to the Almighty, that his government was cut off in its very beginning. He had not reigned three months before he was alarmed by the approach of Nebuchadnezzar, who sent him and his whole court captive to Babylon; stripped the temple, palace, and treasury, the second time; and set Zedekiah upon the throne, after compelling him to promise a certain tribute, and to take an oath of fealty.

This new monarch, who was the son of Josiah, and uncle to Jehoiachin, proved as unmindful of the recent judgments, and as irreligious as any of his predecessors. He, however, retained possession of his kingdom some years by his regular payment of the stipulated tribute; during which time he received embassies from the kings of Moab, Ammon, Edom, Tyre, and Sidon. But he was at length persuaded to shake off the Babyłonish yoke, and, by that means, hastened the total destruction of Jerusalem; as Nebuchad nezzar immediately advanced at the head of a numerous army, wasted the country, seized upon the most important fortresses, and laid close siege to the metropolis.

Zedekiah now perceived the fatal consequence of his rash enterprise, and sent to consult the prophet Jeremiah, whose counsel he had hitherto slighted; but the approach of Pharaoh-Hophra, compelling the invaders to raise the siege, he began to suppose the danger was past. This mistaken opinion, however, was soon confuted, by the return of Nebuchadnezzar, and the subsequent scarcity of provision. During this last siege, Jeremiah earnestly exhorted the king to avert the impending ruin by timely submission; but, instead of adopting this expedient, he at

B. C.

588.

tempted to make his escape by night, and was taken by the enemy, together with his guards and nobles. Nebuchadnezzar glutted his revenge upon the ill fated prince, by causing his children. to be massacred before him, and then ordering his eyes to be put out, that no object might obliterate the impression of that terrific scene; and soon after this calamity he was sent to Babylon, where he died in close confinement. The Jewish capital, after holding out for two years and a half against the most strenuous exertions of the besiegers, and the sad effects of a grievous famine, was at length entered by the Chaldeans on the 11th of the fourth month, answering to our 27th of July, in the year of the world 3416. The city was immediately pillaged of all its treasure; the sumptuous edifice, erected to the God of Israel, was reduced to ashes; the fortifications were utterly demolished; and the greater part of the buildings levelled with the ground: while the unhappy Jews were led in triumph to Babylon, except some few of the lower order, who were left to cultivate the land. The prophet Jeremiah, however, procured his liberty, and was permitted to reside with Gedaliah, whom Nebuchadnezzar had left as governor over the miserable remnant of Judah.

Such was the melancholy catastrophe of the Jewish monarchy, after it had stood three hundred and eighty-eight years from the revolt of the ten tribes; and one hundred and thirtyfour from the excision of the Israelitish commonwealth.

CHAP. II.

THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS, FROM THEIR RETURN FROM THE BABYLONISH CAPTIVITY, TO THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM BY TITUS VESPASIAN.

SECT. I.

From the Return out of Babylon to the Death of

B. C. 556.

THE

Nehemiah.

HE Jews, having remained seventy years in captivity, according to the prediction of Jeremiah, were at length permitted, by the decree of Cyrus, to return to their native land, and to rebuild that sacred edifice which had been ever regarded as the immediate habitation of God, till reiterated crimes provoked his vengeance, and induced him to leave it defenceless to the enemy.

The king's edict was no sooner made public, than the chiefs of Judah and Benjamin, together with the priests and Levites, assembled, in order to revisit their beloved country. Their example was imitated by all those who had a zeal

* It must be observed, that the men of Israel and Fudab were blended together, from this time, under the name of Jews, as many persons of the ten tribes took this opportunity of returning to the land of their forefathers.

for the God of Israel; and even those who preferred a residence in Babylon to the purposed removal, cheerfully furnished their brethren with such articles as were requisite either for their journey, or for the building of the temple and city.

The number of those who returned, under the conduct of Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest, amounted to forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty, beside their servants of both sexes, who were in all, seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven. Mention is also made of two hundred men and women singers, four hundred and thirty-five camels, seven hundred and thirtysix horses, two hundred and forty-five mules, and six thousand seven hundred asses.

By this account the reader may see how small the number was of those who returned, in comparison of those who chose to continue in Babylon. Even of the priests only four classes returned; but these, immediately after their arrival, subdivided themselves in such a manner as to make up the original number of twenty-four. The Levites, singers, and other officers of the temple, took up their abode in or near Jerusalem, that they might wait on the service of their God, by rearing up his altar, and preparing all things against the first solemnity; while the rest of the people were occupied in planning their future habitations, or in searching for such of their brethren as Nebuchadnezzar had left in the circumjacent country.

On the first day of the month Tishri, the new year was proclaimed by the sound of the trumpet; the 10th of the same month was the grand fast of expiation; and the 15th ushered in the feast

of tabernacles, which was celebrated with the usual solemnities.

It was now unanimously resolved to commence the important task of rebuilding the temple: a voluntary contribution, therefore, was made by each individual according to his ability; timber, was procured, and workmen hired, to execute the design with all possible dispatch.

B. C.

In the second month of the following 534. year, the foundation was laid with great solemnity in the presence of the governor, the high priest, and all the congregation; while the air resounded with vocal and instrumental music, and the contemplation of God's mercy produced loud and frequent acclamations. These expressions of rapturous delight, however, were by no means general; as many of the priests and Levites, who had seen the sumptuous temple that was destroyed with their unhappy city, could not forbear uttering the most sorrowful lamentations, while they considered the inferiority of the present plan.

The Samaritans, whom Esar-Haddon, king of Assyria, sent from Cuthath to repeople the country from which he had carried the ten tribes of Israel, now tendered their assistance towards the completion of the new building. But when the Jews declined their proposal, alleging that it would be a dishonour to their nation, to admit strangers to a participation of their work; these pretended friends were suddenly changed into the most implacable enemies, and eagerly, embraced every opportunity of vilifying and distressing their new neighbours.

In consequence of their malicious suggestions, the Jews were represented to Cyrus as a rebellious