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A SYNOPSIS OF JEWISH HISTORY

From the Return of the Jews from the Babylonish Captivity,
to the Days of Herod The Great;

Giving an account of the different Sects of those days; the
introduction and use of Synagogues and Schools; the origin and
introduction of Prayer among the Jews; the Ureem and Thumeem;
the Mishna or Oral Law; the Gemara-Completion, usually styled
the Talmud.

by

REV. H. A. HENRY,

Rabbi Preacher of Congregation Sherith Israel, San Francisco;
Author of Class Book for Jewish youth; of Discourses on the
principles of the belief of Israel, &c., &c.







San Francisco:
Towne & Bacon, Publishers and Printers,
No. 125 Clay Street, corner Sansome.
1859.

Entered according to Act of Congress in the year of the World
5619,--1859, by Towne & Bacon,
for the Author, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of
the United States, for the Northern District of California.




PREFACE.


The design and purpose of this little production will, at a cursory
glance, be self-evident, so that a formal preface seems scarcely
necessary. We have endeavored to furnish a synopsis of useful
information, selected from the history and teachings of the chosen
people of God, in such a manner as to suit the capacity of all
readers, since it is free from all sectarian bias, and therefore may
prove useful to all denominations.

This work consists of two parts. The first part contains a synopsis of
Jewish history, commencing with the return of the Jews from the
Babylonish captivity, down to the days of Herod the Great. The second
division of the work contains an account of the several sects which
sprang up among the Jews before and after the days of the Maccabees.
We have also given a succinct description of the origin and
introduction of Prayer, of the synagogues and schools, of the Ureem
and Thumeem, of the Mishna or Oral Law, of the Gemara or Completion,
usually styled the Talmud, together with some additional remarks in
the last two chapters under the head of appendix.

Should this unassuming little composition lead the reader to seek a
more extended information on the subjects treated, we shall feel
ourselves happy in having been the means of thus exciting the
curiosity of those who desire to peep a little further into the vast
field of sacred literature, and deem our compensation to be fully
realized.

We have compiled in some instances from the writings of others. In
many cases we have also thought for ourselves; but at the same time,
we have embraced the advantages afforded by the writings of others, so
far as we thought them suitable for the undertaking.

In conclusion, we send this work out to the world, such as it is,
aware of its many deficiencies; trusting, at the same time, that
whatever errors may have crept therein will be pointed out by kind
friends, in order to a rectification of the same.

SAN FRANCISCO, February, 1859--5619.




CONTENTS.


  CHAPTER I.
                                                                 PAGE.

  Of the return of the Jews from the Captivity of Babylon,
  and the rebuilding of the City of Jerusalem and the Holy
  Temple                                                             9

  CHAPTER II.

  Of the state of the Jews in the days of Ezra the Scribe           15

  CHAPTER III.

  Of the affairs of the Jewish Nation during the days of
  Nehemiah                                                          23

  CHAPTER IV.

  Of the state of the Jewish Nation under the Persian and
  the Grecian Monarchies                                            37

  CHAPTER V.

  Of the affairs of the Jewish Nation under Ptolemy Soter,
  Ptolemy Philadelphus and Ptolemy Philopater, Kings of Egypt       43

  CHAPTER VI.

  Of the Jewish affairs under Antiochus the Greek, Seleucus,
  and Antiochus Epiphanes, Kings of Syria                           48

  CHAPTER VII.

  Of the state of the Jewish Nation in the days of Mattathias
  the Priest, the father of the valiant Maccabees                   55

  CHAPTER VIII.

  The Government of the Jewish Nation under the Maccabees, or
  as they were otherwise called, the Asmoneans, this being
  the family name                                                   62

  CHAPTER IX.

  Of the Jewish affairs