THE JEWS UNDER THE PERSIAxNS, AND THE
KINGS OF EGYPT.
HIGH-PRIESTHOOD OF JADDUA— ALEXANDER
AT JERUSALEM.
B.C. 413-332.
1. AFTER the death of Nehemiah, about B.C. 413, a
thick curtain falls on the history of the Jews till
the accession of Antiochus Epiphanes, b.g. i 75 ^" During
upwards of 230 years, a period as long, to compare it
with modern history, as from the death of Queen Eliza-
beth to the accession of Queen Victoria, the record of
events is of the scantiest description. It appears cer-
tain, however, that Nchemiah was the last of the gover-
nors sent from the court of Persia. Judsea itself was
annexed to the satrapy of Coelesyria, and the admi-
nistration of affairs was entrusted to the high-priest sub-
ject to the control of the Syrian Governor. Thus the
civil and spiritual functions were united in one person,
and the pontifical office became an object of competition
to the different members of the family of Aaron, and
the cause of many violent and disgraceful contests.
As subjects, however, of the Persian kings, the Jews
were pre-eminent for their loyalty and good faith. While
Egypt, Phoenicia, Cyprus, and other dependencies of the
luemcia,, i^ypriis, anu ouiur utjpeuuuii
^ Milman's History of the Jaos, i. 443.
1— S
-1 UIGU-PRIESTHOOD OF JADDUA- [Bk. I. Pt. I.
Persian crown, were frequently the scenes of rebellions,
which were with difficulty suppressed, the Jews remained
steadfast in their allegiance to the " Great King," and
increased rapidly alike in wealth and population.
A single incident distinguishes the uneventful annals
of this period. During the lifetime of Ezra and Nehe-
miah, the high-priest was Eliashib. His successor, Joi-
ada, had two sons, the one Jonathan or Johanan (Neh.
xii. II, 22), the other Joshua. Joshua stood high in the
favour of Bagoses, the general of the Persian army, and
obtained from him the promise of the high-priesthood.
Relying on this assurance, he ventured to quarrel openly
with his brother in the Temple, and fell slain by his
hand within the precincts of the sanctuary itself. So
flagrant a crime roused the indignation of Bagoses.
Advancing to Jerusalem he demanded admittance into
the Temple, and when the Jews would have prevented
his entrance, declared he was less unclean than the
body of the murdered man, and not only polluted the
sanctuary by entering it, but also levied a fine of 50
shekels on every lamb offered in sacrifice during the
next seven years.
Like his father, Johanan also had two sons, Jaddua
(Nell. xii. 1 1) and Manasseh. Jaddua succeeded to the
high-priesthood, B.C. 341, and distinguished himself by
zealously maintaining the Mosaic institutions as restored
by Ezra and Nehemiah. Manasseh, on the other hand,
married the daughter of Sanballat the Horonite^ thus
contracting one of those alliances, against which the
Princes of the Captivity had so energetically protested.
This roused the indignation of the elders in Jerusalem,
and of Jaddua himself, who declared that Manasseh
nuist put away his wife, or be no longer associated in
the priesthood. This the other declined to do, and
^ Jos. Ant. xi. 8. 1. Corap. Article Jerusalem iu Smith's
Bihl. Diet. I. 998, and note.
Ch. I.] ALEXANDER AT JERUSALEM. 5
repaired to his father-in-law in Samaria, who suggested
the building of a temple on Mount Gerizhu, where Ma-
nasseh might continue to exercise his priestly functions.
With the permission of the Persian court, this was ac-
cordingly done, and Manasseh became the first priest of
the Samaritans at their rival sanctuary, being joined
from time to time by those Jews who had been guilty
of criminal offences in their own country, or had any
cause for dissatisfaction^.
Though by these immigrations the Samaritans were
more and more recalled from idolatry, the building of
this temjile tended in no small degree to stimulate the
animosity between the two nations. The Jews affirmed
that sacrifice could only be offered at Jerusalem ; the
Samaritans replied that on Gerizim Joshua had built his
first altar, and that it was the true place of sacrifice.
The controversy thus generated gradually extended,
and produced that intense degree of illwill between the
two peoples, to which there are several allusions in the
New Testament (Lk. ix. 51 — 56; Jn. iv. 9, viii. 48).
During the high-priesthood of Jaddua, the Persian
empire, to which the Jews had so long been faithful,
crumbled to pieces before the armies of Alexander the
Great. Victorious over the Persian forces at the Grani-
cus, B.C. 334, and again at Issus in the following year,
the conqueror captured Damascus, and having taken
Sidon, laid siege to Tyre, b.c. 332. Thence he sent a
message to the high-priest at Jerusalem, demanding the
transference of his allegiance, and auxiliaries and sup-
plies for his army. This Jaddua declared was impossi-
ble, on the ground of his oath of fidelity to the Persian
monarch. Though incensed at this reply, Alexander
delayed to execute his vengeance, till after the reduc-
tion of Tyre, and then set out for the Holy City. Jad-
^ Jos. Ant. XI. 8. 7.
6 HIGH PRIESTHOOD OF JADDUA- [Bk. I. Pt. L
dua and his people were in the utmost consternation.
Sacrifices were oiOfered, prayers were put up to God, and
the Divine aid sought to appease the wrath of the inva-
der. At length the high-priest is said to have been
warned in a dream how to act. He hung the city with
garlands, threw open the gates, and as soon as he was
informed that Alexander drew near, clad in his pontifi-
cal robes, and followed by the priests in their ceremo-
nial attire and the people in white garments, he went
forth to meet him at Sapha, probably Mizpch, the watch-
tower, on the high ridge to the north of the city.
As soon as the Grecian conqueror beheld the
venerable form of the high-priest, he fell prostrate, and
adored the holy Name inscribed in golden letters on
the frontal of his tiara. The Phoenicians and Chal-
dxeans in his retinue, ancient enemies of the Jewish
people, were only awaiting the signal to pillage the city
and j)ut the high-priest to the torture. They could not,
therefore, conceal their astonishment, while the S}Tian
chiefs concluded that the great conqueror had lost his
senses, and Parmenio addressing Mm enquired why he,
whom all the world worshipped, should kneel before the
high-priest. "It is not the high-priest," replied the
other, "whom I worship, but his God, who has honoured
him with the priesthood. In a vision at Dies in Mace-
donia, I saw him arrayed precisely as he now stands,
and when I was debating \\o\w I might obtain the domi-
nion of Asia, he exhorted me to make no delay, but
boldly cross over the sea, for he would conduct my
army, and give me victory over the Persians."
Then taking Jaddua by the right hand, he entered
the city, and repairing to the Temple, offered sacrifice to
God, and paid high honours to the whole priestly body.
The prophecies of DanieP were now read in his hear-
^ Probably Dan. vii. 6; viii. ?>—^, '20, 21, 22 ; xi. 3.
Ch. I.] ALEXANDER AT JERUSALEM, 7
ing, and overjoyed at the prediction there recorded
that a Greek would overthrow the Persian Empire, he
offered the Jews whatever privilege they might select.
Thereupon they requested that the free enjoyment of
their lives and liberties might be secured to them, as
also to their brethren in Media and Babylonia, and that
they might be exempted from tribute during the Sab-
batical years. These privileges the conqueror Avillingly
conceded.
This famous visit is recorded only by Josephus, and
has been discredited on the ground that it is not men-
tioned by Arrian or Plutarch, Diodorus or Curtius. But
it has been observed that, though probably incorrect in
some of the details, there are several points which con-
firm the truth of the main facts. Thus Curtius himself
relates that, after the capture of Tyre, Alexander visited
some of the cities which refused to submit to him, and
that he personally executed vengeance on the Sama-
ritans \ The Jews, moreover, certainly served in the
army of Alexander, and were located by him in great
numbers in his new city of Alexandria ; while the privi-
leges he is said to have conferred upon them undoubt-
edly existed in later times, and imply some such relation
between them and the great conqueror. Moreover, from
policy or conviction, Alexander delighted to represent
himself as chosen by destiny for the great acts which he
achieved, and his visit to Gordium before the battle of
Issus, and his pilgrimage to the shrine of Jupiter Am-
mon alike illustrate the force of religious feelings in
connection with his campaigns 2.
1 Curtius, IV. 5. 13; IV. 8. 10.
2 See Thirlwall's Greece, vi. 265 ; Kaphall's Eistwy of the
Jews, I. 42 — 50.
8 PTOLEMY SOTER AND [Bk. I. Ft. I.
CHAPTER II. -
PTOLEMY SOTER AND PTOLEMY PHILADELPHUS.
B.C. 323-247.
ON the death of Alexander, b.c. 323, the vast emph'o,
which he had won by his arms, was divided amongst
his generals, and Palestine, as a province of Syria, passed
into the possession of Laomedon, while Egypt was as-
signed to Ptolemy Soter. Between these two war soon
broke out, and Ptolemy having conquered Cyrene, cast
longing eyes on the kingdom of Syria, the harbours of
Phoenicia, and the iron and timber, which abounded in
Palestine and amongst the lofty ridges of Libanus and
Anti-Libanus. Accordingly he invaded the realms of
Laomedon, defeated him in a great battle, and gained
possession of all Syria and Phoenicia,
The Jews on this occasion manifested such unwillingf-
ness to violate their engagements to the Syrian king,
that Ptolemy advanced against Jerusalem, and besieged
it with a large army. Entering the city B.C. 320, under
pretence of offering sacrifice on the Sabbath-day, when
the scruples of the inhabitants forbade their offering
any defence, he easily succeeded in capturing it. In-
stead, however, of folloNNing up his victory by an indis-
criminate massacre, he contented himself with trans-
porting a gi'eat number of the inhabitants to Egypt,
where he distributed them as garrisons in different
places, but especially in Alexandria, and conceded to
them equal privileges with the Macedonians themselves.
Eight years afterwards he transported another largo
body of them to Libya and Cyrene, and thus by succes-
sive deportations and voluntary immigrations on the
part of the people themselves, Egypt became an import-
ant centre of Jewish influence.
Ch. II.] PTOLEMY PHILADELPHUS. 9.
The king of Egypt, however, was not allowed to re-
main long in undisturbed possession of his prize, and
found it disputed with him by Antigonus, one of the
most turbulent of the successors of Alexander. Twice
the coveted province fell into the hands of his rival,
twice Ptolemy managed to recover it, and it was finally
adjudged to his share after the decisive battle of Ipsus
in Phrygia, B.C. 301.
Meanwliile Jaddua had been succeeded in the high-
priesthood at Jerusalem by his son Onias I., and he
again by Simon the Just, the last of the men of the
''Great Synagogue V' as he was called by the Jews. He
superintended the repair of the sanctuary of the Temple,
surrounded with brass the cistern or " sea " of the prin-
cipal court, fortified the city-walls, and maintained the
sacred ritual with much pomp and ceremony (Eccles. 1.
I — 22). He is also said to have completed the Canon
of the Old Testament, by adding to it the books of Ezra
and Nehemiah, of Chronicles and Esther, as also the
prophecies of Malachi^ He died B.C. 291.
The battle of Ipsus, besides securing to Ptolemy
Soter the dominion of Palestine, Phoenicia, and Coele-
syria, elevated Seleucus to the command of an Empire
greater than any other held by the successors of Alex-
ander. He assumed the title of "king of Syria," and his
^ *'The Great Assembly or Synagogue, whose existence has
been called in question on insufficient grounds, was the great
council of the nation during the Persian period, in which the
last substantive changes were made in the constitution of -
Judaism. It was organized by Ezra, and, as commonly
happens, the work of the whole body was transferred to its
representative member. E;5ra probably formed a collection
of the prophetic writmgs ; and the Assembly gathered together
afterwards (as the Christian Church at a later period in corre-
sponding circumstances) such books as were still left without
the Canon, though proved to bear the stamp of the Spirit of
God." Westcott's Bible in the Church, Appendix A.
^ Prideaux's Connection, I. 545.
10 PTOLEMY SOTJSR AND [Bk. I. Pt. I.
domimoii, in the words of the prophet Daniel (Dan. xi.
5), was a great dominion, extending from the EuxiiLe to
the confines of Arabia, and from the Hindokush to the
Mediterranean. His Eastern capital he founded on the
banks of the Tigris, and called Seleucia, after his own
name. For his western metropolis he selected a spot
admirably situated both for military and commercial
purposes^, on the left bank of the river Orontes, just
where " the chain of Lebanon running northwards, and
the chain of Taurus running eastwards, are brought to
an abrupt meeting-." Here he founded a city with
much display in the year B.C. 300, and called it Antioch,
after the name of his father Antiochus, Convinced, like
the Egyptian monarchs, of the loyalty of the Jews, he
began to invite many of them to his new capital and
other cities in Asia Minor, assuring them of the same
privileges which they enjoyed under Ptolemy in Alex-
andria. This invitation was readily embraced by many
of the Jews, who settled down in Antioch, were govern-
ed by their own etlmarch, and were admitted to the
same advantages as the Greeks ^
Ptolemy Philadelphus succeeded his father Ptolemy
^ " By its harbour of Seleucia it was in communication
with all the trade of the Mediterranean ; and through the open
country behind the Lebanon it was conveniently approached'
by the caravans from Mesopotamia and Arabia. It united
the inland advantages of Aleppo with the maritime opportu-
nities of Smyrna." Conybeare and Hov.'^son, Life and Epi-
stles of St Paul, I. 118; Smith's Diet. Gcog. Art. Antiochia.
^ " Few princes have ever lived with so great a passion for
the building of cities as Seleucus. IJe is said to have built in
all 9 Seleucias, 16 Antiochs, and 6 Laodiceas. This love of
commemorating the members of his family was conspicuous
in his works by the Orontes. Besides Seleucia and Antioch,
he built, in the immediate neighbourhood, a Laodicea in ho-
nour of his mother, and an Apamea in honour of his wife.
Convbeare and Howson, I. 119; Merivale, ill. 368.
¦* Jos. Ant. XII. 3. I ; Conlr. Apion. ii. 4.
Ch. II.] PTOLEMY PIIILADELPHUS. 11
Soter, B.C. 283. In pursuance of the policy of the pre-
vious reign, he distinguished himself by uniform kind-
ness to the Jewish nation, ransoming many who Iiad
been sold as slaves, and inviting many to settle in Egypt.
A liberal patron of literature and science, he established
a famous library at Alexandria, and spared no pains in
procuring books to be deposited therein. He is also
represented to have caused the Hebrew Scriptures to
be translated into Greek, and thus to have originated
the celebrated Version called the Septuagint, from the
tradition that 72 persons were engaged in the transla-
tion, which obtained a wide circulation, and was exten-
sively read. The same monarch conferred costly pre-
sents on the Temple at Jerusalem, consisting of a table
for the shewbread of marvellous workmanship, cisterns
of gold, bowls, and other vessels for the public and
private use of the priests \
CHAPTER III.
PTOLEMY EUERGETES AND PTOLEMY
PHILOPATOR.
B.C. 247-222.
ON the death of Philadelphus, Ptolemy Euergetes
succeeded to the Egyptian throne. The new king
considerably extended the privileges of the Jews, and
bestowed many presents upon their Temple. During
his reign an incident occurred, which illustrates in a
striking manner at once the condition of Judsea at this
time, and the influence of individual members of the
chosen nation.
On the death of Simon " the Just," his brother Elea-
zar became high-priest b.c. 291. He was succeeded in
^ Jos. Ant. XII, 2. 10.
12 PTOLEMY EUERGETES AND [Bk. I. Pr. I.
B.C. 276, not by his own son Onias, but his uncle Ma-
nasseh, the son of Jaddua. At his death, b. c. 250, the
son of Simon, Onias II., became high-priest, but inhe-
rited none of his father's virtues, being distinguished for
nothing but meanness, and an inordinate love of money.
The older he grew, the more avaricious he became, and
neglected from year to year to remit to Ptolemy Euer-
getes the customary tribute of 20 talents of silver. At
length, about B.C. 226, that king sent his commissioner
Athenion to Jerusalem to demand the arrears, and
threatened violence, if his claims were not satisfied.
The Jews were filled with dismay at the too probable
consequences of continued disobedience, but Onias still
persisted in his refusal.
At length his nephew Joseph took upon him the
task of appeasing the royal anger, and having ingratiated
himself with Athenion persuaded him to return to Alex-
andria, and promised that he himself would speedily
follow, and satisfy every demand. Shortly afterwards
he himself set out, and on his way fell in with several
men of distinction belonging to Phoenicia and Coelesyria
who were going up to the Egyptian capital to compete
for the farming of the revenues, which were annually
sold to the highest bidder. Not suspecting a compe-
titor in the Jew, whose slender equipage contrasted
unfavourably with their splendid cavalcade, they unwit-
tingly revealed the amount at which the revenues had
been farmed.
Thereupon Joseph resolved to outbid them, and
in an audience with the king contrived by his clever-
ness and ready address completely to win the royal
favour. When the day for the auction came, the nobles
of Ph(enicia and Coelesyria bid 8000 talents for the
farming of the revenues. But Joseph came forward
and engaged to pay twice that sum, in addition to all
the goods which should be confiscated for neglect of
Ch. III.] PTOLEMY PHILOPATOR. 13
payment. Thereupon Ptolemy granted his request, and
he became collector of the revenues from Judaea, Sama-
ria, Coelesyria, and Phoenicia, and was furnished with
a guard of 2000 soldiers to extort payment from the
refractory.
Having liquidated the arrears due from his uncle,
Joseph returned to Palestine to carry out his instruc-
tions. Excited by the disappointed collectors, Askelon
at first refused payment, and treated his demands with
insult. But Joseph was not to be trifled with. He
slew 20 of the chief inhabitants, and sent 1000 talents
of their confiscated property to the king, who highly
commended his determination. A similar instance of
severity at Scythopolis^ put down all further opposi-
tion, and Joseph was at length universally acknow-
ledged as the collector for the Egyptian king, and held
the office upwards of 22 years. He now became the
founder of a family, which vied with that of the high-
priest in power and influence, and became the occasion
of many serious quarrels between them.
The reign of Ptolemy Euergetes came to a sudden
and tragical close. In the year B.C. 222 he was assassi-
nated by his own son Ptolemy IV., who in irony was
called Philopator, the lover of his father. As soon as
he ascended the throne, he murdered his mother Bere-
nice, and his brother Magas, and gave himself up to
luxury and dissipation. Taking advantage of his well-
known effeminacy, Antiochus the Great welcomed the
offer of Theodotus, governor of Coelesyria, to surrender
that province, and after a brief campaign became master
of Phoenicia, Tyre, Ptolemais, Damascus, and the greater
part of Coelesyria. Roused at length from his lethargy,
the Egyptian monarch confronted his rival at Raphia,
1 The Beth-shan of the Old Testament; see Class-BooIc
of Old Testament History, p. 316, and 445 note, 2nd ed.
14 PTOLEMY EUERGETES AND [Bk. I. Pt. I.
between Rhinocorura and Gaza, and defeated him with
enormous loss, B.C. 217, tlie same year that Hannibal
was victorious at Thrasymene.
Meanwhile the Jews had remained steadfast in their
allegiance to Ptolemy, and the conqueror visited Jeru-
salem, offered sacrifices according to the Jewish law,
and presented rich gifts to the Temple. Attracted by
the beauty of the building, and the solemnity of the
service, he desired to penetrate into the Holy of Holies.
Simon II., who had succeeded Onias, together with the
priests, entreated him to desist from his purpose, but
this only increased his determination to view the inte-
rior, and he pressed forward, amidst the dismay of the
pontiff and the lamentation of the peojDle, towards the
sanctuary. Here, however, he was seized with a sudden
and supernatural terror, and was carried forth half-dead.
Enraged at this repulse, he retired to A lexandria, and
w reaked his vengeance on the numerous Jews who had
settled there. Some he is said to have put to death,
others he degraded from their high positions and con-
signed to slavery, or reduced to the lowest class of citi-
zens. Thirteen years afterwards, b. c. 204, he died a
victim to his sensual habits, and ¦\vas succeeded by his
son Ptolemy Epiphanes, then pnly five years old.
Meanwhile, since his disastrous defeat at Raphia,
Antiochus had been gradually strengthening his position
in Upper Asia, where he had won his title of "the Great"
by his successes against the Parthians and Bactrians, as
also on the banks of the Indus. Having thus re-esta-
blished the supremacy of the Seleucidce he returned to
Western Asia, to find his old rival dead, and the Egyp-
tian throne in the possession of a child. He instantly
embraced the opportunity of attacking the Egyptian do-
minions, and in concert with Philip III. of Macedon
resolved to avenge the defeat at Raphia. In the cam-
paigns that ensued the Jews suffered severely, and be-
Ch. III.] PTOLEMY PHILOPATOR. 15
came in turn the prey of each of the contending parties \
In B.C. 203, Antiochus succeeded in taking Jerusalem.
In B.C. 199 it was retaken by Scopas, the general of the
Egyptian forces. Next year Antiochus reappeared in the
field, and at the foot of Mount Panium^, near the sources
of the Jordan, gained a decisive victory over Scopas,
capturing that general himself and the remnant of his
forces, "which had fled for refuge to Sidon.
Wearied of the struggle, and remembering the in-
dignities offered to their sanctuary by Philopator, the
Jews now threw off their subjection to Egypt, welcomed
the conqueror as their deliverer, and furnished supplies
for his army. Antiochus in his turn treated his new
subjects with liberality and kindness. Ho not only
guaranteed to them perfect freedom and protection in
the exercise of their religion, but promised to restore
their city to its ancient splendour, forbade the intrusion
of strangers in their Temple, and contributed largely
towards the regular celebration of its services. At the
same time, imitating the examples of Alexander and Se-
leucus, he issued orders to Zeuxis, the general of his
forces, to remove 2000 Jewish families from Babylon into
Lydia and Phrygia, where they were to be permitted to
use their own laws, to have lands assigned them, and to
be exempted from all tribute for ten years 3.
^ Jos. Ant. XII. 3. 3.
^ One of the branches of the Lebanon, containing a cave
sacred to Pan, whence it derived its name. See below,
p. •SI 8, n.
^ Jos. Ant, XII. 3. 3.