or were otherwise disaffected to the government of Nehemiah, followed his example. Sanballat, who was governor of Samaria, having by this means a sort of Levitical priesthood, determined to build a temple similar to that at Jerusalem; hoping no doubt to lessen the influence, and undermine the authority of the legi timate pontiffs, which he had vainly attempted to des troy. He accordingly obtained a grant from Darius; and having erected a temple, made Manasseh high priest, and established a form of worship corresponding externally to that observed at Jerusalem. From this time Samaria became a place of refuge for such Jews as were accused of infringing the law; so that in process of time most of the inhabitants were the descendants of those apostates who had intermarried with the' Samaritans. One circumstance, however, is to be noticed this preponderance of Jewish inhabitants conduced to the banishment of idolatry from Samaria; for whereas the worship of idols was formerly joined to that of the true God; the building of the temple, and the introduction of the sacred scriptures (at least of the five books of Moses), were rendered effectual to the destruc-si tion of idolatry."

The building of this temple on Mount Gerizim, and the encouragement given to renegade Jews in Samaria, tended to increase that hatred towards the Samaritans which had originated in their opposition to the Jews at the time of their return from Babylon; and had been perpetuated by a continued series of vexatious attempts on their part ever since. The animosity of the Jews arose to such a height, that they pronounced a curse, not only on the inhabitants of Samaria, but on every

* See Note K.

thing belonging to them; making it unlawful for a Jew to hold any intercourse with them, or to partake of any food which was the produce of their land. This fact will show you in a strong point of view that the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans; and will explain that question asked by the woman at Jacob's well. "How

is it that thou, being a Jew, askest water of me, who am a woman of Samaria ?"

After Nehemiah, it does not appear that any governor was appointed in Judea by the Persians; it is therefore concluded that the prefect of Syria ruled there in matters relating to the king; but that the internal government was left to the high priest, according to the privileges obtained by Ezra and his successor. Darius. Nothus died after a reign of nineteen years, and was succeeded by his son Artaxerxes, whom the Greeks called Mnemon, on account of his excellent memory. There is a total silence as to the affairs of the Jews at this time, during thirty-two years, at the end of which is placed the death of Joiada, after he had held his office forty years. He was succeeded by his son Johanan, or Jonathan. It may be inferred that the people had abated much of their zeal for God's law; and that the priests thought more of their own advancement than of his honour; if we may judge by the conduct of Johanan and his brother towards each other. Jeshua's ambition inciting him to desire his brother's office, he courted the friendship of Bagoses, the governor of Syria, and prevailed on him to order the deposition of Johanan, and the appointment of himself to be, high priest.... When he had obtained this grant he went to Jerusalem, and immediately attempted to put it into effect. Johanan strenuously opposed him; and the contention

t.

between them rose to such a height, that, unmindful of their holy character, as priests of the Lord, and regardless of the sacredness of his temple, Jeshua was slain in the inner court of it, by the hand of his brother. Bagoses, hearing of this, came in great anger to Jerusalem, to take cognisance of the fact. When he was about to enter the temple, the priests objected that, as a Gentile, he could not be admitted, since it would be accounted a profanation of the place. Bagoses very properly replied, that the place in which so horrible a murder had been committed could suffer no defilement by his presence; as a living man could not be more impure than a mangled corpse. The priests were unable to refute this reasoning; and the prefect entering the temple, laid a fine of fifty drachmas on every lamb offered there. This fine was considered as a grievous burden by the Jews; and it might well be so, in a twofold sense: first, as rendering their sacrifices very expensive; and secondly, as reminding them continually of their subjection to a foreign power. ¡ To the more pious among them would be added a deep humiliation also; for the dreadful event which gave rise to it. It is somewhat astonishing that Johanan continued to officiate as high priest after this; but we must conclude that he held, in that character, the supreme authority; and was not therefore amenable to any judicature superior to his own. The fine on the temple was paid during seven years, at the end of which time the death of Artaxerxes caused a change in the appointment of governors; and Bagoses no longer remained in Syria to exact it. The next king of Persia was named Ochus; he gained the throne by a series of crimes, which rendered him hateful to his subjects, and

caused many of the provinces to revolt at the beginning of his reign. The Persian empire was now drawing near to its end; for the prince of Grecia, who was to subdue it, was born at Pella, in Macedonia, in the third year of Ochus. In the eighth year of this monarch, a revolt of the Sidonians and other Phoenicians, brought him, with a large army, into their country; with the design of subduing them before he marched against Egypt. The Grecian mercenaries, who aided the Sidonians, terrified at the approach of Ochus, purchased their own safety by betraying the city; and the wretched inhabitants, fearing to fall into the hands of the merciless tyrant, set fire to their own houses, and perished in them, to the number of forty thousand.. The Jews are supposed to have had some share in this revolt of the Phoenicians; for after the destruction of Sidon, the king marched into Judea, took Jericho, and making many of them captives, dispersed them into Egypt and Hyrcania.

In the following year Ochus succeeded in bringing Egypt once more under the Persian yoke; and it has never since that time been an independent kingdom, ruled by a sovereign of its own; but has been successively governed by the Greeks, Romans, and Turks. It has not any more exalted itself above the nations, for God has diminished it, according to his declaration by the prophet Ezekiel. Johanan, the high priest, dying in the eighteenth year of Ochus, his office devolved on Jaddua his son. After Ochus had subdued Egypt, and brought under the other provinces which had revolted, he gave himself up to sloth and luxury; leaving the affairs of the empire in the hands of his two favourite officers. One of these, named Bagoas, who

was by birth an Egyptian, taking great offence at the manner in which the religion and laws of his country had been violated by Ochus, contrived to put him death by poison, after he had reigned twenty-one year Resentment, however, was not the only motive of his conduct; ambition also excited in him the desire of reigning; and, in order to gratify this passion, he killed all the sons of Ochus, except the youngest, named Arses, whom he placed on the throne as a nominal king. The reign of this prince was very short; for Bagoas, finding that he was acquainted with all his crimes, and preparing to punish them, took immediate measures to prevent his doing so, by putting him to death also. About the same time died Philip of Macedon, not long after he had been appointed generalissimo of the Grecian army appointed to invade Persia. He was succeeded, in his kingdom and command, by his son Alexander, then twenty years of age. The vacant throne of Persia was filled by Darius Codomanus, who was a descendant of Darius Nothus, but not the son of any king of Persia: Bagoas having slain all the royal family. The character of this prince was quite different to that of his predecessors; he was distinguished for valour, gentleness, and generosity; and might have proved a blessing to the empire, had not the time of blessing been past. Crimes of the deepest dye had stained the annals of Persia, and the measure of her iniquity being great, proportionable judgments were about to be assigned her. A virtuous and noble-minded prince was not the sort of tool Bagoas wanted; and he consequently prepared a poisonous draught to get rid of him. Darius, however, being apprised of his design, compelled him to drink it himself, and thus put an end