herd dynasty. Among his successors is reckoned Maris, who is said to have excavated the great lake which bears his name. This century witnessed the first communication between the Hebrews, Greeks, and Egyptians. Joseph and the twelve patriarchs on the one side, a King of Thessaly and the Titans on the other, sought an asylum in Egypt. The Israelites were then a mere nomad tribe, like the Arabs at the present day; the Greeks were Scythians or Pelasgians; both were new people: while the Chaldeans, the Sidonians, and the Egyptians, were skilled in astronomy and navigation, and learned in theology, morals, politics, the art of war, and maritime commerce. During their stay in Egypt, the Greeks and Hebrews derived from a common source their first learning, subject to the various influences of the climate and superstitions of the countries to which they removed. Read: Russel's Ancient and Modern Egypt in the Edinburgh Cabinet Library, and Wilkinson's Manners of the Egyptians. SEVENTEENTH CENTURY SACRED HISTORY.-1635, Death of Joseph. Sacred History. THE settlement of the Jewish people in Egypt tended in some degree to recall them from their nomad state. The patriarch Jacob lived only seventeen years to enjoy the presence of his son Joseph, and witness the happiness of his family. He died in 1689 B. c., at the age of 147, blessing his children, and foretelling the birth of the Messiah from the race of Judah. His favourite son survived fifty-four years, and saw his descendants in the fourth generation. He expired in 1635, regretted by all Egypt, and with him terminates the history of the book of Genesis, containing a period of 2369 years. In the division of the Promised Land, Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of this patriarch, ranked as heads of tribes, on an equality with the eleven sons of Jacob. GREECE. Origin of the Greek Nations. The first settlers of Greece were Ionians, a Pelasgic race, who derived their name from Javan (Heb. Ion,) son of Japhet. He is mentioned in Genesis as among those by whom the isles of the Gentiles were divided in their lands, and Greece is called Javan several times in the sacred Scriptures. The Hellenes, if not an offshoot of the Pelasgians, were also of eastern origin, and by these two were the different states of the Archipelago originally formed. There was also a continual influx of the wandering hordes of the north. Scythia then, as in latter times, supplied abundant streams of barbarians, who sought a milder climate and a more fertile soil than their own. These nomad tribes, like the Indians of America, subsisted on the produce of the chase or the wild fruits of the woods; but we are entirely ignorant of their history, manners, and religion. The Pelasgians have left an imperishable record in the numerous uildings that bear their name. In the ruins of the fortifications of Lycosura we see all that remains of the oldest Greek city. Their masonry was polygonal, each stone fitting into the other without cement. The Cyclopean walls, often confounded with the Pelasgic, are at least four or five centuries later. While these primitive tribes remained in a savage state of ignorance, the arts and sciences were advancing to perfection in the East. The troubles in Egypt, consequent upon the invasion of the shepherd races, compelled great numbers to seek peace and tranquillity beyond the sea, and by them settlements were formed in Peloponnesus and Northern Greece. Their knowledge was communicated by degrees to the inhabitants of the country, who at last were civilized. The first care of Inachus, who arrived in Argolis about 1856 B. C., was to raise a temple to Apollo on Mount Lycaon. Cecrops, from the nome of Sais, pursued a similar course in order to reclaim the uncivilized inhabitants of Attica, 1556.* Although many of the primitive Greeks had withdrawn into the mountains of Arcadia, as the ancient Britons retired into the fastnesses of Wales, yet they generally adopted the Egyptian laws and institutions, which they cherished and long preserved with devoted constancy. The paintings still seen on the Egyptian monuments (see Rosellini) form a complete illustration of the Works and Days of Hesiod. The Phoenicians were the next colonists, but with a different object. Their vessels infested the Grecian coasts, ravaging and plundering the adjacent towns, and carrying the inhabitants into slavery. Their very name, among the early Greeks, like the Punic faith of the Romans, was expressive of fraud, deceit, and treachery. Consult: Thirlwall's Hist. Greece, vol. i. Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopædia. SIXTEENTH CENTURY. SACRED HISTORY.-1581, Birth of Moses-Job. GREECE.-1556, Cecrops-Deluge of Deucalion-Amphictyonic Council. Sacred History. MOSES.-After the death of Joseph in 1635, the Israelites increased so rapidly in numbers and in strength as to excite the fears of the reigning monarch. The ordinary modes of diminishing the population proving inefficient, the pharaoh commanded all the male children to be slain as soon as born. The affection of Jochebed preserved her son Moses for three months, when the fear of discovery at last compelled her to expose him on the banks of the Nile, 1571. Here he was providentially seen * The reign of Cecrops is the first epoch, 1581, in the Arundelian (or Parian) marbles. These are an Athenian chronicle, graven on marble in Greek capitals, found at the beginning of the 17th century in the island of Paros, one of the Cyclades, and transported to England by Thomas earl of Arundel, whose grandson presented them to the Univer sity of Oxford. The chronicle, the authenticity of which now begins to be questioned. was engraved 264 B. c. It has been frequently printed. and rescued by the king's daughter, Thermutis, who brought him up as her own child, and educated him in all the learning of her country Having slain an Egyptian who was maltreating a Hebrew, he was compelled to flee for refuge into the land of Midian, near the Red Sea, 1531 B. C., where he resided forty years. While tending the flocks of Jethro, his father-in-law, in the desert, he received a summons from the Almighty to return into Egypt, and lead his chosen people from their land of bondage, 1491 B.C. JOB.-This patriarch, whose name has become a synonym with patience, was born and dwelt in the land of Idumea (Uz.) Reduced to extreme poverty, bereft of all his children in one day, his body covered with sores, and lying on a dunghill, he still put his confidence in God. Virtue so great could not fail to meet with its reward; hence his temporal blessings were restored tenfold, and he ended his life in peace and tranquillity. Following the Bible chronology, we have placed the epoch of Job, 1520 B. C., much later than the internal evidence seems to justify. Some make the Idumeans who plundered him to be the Hyksos on their way to Egypt. Dr. Hales, and Dr. Brinkley the late bishop of Cloyne, give the date of 2337 B. c. Ducoutant places him in 2136 B. C., while the learned authors of l'Art de vérifier les Dates make him flourish between 1725 and 1685 B. C.; others bring him lower still, even to 894 B. C. Consult: Wemyss' Job and his Times and Russell's Connection of Sacred and Profane History, vols i. & iii. GREECE. While Argolis advanced in civilization under the family of Inachus, Phegæ in Arcadia, Mycena in Argolis, and Sparta, were founded by the chiefs whose names they bear. In the space of 313 years, four colonies were established in Thessaly and Arcadia, by three different princes known by the same apellation, Pelasgus. The first dynasty of the Shepherd Kings of Egypt becoming extinct in the person of their sixth monarch, the changes which ensued gave birth to many emigrations, among others to that of Ogyges, in whose reign over Attica and Boeotia, the lake Copais burst its banks and destroyed two cities which this monarch had founded near its shores. The remote period, however, at which this event took place, has caused all the traditions of the primiuve ages of Greece to be distinguished by the term Ogygian. In the time of Sylla, a festival was still celebrated at Athens commemorative of the catastrophe. Somewhat later occurred the deluge of Deucalion, which appears to have been confined to Thessaly, and to have been caused by a convulsion of the earth which stopped up the course of the Peneus, as it flowed between Olympus and Ossa, 1529 B. c. The same flood drove the Hellenes from Phocis, whence passing into Thessaly, they expelled the Pelasgi, and afterwards spread through all Greece. AMPHICTYON.-In 1521 B. C., Amphictyon, the son of Deucalion, established the celebrated council which bears his name,-an institution not unlike the modern German Diet,-by which the various Hellenic states of Greece were united in the bonds of a common alliance, for the purpose of protecting their general interests and guarding against foreign invasion. The several deputies bound themselves by oath never to overthrow any of the allied cities, nor to turn aside the running streams, either in peace or in war; and to oppose to the utmost any nation that aared to attempt such things. Their places of meeting were Thermopylæ and Delphi. To Acrisius, sovereign of Argos, is ascribed the formation of its power and laws. The most celebrated exertion of authority on the part of the council respected the town of Crissa, against which it declared war. Hostilities were protracted for more than ten years, when, principally by the advice of Solon, the place was reduced, and the surrounding territory consecrated to the god of the Delphic temple, 595 B. C. FIFTEENTH CENTURY. SACRED HISTORY.-1491, Exodus-1451, Entry into Canaan. GREECE -Theseus-Court of Areopagus.-1493, Thebes; 1490, Sparta; 1404, Corinth Founded. Sacred History. THE EXODUS.-Moses, after some hesitation to obey the divine commands, went with his brother Aaron to the court of Pharaoh, to deliver the solemn embassy of the Almighty. The monarch (Amenophis) in return, added to the sufferings of the Israelites; nor did he cease to afflict them until the ten plagues had wearied, though not convinced his haughty spirit. On the 15th Nisan, the Hebrew nation began their joyful march towards the Red Sea, 1491 B. C., each tribe in its proper station, advancing in battle-array. Scarcely had they begun their long journey, when the monarch repented his weakness, and hastily pursuing with a numerous army, overtook them in a narrow defile which opens upon the Arabian Gulf. In their extremity, with the sea before them and implacable enemies behind, the people began to murmur, saying, were there no graves in Egypt, that thou hast taken us away to die in the wilderness? But Jehovah meditated a signal deliverance: the sea divided its waves before them; they passed through dryshod; while the returning waters buried Pharaoh's host, so that none remained to tell the dreadful tale. In the space of 215 years, God had so favoured the descendants of Abraham, that from about 70 persons, the family of Jacob had increased to 600,000 fighting men, or a gross population of more than two millions. THE WANDERING.-The whole period of forty years spent in the desert was signalized by miracles. A deficiency of bread was made up by the manna which lay on the ground covered with the morning dew, the bitter waters were purified,—a flight of quails furnished the people with meat,—the hard rock, at the touch of Moses' rod, gave forth a clear and copious stream of water, the earth opened and swallowed up Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, 1471,-fire from heaven destroyed part of the camp,-and a destructive pestilence carried off nearly 15,000 of the murmurers. Three months after the departure from Egypt, the God of Jacob appeared on mount Sinai,* and, clothed in majesty, made known the law of the two tables, comprehending the ten commandments. Being unwilling to trust the report of the spies whom Moses had sent to view the Land of Promise, the Israelites were all condemned to perish in the desert, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, and those who had not yet reached the age of twenty years. In vain did Moab and Midian unite against them,—in vain did the hostile nations seek the aid and purchase the imprecations of Balaam : his curses were converted into blessings. After forty years, their wanderings drew to an end. Moses assembled the tribes; committed the Book of the Law to the priests; and for the last time publicly addressed the people. When his exhortation was concluded, he went to the top of Mount Pisgah (ten miles north-east of the Dead Sea,) and there died in sight of the promised inheritance, 1451 B. c. Character of Moses. Considered in a merely human light, Moses is not less celebrated as a politician than as a historian and poet. Pagan antiquity, while denying his divine mission, has represented him as a man of profound learning, who rescued the Jews from debasement and slavery, and taught them the knowledge of the one true God. The five books of the Pentateuch are the most ancient writings in the world, and no history presents a stronger character of authenticity. His legislation was promulgated at a time when the word law was unknown to other nations. This code has been divided into five parts: namely, religion, morals, and civil, military, and political affairs. Its real wisdom is proved by its existing still at the end of forty centuries, while the more recent institutes of Minos, Lycurgus, Numa, and Solon have fallen into desuetude. It is worth while to observe what progress the arts had made, even among the nomad Jews, while Greece was yet barbarous. In the description of the building of the Tabernacle we read of the founding and working of metals; of cutting and engraving precious stones; of the trades of the cabinet-maker, embroiderer, and perfumer. ENTRY INTO CANAAN,-1461 B. c.-Moses, as the civil and religious head of the Wandering Tribes, strictly speaking had no successor. Joshua was appointed military leader to subdue the Land of Canaan, and portion it out among the victors. On the 10th Nisan, he crossed the frontier river, the submissive waters of the Jordan yielding a passage to the Ark of the Covenant which led the way. The ramparts of Jericho miraculously fell before them,-a warning to the devoted nations, and an encouragement to the Israelites. Ai was taken by stratagem; the five allied kings of the Amorites were defeated, the sun itself stopping in its course to aid the chosen people, while a terrible storm of hailstones killed more than had fallen by the sword. Joshua now divided the portion of the land which he had conquered, and renewed the Covenant with God. The tribe of Levi, which formed a literary and wealthy counterpoise to the aristocratic and democratic part of the state, was not included in this partition, but forty-eight cities were allotted them from * Ancient tradition and locality seem to identify Sinai with Mount Serbal (above 8000 feet high), the first peak of the chain to those coming from Suez. † The Chinese preserve a tradition, that in the time of the Emperor Yao, whom they make contemporary with Joshua, the sun did not set for ten days. The Egyptian priests Cold Herodotus, that within the period of 341 generations about 11,000 years! the sun nad deviated four times from his usual course. |