Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 11.djvu/236

* JEWS. 210 JEWS. in which they dwell, yet maiiifost their allegiance to their old home by contributions to the temple at Jerusalem. The dispersion of the Jews, which gives Judaism its peculiar twofold a.s|)eet as :i religion of a national type and yet with universal tendencies, is thus contemporary with the con- stitution of the Jews as a religious community. Persia and KgT,pt exhausted what vitality re- mained in them by constant conflicts with one another, and both fell an easy prey to the vigor- ous (ireek forces led by Alexander the (heat. The policy of Alexander resembled that of Cyrus. He was prepared to conciliate the nations whom he conquered, and permitted them to retain as much liberty as was consistent with a recognition of GrCH'k supremacy. This liberty was extended to the religious cult, with which Alexander, standing inidcr the inlluence of the common con- ception in antiquity lliat regarded it as natural for every country to have its own gods, was careful not to interfere. The Jews submitted quietly to the new ruler. The generals and successors of Alexander, how- ever, were in constant rivalry. Ptolemy, the son of Lagus, surnamed Soter. one of .Vlexander's generals, who had become King of Egypt, invaded Sj'ria. deposed Laomedon. the (iovernor. and took possession of Palestine and Plicvnicia (n.c. 301). Conflicts continued, in which Syria and Palestine were frequently the battletielils. The .lews thus unfortunately situated were obliged to pay tribute to the Kgjptian Ptolemies as well as to the Seleucid rulers in Syria. Many .lews left Palestine for Egjpt during this period, and soon the .Tewish colonies in Egypt — notably in Alex- andria — far outnumbered those settled in Baby- lonia. The Egy|)lian 'dispersion,' destined to be of vast importance in the development of Juda- ism and Christianity, gradually spread from the Libyan Desert in the north to the boundaries of Ethiopia in the south, over Cyrenaica and part of Libya, and westward along the Mediterranean coast. The .Jews enjoyed equal rights with their fellow-subjects, both Egyptian and Greek, and were admitted to the highest dignities and offices. The free develoiJinent allowed enabled them to reach, under Greek auspices, the highest eminence in science and art. They were ready and brilliant disciples of their masters in states- manship and learning, and even their artisans and workmen were sent for by different countries. An extensive literature was ))roduced. including the Greek translation of the Bible known as the Septuagint. which, while it estranged the people more and more from the language of their fathers, gave rise tn a vast pseudepigraphieal and apoc- ryphal literature. in the year B.C. 280 Southern Syria, including .Tudea. came under the control of the Ptolemies, who retained it, though not without frequent opposition on the part of the Seleucids. till n.c. 204. L^pon the death of Ptolemy Philopator the Jews transferred their allegiance to the Seleu- cids, and aided Antiochus Ilf. (n.c. 223-187) in obtaining control of Jerusalem. The grav- ity of the error soon became apparent. The at- tempt was made by AntiochiLs IV., surnamed Epiphanes (B.C. 17.5-164), to assimilate the .Tew- ish cult to Greek customs. lie was prompted to this step by the conflicts between rival priestly families in .Terusalem. which kept the coimtry in constant turmoil. Antiochus believed that he could strike at the root of the evil by wiping out the peculiar features of the Jewish cult. The sacrilices were forbidden, the scrolls of the Law burned, and observance of the Sabbath and of >ucli rites as circumcision was forbidden. At dilfereiit periods Antiochus sent his generals to .lerusalem to pillage and burn and to force the .Jews into the Greek religion. The temple ot .lerusalem w:.s rededicaled to .lupiter OlynqjUs; idol altars were built in everj- village, and the peoi)le were forced to observe Greek rites. At this juncture the heroic family of Mat- talhias. a priest of the house of the Asmoneans, or Maccabees, rose at Mmlin, near Lydda, to- gether with a few patriots, against the power of the Sjrians. The national cause quickly gath- ered strength, and after the death of Mattathias (B.C. 166) his son, .hulas Maccal)feus, led the national liosts to victory against the Syrians. Alter his death (n.c. 161) his brothers, .Icmathan and Simon, completed the work of deliverance, and rcinstituted the Sanhedrin (B.C. 145). Dur- ing their rule, alliances were twice formed with the Romans, and the eoiuitry once more began to prosper. Liider Simon more especially. Syrian lule became a mere shadow: his was an almost absolute power — so much so that, in the year 170 of the Selcucidan era (B.C. 142). a new Jewish era was connncnced, and public documents bore date. "In the first year of Simon, high jiriest and chief of the .Tews." Simon's son. .Tohn llyrcanus, after a brief period of vassalage to the Syrians, extended his authority over Samaria, Galilee, and Idumea — his grand triumph, in the eyes of his countrymen, being the destruction of the Samari- tan temple on Mount Gerizini (B.C. 12!)) : but in reality his most surprising success was the sub- jugation of the Idumcans and their forced con- version to the .Tewish religion. His son Aristo- hulus added llurea to his dominions, but died after a short reign — of remorse, as was said, for having connived at the murder of his brother. He was succeeded by a younger brother, Alexander .Tann;eus. Constantly fighting and generally beaten, this king yet contrived to enlarge his ter- ritories. The internal conditions of the .Tewish State during his reign were most lamentable. Bit- ter feelings existed between the two parties. Phar- isees and Sadducees. into which the people were divided. The Pharisees even did not hesitate to call in the aid of a Seleucid ruler against Alex- ander. After a brief period of peace he died (B.C. 78). enjoining his wife. Alexandra, to ally herself with the Pharisees as the best means of retaining her authority. This she did, and governed prudently for nine years. The Pharisaic party, however, abused the power which fell into their hands, and a reaction took place. Aristobulus, youngest son of the Queen, and a prince of great spirit, placed himself at the head of the Government, marched to .Terusalem, took possession of the city, and ejected his elder broth- er, Hyrcanus TI., from the sovereignty. The hat- ter, at the instigation of Antipater. an Idumean, and father of Herod the Great, fled to Aretas, King of Northern Arabia, who was induced, by the promise of a cession, of the territory whicii had been acquired by Alexander .Tannieus, to take up arms on his behalf. This led to the inter- ference of the Romans, who were then fighting both in Syria and Armenia. .Terusalem was cap- tured (B.C. 63) by Pompey, who had decided in favor of Hyrcanus, and .Tudea was made depend- ent on the Roman Province of Syria. Hyrcanus