and Judah. It may be proper to add, this is the Idumea and these are the Idumeans mentioned by Pliny, Strabo, and other ancient writers. Darius Hystaspes issued out a decree against these settlers, commanding them to restore all they had taken from the Jews; but with respect to the success of this decree historians are silent. Upon the decline of the Persian monarchy, and after the death of Alexander, they were under the government of the Seleucidæ, when they warred against their ancient enemies the Jews, but they were totally defeated by Judas Maccabeus, who sacked their chief city Hebron, forced their strong holds, and put forty thousand Idumeans to the sword. B. C. After this period they appear to have 150. been continually agitated by wars and contentions, till they were at length finally reduced by John Hyrcanus, who compelled them to embrace the Jewish religion. They were then incorporated with the objects of their former hatred, and in the first century of the Christian æra their name was entirely lost in that of their conquerors. SECT. V. The History of Amalek. THIS people were called Amalekites from their progenitor Amalek, the son of Esau's first-born Eliphaz, by his concubine Timna. They reduced very early the country which they inhabited when expelled from the land of of Edom, and soon attained to such a height of power and magnificence, that their king was spoken of as far above all others; and Balaam emphatically styles them "the first of the nations." Of their religion and civil customs nothing satisfactory can be said, as these subjects are concealed by a veil of impenetrable darkness. Their arts, sciences, and trade, were, in all probability, similar to those of their neighbours the Edomites, the Egyptians, and the inhabitants of the sea coast of Judea. Their government appears to have been monarchical; and their general character, that of a haughty and imperious race. They no sooner heard that the children of Israel had crossed the Red sea, than they resolved to cut them off; and accordingly fell on the rear of that people as they were marching from Rephidim to mount Horeb. This outrage was, however, severely retorted upon themselves, as Joshua, after a sanguinary battle, put them to a precipitate flight: and the God of Israel decreed, "their name should be put out from under heaven." B. C. After this transaction, they seem to have sought every opportunity of harassing the 1245. Jewish nation, till they were ripe for the excision denounced against them. They united their forces with those of Eglon, Zebah, and Zalmunna, in the hope of fully dispossessing the objects of their hatred; but their projects were all confounded by the interposition of the Almighty. No further mention is made of this nation till the days of Saul; when they were invaded by that monarch at the head of two hundred and ten thou sand men. The victorious army was com manded manded to ravage the country, and massacre the inhabitants without distinction; but Agag, the king, was spared on account of his personal accomplishments, though his impious and tyrannical conduct appears to have brought destruction upon his subjects. He did not however long enjoy this favour; for the prophet Samuel no sooner heard that he was alive, than he sent for him, and, notwithstanding his insinuating address, and the vain hopes with which he flattered himself, that the "bitterness of death was past," hewed him in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal. The small remnant of Amalekites who escaped the general slaughter by a timely flight, returned to their desolate country, and lived in peace, till David obtained an asylum in Ziglag from the persecution of Saul. At this time they were associated with the Geshurites and Gezerites, and are said to have been again reduced to the utmost extremity by their new neighbour, who perhaps thought it a duty incumbent on him to complete the work which his royal master had left unfinished. A. C. To revenge this injury, the Amalekites 1055. assembled all their remaining forces, and went up to Ziglag*, which they reduced to ashes, but spared the inhabitants. Having thus succeeded to their wishes, and taken, among the prisoners, David's two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, they resolved to secure what they had got by an expeditious return. David in the mean time received intelligence of their depredations, and set out in pursuit of them. In his way he found an Egyptian (whom they had David and his party were at this time absent from 2iglag. left left behind in their haste), who informed him of their route, and the place where they intended to halt. David, accordingly, followed them till he arrived within sight of their camp, where they were rejoicing over the spoil. He permitted them to pass the night unmolested, but attacked them fiercely at break of day, and continued to slay them till the evening; so that none escaped his avenging sword excepting four hundred young men who rode upon dromedaries. Thus by degrees were the Amalekites reduced, and at last the fatal blow was given them by the Simeonites; who, in the days of Hezekiah, utterly destroyed or dispersed them, and took possession of their country; by this means fulfilling the prediction of Balaam: "Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be, that he perish for ever." END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. CONTENTS. PRELIMINARY VIEW OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. First Period. From the Creation of Man Second Period. From the Flood to the Begin Third Period. From the Beginning of pro- fane History to the End of the fabulous Fourth Period. From the End of the Fabu- lous Times to the Conquest of Babylon by Fifth Period. From the Destruction of the Babylonian Empire to the Overthrow of the Seventh Period.-From the Destruction of Carthage to the Death of Trajan. Eighth Period. From the Death of Trajan to Page |