes were accomplished. These
produced a general preparedness for, the
purposes seem to have been, to serve as the
coming of the kingdom. But we hold that the
channel and as the exemplification of Divine
pre-Christian history of the world only
truth, and to afford a medium by which the
exemplified the experience contained in the
fullness of Divine truth, and of Divine fact,
Book of Ecclesiastes, and may be summed up in
might become embodied in the person of the
the words of an Apostle, “The world by wisdom
Lord Jesus Christ.
knew not God.”
If every nation is the representative, and its
Here all the different tendencies of thought, of
history the embodiment, of some truth, this
morals, and of fact, were allowed to ripen into
applies in a special manner, or at least becomes
maturity, and in turn proved that, in the highest
specially manifest, in the case of Israel was
and only true aim, man left to himself is as
meant to be a theocracy. Not only in its
unprofitable, and hence must, in the righteous
ecclesiastical, but in its political constitution
dispensation of his Lord, meet with the same
also, was it to show forth the supremacy, the
doom as did the unfruitful fig-tree which Jesus
authority, and the continued presence of
cursed. The Jewish nation also, notwithstanding
Jehovah with His Covenant people. If this truth
the eternal seed in the midst of it,
was to be exhibited in the world, it became
misunderstood its mission, and, when finally
necessary to fix upon and to separate from the
left to its own development, only exhibited by
rest one nation. But though in the preparatory
its judgments the truths which at one time it
stage national, these were spiritual facts and
Jewish Nation after the Destruction of Jerusalem 7

had, and is again designed to declare and to till their bringing in prove “ as life from the
enjoy. dead.”
The misunderstandings of the Jews reached During the period of the Judges, the nation of
their climax in the national rejection of the Israel was gradually gaining in unity and
Savior, and after this the downfall of Jerusalem strength, and it enjoyed its greatest prosperity
was not long delayed. Yet even after the in a political point of view under the reign of
destruction of the temple and city, they eagerly David. The splendour of Solomon's reign only
followed out the same religious tendency which concealed for a while the corruption of the
had led to that catastrophe, and developed the social and religious life of the nation which then
formalism of true religion to its utmost, until commenced. The introduction of foreign luxury
their religion became only a recollection of the and foreign customs soon produced its natural
past. Still, Israel was to have a future history, result. From that period we may date the
and it could not be destroyed. They wandered, commencement of the peculiar pre-Babylonian
but could not be lost. However, in none of their form of religious apostasy. It had, indeed,
undertakings could they prosper. appeared even before that event; but now it
It was vain for them, once and again, to renew rapidly developed, and finally assumed gigantic
the unequal contest for national restoration, proportions. In this stage the idolatry of Israel
although they achieved deeds of valor consisted not so much in the rejection of the
unsurpassed by those of any other nation. They truth, as in its admixture with and
thought and labored in their colleges; they neutralization by foreign elements.
prayed and fasted in their synagogues; they The worship of Jehovah was not wholly set
wrought and gained in their temporal pursuits. aside, but He was only looked upon as their
But their researches were fruitless for good; national Deity; and along with Him other
they did not benefit the world by their religious national Deities were more or less avowedly
ardor; nor were they even allowed to enjoy the made objects of worship. The sad consequences
advantages of their activity and commerce. of this made themselves felt in the series of
Ichabod was written upon all their national judgments, which terminated in the
undertakings, for the glory had departed. Israel deportation of Israel, and then of Judah to
and its history are typical; yet will they, as such, Babylon. Israel without its God, became Israel
meet with a blessed realization. without its country. This judgment had so far
Viewed in this light, the history of the Jews its effects, that the spiritual degeneracy of Israel
gains additional interest and importance. Their never afterwards appeared again in the form of
past importance can scarcely be overstated; idolatry.
they gave to the world a Bible and a Savior. There were some who, in the school of
Their present importance is indicated by their affliction, had in Babylon sought after the Lord
almost miraculous national preservation, and God of Israel. But side by side with them were
the fact of their being scattered by the Divine those who, while willing to acknowledge their
hand broadcast over the fields of the world and former national sins, and desirous of returning
of its history, as so many seeds of spiritual to the land of their fathers, expressed their
truths. Their future importance lies in this, that repentance by simply going to the opposite
they are seeds which are yet to take root, to extreme of an exclusively Jewish formalism.
spring up and to bear fruit; and that their future And now Jehovah was still only a national Deity,
is connected with the last and brightest events although the only national Deity, just as the
of coming history. Israel and its history are Jews were the only nation; all others had
inseparably connected with Scripture. We meet neither meaning nor purpose. Judaism as such,
them everywhere; and everywhere their past, in its national and typical state, was the sole
their present, and their future are full of the and the highest truth.
deepest meaning. And so shall it continue to be,
Jewish Nation after the Destruction of Jerusalem 8

Such, in its religious aspects, was the Jewish power. A Jewish tradition relates that, when the
nation when the captives returned to the land high priest Jaddua refused to pay to him in
of their fathers. It will readily be conceived that future the customary tribute, on the plea of his
this event encouraged and strengthened the oath of allegiance to the Persian monarch,
peculiar national tendencies to which we have Alexander advanced against Jerusalem. But at
already alluded. In fact, the second or post- no great distance from the city he was met by a
Babylonian form of spiritual degeneracy had solemn procession, with the high priest at its
now been entered upon. It consisted in laying head, who had come to welcome the conqueror,
an extreme value upon the form and letter as in obedience to a command given to Jaddua in a
such, and developing it alone. In room of the vision.
priest came the teacher or Rabbi; in room of It is added that Alexander had seen a similar
experience, knowledge; in room of the spirit vision, and, in accordance with its injunction,
and reality of the Bible, its letter and form. So now received the deputation most graciously,
much was this the case, that even when the not only spared their city and temple, but even
temple was at last destroyed, and the Old offered sacrifices there, and accorded great
Testament economy had thereby become privileges to the Jewish nation. This narrative,
impossible, the change was only felt in a whatever may be its historical value, and the
national, not in a religious point of view. It was numerous other stories about Alexander which
this tendency which opposed itself to the Jewish legend has to record, prove at least the
spirituality of the Gospel, and led to the deep impression which his appearance made;
rejection of the Son of God. That event must not and certainly ever afterwards the Jews
be looked upon as an isolated fact. The contest remained attached to his interests. It is well
between the Pharisees and the Lord was in known that Alexander succeeded in his
reality that of opposing religions; as far as the enterprises, that he conquered Persia, and at
Scribes were concerned, it was a life and death last died in the midst of his prosperity at
struggle. The synagogue contended for Babylon,
continued existence in its peculiar form. It
After his decease, his former generals, who
overcame, because it could make use of carnal
obtained possession of the various provinces
weapons; but from that moment the doom of
which had constituted his empire, became
Israel was sealed. Before the coming of Christ,
speedily involved in mutual hostilities. The first
two parties might co-exist within the Jewish
consequence of these disturbances, so far as
nation and the synagogue. A contest was still
Judea was concerned, was that Ptolemy Lagus,
possible. But His advent closed it by bringing it
to whom Egypt had been assigned, along with it
to the issue of a battle. After His death, and
seized upon Palestine. The reign of that prince
before the destruction of Jerusalem, a mistake
was very prosperous. Mild and humane, he not
was still possible. But the latter event made any
only confirmed the privileges which Alexander
misunderstanding for ever impossible. With His
had conferred on the Jews, but encouraged
own hand God took down the tabernacle, and
their settlement in the city of Alexandria, and in
closed the temple doors : He put His seal to the
the province of Cyrene. But when his rival
termination of the Old Testament dispensation.
Antigonus, whose ambition was equaled by his
But we have so far anticipated certain points in courage, possessed himself for a time of Syria,
the religious history of the Jews, to which we Phoenicia, and Palestine, the latter country
shall have to recur more fully in the sequel. We became the theatre of war.
return to sketch their political history. After
This circumstance must have contributed to
their return from Babylon, the Jews continued
swell the number of Jewish emigrants into
subject to the kings of Persia, and under the
Egypt. But a victory gained over his antagonist
administration of their own high priests. But
at Gaza soon restored Palestine to Ptolemy. At
when Alexander the Great on his march of
the same time the allies of Ptolemy attempted
conquest subdued Syria, Judea also fell into his
to make a diversion in the East against
Jewish Nation after the Destruction of Jerusalem 9

Antigonus. Seleucus, a general who shared the Parthian Empire. The war between the
enlightened policy of Ptolemy, was encouraged monarchs of Syria and Egypt was at last
to endeavor there to found an empire for terminated by the marriage of Antiochus with
himself. Babylonia gladly welcomed him. He the daughter of Ptolemy 11. But on the death of
became the first of a dynasty. His accession was the latter monarch, his daughter, the Syrian
hailed in the East as the commencement of a queen, was repudiated. Antiochus recalled in
new era. Men reckoned after it, and the so- her stead a former wife of his, who, dreading
called “Seleucian Era” dates from the period of the fickleness of her lover, murdered him, and
his gaining firm possession of the above placed her son Seleucus on the throne. Ptolemy
province (about 312 b.c.). ill. now marched upon Syria, in order to avenge
Soon afterwards, Antigonus, who had gained the disgrace and the murder of his sister, who
some successes against the Arabs and in had fallen a victim to her former rival.
Greece, attempted an invasion of Egypt, but was The queen-mother was killed, and Seleucus
completely repulsed. The ambitious plans of obtained from Ptolemy a ten years' truce. He
that restless monarch, together, perhaps, with a was defeated by the Parthians, who thus
growing desire on the part of Seleucus, who had secured their independence, and, dying after a
now firmly established his power in the East, to reign of twenty-one years, was succeeded by
possess himself of the dominions of Antigonus, his son, Seleucus in., and, after the murder of
led to a grand combined attack against the the latter, by Antiochus iii. Meanwhile the
latter, in which Seleucus took the lead. inhabitants of Palestine had continued to enjoy
Antigonus was beaten, and fell in battle; and the favor of the Egyptian monarchs, to whom
Seleucus received Syria, Asia Minor, and the they were tributary. The successors of the high
provinces east of the Euphrates, as his share in priest Simon the Just were Eleazar, Manasseh,
the common spoil. and Onias ii. (about 250 B.C.). All these priests
Seleucus prosecuted the same liberal policy in farmed the revenues of Palestine for a certain
his new dominions, which had secured for him sum, which they undertook annually to pay to
the attachment of his Babylonian subjects. He the king of Egypt. In return, they exercised a
built a number of large cities, amongst them kind of sovereignty in Palestine, where they
Antioch and Laodicea in Syria, and encouraged administered affairs according to the Divine
the influx of wealthy, industrious, and loyal law.
Jewish settlers, by according them privileges But Onias had, for a considerable time, omitted
similar to those which their brethren enjoyed in to pay this tribute, a course which, but for the
Egypt. These not only constituted them citizens, timely interposition of his nephew Joseph,
but made them in some respects independent, would have led to serious circumstances. It is
by placing them under the government of rulers about this time that the political leanings of a
of their own. Meantime the Jewish high priest certain party of the Jews towards Syria, and the
Jaddua had been succeeded by Onias I (about moral deterioration by the introduction of
321 B.C.), and the latter, by Simon the Just Grecian manners and modes of thinking, led to
(about 300 B.C.), to whom tradition ascribes an the formation of a Hellenizing party. The
extensive and important part in the religious influence of the Syrians became daily greater.
history of the Jews. The Egyptian king, Ptolemy iii., had been
But the successors of the kings of Syria and succeeded by his son, Ptolemy IV, who
Egypt did not inherit the moderation of their abandoned himself to every vice. Encouraged
fathers. They became embroiled in mutual by the inactivity of the Egyptians, Antiochus III.
jealousies and in hostilities, which led to no of Syria overran and took Phenicia and
decisive result in favor of either party, but Palestine. But Ptolemy at last roused himself
enabled the disaffected subjects of Antiochus it., from his drunken revels, met and overcame his
on the eastern banks of the Tigris, to found antagonist near Sophia (217 B.C.), and
what afterwards grew into the formidable recovered his ancient possessions.
Jewish Nation after the Destruction of Jerusalem 10

The Greek romance known as the Third Book of Probably it was only superstition which
the Maccabees records the persecutions which arrested the Syrian general at that time, but a
the Jews are said to have suffered at the hands well-known legend relates how the treasurer
of Ptolemy upon his return to Egypt. We are Heliodorus was struck down by a supernatural
told that after his victory the king visited apparition when he attempted to plunder the
Jerusalem. There he attempted to penetrate temple. Onias appealed to Seleucus against
into the Holiest of all, against the advice of the Simon, and for the rest of his reign that king
high priest, Simon ii. (who had succeeded Onias seems to have been favorable to the Jews.
ii.), and was struck down by the hand of the But a period of severe persecution commenced
Lord. On his return to Egypt he meant to vent after the murder of Seleucus by Heliodorus,
his resentment upon the Jews of Alexandria, when Antiochus IV, surnamed Epiphanes, who
whom he deprived of their privileges, and even had just returned from Rome, succeeded his
resolved to exterminate. For this purpose he brother on the throne of Syria (175 B.C.). First,
caused them to be shut up in the arena and Onias ill. was superseded by his brother Jason,
exposed to elephants. But when these animals who had bribed the king, and obtained not only
only turned against the assembled spectators the priesthood, but leave to erect a gymnasium
instead of the Jews, and other portents at Jerusalem. This institution proved a source of
appeared, the superstitious king as suddenly very great temptation to the Jewish youth, by
changed, and restored to the Jews their former leading them to conform to Grecian manners.
privileges. Under that wicked priest the Grecian party
Ptolemy IV was succeeded by his infant son, became almost dominant.
Ptolemy V Antiochus of Syria availed himself of Jason was in turn superseded by a new rival,
the period of helplessness of the Egyptian Menelaus, who had promised a larger sum to
monarch, to regain Coele-Syria and Palestine. In Antiochus than that which had been paid by his
this undertaking he was encouraged by a party predecessor. In order to raise it, he plundered
amongst the Jews. At last a peace was the temple treasury, and then incited his
concluded between the two monarchs, on accomplices to the murder of Onias, who from
condition of a marriage between Cleopatra, the his exile had protested against the sacrilege. It
daughter of Antiochus, and young Ptolemy, and was in vain the Jews appealed for redress to
on the understanding that Cleopatra should Antiochus; their deputies were only
receive the disputed provinces as her dowry. slaughtered.
This treaty left Antiochus at liberty to
Meantime, Ptolemy v. had died, and the
encounter other and much more powerful
executors of his children claimed from
opponents, in the coming masters of the world
Antiochus the provinces which had been
the Romans. But he was unsuccessful, and was
promised to their father. On the refusal of
obliged to conclude a very disadvantageous
Antiochus, both parties prepared for war, and
peace, and to give hostages, amongst them his
the Syrian monarch soon possessed himself of
son, Antiochus Epiphanes. Soon afterwards he
Egypt. During the confusion, the priest Jason
was slain in Persia, and succeeded by his son,
returned to Jerusalem, and forced Menelaus to
Seleucus IV.
seek refuge in the castle of the Syrian garrison
Meanwhile the times were becoming more attached to the city.
troublous in Palestine, which had never been
Antiochus soon marched upon the Jewish
surrendered to the Egyptian monarch. A
capital, and not only obliged Jason to retire, but,
dispute arose between Onias ill., the son and
regarding the resistance to his nominee as
successor of Simon II., and a certain Simon, a
rebellion against himself, he took a fearful
captain of the temple guard, who belonged to
vengeance, by slaughter of the inhabitants of
the Hellenizing party. Simon appealed to the
Jerusalem and plunder of the temple. Two years
cupidity of the Syrians by referring to the
later (168 B.C.), Antiochus again invaded Egypt,
untold treasures deposited in the temple.