Chapter I: Front Matter

A CLASS-BOOK OF
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY.

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Elementary Theological Class-Books.

A CLASS-BOOK
OF
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY

BY

THE REV. G. F. MACLEAR, D.D.

WARDEN OF ST AUGUSTINE’S COLLEGE, AND
HONORARY CANON OF CANTERBURY.
LATE HEAD MASTER OF KING’S COLLEGE SCHOOL, LONDON.

_WITH MAPS._

London:
MACMILLAN AND CO.
AND NEW YORK.
1894

[_The Right of Translation is reserved._]

_First Edition printed January 1865. Second Edition printed
November 1865. Reprinted with slight alterations 1866,
with slight alterations 1868, with slight alterations 1869,
1871, 1872, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881,
1883, 1884, 1885, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, 1892, 1894._

NOTICE.

THE present Volume forms a Class-Book of Old Testament History from the Earliest Times to those of Ezra and Nehemiah.

In its preparation the most recent Authorities[1] have been consulted, and wherever it has appeared useful, Notes have been subjoined illustrative of the Text, and, for the sake of more advanced students, references added to larger Works.

The Index has been so arranged as to form a concise Dictionary of the Persons and Places mentioned in the course of the Narrative, while the Maps, which have been prepared with considerable care at Stanford’s Geographical Establishment, will, it is hoped, materially add to the value and usefulness of the Book.

_London, Christmas, 1864._

SYNOPSIS OF CONTENTS.

BOOK I.
_From the Creation to the Dispersion of Mankind._

CHAP. I. The Creation
CHAP. II. The Fall
CHAP. III. The Flood
CHAP. IV. The Confusion of Tongues
CHAP. V. Rise of Idolatry. The Patriarch Job.

BOOK II.
_The Patriarchal Age._

CHAP. I. The Call of Abraham
CHAP. II. Life of Abraham continued
CHAP. III. The History of Isaac
CHAP. IV. Life of Jacob
CHAP. V. History of Joseph
CHAP. VI. Jacob’s Descent into Egypt, and Death of Joseph
NOTE. _Survey of the Patriarchal Age_

BOOK III.
_From the Settlement of the Israelites in Egypt
to the Giving of the Law._

CHAP. I. The Birth and Call of Moses
CHAP. II. Signs and Wonders in Egypt
CHAP. III. The Last Plague――The Passover――The Exodus
CHAP. IV. The Journey from the Red Sea to Rephidim
CHAP. V. Sinai and the Giving of the Law
CHAP. VI. Moses in the Mount. The Construction of the Golden Calf

BOOK IV.
_The Mosaic Worship and Polity._

CHAP. I. The Tabernacle
NOTE. _History of the Tabernacle_
CHAP. II. The Priests
CHAP. III. The Sacrifices and Offerings
CHAP. IV. Holy Times and Seasons
CHAP. V. The Great Festivals――The Jewish Calendar
NOTE. _Laws of Purity, &c._
CHAP. VI. Civil and Moral Laws

BOOK V.
_From the Departure from Sinai to the Death of Moses._

CHAP. I. Kadesh-Barnea and the Mission of the Spies
CHAP. II. The Wanderings――Death of Miriam and Aaron
CHAP. III. Conquest of the East of Jordan――Balaam and Balak
CHAP. IV. War with the Midianites――Death of Moses
NOTE. _His Work and Character_

BOOK VI.
_Joshua and the Conquest of Western Palestine._

CHAP. I. The Passage of the Jordan, and Fall of Jericho
CHAP. II. Conquest of the Southern and Central Mountains
CHAP. III. Battle of Merom, and Division of the Land

BOOK VII.
_Period of the Judges._

CHAP. I. Events subsequent to the Death of Joshua
CHAP. II. Micah and the Danites――The Tribal War
CHAP. III. Othniel and Ehud, Deborah and Barak
CHAP. IV. Invasion of the Midianites――Gideon
CHAP. V. Abimelech and Jephthah
CHAP. VI. Invasion from the South-west, Samson

BOOK VIII.
_From the Time of Samuel to the Accession of David._

CHAP. I. Eli and Samuel
CHAP. II. Samuel’s Judgeship
CHAP. III. Election of the First King
CHAP. IV. The Battle of Michmash
CHAP. V. Saul and the Amalekites――David and Goliath
CHAP. VI. David’s Life as an Outlaw
CHAP. VII. David at Ziklag――Battle of Mount Gilboa

BOOK IX.
_The Reigns of David and Solomon._

CHAP. I. David’s Reign at Hebron
CHAP. II. David’s Reign at Jerusalem
CHAP. III. David’s Army, his Conquests, his Sin
CHAP. IV. The Rebellion of Absalom
CHAP. V. Close of David’s reign
FOOTNOTE. _David’s Work and Character_
CHAP. VI. Accession of Solomon
CHAP. VII. The Building of the Temple
CHAP. VIII. Solomon’s reign continued

BOOK X.
_Kingdoms of Judah and Israel._

PART I.
_Period of Mutual Hostility._

CHAP. I. The Revolt of the Ten Tribes
CHAP. II. Rehoboam and Abijah, Jeroboam and Nadab
CHAP. III. Asa and Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri

PART II.
_Period of Mutual Alliance, and Hostility to Syria._

CHAP. I. Accession of Ahab――Era of Elijah
CHAP. II. Wars of Ahab and Benhadad
CHAP. III. Murder of Naboth――Battle of Ramoth Gilead
CHAP. IV. Wars of Jehoshaphat. Translation of Elijah
CHAP. V. Jehoshaphat and Jehoram――Era of Elisha
CHAP. VI. Elisha and Naaman――Siege of Samaria

PART III.
_Renewal of Hostilities; Decline of both Kingdoms
before the power of the Assyrian Empire._

CHAP. I. Accession of Jehu
CHAP. II. Athaliah and Joash; Death of Elisha
CHAP. III. Amaziah and Jeroboam II.; Era of Jonah
CHAP. IV. Decline and Captivity of the Kingdom of Israel
CHAP. V. Reign of Hezekiah
CHAP. VI. Reign of Manasseh――Reforms of Josiah
CHAP. VII. Death of Josiah――Captivity of Judah
NOTE. _Duration, Relation, Contrasts of the Two Kingdoms_[441]

BOOK XI.
_From the Captivity to the Close of the Canon._

CHAP. I. Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar
CHAP. II. Reigns of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, and Darius
CHAP. III. Rebuilding of the Temple――Esther and Ahasuerus
CHAP. IV. Times of Ezra and Nehemiah――Close of Canon
APPENDIX AND CHRONOLOGICAL TABLES
INDEX

MAPS.

1. The Dispersion of Noah’s Descendants (Genesis x.)

2. A Map of Canaan, Egypt, and Sinai, to illustrate the Patriarchal
History and the Exodus. With Mount Sinai enlarged

3. The Holy Land divided among the Twelve Tribes

4. Solomon’s Dominions, The Kingdoms of Judah and Israel, and the
Lands of the Captivities