Page:Essays ethnological and linguistic.djvu/203

Rh Judah, Benjamin, and Levi. Their subsequent conduct also in their own land proved the fulfilment of the prophecies, in their adherence to their law under all circumstances, though this has been the subject of a too customary sarcasm from the historian Gibbon. In contradistinction to the example of their forefathers, who had so often relapsed into idolatry, the restored nation ran rather into the other extreme, until at length they even fell into the errors of an excess of formality and of pharisaical hypocrisy.

Beyond the conclusions, however, that we have to deduce from the positive statements in the sacred history, we may observe that there were several acts of the people, on their return, very significant of their having become an amalgamation or union at least of all the tribes- When the temple was rebuilt under Zerubbabel, which was in the sixth year of Darius, and twentieth after their return, we are told in Ezra, ch. vi. ver. 16, "And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house with joy. And offered at the dedication 100 bullocks, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel." In this passage, as in several others, the children of the captivity seem to be specifically mentioned, as distinct from others of the congregation who had not shared in the captivity; and the fact of twelve he-goats being sacrificed, according to the number of the twelve tribes of Israel, is the first notice of such a sacrifice, after the separation of the ten tribes from the house of David.

In the same manner Ezra, fifty-eight years afterwards, when he arrived at Jerusalem, and delivered the silver and the gold, and the vessels he brought with him, adds, ch. viii. ver. 35, "Also the children, of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt-offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he-goats for a sin offering." This, it must be again observed, was contrary to the former practice of offerings since the revolt of the ten tribes. When Hezekiah offered a similar sacrifice, it is said (2 Chron. xxix. ver. 21), "And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he-goats for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah." Thus then it seems that the twelve he-goats offered on the first occasion above-mentioned, and twelve bullocks with twelve he-goats on the second, must be understood as signifying the sacrifices to have been