Chapter XX: The Sopheric Age

Enmity of the Samaritans against the Judæans--The Temple on
Mount Gerizim--The High-Priest Manasseh--The mixed language of
the Samaritans--Their veneration for the Law of Moses--Judaism
loses its national meaning--The Jubilee and Sabbatical Year--
Almsgiving--The Council of Seventy--The Assyrian Characters--
The Schools and the Sopherim--Observance of the Ceremonies--The
Prayers--The Future Life--The Judæans under Artaxerxes II. and
III.--Their Banishment to the Caspian Sea--Johanan and Joshua
contend for the office of High-Priest--Bagoas--The Writings of
the Period--The Greeks and Macedonians--Alexander the Great
and the Judæans--Judæa accounted a Province of Cœlesyria--
Struggles between Alexander's Successors--Capture of Jerusalem
by Ptolemy--Judæa added to the Lagidean-Egyptian Kingdom--The
Judæan Colonies in Egypt and Syria and the Greek Colonies in
Palestine _page_ 389

420-300 B. C. E.

CHAPTER XXI.

SIMON THE JUST AND HIS DESCENDANTS.

Condition of the Judæans under the Ptolemies--Simon effects
Improvements--His Praises are sung by Sirach--His Doctrines--
The Chasidim and the Nazarites--Simon's Children--Onias II. and
the Revolt against Egypt--Joseph, Son of Tobias--His Embassy
to Alexandria--He is appointed Tax-collector--War between
Antiochus the Great and Egypt--Defeat of Antiochus--Spread of
Greek Manners in Judæa--Hyrcanus--The Song of Songs--Simon
II.--Scopas despoils Jerusalem--The Contest between Antiochus
and Rome--Continued Hellenisation of the Judæans--The Chasidim
and the Hellenists--José ben Joezer and José ben Johanan--Onias
III. and Simon--Heliodorus--Sirach's Book of Proverbs against
the Errors of his Time _page_ 420

300-175 B. C. E.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE TYRANNICAL CONVERSION TO HELLENISM AND THE ELEVATION OF THE
MACCABEES.

Antiochus Epiphanes--His Character--His Wars with Rome--
He appoints Jason to the High-Priesthood--Introduction of
the Greek Games--Jason sends Envoys to Tyre to take part in
the Olympian Games--Affairs in Jerusalem--Antiochus invades
Egypt--Report of his Death in Jerusalem--Antiochus attacks
the City and defiles the Temple--His Designs against Judaism--
His Second Invasion of Egypt--The Persecution of the Judæans--
The Martyrs--Mattathias and his five Sons--Apelles appears
in Modin--The Chasidim--Death of Mattathias and Appointment
of Judas Maccabæus as Leader--His Virtues--Battles against
Apollonius and Heron--Antiochus determines to Exterminate the
Judæan People--Composition and Object of the Book of Daniel--
Victory of Judas over Lysias _page_ 442

175-166 B. C. E.

CHAPTER XXIII.

VICTORIES AND DEATH OF JUDAS MACCABÆUS; JONATHAN THE HASMONÆAN.

Return of Judas to Jerusalem--Reconsecration of the Temple--The
Feast of Lights--Fortification of the Capital--The Idumæans
and Ammonites defeated by Judas--Ill-treatment of the Galilean
Judæans--Measures against Timotheus--Death of Antiochus--
Embassy of the Hellenists to Antiochus V.--Battle at Bethzur--
Retreat of Judas--Affairs in Jerusalem--Alcimus--Intervention
of the Romans--Nicanor's Interview with Judas--Battle of
Adarsa--Death of Judas--Results of his Career--Condition
of the People after the Death of Judas--The Chasidim, the
Hellenists, and the Hasmonæans--Jonathan--His Guerilla Warfare
against Bacchides--Death of the High-Priest Alcimus--Truce
between Jonathan and Bacchides--Jonathan as High-Priest--His
far-sighted Policy--His Captivity and his Death _page_ 471

165-143 B. C. E.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE JUDÆANS IN ALEXANDRIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF SIMON.

The Judæan Colonies in Egypt and Cyrene--Internal Affairs of the
Alexandrian Community--King Philometor favours the Judæans--
Onias and Dositheus--The Temple of Onias--Translation of
the Pentateuch into Greek--Struggle between the Judæans and
Samaritans in Alexandria--Affairs in Judæa--Independence of
Judæa--Simon's League with the Romans--Overthrow of the Acra
and of the Hellenists--Simon's Coinage--Quarrel between Simon
and the Syrian King--Invasion by Cendebæus--Assassination of
Simon _page_ 503

160-135 B. C. E.

HISTORY OF THE JEWS