The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-31
SOME NEW hooks
IN. jewish People in tho Second Half Of
the First Century.

the First Century.
Me~u, Longmans Green q Co have published
n revised edition Of tho History o. the Je,cf,h
Nation After he Destruction Of Jrusdism under
TITUS, by the Rev. ALFRED EDERsHEiM. Tho
years which have elapsed since d. Edersheim's
death havo served " enhance tho value Of his
narrative A Christian by conversion, his jew
ish birth gave him the key To the stores Of the
Talmud lie is the ono scholar who has been
able 10 interpret Jewish history at a most inter
sstng epoch from both Jewish and Christian
point u view The Grst edition OF the work DO
fore ny appeared in 1886 some ten years after
the authors admission to the Scottish Free Church,
and when he was engaged in active parochal
WORK at old Aberdeen. A second edition quickly
followed In the preparation Of a revised edition.
which was undertaken by the Rev. Henry A White,
two objects have 70 DO kept in mind II was, OF
course essential 70 go through III. Edcrshcms
later publications so as TO take account Of every
development Of opinion in tho author himself,
and 1t WIS also desirable TO check the results by
comparison with tho collateral literature which
has appeared since 1886, and, especially, with
the great work Of Schurcr. History Of the jewish
People in tho Time Of Jesus Christ an English
Translation Of which was completed In 1900. Dr.
Bchurer and DR.. Edersheim may DO said 70 DO
com plements Of each other the former derives his
inior alton mainly from rock and Roman sources,
she latter mainly from the Talmud We shall
here pass over .ho chapters which discuss tho
Hebrow Commonwealth and depict the clos-
ing scenes Of tho jewish war for Independence
that was brought 70 close by the capture Of
Jerusalem by Titus Tho part OF the book 70
which We shall direct attention Is that which
deals with the desperation Of lsrae with the polit-
cal and religious state Of tho Jews after the do
struction Of Jerusalem. and with the social condi
ton Of Palestine At the epoch.
I.
When wo recall tho large number Of Israelites
dispersed over tho Mediterranean and western
Asiauc world. who, by their annual contribu-
tons and the despatch Of delegates 10 offer vicarous
sacrifices. had ben wont 10 acknowledge Jcru-
salem as their political and religious capital. Il may
seem strange that no attempt should have been
mado by them TO assist their brethren in the ma
tonal contest az ninst the Roman power in A. d.
69.7O. Tho apathy displayed on this occasion
By the Jews who had settled in other lands has been
attributed by some writer's 70 tho liberty OF con-
science which they enjoyed In tho paccs Of their
soourn. 70 the feelings Of local attachment which
they consequently entertained toward their adopt
cd counties and 70 the political alienation from
Palcstns which had been thereby induced. DR..
Edorshcim would not lay too much stress upon
such motives. He admits that while We hear Of
the Bsbyionian Jews, the only aid actually given
20 the insurgents in Palestine was that rendered
by the proselyts princes OF Adiabcne. He points
out however, that the rising In Palestine took place
before any plan had been properly preconccrted,
and that the had been premAturcly brought
on by tho movement Of a particular party. while
the confusion arising from the want Of a single
recognized leader rendered any regular co-opcra
ton diicult This distance, also, between the
various lands of the dispersion. and the peculiar
circumstances Of their Jewish inhabitants so far
20 account for tho inactivity ~ the latter The
mos, important branch Of the dispersed Jews
consisted Of those who Inhabited the Parthian
empire A considerable number Of the IsrsclItcs
whose ancestors had hrcn transported by NCbu-
chadnczsar IN Babylonih came 10 prefer the quiet
and comfortable settlements in the land Of their
captivity to a return 10 the homo of their fathers
IL was asserted in Babylon that when some Of the
jews returned from exile tho best portion had
remained behind while, with reference to purity
81 descent tho Hebrew population Of .Iudca subsc
qucrtly claimed 10 stand in the same relation 10
thci brethren scattered throughout the various
pro, noes Of tho Roma Empire as DOES pure
flour 70 mixed dough-" the Jews Of Babylon. in
turn rhara ceryed their knsmcn Of Palestine a.
only Ike dough. far their claims 10 purity
Of descent were concerned. DR.. Edcrshcim deems
II inlubitablc that tn distinctive elements OF the
synagogue traditionalism and mysticism. had !
originated during the Jewish stay in Babylonin
Always aftcrward a numerous and rich class
in the Persian Umpire, tho Jews OF Babylunia !
pros Ncutcd not only comm rec and agriculture. |
but also tho study 81 tho law and NJ science in gen
cral In tho latter respect indeed. the 3abylonan
Jews greatly cNccllcd their brethren Of Palestine
The great founder OF Jewish theology, Hillcl. |
who nourishcd shortly before tho time Of Jesus
~ h,slAV tNrt,
schools in Iud"a, however. those Of Babylon were
subject to the former regards all authoritative
inter pretatons of matters Of faith and practice
Though the Jews Of Babylon were. for a long
peri ID, under the Tulr Of Prince u the Captivity
who claimed descent from the House OF David
yet until the extinction Of tho Pntriarchatc in
Palestine, his government was rather secular than
spiritual. and he himself was confrsscdly sub.
iect To the Patriarch of Judca.
Al the time a. ID, 7o) when tho Romans sup
pressed the rebellion and brough, To- an end the
Jew tsh war the greater portion Of what had form
erly constituted the Persian monarchy had Eccn
conquered by the Parthians Under their sway
the Jews enjoyed not only liberty and peace,
bat even a kind of independence. This is the
more remarkable for tho reason that the sam.
benefits were not extended TO the Greek and Syrian
subjects OF the Parthians Perhaps a common
hatrsd u the Romans may in some measure
acc, unit for the distinction. Some towns in Par.
thia were almost wholly held by Jews Thus
the fortified cities Of Nahardca, at the junction
OF the Euphrates and the Grand Canal and
Nisis, on the hanks Of the Mygdonus. were
almost exclusively occupied by Jews who there
deposited the annual tribute for the Temple
which was sent 10 Jerusalem under a strong
escort. Besides these two rrrlcipal c.ics there
were other Jewish towns which alternated In
rank and Importance, according TO the lore and
celebrity of the teachers resident in them A
few miles 10 the south II NahaTdca. and fifty
miles from Ctcdphon lay Phirus Shabor, after
warl Anbar, which numbered no less than 90 900
Jewish inhabitants At tho point where the
Eurhratcs, in its sou,hward course forms the
Lake Surah. sIUod the city Of Sura Inhabited
partly by Jews and partly by heathcn. ON the
banl.s OF the Tigrs, and near To the termination
oi the Royal Canal lay the city oi Machuza
siIuGtcd only few miles from Ctcsph0n. the
capital Of the ParIhian Empire Clos. by il
was the fortress Of Cochc. which commanded
Ctesiphon. So thoroughly Jewish were these
In u rtant places that a Inter Robbi