Those interested in missions may also be invited to glean from these Lectures. When for instance our Oxford friends in Calcutta have again to oppose Mr. Dutt's statements on the indebtedness of Christianity to 'a Palestinian Buddhism,'1 they may perhaps be assisted by my pages on the Essenes, which contain some fresh material. And to all students, whatever their special tastes may be, the Index will, I hope, reveal many interesting features of the book. And so I bid farewell to a volume in which I have spoken more frankly, but I am sure not less considerately and charitably than ever. May it be blessed, in spite of its manifold imperfections, to the good of the Church at large! To me at any rate the exercise of the critical faculty and of the historic imagination has been as truly a religious work as joining in the worship of the sanctuary. I have found that to be true which an old Oxford friend has recently expressed in earnest words, All such research adds interest to the record, as it opens out to us the action of the Divine Intimacy, in laying hold of its material. We watch it by the aid of such criticism, at its work of assimilation; and, in uncovering its principles of selection, we apprehend its inner mind; we draw closer to our God.-(H. S. Holland, Lux Mundi, P. 43.) 1 See The Epiphany (edited by the Oxford missionaries), Aug. 21, 1890. CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. [N.B. On the chronological problems of this period, cf. Kuenen, De chronologie van het Perzische tijdvak der Joodsche Geschiedenis (Amsterdam, 1890), and Schürer, The Jewish People in the Time of Christ, Div. I., vol. i. (Edinburgh, 1890). Events in foreign history contemporary with those in Jewish are printed in italics.] Haggai and Zechariah prophesy, under Zerubbabel and Joshua Capture of Babylon by Darius Hystaspis (p. 73) Completion of second temple Revolt of Egypt and Persian reconquest (cf. p. 52, foot). Capture of Babylon by Xerxes (p. 73). Artaxerxes I. Longimanus (p. 163) . Revolt of Inarus in Egypt 465-425 462-456 Murder by Johanan the high priest; tyranny of Bagōses (p. 52) 383 (?) Artaxerxes III. Ochus (captivity of Jews, pp. 53, 229) 359-338 Battle of Issus (Jaddua, high priest, p. 59) 333 Foundation of Alexandria (p. 10) 331 Ptolemy I. Soter, king of Egypt (Onias I., Simon I., high priests) 323-285 Capture of Jerusalem by Ptolemy 320 Ptolemy II. Philadelphus (Eleazar and Manasseh, high priests, p. 170) 285-247 247-222 Ptolemy III. Euergetes (Onias II., high priest, p. 127) Antiochus III. Magnus, king of Syria (Simon II., high priest) 223-187 Capture of Jerusalem by Antiochus (cf. p. 114) Seleucus IV. Philopator 203 . 187-175 B.C. Scopas recovers Jerusalem for Ptolemy V. Epiphanes, but is defeated by Antiochus at Paneas (p. 114). Sacrilege of Heliodorus (p. 123) Composition of Wisdom of Ben Sira in Hebrew 199-198 187 Accession of Antiochus IV. Epiphanes (Onias III., high priest, p. Onias III. deposed, and succeeded by Joshua or Jason Murder of Onias III. (pp. 123, 137). Massacres of Antiochus and Apollonius at Jerusalem (p. 94) 180 (?) 175 174 171 170 170, 168 168 (Dec.) Persecution of faithful Jews (pp. 19, 66); revolt under Mattathias (pp. 48, 57); the leader's death. . Judas Maccabæus organizes his army with solemn prayer at Mizpah Judas defeated at Beth-Zacharia (p. 92) Victory of Judas at Adasa (pp. 48, 178); his defeat and death at Occupies Jerusalem, and is invested with the high priesthood (p.68) 153 Salome Alexandra (p. 61); adopts a Pharisæan policy CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. PAGE |