Chapter II: Preface

THIS work is a Class-Book of the Old and the New Testaments treated as consecutive history. It includes the Jewish history of the centuries between the close of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New.

It presents those important elements of Biblical history which distinguish it from all other histories and which illustrate the plan and the purpose of the Bible as one Book. Whatever modern scholarship has accomplished to aid in the understanding of the original languages of Scripture in important points has been made use of, and whatever monumental or topographic discoveries would contribute to a better understanding of the geography or archæology of the text-statements have been introduced where the history required it.

The history of the centuries between the close of the Old Testament canon and the beginning of the Christian era includes that of its Jewish literature. This history greatly helps us to appreciate that singular tenacity with which the earliest Christian church held to the Mosaic ritual.

In the treatment of this history we have allowed no space for mere opinions or speculations. The work is purely historical, and its text is illustrated only by that which is pertinent and well authenticated, in either geographic or archæological discovery.

The entire subject matter is divided into Periods and chapters and subdivided into sections and paragraphs, the latter presented in such a form as generally to suggest to the teacher the question and to the reader the topic of the paragraph.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PERIOD I.
THE ANTE-DILUVIAN ERA.

CHAPTER I. Creation, Eden: Chronology and its Sources.

CHAPTER II. The Significance of Names.

CHAPTER III. The Descendants of Adam.

CHAPTER IV. The Lineage of the Patriarchs.

CHAPTER V. The Flood.

PERIOD II.
THE PATRIARCHAL ERA AFTER THE FLOOD TO THE DEATH OF JACOB.

CHAPTER I. The Two Ararats. The Sons of Japheth.

CHAPTER II. The Sons of Ham. Their More Recent Names.

CHAPTER III. The Descendants of Shem. Job.

CHAPTER IV. The Confusion of Tongues.

CHAPTER V. The History of Abram and his Times.

CHAPTER VI. The Patriarchs Isaac and Jacob.

CHAPTER VII. Egyptian Testimonies.

PERIOD III.
THE THEOCRACY TO THE JUDGES.

CHAPTER I. The Israelites in Egypt.

CHAPTER II. The Physical Geography of Sinai and the Desert.

CHAPTER III. The Entrance into Canaan.

CHAPTER IV. The Battles of the Conquest.

CHAPTER V. The Introduction of Idolatry.

PERIOD IV.
THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES.

CHAPTER I. The Nature of the Office. The Chronology.

CHAPTER II. The Scribes of the Age.

PERIOD V.
THE PERIOD OF THE KINGS TO THE CAPTIVITY.

CHAPTER I. Origin of the Monarchy. Reign of Saul.

CHAPTER II. The Reigns of David and of Solomon.

CHAPTER III. The Division of the Kingdom.

CHAPTER IV. Analysis of the Reigns of Judah and Israel.

CHAPTER V. The Institution of the Prophetical Office.

PERIOD VI.
THE CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH TO THE CLOSE OF THE CANONICAL PERIOD.

CHAPTER I. The Various Captivities.

CHAPTER II. The Comparative Religious Spirit.

CHAPTER III. The Captivity Ended.

CHAPTER IV. The Canonical Books. Samaritan Pentateuch.

CHAPTER V. What Was Scripture? The Septuagint.

CHAPTER VI. The Origin of the Talmud.

CHAPTER VII. Concluding Remarks.

PERIOD VII.
THE NEW TESTAMENT ERA.

CHAPTER I. From the Birth of Christ to his Public Ministry.

CHAPTER II. The Public Ministry of our Saviour.

CHAPTER III. From the First Passover to the Second.

CHAPTER IV. From the Second Passover to the Third.

CHAPTER V. The Third Passover.

CHAPTER VI. The Beginning of the Christian Church.

CHAPTER VII. The Gospel for Gentiles as well as Jews. Paul’s
First Mission.

CHAPTER VIII. The Second and Third Missionary Tours of Paul.

CHAPTER IX. Paul at Rome. The Seven Churches. Colosse and
Hierapolis.

BIBLICAL HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY.

PERIOD I.

THE ANTE-DILUVIAN ERA.