Chapter I: Preface

The design and purpose of this little production will, at a cursory glance, be self-evident, so that a formal preface seems scarcely necessary. We have endeavored to furnish a synopsis of useful information, selected from the history and teachings of the chosen people of God, in such a manner as to suit the capacity of all readers, since it is free from all sectarian bias, and therefore may prove useful to all denominations.

This work consists of two parts. The first part contains a synopsis of Jewish history, commencing with the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, down to the days of Herod the Great. The second division of the work contains an account of the several sects which sprang up among the Jews before and after the days of the Maccabees. We have also given a succinct description of the origin and introduction of Prayer, of the synagogues and schools, of the Ureem and Thumeem, of the Mishna or Oral Law, of the Gemara or Completion, usually styled the Talmud, together with some additional remarks in the last two chapters under the head of appendix.

Should this unassuming little composition lead the reader to seek a more extended information on the subjects treated, we shall feel ourselves happy in having been the means of thus exciting the curiosity of those who desire to peep a little further into the vast field of sacred literature, and deem our compensation to be fully realized.

We have compiled in some instances from the writings of others. In many cases we have also thought for ourselves; but at the same time, we have embraced the advantages afforded by the writings of others, so far as we thought them suitable for the undertaking.

In conclusion, we send this work out to the world, such as it is, aware of its many deficiencies; trusting, at the same time, that whatever errors may have crept therein will be pointed out by kind friends, in order to a rectification of the same.

SAN FRANCISCO, February, 1859--5619.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
PAGE.

Of the return of the Jews from the Captivity of Babylon,
and the rebuilding of the City of Jerusalem and the Holy
Temple 9

CHAPTER II.

Of the state of the Jews in the days of Ezra the Scribe 15

CHAPTER III.

Of the affairs of the Jewish Nation during the days of
Nehemiah 23

CHAPTER IV.

Of the state of the Jewish Nation under the Persian and
the Grecian Monarchies 37

CHAPTER V.

Of the affairs of the Jewish Nation under Ptolemy Soter,
Ptolemy Philadelphus and Ptolemy Philopater, Kings of Egypt 43

CHAPTER VI.

Of the Jewish affairs under Antiochus the Greek, Seleucus,
and Antiochus Epiphanes, Kings of Syria 48

CHAPTER VII.

Of the state of the Jewish Nation in the days of Mattathias
the Priest, the father of the valiant Maccabees 55

CHAPTER VIII.

The Government of the Jewish Nation under the Maccabees, or
as they were otherwise called, the Asmoneans, this being
the family name 62

CHAPTER IX.

Of the Jewish affairs under the conduct of the posterity
and successors of Simon the Maccabee 79

CHAPTER X.

Of the Government of Herod the Great and his posterity
over Israel 96

PART SECOND.

CHAPTER I.

The Assideans 111

CHAPTER II.

The Pharisees 113

CHAPTER III.

The Sadducees 117

CHAPTER IV.

The Samaritans 120

CHAPTER V.

The Essenes 123

CHAPTER VI.

The Herodians 125

CHAPTER VII.

The Galileans or Gaulonites 127

CHAPTER VIII.

The Karayeem or Karaites 129

CHAPTER IX.

Of the Synagogues among the Jews 133

CHAPTER X.

Of the origin and introduction of Prayer among the Jews 138

CHAPTER XI.

Of the Ureem and Thumeem 147

CHAPTER XII.

Of the Mishna or Oral Law 152

CHAPTER XIII.

Of the Gemara-Completion, usually styled the Talmud 169