The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-22

/ ouUJ0C
was delivered on Thursdsy evening, at the Medical
College in Crosby street, by the Rev. Doctor Ra.
phaIl, late of Birmingham, England. These lee
lures seem 70 excite considerable interest," from the
large number Of persons that attended The sub
Ject of the lecture was the "Hasmonean Kings-
the Sanhedrm Sects, and Civil Wars" He began
by observing, that the cruel persecution of anti
Epiphanes had reused the Jews to war which re-
stored The independence of Judea. Mattathias and
his sons could no. be considered as rebels, with
the object Of merely advancing their own fortunes,
out as Pious, Godfearing men, who acted under
Poss and patriotic motives; their zeal and talents
entitled them to power and rank; by their preemi-
nence in danger, they exchanged life of ease for
one of toll, and for the post Of honor which was
likely 10 lead them to an untimely grave. They
were entitled to the thanks of their coun,rymen;
but their heirs appeared to the people in far more
questionable light. Their parents gave to the
heirs kind of claim, but the latter endeavored to
combine powers in their own persons, which ought
| to have been kept distinct. John Hyrcanus first
declared the Jews independent Of Syria; and he
accomplished his object after many battles.
He held the civil government by the title
Ethna, or Chief of the people. During the long
struggle which preceded the independence ofJude4,
the people had not time to inquire into the policy of
all the powers OF the State being held by per-
son. The various sects into which the Jews were
divided, increased in his reign, and their struggles
finally ended in the ruin of all Judea. During his
reign those sects remained quiet; but pot ;ally,
they insulied him by questioning the Legitimacy Of
his birth. They pretended that his mother was
some time prisoner among the Syro Grecans
and this was especially huitful among a people so
jealous as the Jews of purity of birth and legti.
macy. But there could be no doubt of his legiti-
macy. lie saw and wished that his sons place,
as chief magistrate, shou I'D be rmer basis IN an
by popular election, and previous TO his death, he
took measures TO secure the succession for his son,
Anstobulus, who, upon his death, at ence pro-
claimed himself king and high priest of the Jews
| and II was during his name that the parties were
formed-hrst the piiesy office or power; secondly,
the roy al Offices and thirdly, the office OF the admi
nis,ianon Of the law. The priesty Office was
lmitd to The house of Aaron; the kinely, or royal
office, to the house of David, and the third office
was open TO ail-the person who administered the
last Office being also chief Of the Sanhedrm. Thus
there Yves three distinct bodies, and perfect div-
sion OF power-the spiritual, the judicial, and
the executive. True attempts had been ma fe
az early as the time Of king Uzea, TO combine those
powers; but until the time Ut Nebucha dnezzar each
had preserved lis separate balance. After the Ba-
bylonian captivity, the fortunes of the two fa miles
OF Aaron and DAVID became altogether different,
and the PersiaDs were too jealous to permit the
royal house OF David to return to Judea. Not SO
with the family tf Aaron; they were permitted to
assume the functions OF high priest, and at the
same time they exercised the powers Of temporal
monarch. This, indeed, was nece ssary, and as the
CHEF YVES often required to address the Persian
suthones II was quite natural tn At he should be-
come the civil magistrate; but he only had the
title, but not the prerogaves OF royalty. The Jews
were governed by their own laws, and the office of
high pliest continued in existence while the Syrians
ana Mscedonians exercised power in Judea. The
people first in vested Judah with the office of high
prize 81, and after him his brother ohm No one Ie-
membertd that the pres!ly office usurped the rights
OF the family OF David; but after some time the
people began to ask, was it right that all power
the power Of priest and king Of church and state
should be united under one head! When John
HyIcanus took those jointly upon himself the San
hedrm were most aDx'ous TO effect separation Of
the two powers. The Sanhednm, or council of
elders, had it's authority from Moses, as we see
by the Book Of Numbers. IL consisted of sew.
enty elders. This council continued through
ell changes down to the fifth century Of the
common era. Directors ray that Josephus no
where mentions this council, but the council Is
historically mentioned in the frat book Of Macca-
bees IL Is objected 10 that the SanhedIim wa not
so ancient, because the word is of Greek and not
o. Hebrew origin; but we find that in the reign of
the Asmoneans, the Council Of Elders Is anhedrim)
war IN full authority. Doctor X. observed, in reply
10 these objections, that when the Creeks obtained
authority in Judea, it was necessary to adopt a
Gree k name (Jerusia) for the Sanhedrim; but that
nsTe was uostquently dropped. and thai of san
hednm resumed. IL was mentioned in Ezekiel,
end long before the Baby lonish CAPTIVITY; and
surely, said DR. Raphal the voice of the Inspired
Ezt kiel ought 10 outweigh the silence of Josephus.
The council had seen its influence restrained not
only by The assumption of the Asmonsan kngs but
cleo ny the different It cts INFO which the Jewish
people were spl't Al this time there were three
different sects amongst the m-namely. the Phari-
seee, the Sadducees, and the Spintualists. The
Ssdducees did not believe in a resurrection after
death. They endeavored to combine the scepti-
cism OF the Greeks with the revelation of the He
brews. They neither believed in the immortality
OF the SOUL IN the judgment, the resurrection Of
the deed. They were, however, a very influential
people, ow,ng 10 Their wealth ana rank in the Jewish
nation. The Pharlsees were the national party
they were opposed 10 the introduction Of fore guers
ard particularly to the Greeks. They adhered to
the laws and traditions; and here il may be proper
10 remark that We must not COMO 1nd this sect with
the hypocrites whose apparent sanctiy was used as
a cloak tor wickednets Those hypocrites are de-
nounced IN The Talmuc as much as they are in the
New Tt stamebt, The Spintualiss hold that our
existence on earth was no more than pr, lration
for an existence hereafter; they were bat a small
fragment OF the Jewish people, and were an honest,
vIrtu0us sect, having no thought but for a future
existence. Doctor Raphall Then remarked upon
the history of Mattathias, John Sunou &c and said
that the people were always reedy TO go with the
chiefs OF the PhaIisee; but when John Hyrcanus
was opposed TO The Senhedrm, the BODY rallied
round u the old Pberlsee party. Then Hyrcauus
threw himself into the opposite party OF the Sad
ducees Here the lecturer drew para llel between
the disputes John end his party with the Sanhe-
Dim, and the cruel wars between Charles
The first and the Parliament Of England
Thus, said he, We find that in the reiga Of
nm Hyrcanus there were TWO powerful par
ties among the Jews, between whom politIcal
rancor continually increased. Hyrcanus, by his
lest will, declared that his wife should be
regent but his son, Arsobulus, dis iained to reign
under a woman. He obtained the royal treasury
ard imprisoned bis mother and her two cons She
died of a broken heart, and il was even said IN Al
she wis starved TO death. Aristobuus gave the
command OF the army TO his brother Ambiguous. for
whom the Queen had conceived a dislike, and
when he returned, after being victorious she pre-
vailed upon Arisiobulus TO believe that he had only
returned for the purpose Of dethroaing him. Ans
tobulus sent a hamberlan to his brother 10 appe ar
before him at a feast, unarmcd add he placed
guards, composed Of fereign mercenarles, in a
room through which Anti gonus was TO pass, and
gave them secret orders that IL he was armed thew
were 70 cut him down, but II he came unarmei
then they were TO let hun pnse. The chamhe lain