The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-12-03

scruDulOu~iv observed ny our lSracIf IN
cit,2rns. This feast, although not ordered
by Divine authority, from its similarity in
some respects ~ the Passover, &c, has
been kept up strictly from time imtaemo-
rial, for If tho Passover was the era Of l.
berty 10 an cnslavcd people, and the CON-
mencement of their national existence,
Hanukah" cnmmemoratsd their liberal
tion from n most calling and inALman op-
preston.
1t will be remembered that after the
close Of the Babylouish captivity, md the
return Of the IsrcaliteS to their own
land, through the famous proclamation OF
Cyrus, they were permitted to rebuild their
temple and worship their God Is did their
ancestors, Ivy the favor ofthat monarch.
Unfortunately, some years after, the Per-
slams went to war with the Greeks, which
ended in the overthrow oi the former, as
the army OF Alexander the Great van
quishcl that of Darius. The Jews, who
had been treated with signal marks Of
kindness by the Pcr>ians, refused their aid
to the Greeks, and Alexander marched
against Jcrusalcm; but, owing to dream
he had, when the high priest .Iaddua and
the attendant priests, drckrd in their
robes, advanced TO meet him, he was so
struck with their venerable appearance
that lie bowed down before them and PAID
homage TO the great God whose name was
inscribed on the m:trc of JaiGua. This
act 50 iuccnscd some IF his followers that
one oethcm asked, "Why he, before whom
every one krlt, should prostrltc himself be-
fore the priest ot the jews" Alexander
replied, 81 Worship not this man, but his
God," and acted towards tie Jews in a
very conaidcratc manner. His death took
place some few years after, and his leaders,
who shared bis COnguests, trampted down
and bitterly oppressed the uu"ttrnding in
habitants Of Judra, each striving 10 di>loS-
seSa the other Of the country held.
Jerusalem was constantly being possess.
cd or dispoSseSsed bv the several leaders,
some of whom cndeavorrd hy lrnent mea-
sures TO gain their attachment and among
such may be ranked the three first Ptoie-
mics, SoIcr, PhIadcIphus, aud Eu"rgcleS ;
but this came 10 al abrupt termination
when Srcuccas founded the Svro- -Grrciau
kingdom, tor the israeltr> found th"m-
selves in the position Of a weak nation be-
tween two strong Powers. Between til"
JgN l'lldhN anu tHS -. A'"'I'''''''' '''' -.
were to know neither peace nor rest ahd
to make things worse, intestine divisions
tended to increase tn" misery Of one"
happy people. AnilorhuS. >nrn'med Epi-
planes" Or" Iilustrious,' now assembled
thc throne OF Syria, and to him tn" Jews
turned for ad hut In>t'ad thereof lie
prosecuted them almost {" cTtcrm'hat'o"'
and not content with laying on mem
dreadful burdens, he pro'uhird the rrad-
ing Of the Pcntatruch; by mcd"S II which
kc hoped 10 overthrow their religion.
But the s"urcc Of that pr"hl"'ted Ia"
was TAR too l'iiy L" he SCI a>ldc hv human
agency, and the adoption OF such extreme
measures vas, through the rr9Eidcrce oi
God, tllr means ot rou>lhg the jewish poo
pie; and their "b'! !r curtEE was directed
to throw oil the yoke "i'rt was - CALLING.
The feeling was universal, ana was re-
>trI,trd neither I" -" nor conHtll"h. ne
aged MathIaN and his SONS raised IN. ~faui-
ard Of Hud WITH t"e inscription, " " t"-
abocha Dto'1" I'""aH w d" Is III" un'"
The" a"'1@ tA' m-a'E, OH l.Mdh t"c
Initial. "t "l1rh i"'m IA" "1E" -H"'"''''
ana ""'c4 was "Ale' - I've >.S"','' 81
MS son '"',H: ~ :, ''' '"i' 1 '''1''y y
" ',' ~ T'.' .s' ,n>I :; 20" ' ,,>,h ,N
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