Copyright, 1893, by
THE JEWISH PUBLICATION SOCIETY OF AMERICA
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be
reproduced in any form without permission in
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who may quote brief passages in a review to be
printed in a magazine or newspaper.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
[CONTENTS.]
| [CHAPTER I.] | page |
| JOHN HYRCANUS. | |
| The Crowning Point of the Period—War with Antiochus Sidetes—Siege of Jerusalem—Treaty of Peace—The Parthian War—Hyrcanus joins Antiochus—Successful campaigns of Hyrcanus against the Samaritans and Idumæans—The Idumæans forced to embrace Judaism—Destruction of the Samaritan Temple at Gerizim and of the Capital, Samaria—Internal Affairs—The Parties: Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes—Their Rise and Constitution—Their Doctrines and their Relations to one another—The Synhedrion—Strained Relations between Hyrcanus and the Pharisees—Death of Hyrcanus | [1] |
| 135–106 B. C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
| HYRCANUS'S SUCCESSORS, ARISTOBULUS I, ALEXANDER JANNÆUS, AND SALOME ALEXANDRA. | |
| Character of Aristobulus—Antigonus—Mythical Account of his Death—Alexander Jannæus: his Character and Enterprises—His Support of the Pharisees—Simon ben Shetach—Alexander's Breach with the Pharisees, and its Consequences—His last Wars and Death—Salome Alexandra's Relations to the Opposing Parties—The Synhedrion—Judah ben Tabbai and Simon ben Shetach—Institutions against the Sadducees—Party Hatred—Diogenes—Persecution of the Sadducees—Death of Alexandra | [35] |
| 106–69 B. C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
| HYRCANUS II. ARISTOBULUS II. | |
| Brothers contend for the throne—Arrangement between the Brothers—The Idumæan Antipater—Hyrcanus's weakness—Aretas besieges Jerusalem—Interference of Rome—Pompey at Jerusalem—The Judæan colony in Rome—Flaccus in Asia Minor—Cicero's oration against the Judæans—Weakening of the power of the Synhedrion—Shemaya and Abtalion—Violent death of Aristobulus and his son Alexander—Julius Cæsar and the Judæans—Antipater's sons Phasael and Herod—Herod before the Synhedrion—Operations of Cassius in Judæa—Malich—Antigonus as King—Herod escapes to Rome | [57] |
| 69–40 B. C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | |
| ANTIGONUS AND HEROD. | |
| Weakness of Antigonus and Herod's Strength of Character—Contest for the Throne—Herod becomes King—Proscriptions and Confiscations—Herod's Policy—Abolition of the Hereditary Tenure of the High Priesthood—Death of the High Priest Aristobulus—War with the Arabians—The Earthquake—Death of the last of the Hasmonæans—Hillel becomes the Head of the Synhedrion—His System of Tradition—Menahem the Essene—Shammai and his School—Mariamne—Herod's Magnificence and Passion for Building—Herod rebuilds the Temple—Herod executes his Sons Alexander and Aristobulus—Antipater and his Intrigues—The Pharisees under Herod—The Destruction of the Roman Eagle—Execution of Antipater and Death of Herod | [84] |
| 40–3 B. C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER V.] | |
| THE HERODIANS. | |
| The Family of Herod—Partition of the Kingdom of Judæa—Revolt against Archelaus—Sabinus and Varus—The Adventurer-Chief Judas the Galilæan—Confirmation of Herod's Will—Archelaus as Ruler—His brief Reign and his Banishment—Judæa becomes a Roman Province—The Revolt against the Census—The Schools of Hillel and Shammai—Judas Founder of the Party of Zealots—Onerous Taxation—Fresh Hostility of the Samaritans—Expulsion of the Judæans from Rome by Tiberius—Pontius Pilate | [118] |
| 3 B. C. E.–37 C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER VI.] | |
| MESSIANIC EXPECTATIONS AND ORIGIN OF CHRISTIANITY. | |
| The Messianic Hope—Various Conceptions of the Expected Messiah—The Essene Idea of the Kingdom of Heaven—John the Baptist, his Work and Imprisonment—Jesus of Nazareth continues John's Labors—Story of his Birth—His Success—His Relations to Judaism and the Sects—His Miraculous Healing of the Sick and Exorcism of Demons—His Secret Appearance as the Messiah—His Journey to Judæa—Accusations against him, and his Condemnation—The First Christian Community and its Chiefs—The Ebionites—Removal of Pilate from Judæa—Vitellius, Governor of Syria, favors the Judæans | [141] |
| 28–37 C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER VII.] | |
| AGRIPPA I. HEROD II. | |
| Character of Agrippa—Envy of the Alexandrian Greeks towards the Judæans—Anti-Judæan Literature—Apion—Measures against the Judæans in Alexandria—Flaccus—Judæan Embassy to Rome—Philo—Caligula's Decision against the Judæan Embassy—Caligula orders his Statue to be placed in the Temple—The Death of Caligula relieves the Judæans—Agrippa's Advance under Claudius—His Reign—Gamaliel the Elder and his Administration—Death of Agrippa—Herod II—The False Messiah, Theudas—Death of Herod II | [174] |
| 37–49 C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] | |
| SPREAD OF THE JUDÆAN RACE, AND OF JUDAISM. | |
| Distribution of the Judæans in the Roman Empire and in Parthia—Relations of the various Judæan Colonies to the Synhedrion—Judæan Bandits in Naarda—Heathen Attacks upon Judaism—Counter Attacks upon Heathenism by Judæan Writers—The Judæan Sibyls—The Anti-heathen Literature—The Book of Wisdom—The Allegorists—Philo's Aims and Philosophical System—Proselytes—The Royal House of Adiabene—The Proselyte Queen Helen—The Apostle Paul—His Character—Change in his Attitude towards the Pharisees—His Activity as a Conversionist—His Treatment of the Law of Moses—The Doctrines of Peter—Judaic-Christians and Heathen Christians | [200] |
| 40–49 C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER IX.] | |
| AGRIPPA II. AND OUTBREAK OF THE WAR. | |
| Position of Affairs in Judæa—Roman Oppression—Character of Agrippa II—The last High Priest—The Zealots and the Sicarii—Eleazar ben Dinai—Quarrel with the Samaritans—Violence in Cæsarea—The Procurators—Florus—Insurrection in Cæsarea—Bloodshed in Jerusalem—The Peace and War Parties—The Leader of the Zealots, Eleazar ben Ananias—Menahem, chief of the Zealots—Massacres of Heathens and Judæans—Defeat of the Romans—The Synhedrion and its President, Simon ben Gamaliel—Position of the Synhedrion | [233] |
| 49–66 C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER X.] | |
| THE WAR IN GALILEE. | |
| Description of Galilee—Its Population and Importance—The Rising in Galilee—John of Gischala—Flavius Josephus, his Education and Character—His Conduct as Governor of Galilee—Commencement of the War—Overthrow of Gabara—Siege and Capture of Jotapata—Surrender of Josephus to the Romans—Cruelty of Vespasian—Siege and Capture of Gamala and Mount Tabor—Surrender of Gischala—Escape of John of Gischala to Jerusalem | [272] |
| 66–67 C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER XI.] | |
| DESTRUCTION OF THE JUDÆAN STATE. | |
| Galilæan Fugitives in Jerusalem—Condition of the Capital—Internal Contests—The Idumæans—Eleazar ben Simon, John of Gischala, and Simon Bar-Giora—Progress of the War—Affairs in Rome—Vespasian created Emperor—Siege of Jerusalem by Titus—Heroic Defense—Famine—Fall of the Fortress Antonia—Burning of the Temple—Destruction of the City—Number of the Slain | [291] |
| 67–70 C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER XII.] | |
| THE AFTER-THROES OF THE WAR. | |
| Sufferings of the Prisoners—The Arena—Cruelty of Titus—Enmity of the Antiochians—Triumph of the Emperor on the occasion of the Conquest of Judæa—End of Simon Bar-Giora and John of Gischala—Coins to Commemorate the Roman Triumph—Fall of the last Fortresses: Herodium, Masada, and Machærus—Resistance of the Zealots in Alexandria and Cyrene—End of the Temple of Onias—The Last of the Zealots—Death of Berenice and Agrippa—Flavius Josephus and his Writings | [311] |
| 70–73 C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER XIII.] | |
| THE SYNHEDRION AT JABNE. | |
| Foundation of the School at Jabne—Jochanan ben Zakkai—The Last of the Herodians—Judæa and Rome—The Tanaites—Gamaliel II. appointed Patriarch—The Power of Excommunication—Deposition and Restoration of the Patriarch—Steps towards Collecting the Mishna—Eliezer ben Hyrcanus—Joshua ben Chananya—Akiba and his System—Ishmael—Condition of the Synhedrion | [321] |
| 70–117 C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER XIV.] | |
| INNER LIFE. | |
| Inner Life of the Jews—Sphere of Action of the Synhedrion and the Patriarch—The Order of Members and Moral Condition of the Common People—Relation of Christianity towards Judaism—Sects—Jewish Christians—Pagan Christians—Ebionites—Nazarenes—The Gnostics—Regulations of the Synhedrion against Christianity—Proselytes at Rome—Aquilas and his translation of the Bible—Berenice and Titus—Domitian—Josephus and the Romans | [360] |
| [CHAPTER XV.] | |
| REVOLT OF THE JEWS AGAINST TRAJAN AND HIS SUCCESSORS. | |
| Trajan and Asia—Revolt of the Jews—Hadrian—The Jewish Sibylline Books—The Attempted Rebuilding of the Temple—The Ordinances of Usha—Bar-Cochba—Akiba's Part in the War—Bar-Cochba's Victories—Suppression of the Revolt—Siege and Fall of Bethar | [393] |
| 96–138 C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER XVI.] | |
| CONSEQUENCES OF THE WAR OF BAR-COCHBA. | |
| Turnus Rufus persecutes the Jews—The Ten Martyrs—The Book of Tobit—Relations between Judaism and Christianity—The Return of the Schools to Palestine—The Synod at Usha—Meïr—Simon ben Jochai—The Babylonian Synhedrion—Antoninus Pius and Aurelius Verus—The Revolt against Rome—The Patriarchate of Simon | [421] |
| 135–170 C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER XVII.] | |
| THE PATRIARCHATE OF JUDAH I. | |
| The Patriarch Judah I.—His Authority and Reputation—Completion of the Mishna—The Last Generation of Tanaites—Condition of the Jews under Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, Septimius Severus, and Antoninus Caracalla—Character and contents of the Mishna—Death of Judah | [450] |
| 175–219 C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER XVIII.] | |
| THE FIRST AMORAÏM. | |
| Judah II.—Friendliness of Alexander Severus towards the Jews—Joshua ben Levi—Hillel instructs Origen in Hebrew—The Hexapla—The Palestinean Amoraïm—Chanina—Jochanan—Simon ben Lakish—Joshua, the Hero of Fable—Simlai, the Philosophical Agadist—Porphyry comments on the Book of Daniel | [479] |
| 219–280 C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER XIX.] | |
| THE JEWS OF THE PARTHIAN EMPIRE. | |
| Increasing importance of the Jewish Community in Babylonia—The Prince of the Captivity—The Babylonian Amoraim—Abba Areka (Rab) and his royal friend Artaban—Samuel and King Shabur—Important Political Changes under the Neo-Persians—Anarchy in Rome—Zenobia and the Jews | [503] |
| 219–279 C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER XX.] | |
| THE PATRIARCHATE OF GAMALIEL IV. AND JUDAH III. | |
| The Amoraim in Palestine—Ami and Assi—The Brothers Chiya and Simon Bar Abba in Tiberias—Abbahu in Cæsarea—The Emperor Diocletian—Complete Separation from the Samaritans—Character and Political Position of Abbahu—Huna in Babylonia—Chama's Generosity—Huna's Contemporaries and Successors—Judah ben Ezekiel—Chasda of Cafri—Mar Sheshet—Nachman bar Jacob—Zeïra | [531] |
| 279–320 C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER XXI.] | |
| THE TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY AND ITS RELATIONS TO JUDAISM. | |
| Hillel II.—His Calendar—Heads of Judæan Schools: Jonah, José, and Jeremiah—The Expansion of Christianity—Constantine—The Decadence of the Jewish Schools in Babylonia—The Pumbeditha School—Development of Talmudical Dialectics—The Persian Queen Ifra and her son Shabur II.—The Emperor Julian—Favor shown towards the Jews—Proposed Rebuilding of the Temple—Roman Tolerance | [559] |
| 320–375 C. E. | |
| [CHAPTER XXII.] | |
| THE LAST AMORAÏM. | |
| Decline of the Roman Empire—Ashi and the Redaction of the Talmud—Jezdijird II—The Jews under the Emperor Theodosius I and his successors—The extinction of the Patriarchate—Chrysostom and Ambrosius—Fanaticism of the Clergy—Jerome and his Jewish Teachers—Mar-Zutra—Fifth and Sixth Generations of Amoraïm—The Jews under Firuz—Jewish Colonies in India—Completion of the Babylonian Talmud—Its Spirit and Contents | [604] |
| 375–500 C. E. |