CHAPTER XXXII.

HISTORY OF THE JEWS, OR HEBREWS.

This rich and beautiful tract of country was first called the land of Canaan, from Noah's grandson, by whom it was peopled: but in latter ages it has been distinguished by various other names; such as the Land of Promise, the Holy Land, Palestine, Judea, and the Land of Israel.*

The serenity of the air, the fertility of the soil, and the incomparable excellence of the fruits of Palestine, induced Moses to describe it as a land that flowed with milk and hone, &c." But in consequence of the just anger of God, the greater part of it is now reduced to a mere desart, and apparently incapable of cultivation.

In the reign of king Solomon it was divided into twelve districts, each under a peculiar officer; and, in the time of his unfortunate son, Rehoboam, a more fatal division was effected by the revolt of ten tribes, who, under the conduct of Jeroboam, established a new monarchy, which they called the kingdom of Israel, in opposition to that of Judah.

The Jews were originally wandering shepherds. The Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, and Phoenicians, were long established before them; they did not acquire a fixed establishment till their return from Egypt. The Jews, confined to a small territory, and from prin

This country once extended from the river Euphrates to the Mediter ranean sea; its present extent is only two hundred miles in length, and eighty in breadth. Palestine is peculiarly famous, as being the place of our Saviour's incarnation, miracles, and death: In this country is the river Jordan, famous for the baptism of Christ, and for several other remarkable events recorded in scripture. The present inhabitants of Palesting are Christians, Jews, and Mahometans.

ciple unwilling to mix with other people, they continued long in obscurity. They lived under a theocratical government,* directed by the immediate orders of the Supreme Being a chain of miracles subverting the order of nature, and a train of uncommon actions, explained by supernatural principles, rendered them a peculiar people. "Their religious laws were blended with their civil laws; indeed the whole was a religious duty, because it was ordained by God; but as that salutary restraint, the fear of the Lord, does not always check the passions; and as the Jews guarded themselves only by the senses, they had scarcely any idea of a future state; therefore, there were dreadful threatenings and severe punishments denounced against offenders. He who broke the sabbath was stoned; and it was a breach of the sabbath to perform any sort of work, to make any kind of purchase, or even to light a fire! Children who obstinately disobeyed their parents, were punished with death. A blasphemer, an idolater, or an adulterer, might be instantly stoned without any form of trial. Such executions were called the decree of zeal, but might they not sometimes become the decrees of hatred and fanaticism? Insolvent debtors were mad eslaves. Crimes which were looked upon as trivial by other nations, were frequently punished with death by the Jews.

An endless number of expiations, legal ceremonies, and precepts, served to keep this fickle people in subjection. There were a number of animals which they were forbidden to eat, such as the hog, the hare, the rabbit; crawling insects, and fish without fins or scales. These animals were reputed to be unclean.

The ashes of a red heifer were absolutely necessary in the greatest part of their expiations; and the waters of jealousy, which were employed when a man suspected his wife of infidelity, seem very much to resemble

* Namely: a government under God himself.

our ancient judicial trials. Bitter herbs mixed with holy water, and a form of imprecation, accompanied with some religious ceremonies, made the bellies of the guilty swell and burst. The law of grace has abolished all these customs, as well as circumcision, which was positively commended to the Jews. They, like most of other nations, offered human sacrifices. Every seventh year was sabbatical, and then all the labours of agricul ture were suspended; they gave their harvest to the poor, to strangers, and to orphans, and freedom to their slaves, discharging all debts which were owing to them by Israelites. They likewise did the same at their jubilee, which was celebrated every fiftieth year. At that period, every one resumed his property, in whatever manner it had been alienated. The desire of perpetuat ing families occasioned this law, which could not be reconciled with the common course of transactions, in a great and wealthy nation. They had six cities of refuge, but they served as sanctuaries to protect those who fled to them from the severity of justice, in case of involuntary homicide; but assassins might be torn, even from the altar, to suffer death.

Though the tribe of Levi, according to Jacob's prophecy, was to be dispersed among the others, and the Priests and Levites, according to a law in Deuteronomy, could have only the tythes, the offerings, and the ransom of the first born for their portion, yet the priests seem to have been very well provided for. They had the possession of forty cities; they collected several kinds of tythes; the first fruits and offerings were very considerable. Things vowed to God, except lands and cattle, and the fruits of the earth, might be redeemed by money and these vows added greatly to the wealth of the priesthood. The chief priests exercised very great powers even in civil affairs and Moses ordained that, in all difficulties, the people should have recourse to the

* See Numbers, chap. 5 & 24, &c.

priests and judges, and, upon pain of death, abide by their decisions. From different regulations, which are proper for a theocracy, many false consequences, contrary to sound government, have been deduced.

All strangers, their language, history, arts, and sciences, were looked upon with horror or contempt by the Jews. They were entirely ignorant of navigation and astronomy, when they returned from Babylon. However, they certainly brought from Egypt some of the natural knowledge and customs of that country. They always concealed their sacred books from the rest of mankind; and Ptolomy Philadelphus having procured a translation of them, they instituted a solemn fast for what they deemed a vast misfortune.

The religion of the Jews, though formerly clouded with mysterious ceremonies, and now totally eclipsed by the radiance of the Gospel, must ever be considered as an object of veneration; since its institution, benefits, and great rewards, are wholly attributed to God. Their laws were admirably adapted to honour their Creator, and to render themselves completely happy; sacrifices were at once calculated to remind them of their failings, which required a diurnal atonement, and to shadow forth the vicarious sacrifice that should," in the fulness of time," be offered for the sins of the world; and even their most trivial ceremonies were replete with instruction, or typical of the gracious designs of the Almighty.

Their customs, both civil and religious, were chiefly founded upon their laws. Some of the most particular are here selected for the gratification of the curious.

The rite of circumcision was always accompanied with great feasting and other demonstrations of joy. At this time the child was named in the presence of the company; after which the master of the house took a cupful of wine, blessing his Creator, sipped a little of it, and passed it round to his friends.

Whether they sat or lay down at their repasts, is a controversy of small importance: the former custom

seems to have prevailed before the captivity; but the latter was certainly adopted at the time of our Saviour's institution of the holy sacrament.

Marriage does not appear to have been accompanied with any religious ceremony; such as going to the temple, offering sacrifices, or requiring the benediction of a priest. When a contract was formed by the parties and relations on both sides, the bridegroom was introduced to his bride, a solemn agreement was signed before witnesses; and the bride, after some time, was sent to her new habitation, with songs, dances, and the melodies of various musical instruments.

Their diet, except on festivals, seems to have been extremely plain; for Boaz, a man of considerable property, complimented Rúth with eating of the same bread, drinking of the same water, and dipping her morsel in vinegar with him. The present of victuals brought to David, whilst he laboured under the persecution of Saul, consisted of bread, raisins, parched corn, a few sheep, and two bottles of wine. Honey was esteemed a peculiar delicacy, and the milk of the goats and the fleece of the flock, were pronounced by the wise men sufficient for food and raiment, both for the master and his family.

Their high places were of two sorts: those where they burned incense and offered sacrifices to the true God; and those where they committed various abominable idolatries. Both these became so common and universal, that few kings had the courage to destroy the latter, notwithstanding the repeated admonitions of the holy prophets.

The same spirit of dissipation, which induced the Israelites to direct their worship to dumb idols, led them gradually into the practice of divination and necromancy, though the law of Moses expressly enjoined, that such persons should be put to death.

Their mourning for the death of any near relation, or for any melancholy accident, was expressed by rending their garments, tearing their hair, heaping dirt or ashes