OR, Portraitures of Hebrew Character. BY MARIA T. RICHARDS, AUTHOR OF "LIFE IN JUDEA. EDINBURGH: T. & T. CLARK, 38 GEORGE STREET. DUBLIN: JOHN ROBERTSON. MDCCCLVII. 110. a. 1. Zos. 6. 89. PREFACE. THE following sketches belong to a series, of which a part have already been given to the public, under the title of "Life in Judea." The remainder now presented, although second in the order of publication, are first, both in the order of time and of composition. Though the several articles are independent of each other, the whole series is connected by a chain of successive developments of one idea that of a coming Saviour. This idea is traced through the history of "the chosen people," from the dawn of the early promises, to the full establishment of the kingdom of heaven upon the earth, and the sounding forth of its blessed evangels unto all nations. That this pervading hope of the Messiah may be appreciated, it is necessary to look upon it in its beginning, and to follow it through the unfoldings of its ever-widening and brightening course, till its final consummation. The author would, therefore, crave this indulgence of her readers, that "Life in Israel" and "Life in Judea" be considered as parts of a whole, and that "Life in Israel" be read first. The national characteristics of the Jews are unequalled in interest by those of any other people. Whether we review the records of their ancient past, far transcending in marvellous interest the history or poetry of other renowned nations of antiquity, or contemplate their present condition, still pursuing their lone path among the nations, which are unto them "as a wall upon the right hand and upon the left," they are still "a chosen generation, a peculiar people." But the aspect of most absorbing regard in which the Jew is looked upon by the Christian, is his relation to the revealed Word of God. Indeed, so close and manifold is this relation, that it may be said to involve every other which imparts a peculiar charm to the children of Abraham. To them was the sacred Word first committed, and by them preserved for long ages, with the most rigorous care and scrupulous exactness. They were the actors in its scenes, the recipients of its commands, the witnesses of its miracles. Their tents were made sacred by the visits of angels, their altars were kindled with heavenly fire, their solitary plains glowed with the visions of patriarchs and prophets, and their mountains burned with the glory of the Divine Presence. Their history occupies a large part of the sacred pages which God has given us as a revelation of His will to the whole human race. They stand from age to age living monuments of the truth of its prophecies; the inspired strains of their poets have been, and shall yet be, the praises of the redeemed through all time; and from all the tribes of the earth they have been singled out "as a royal priesthood, a holy nation," to become the channels through which the great mystery of the incarnation, and the grace and glory of the atonement, should be communicated to the children of men: "of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is God over all, blessed for ever." It is, therefore, manifest, that a careful study of the history and character of the Jewish people is one of the most valuable helps to a right understanding and appreciation of the Bible. The diligent student of the sacred Scriptures will always be interested in whatever pertains to the Jews; and, conversely, he who has intelligently contemplated the various points of interests centring in this wonderful people, will rarely fail to become, intellectually, at least, a lover of the Bible. But it is to be feared, that, in the mind of the young, the various scenes and events of Scripture history are too often but a series of statistical facts and isolated abstractions. Thus, although well known, and unquestionably believed to have occurred in the far-distant ages of the past, they are not vividly conceived with the various details of local scenery, passing circumstances, national customs, individual characteristics, and the varying shades of thought and feeling, which would clothe them with a life-like reality, and give them an abiding-place among the most cherished treasures of the intellect, and a permanent hold upon the warmest affections of the heart. It has been the object of the writer, in the following pages, thus to supply parallel details of local and circumstantial character, which may serve to unfold some of the prominent eras of Biblical history, and to invest with a new interest the reading of the Bible. The characters employed are of three classes: those of sacred history, of profane history, and of imagination. With regard to the first, or Scripture characters, the writer has not presumed to use them, except so far as they are presented in the sacred Word. She has attributed to them no imaginary actions, nor put imaginary words upon their lips. Two or three slight deviations from this rule will be explained by notes in their appropriate places. The characters of profane history, in their natural traits and public acts, have been exhibited strictly in accordance with the records concerning them; while, in their private relations, they have been made to subserve the particular design of the writer in their introduction. The imaginary characters have been |