BIBLICAL ANTIQUITIES:

A HAND-BOOK

FOR USE IN

SEMINARIES, SABBATH-SCHOOLS, FAMILIES AND BY ALL
STUDENTS OF THE BIBLE.

BY

EDWIN CONE BISSELL, D.D.,

PROFESSOR IN M'CORMICK THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.

With Numerous Ellustrations and Tables.

SECOND EDITION.

PHILADELPHIA:

THE AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION,

1122 CHESTNUT STREET.

NEW YORK: 10 BIBLE HOUSE.

THE JOHN C. GREEN FUND BOOKS.

THIS volume has been prepared and issued under the provisions
of the John C. Green Income Fund. The fund was founded in
1877, with the cordial concurrence of Mrs. Green, by Robert Lenox
Kennedy, on behalf of the residuary legatees of John C. Green.
Among other things, it is provided by the deeds of gift and of trust
that one sixth of the net interest and income of this fund shall be
set aside, and whenever the same shall amount to one thousand dol-
lars, the Board of Officers and Managers of the American Sunday-
School Union shall apply the income "for the purpose of aiding
them in securing a Sunday-school literature of the highest order of
merit." This may be done "either by procuring works upon a given
subject germane to the objects of the society, to be written or com-
piled by authors of established reputation and known ability, . . .
or by offering premiums for manuscripts suitable for publication by
said Union, in accordance with the purposes and objects of its insti-
tution, in such form and manner as the Board of Officers and
Managers may determine."

The premium plan is to be followed at least once out of every
three times.

It is further required that the manuscripts procured under this
fund shall become the exclusive property of the American Sunday-
School Union, with no charge for copyright to purchasers of the
book, it being the intention of the trust to reduce the selling price
of works issued under the provisions of the fund.

Copyright, 1888, by the American Sunday-School Union.

13 My '96

PREFACE

TO THE FIRST EDITION.

THAT branch of biblical science known as antiquities has to do with the peoples among whom the Bible arose, especially with the Hebrews. In this work the subject is made to refer chiefly to the social, civil, and religious conditions of the Hebrew people in biblical times. The antiquities of other historically-related peoples are considered only as far as they shed light on those of the Hebrews, or otherwise contribute to a clearer understanding of the Bible.

The advantage of a knowledge of their antiquities to a student of the Scriptures cannot well be overrated. It serves to place him in the position of one who lived in the times when they first appeared, and in the lands where they were actually written.

My aim has been to present the principal facts of biblical antiquities in the stricter sense, together with some of their moral and religious bearings, and to show their true place and significance in the plan and history of redemption. No attempt has been made to treat largely of the geography or topography, the political or natural history, of the lands of the Bible, each of which themes would require a volume.

The book has been prepared for popular use. Where Hebrew and Greek terms are used, they have been given in their simplest phonetic form. The latest accepted results of scientific study have been stated without detailing processes. Citations from authorities in general have been sparingly given; those from the Scriptures are full and explicit, and have been usually taken from the Revised Version.*

It is proper to express my sense of indebtedness to the Committee of the American Sunday-School Union, whose co-operation has greatly aided in the preparation of the work. The fitting illustrations and the attractive form which the Society has given to the book will add much to its usefulness. That it may win some measure of the favor accorded to the excellent work of Dr. Nevin, which it succeeds, and be honored of God in accomplishing a similar service in his kingdom, is my most earnest hope.

HARTFORD THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.

March, 1888.

EDWIN CONE BISSELL.

* For a partial list of authorities, see p. viii.