EDITORIAL NOTE A FEW words of explanation must be given with regard to the additions and alterations introduced into the present edition of the History of the Jewish Nation. Where small changes or obvious corrections were required, they have been made without acknowledgment. Larger alterations, on the other hand, are enclosed within square brackets, except where the editor had the express authority of any of Dr. Edersheim's more recent writings. It did not, however, seem to be necessary to mark in any special way passages which have been simply abridged, or passages in which a quotation has been corrected by a comparison with the words of the original author. It has not been possible to be quite consistent in indicating the fresh matter, for which the present editor is alone responsible; but the endeavour has been made, in no case to seem to attribute to Dr. Edersheim opinions which he perhaps would not have himself endorsed. In the preparation of this edition the valuable library of Dr. Edersheim, which was presented after his death to Exeter College, has been of the greatest service. References to the Mishna are given according to the edition of Surenhusius, but in the tractate Pirke Aboth according to the edition of Strack (Berlin, 1888). In Philo xi the pages cited are those of Mangey. In quotations from the Talmud and Midrashim, use has generally been made of the translations of Wünsche, where available. Below will be found a list of the complete titles of certain works, which are frequently referred to in the footnotes in an abbreviated form. H. A. W. Life and Times, SCHÜRER BACHER, Tann. The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, by Dr. The Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ. English Die Agada der Tannaiten, vol. i. 1884; vol. ii. 1890. BACHER, Pal. Amor. Die Agada der palästinensischen Amorüer, vol. i. 1892. Histoire de la Palestine, 1867. Smith and Wace, Dictionary of Christian Biography, 1877-87. Geschichte der Juden, vol. iii. 4th ed., 1888; vol. iv. Real-Encyclopädie für Bibel und Talmud, 1883; Neuhebräisches Wörterbuch, 1871-89. The Provinces of the Roman Empire. English Translation, 1886. La Géographie du Talmud, 1868. System der altsynagogalen palästinischen Theologie, 1880. 1892. II. CLOSING SCENES OF THE JEWISH WAR OF INDEPENDENCE 26 III. THE DISPERSED OF ISRAEL 45 IV. POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS STATE OF THE JEWS AFTER THE 80 V. INTERNAL HISTORY OF THE SYNAGOGUE FROM THE RETURN OF 100 VI. HISTORY OF THE SYNAGOGUE FROM THE DESTRUCTION OF 130 VIII. STATE OF THE SYNAGOGUE AFTER THE LAST JEWISH WAR 209 HISTORY OF THE JEWISH NATION CHAPTER I THE HEBREW COMMONWEALTH IN the Divine dispensation, Israel was destined to sustain the highest and most important part that can be assigned to any nation. Originally chosen to be the depositary of spiritual truth, and separated from all other nations in order to fulfil this mission, it was preserved till the Divine purposes were accomplished. These purposes seem to have been, to serve as the channel and as the exemplification of Divine truth, and to afford a medium by which the fulness of Divine truth, and of Divine fact, might become embodied in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. If every nation is the representative, and its history the embodiment, of some truth, this applies in a special manner, or at least becomes specially manifest, in the case of Israel Israel was meant to be a theocracy. Not only in its ecclesiastical, but in its political constitution also, was it to show forth the supremacy, the authority, and the continued presence of Jehovah with His Covenant people. If this truth was to be exhibited in the world, it became necessary to fix upon and to separate from the rest one nation. But though in the preparatory stage national, these were spiritual facts and truths, which ultimately could not belong, and were not meant to be confined to any one race. These realities are necessarily universal; they are designed for and apply to all, both to those who are afar off, and to those who are nigh. |