New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-06
REMAINS NEW BOOK.
THE SECOND VOLUME OF THE HISTORY OF
ISRAEL.

Historic DU PEUPLE DIsRAEL Pm Ernest
Renan. Tome Deuxeme Paris' Csimsnh Low
New-York W. r. jenkins. ,
The second volume of Remains history OF the
people of Israel deals with important events anu
covers tho period from the reign OF DAVID 10 inc
CAPTURE Of Samaria and the fall of the Northern
Kingdom The author states in ius preiaoe 'na'
he regards this period as the most important ~
the history of Judaism. Jehovah, the Nauohai
Cod ~ Israel undergocs here complete trans
formation From a local and provincial deity ne
becomes through sort of reversion to the ancient
natriarchal Elohism, the universal COO VINO mas
created the heavens and the earth Above all ne
becomes a Just God-whch the national delues' VI
necessity full of partiahty for their sl~c"i
yoiar,es never ere. The entrance OF morahty INTO
religion is an accomplished fact: Amos, hose"'
Michah Isaiah, at the date when this Voiun'o
closes. Rave proclaimed it in utterances whose
beauty has never been surpassed" lie proo'.o'
70 argue that the common conception OF an inl-
measurable antiouity for Judaism is erroneous. IL
REQUIRED some four centuries to estaoIsh tD"'
faith About q thousand years before Chris% thc
Israelitish religion, since called Judaism, hao as
vet no existence. The Religion Oh Da'iu ""1
Solomon was not appreciably dinerent from 'n'O
of the peoples who were their neishooi' ="
Palestine Those marks Of predestination to re-
licious vocation which TO keen eye migh' h"'o
been apparent in Israel much carrier "ele no0
clearly defined until the ninth century before
Christ, and 1t was the prophets who then pecahie
the creators of the reformed faitli Elijah ana
rEsb. beinp the legendary representatives of this
great revolution In reality, Judaism may De salu
70 have been completely formed at the time OF
Ezekiel about 725 years before Christ What tne
later prophets added was sectarlan organi~
ton of wonderful sohdty.
NJ Remains account of David strikes the key
note of the new historical Development nc %
no longer the great and civilized prince OF grea'
and powerful PEOPLE The reader IS told 10 co'n-
mare him with som, modern barbarian chieltaih
such as Abd-el-Kadcr at Mascara, or an Aoys.
sinian ncgus at Magdala Gondar. Either oil
these is the perfect image of the royalty OF DaViu
in his milo of Sion" David appears here as an
asfute crafty ferocious and INSCRIPTIONS ruler,
of whom The best that can be said is he does not
anpear 10 have ever committed useless crimes
he was only cruel when cruelty served his inter
ests- Revenge, which was one OF the foremost
virtues of the period, he acquitted himself OF con-
scientiouslvn He was fond of seeming to be
forced to do what he had determined to DO Con
corning the kings acquisition OF Bathsheoa' NJ
Rcnan DISPLAYS "A rare moderation. He points out
that the story is doubtful. David he observes
was no saint; meanwhile one is emitted 10 SCI
aside as not proven the tale OF the mufuef u
northern tribes, collectively known as Israel, was
lax even at this date. 1t was Renan says, 'nat
of an Arab tribe with its extreme slmpnclty Oh
means Save in Jerusalem there were scarcely
any permanent or important buildings, ana there
only n rude palace an arsenal and treasury
marked the Government centre Money dld not
vet exist and the precious metals were manu-
featured often in bucklers and other heaVy pieces
which passed, as booty, from people to people
David's reign was full OF fighting and the usual
Oriental massacres and vengeances lie was
famous warrior but he not the conqueror ne
has been represented. History" says NJ Renan,
has been completely ialsifod IN presenting
David at the head of a powerful kingdom, which
embraced nearly the whole of Syria David was
King of Judah and Israel; that is all. lie laid
under tribute many of his nelghbors, Hebrew,
Canaanite, Aramean, PLilistine, from Hermon to
the desert; but with the exception perhaps OF the
small town of Sillag, David made no annexation
of alien Territory" In regard t. the composition
of the Psalms it was not TO b expected that NJ
Eenan would go counter to the modern eXegesls
which refuses TO credit them TO David. 1t IS not
impossible,o he observes that David, wlo had
taste for poetry, may have composed some songs
OF raise and thanksgiving 10 Jehovah. But
II is impossible seriously to attribute
{, him any of the Psalms, unless an exception
may be made in the case of the 18th Psalm, some
verses of which, perhaps, represent poetic essay
of the time of the first King of Israel" The
religion Of David was told, crude and
practical lie had compact with Jehovah (or
Jahve) The latter a God of business, so TO
say. "Jahve Is faithful, solid, trustworthy
deity: David is faithful, solid, trustworthy
worshipper The success OF David is the success
of Jahve. The foundation of the new Kingdom
was in way considered the work OF Jahve.
Jahvcisn and the Davidian dynasty were thus
intimately allied" David found no moral senti-
ment in the deity he knew and adored This
capricious deity favoritism itself; his faith
fulness was wholly material: he was Jealous OF
his rights to the point of absurdity. HIS anger
burned against people for no discoverable reason.
Then they made him smell the smoke of a sacri-
fee and his wrath abated.' lie was not above
human sacrifices" the torture OF the members
of the house of Saul, at Gibea, is actually
human sacrifice of seven persons, made to appease
Jahve The Wars of Jahve' always end with
frightful massacres in honor of this cruel deity
Between Jahvc and David the relation was in
sense personal, the King representing the deity
In a special manner. This caused prophecy to fall
into allegiance in his time.
The Law power overshadowcd IT, The King
himself was also high priest in fact If not in
name. God and Nathan occupied secondary
positions at David's court. Neither OF them
exercised any appreciate influence upon tho
reign 1t was only after the royal office had been
lowered, century later, that the prophets re
covered their old power and became actually
influential in affairs of state. AS David aged
and his powers failed the prospects of his dynasty
became darker. The cause of this weakness
Of Oriental government is always the same. III
Is the bad constitution Of the family-poygamy
in short" NJ. Renan gives striking sketch
of the intrigucs in the old Kings harem which
eliminated in the succession Of Solomon. OF
the latter he holds low opinion, describing
him as one of those wasteful and oppressive
Eastern rulers, the magnifcence of whose con-
structions and surroundings but emphasize the
misery OF their subjects, reduced TO penury that
the royal caprices may be eratiied. NJ Renal