JUDEA.

The Hebrews were Semites, and related to the Assyrians and the Phoenicians. Their history opens, in the 20th century B. C, with the coming of Abram from Chaldea into Canaan. There he and his descendants lived, simple shepherds, like the Arabs of to-day, dwelling-in tents among their flocks and herds. By a singular fortune, Joseph, his great-grandson, became vizier of A-pe-pi II., one of the shepherd kings of Egypt (p. 17). Being naturally desirous of surrounding himself by foreigners who would support him against a revolt of the people, that monarch invited the Hebrews to settle in Egypt. Here they greatly prospered. But in time the native kings, who "knew not Joseph," were restored. During the XIXth dynasty, Rameses II. greatly oppressed them with hard service on his public works (p. 18). During the next reign (Mineptah's) Moses, one of the profoundest statesmen of history, who was versed in all the learning of the Egyptian court,-then the center of civilization, rescued his people from their bondage.1

Geographical Questions.-Bound Palestine. Locate the Dead Sea; the Sea of Galilee; the Kingdom of Judah; the Kingdom of Israel. Describe the River Jordan. Where was Jerusalem? Samaria? Jericho? Damascus? Palmyra (Tad. mor)? Joppa? Why, in going from Galilee to Jerusalem, did Jesus of Nazareth "needs pass through Samaria"? Name the five cities of the Philistines. Ans. Ashdod, Gaza, Ascalon, Gath, Ekron.

The wonderful events by which this was accomplished are familiar to every Bible student. The design is here to give only the political history, omitting that

The Exodus (about 1300 B. C.).'-For forty years Moses led the Jews through the wilderness until the 3,000,000 of slaves became assimilated into a nation of freemen, were won from Egyptian idolatries to the pure worship of the one God of their fathers, were trained to war, and made acquainted with the religious rites and the priestly government which were henceforth to distinguish them as a people.

The Conquest of Palestine was accomplished by Joshua,2 successor to Moses, in six years of fierce fighting, during which thirty-one Canaanite cities were destroyed, and the country was allotted to the tribes.

The Judges. Unfortunately, Joshua at his death did not appoint a new leader; and for want of a head, the tribes fell apart. The old spirit of enthusiasm, nationality, and religious fervor waned. Idolatry crept in. For a while the conquered Canaanites made easy prey of the disunited tribes. From time to time there arose heroic men who aroused their patriotism, inspired a new zeal for the Mosaic law, and induced them to shake off the yoke of servitude. These were the days of the Judges-Othniel, Ehud, Gideon, Samson, the prophetess Deborah, and the prophet Samuel.

Kingdom of Israel.-During the last days of the Judges, while the Jews and the Canaanites were at war, a new power grew up on their borders. The Philistines

providential oversight more often avowed in the case of the Jews, but not more real than in the life of every nation and individual. It is noticeable that Mineptah, the Pharaoh who, according to a common belief not supported by the Bible record, perished in the Red Sea, lived many years after that disaster, and died in his bed. (See 1 Kings vi. 1.)

1 This is the date now generally accepted by Egyptologists. Usher, whose chronology is still preferred by some Bible students, says 1491 B. C. (See 1 Kings vi. 1.)

2 Joshua's plan of crossing the Jordan, capturing Jericho, taking the heights beyond by a night-march, and delivering the crushing blow at Bethhoron (Joshua x. 9), was a masterpiece of strategy, and ranks him among the great generals of the world. His first movement placed him in the center of the country, where he could prevent his enemies from massing against him, and, turning in any direction, cut them up in detail.

formed a strong confederation of five cities along the coast south of Phoenicia, and threatened the conquest of Canaan. In order to make head against them, the people demanded a king. Accordingly, three monarchs were given them in succession,-Saul, David, and Solomon. Each reigned forty years. The first was merely a general, who obeyed the orders of God as revealed through the prophet Samuel. The second was a warrior king. He enlarged the boundaries of Palestine, fixed the capital at Jerusalem, organized an

army, and enforced the worship of Jehovah as the national religion. The third was a magnificent oriental monarch. His empire reached to the Euphrates, and the splendor of his court rivaled that of Egypt and Assyria. He married an Egyptian princess, built the temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, erected splendid palaces, and sent expeditions to India and Arabia. This was the golden age of Judea, and Jerusalem overflowed with wealth.

The Two Kingdoms.-Luxury, however, brought ener vation, commerce introduced idolatry, extravagance led to oppressive taxation. The people, on Solomon's death, demanded of his son a redress of their grievances. This being haughtily refused, a revolt ensued. The empire was rent into the two petty kingdoms of Israel and Judah,-the former containing ten tribes; the latter, two.

Israel (975 to 722 = 253 years) was idolatrous from the start. It was a continued scene of turmoil and wrong. Its nineteen kings belonged to nine different families, and eight met a violent death. Finally the Assyrians captured Samaria, the capital, and sent the people prisoners into Media. They vanished from history, and are known as the "Lost Tribes." The few remaining Israelites combined with the foreign settlers to form the Samaritans. With this mongrel people pure Hebrews had "no dealings" (John iv. 9).

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Judah (975 to 586 389 years) retained the national religion. Its twenty kings, save one usurper, were all of the house of David in regular descent. But it lay in the pathway of the mighty armies of Egypt and Assyria. Thrice its enemies held Jerusalem. At last Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the city, and carried many of the principal inhabitants to Babylon.

The Captivity lasted about seventy years. The Jews prospered in their adopted country, and many, like Daniel, rose to high favor.

The Restoration.-Cyrus, after the capture of Babylon (p. 51), was friendly to the Jews, and allowed those who chose to return to Judea and rebuild their temple. They were greatly changed by their bondage, and henceforth were faithful to their religion. While they had lost their native

1 This was owing to (1) similarity in their religions;; (2) the foretelling of the victories of Cyrus by the Jewish prophets; and (3) the influence of Daniel. Read Daniel, Nehemiah, and Ezra.