The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-29
Palestine at the Epoch OF Its Greatest
Prosperity.

A. WHITE, Fellow Of New College. O1fort
nonginRns. Green d Coz. The first edition col
this work appeared In 1850; consequently. tn,
editor, kccping in view the outcome of later re.
searches, and especially the results of Schhrer's
Investigations. has deemed IL advisable to en-.
close within brackets considerable additions
and alterations. AS IL stands, tho book rep
resents the most conspectus OF the
history of the Hebrews and OF the state of the
synagogue, from tho capture OF Jerusalem by
Titus to the final persecution and dispersion
Of tho Jews, which took place after the definite
adoption of Christianity by the Roman emper-
ors, who followed Julian, the A~postate. We pur-
pose here, with the help OF the author and
editor OF this volume, to give an outline of the
social condition Of Palestine after the last Jew
ish war. to indicate the main features of Jewish
philosophy and theology as they were developed
at Alexandria, and, II our space permits, to
glance ultimately at the Jewish patriarchate as
1t was organized under the last Pagan emporors.
Let US look. first. at the political and social con-
dition of Palestine in the first half OF the second
century, A. d., after the suppression of the in
surreCtion which took place during the reign Of
Hadrian. At the time when the saviour appeared
on earth. Palestine had undergone n fourth divi-
sion and arrangement. The ALLEGATION among the
Nh''Ne '"A S'fN' bhNNS ~ " tO
latter had, in turn. been divided into the
rival kingdoms OF Judah and Israel. At the
beginning of our era, Jew and Gentle had
forgotten both tribes and Kingdoms. and
only spoke OF Galilee. Samaria. Judea. and
Perea. The first OF these provinces. Cali
lee. commonly divided into two districts,
| Upper and Lower. to which Jewish authorities
added the district around Tiberias AS the third.
extended from near tho river Leontes in Syria
70 GrythpnDlta np thn T,rIan aud frn,,
tho borders of Tyre to Mount Carmel. Its west
ern boundary consisted of a narrow strip OF
land along the seashore. and OF Phnnicia.
Eastward 1t extended to the Jordan and tho
Lake of Gennesarct. Upper Galilee was noun
tainous. and inhabited in great part by Gentiles:
hence the name OF the district, Galilee of the
Gentiles; Lower Galilee was moro level and ex-
ceedingly fruitful. Tho people OF both districts
we're brave and warlike. From their commix-
ture with Gentiles, they were less addicted to
the study of Jewish traditions, or the observ-
ance Of ceremonial injunctions. and, hence,
they were despised by their brethren OF the
South. This remark, however, applies chiefly
to the inhabitants Of Upper Galilee. The pros
perity of the province OF Galilee. taken
as q whole. Is indicated by the large
number OF its towns. which. at the
beginning Of the war brought to an end by
Titus. are said to have amounted to 24O. the
smallest OF wnlCn. according TO JOSephuS, con-
tained not less than fifteen thousand inhab-
itants. The computation is evidently exag-
gerated, but some idea OF the populousness of
the province may he gathered from the fact
that In the war with the Romans. Josephus was
able to raise In Galilee alone an army Of no
fewer than one hundred thousand men. Galilee
covered the ancient possessions Of the tribes of
Issachar, Zebulon. Asher. and Naphtali. Its
most fertile and beautiful district was that
around the Lake Of Gennesaret, where. in GER
tain situations, together with the products of
cooler zones. those of tropical climates also
adorned and enriched the landscape during
many months. and a rich soil was assiduously
cultivated by a diligent and enterprising popu-
lation.
Samaria. which was bordered on the north by
Galilee, and which covered the ancient inher-
itances of Ephraim and the half tribe of Ma
nasseh, was smaller than any other Of the prov
inces of Palestine. II formed nearly a square.
The soil was fertile. and, although the water
courses were not abundant, frequent showers
compensated for their deficiency. The water of
Samaria was said to be peculiarly sweet. This
together with the quantity Of aromatic herbs
which grew In the country, gave the
Samaritan agriculturist a more than Or
dlnarily largo supply OF good milk.
The inhabitants, who formed n numerous
and prosperous community. had lived, for
tho most part, at enmity with the Jews
ever since the building of the second Temple.
The periods when common hopes or misfor-
tunes united the two peoples were rare and Of
short duration. In general, a mutual distrust
and bitterness characterized their relations.
The Jews accused the Samaritans of being the
lineal descendants of heathens, of practising
idolatry. of deceitfulness, &C.; the Samaritans
retorted by such acts of vengeance and malice as
opportunity afforded. Commonly the two peo-
pies avoided each other. the Jews of Upper Pal
estine preferringt to take the longer road to Jeru-
salem beyond the Jordan, to passing through
Samaria, though by the shorter route the CAPT
tai might have been reached from Galilee in
three days. The opinions as to the lawfulness
of intercourse with the Samaritans differed
with circumstance and Rabbins. Some OF the
Rabblns went so far as to forbid the purchase
of uncooked animal food from them, or the
sojourning under the same roof with them; but
usually a sharp distinction was drawn between
the Samaritans and heathens. or idolators.
The third province of Palestine was .Judea,
which extended southwark to the borders of
Arabia and westward along the seashore for a
considerable distance. In every respect the
most important province of the country, II was,
in part. mountainous. and the neighborhood of |
the sea was especially adapted for pasturage.
From the time OF the Maccabees. Idumea had
been Joined to Judea. but it retained its peculiar |
namo. In Judea, as in Galilee. the Talmud dis
tinguishes three districts: the mountains. the
plain, and the South. For civil purposes. the
province was divided into eleven toparchies. or
districts; geographically, 1t may be divided into
eastern and western Judea. We come. lastly, to
tho fourth province. that on the other side OF
the Jordan, known by the name of Perea. IL
was divided into three portions. varying in size,
fertility, and populousness. This province also
was, in part, mountainous. and, in part. desert.
Tho history Of Perga Is of no great Importance; |
within its limits. however, lay tho greater part
OF the Decapolis. or Ten Cities. so well known to
the readers OF the New Testament.
III.
Regarded as a whole, Palestine had more
towns and villages than might have been ex-
pected when one considers the agricultural
pursuits of the majority OF It's inhabitants. At
first, towns had chiefly served for protection To