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 BOOK V

THE JEW AND THE TALMUD

INTRODUCTORY

The story of the Jew—his past—his condition now, is the weightiest argument that can be adduced in support of the truth of Christianity—What happened to the "sad remnant" of the people after the exterminating wars of Titus and Hadrian, 70 and 134-5, is little known; yet the wonderful story of the Jew, especially in the second and third centuries, is a piece of supreme importance—How Rabbinic study and the putting out of the Talmud have influenced the general estimate of the Old Testament among Christian peoples       325

I

THE LAST THREE GREAT WARS OF THE JEWS

The First War, 66-70—Revolt of the Jews—The dangerous revolt was eventually crushed by Vespasian, and when he succeeded to the Empire his son Titus completed the conquest—Fate of the city of Jerusalem, 70—Why was the Temple burned?—The recital of Sulpicius Severus gives the probable answer—The account in question was apparently quoted from a lost book of Tacitus—The Roman triumph of Titus—The memories of the conquered Jews on the Arch of Titus in the Forum—The great change in Judaism after 70, when the Temple and city were destroyed—The change was completed after the war of Hadrian in 134-5 (the third war)—Brief account of the second and third wars—The bitter persecution after the third war soon ceased, and the sad Jewish remnant was left virtually to itself       329

II

RABBINISM (a)

The conservation of the remnant of the Jews was owing to the development of Rabbinism—Rabbinism, however, existed before 70—Traditional story of the rise of Rabbinism contained in the "Mishnah" treatise Pirke Aboth—Effect of the great catastrophe of 70—Mosaism was destroyed, and was replaced by Rabbinism      338