Chapter II: Preface: To the Society's Edition

* * * * *

Owing to necessary revision by the American editors, there has been a delay in the publication of this work beyond the time announced for its appearance.

It is hoped that in the future such delay may be avoided.

THE PUBLICATION COMMITTEE.

_June, 1891._

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE EARLIEST PERIOD.

The Original Inhabitants of Canaan--Gigantic Anakim and
Rephaim--The Phœnicians--Israel's Claim to Canaan--The
Patriarchs--Hereditary Law--Emigration to Egypt--Tribal
Union--Bright and Dark Sides of the Egyptians--Moses,
Aaron and Miriam--The Prophetic Sage--Call of Moses as
Deliverer--Opposition--Exodus from Egypt--Passage of the
Red Sea--Wandering in the Desert--Revelation on Mount
Sinai--The Decalogue--Relapse--Concessions--Crisis--
Circuitous Wanderings--Victories over Populations of Canaan on
Trans-Jordanic Side--Commencements of Hebrew Poetry--Death of
Moses _page_ 1

CHAPTER II.

OCCUPATION OF THE LAND OF CANAAN.

Joshua's Succession--Passage of the Jordan--Conquest of
Jericho--The Gibeonites--Coalition of Canaanite Cities against
the Israelites--Settlement in the Land--Isolation of the
Tribes--Allotments--The Tribe of Levi--The Ark of the Covenant
at Shiloh--Condition of Canaan at the time of the Conquest--
Climate and Fertility--Intellectual Activity--Poetry of
Nature--Remnants of Canaanite Populations--Death of Joshua
_page_ 32

CHAPTER III.

NEIGHBOURING NATIONS.

The Phœnicians, Aramæans, Philistines, Idumæans--Their Customs
and Mythology--The Moabites and Ammonites--Intercourse of the
Israelites with their Neighbours and Adoption of their Manners--
Disintegration of the Tribes--Consequent Weakness--Temporary
Deliverers _page_ 53

CHAPTER IV.

THE JUDGES.

Animosity of the Idumæans--Othniel, a Deliverer--Eglon, King
of Moab--The Canaanite King, Jabin--Sisera, his General--The
Prophetess and Poetess Deborah--Barak--Victory near Tabor--
Early Hebrew Poetry--Sufferings through Nomads--The Hero
Gideon Jerubbaal--Victory in the Plain of Jezreel--Commencement
of Prosperity--Abimelech--Feud with the Shechemites--Jair the
Gileadite--Hostilities of the Amalekites and the Philistines--
Jephthah--Samson--Zebulunite Judges _page_ 60

CHAPTER V.

ELI AND SAMUEL.

Importance of the Judges--Public Feeling--Sanctuary in Shiloh--
Eli and his Sons--Defeat by the Philistines--Capture of the
Ark--Destruction of Shiloh and the Sanctuary--Flight of the
Aaronites and Levites--Death of Eli--The Ark in Philistia and
in Kirjath Jearim--Prophecy re-awakened--Samuel in Ramah--The
Order of Prophets or Singers--Popular revulsion--The tribe of
Judah--Repeated attacks of the Philistines--Meeting at Mizpah--
Samuel's activity--Nob as a place of Worship--Increase in the
power of the Philistines and Ammonites--The Tribes desire to
have a King--Samuel's course of action _page_ 68

1100?-1067 B. C. E.

CHAPTER VI.

THE APOGEE.

Establishment of a Kingdom--Saul--His Position and Character--
His secret Election at Mizpah--Humiliating Condition of the
Nation under the Philistines--Declaration of War--Assemblage
in Gilgal--Battle of Michmash--Defeat of the Philistines--
Severity of Saul--Victory over the Ammonites--Saul's Election
as King confirmed--His Court and Attendants--His Officers and
Standing Army--Victory over the Amalekites--Disputes between
Saul and Samuel--Saul's Attacks on the neighbouring People--War
with the Gibeonites--Place of Worship in Gibeon--War against
the Philistines in the Valley of Tamarinths--Goliath and David--
Meeting of Saul and David--Saul's Jealousy turns into Madness--
The Persecution of David--Saul's last Battle against the
Philistines--Defeat and Death _page_ 82

1067-1055 B. C. E.

CHAPTER VII.

DAVID AND ISHBOSHETH.

Burning of Ziklag--Defeat of the Amalekites--Judah elects
David as King--Abner and Ishbosheth--War between the houses
of Saul and David--Murder of Abner--Death of Ishbosheth--
David recognised as sole King--Capture of Zion--Fortification
of Jerusalem--War with the Philistines--Victory of David--
The Heroes--Alliance with Hiram--Removal of the Ark of the
Sanctuary to Jerusalem--The High-Priest--Choral Services of
the Temple--Internal Government of Israel--The Gibeonites and
Rizpah--Mephibosheth _page_ 106

1055-1035 B. C. E.

CHAPTER VIII.

DAVID.

War with the Moabites--Insult offered by the King of the
Ammonites--War with the Ammonites--Their Defeat--Battle
of Helam--Attack of Hadadezer--Defeat of the Aramæans--
Acquisition of Damascus--War with the Idumæans--Conquest of
the town of Rabbah--Defeat of the Idumæans--Conquered races
obliged to pay tribute--Bathsheba--Death of Uriah the Hittite--
Parable of Nathan--Birth of Solomon (1033)--Misfortunes of
David--Absalom--Wise Woman of Tekoah--Reconciliation of David
and Absalom--Numbering of the Troops--Pestilence breaks out
in Israel--Absalom's Rebellion--Murder of Amasa--Sheba's
Insurrection--David and Nathan--Adonijah _page_ 125

1035-1015 B. C. E.

CHAPTER IX.

SOLOMON.

The new King's Rule--Solomon's Choice--Poetic Allegory--Murder
of Adonijah and Joab--The Court--Alliance with Egypt--Tyre--
Solomon's Buildings--The Plan of the Temple--The Workmen--
The Materials--Description of the Temple--The Ceremony of
Consecration--Reorganisation of the Priesthood--The King's
Palace--The Throne--Increase of National Wealth--The Fleet--
The Seeds of Disunion--Jeroboam--Idolatry permitted--
Estrangement from Egypt--Growth of surrounding Kingdoms--
Solomon's Fame--His Death _page_ 156

1015-977 B. C. E.

CHAPTER X.

SECESSION OF THE TRIBES.

Accession of Rehoboam--Jeroboam's return--The King at Shechem--
The Secession of the Ten Tribes--Election of Jeroboam--New
Alliances--Rezon and Shishak--Fortification of Shechem--
Jeroboam's Idolatry--Ahijah's rebuke--Religion in Judah--
Abijam--Asa--Nadab--Baasha--Wars between Asa and Baasha--
Defeat of Zerah--Benhadad--Elah--Zimri--Omri--Civil war--
Samaria built--Omri's policy--Alliances with Ethbaal and Tyre--
Ahab: his character--Jezebel--The Priests of Baal--Elijah--
Naboth's vineyard--Elijah at Carmel--War with Benhadad--Death
of Ahab and Jehoshaphat--Ahaziah's Accession--Jehoram--Elijah
and Elisha--Jehu--Death of Jezebel _page_ 179

977-887 B. C. E.

CHAPTER XI.

THE HOUSE OF DAVID AND THE JEHUIDES.

Athaliah's rule--Early years of Joash--Proclamation of Joash
by Jehoiada--Athaliah slain--Religious Revival--Elisha--
Repairing of the Temple--Death of Jehoiada and of his Son--
Invasion of Israel by Hazael--Jehoahaz--Murder of Joash, King
of Judah--Jehoash, King of Israel--Defeat of the Aramæans--
Amaziah--Conquest of Edom--Death of Elisha--Amaziah defeated
by Jehoash--Jeroboam II.--Death of Amaziah _page_ 213

887-805 B. C. E.

CHAPTER XII.

END OF THE HOUSE OF JEHU AND THE TIME OF UZZIAH.

Condition of Judah--The Earthquake and the Famine--Uzziah's
Rule--Overthrow of Neighbouring Powers--Fortification of
Jerusalem--Navigation of the Red Sea--Jeroboam's Prosperity--
The Sons of the Prophets--Amos--Prophetic Eloquence--Joel's
Prophecies--Hosea foretells Ultimate Peace--Denunciation of
Uzziah--Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem--Last Years of Uzziah--
Contest between the King and the High Priest--Uzziah usurps the
Priestly Functions--Uzziah's Illness _page_ 228

805-758 B. C. E.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE DOWNFALL OF THE KINGDOM OF THE TEN TRIBES; THE HOUSE OF
DAVID, AND THE INTERVENTION OF THE ASSYRIANS.

King Menahem--The Babylonians and the Assyrians--Pekah--
Jotham's reign--Isaiah of Jerusalem--His style and influence--
His first public address--Later speeches--Their immediate
and permanent effect--His disciples--Their characteristics--
Zechariah--His prophecies _page_ 246

758-740 B. C. E.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE END OF THE KINGDOM OF THE TEN TRIBES, AND THE HOUSE OF DAVID.

The Reign of Ahaz--His Character--Alliance between Pekah and
Rezin--Tiglath-Pileser and Assyria--Ahaz seeks Assyrian Aid--
Isaiah's Opposition--Defeat of Pekah and Rezin--Introduction of
Assyrian Worship--Human Sacrifices--The Second Micah--Samaria
after Pekah's Death--Assyria and Egypt--Hoshea--Samaria taken
by Shalmaneser--The Exile--Hezekiah--His Early Measures--His
Weakness of Character--Isaiah's Efforts to Restrain Hezekiah
from War with Assyria--Arrangements for the Defence--Change of
Policy--Isaiah Predicts the Deliverance--Micah--Rabshakeh's
Embassy--Hezekiah's Defiance--His Illness and Recovery--The
Destruction of Sennacherib's Army--Merodach-baladan--Hezekiah's
Rule--The Psalmists--Death of Hezekiah _page_ 257

739-696 B. C. E.

CHAPTER XV.

THE LAST KINGS OF JUDAH.

Manasseh--Fanatical Hatred of Hezekiah's Policy--Assyrian
Worship Introduced--The Anavim--Persecution of the Prophets--
Esarhaddon--The Colonisation of Samaria--Amon--Josiah--Huldah
and Zephaniah--Affairs in Assyria--Regeneration of Judah
under Josiah--Repairing of the Temple--Jeremiah--The Book of
Deuteronomy--Josiah's Passover--Battle at Megiddo _page_ 281

695-608 B. C. E.

CHAPTER XVI.

END OF THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH.

Effects of Josiah's Foreign Policy--Jehoahaz--Jehoiakim--
Egyptian Idolatry introduced--The Prophets--Uriah the Son
of Shemaiah--Jeremiah's renewed Labours--Fall of Assyria--
Nebuchadnezzar--Baruch reads Jeremiah's Scroll--Submission of
Jehoiakim--His Rebellion and Death--Jehoiachin--Zedekiah--
Siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar--The Siege raised owing to
the Intervention of Egypt--Defeat of the Egyptians--Renewal
of the Siege--Capture of Jerusalem--Zedekiah in Babylon--
Destruction of the Capital--Jeremiah's Lamentations _page_ 298

608-586 B. C. E.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE DESTRUCTION.

The National Decay--The Fugitives--Enmity of the Idumæans--
Johanan, Son of Kareah--The Lamentation--Nebuchadnezzar
appoints Gedaliah as Governor--Jeremiah Encourages the People--
Mizpah--Ishmael Murders Gedaliah--The Flight to Egypt--
Jeremiah's Counsel Disregarded--Depopulation of Judah--The
Idumæans make Settlements in the Country--Obadiah--Condition of
the Judæans in Egypt--Defeat of Hophra--Egypt under Amasis--
Jeremiah's Last Days _page_ 317

586-572 B. C. E.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE BABYLONIAN EXILE.

Nebuchadnezzar's treatment of the Exiles--The Exiles obtain
grants of land--Evil-Merodach favours Jehoiachin--Number of the
Judæan Exiles--Ezekiel's captivity in the first period of the
Exile--Moral change of the People--Baruch collects Jeremiah's
Prophecies and compiles the Histories--The Mourners of Zion--
Proselytes--The Pious and the Worldly--The Poetry of the Time--
Psalms and Book of Job--Nabonad's Persecutions--The Martyrs
and the Prophets of the Exile--The Babylonian Isaiah--Cyrus
captures Babylon--The Return under Zerubbabel _page_ 329

572-537 B. C. E.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE RETURN FROM BABYLON, THE NEW COMMUNITY IN JUDÆA, EZRA AND
NEHEMIAH.

The Journey to Jerusalem--The Samaritans--Commencement of the
Rebuilding of the Temple--Interruption of the Work--Darius--
Haggai and Zechariah--Completion of the Temple--Contest between
Zerubbabel and Joshua--Intermarriage with Heathens--The Judæans
in Babylonia--Ezra visits Jerusalem--Dissolution of the Heathen
Marriages--The Book of Ruth--Attacks by Sanballat--Nehemiah--
His Arrival in Jerusalem--Fortification of the Capital--
Sanballat's Intrigues against Nehemiah--Enslavement of the
Poor--Nehemiah's Protest--Repopulation of the Capital--The
Genealogies--The Reading of the Law--The Feast of Tabernacles--
The Great Assembly--The Consecration--Departure of Nehemiah--
Action of Eliashib--Withholding the Tithes--Malachi, the Last
of the Prophets--Nehemiah's Second Visit to Jerusalem--His
measures _page_ 354

537-420 B. C. E.