A HISTOR·y - o ·F THE JEWISH PEOPLE BY MAX L. MARGOLIS AND ALEXANDER MARX HARPER TORCHBOOKS ~ The Temple Libr~ry Harper & Row, Publishers New York · THIS BOOK IS PUBLISHED AT THE DESIRE OF THE LATE ih1111~fbt :dll. lltlmun OF WILLIAMSPORT1 PENNSYLVANIA FROM FUNDS CONTRIBUTED FROM HER ESTATE . BY HER EXECUTOR MR. ABRAHAM ERLANGER MISS ULMAN WISHED THE PUBLICATION OF THIS VOLUME FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF TRUTH AND EQUITY . ~ . ... ~- , ,.~ ~ . ''"'""";·, •... ,. " +' I ~ ...,1 11.f'a t~ ~"SI .~ ~ t"' i .:t t '· .rr~ s-, · r •} t : • ~ A ~STORY-' 6:Ef 'IIHE. IBWISH''PBOPLE Copy~ight ·1927 by- The·Jewish Publication· Sqciety of America. Printed in the United States of America. This book.. ..yas. originally published in 1927 and is here published1in association with The Jewish Publication Society of America. First HARPER TORCHBOOK edition published 1965 by Harper & Row, Publishers, Incorporated 49 East 33rd Street New York, N. Y. 10016 TABLE OF CONTENTS BOOK I I N PALESTINE FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE EXTINC­ TION OF THE PATRIARCHATE (2,000 before-425 after t he Chris- tian era) .. ....... , ..•...................... : , .. .. · , ..... 1-230 CHAPTER I THE BEGINNINGS OF THE PEOPLE (2000-1225 before the Christian era) Home of Abraham-The Semites-Abraham's migration-Geography of Palestine-Canaanites and Amorites-Earlier inhabitants-Egyptian dominion-Hebrew settlements- Canaanite culture ·and religion- The Israelites in Egypt-Egyptian bondage ........................ 3-13 CHAPTER II MOSES. THE EXODUS (1220) The birth of Moses-The prophetic call-The exodus-The crossing of the Red Sea-At Sinai- The Ten Words-The Book of the Cov­ enant- The wanqerings-The conquest of Sihon and Og-The Second Code-The Torah .................. ....................... 14-21 CHAPTER III THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN. THE JUDGES (1180-1100) Joshua-The assault on Jericho-Separation of Judah- Ai, Bethel, Gibeon-Deborah-The victory over Sisera- Ehud-The Midianites­ Gideoo-Abimelech-The revolt at Shechem- Death of Abimelech- Jephthah-The slaughter of the fugitive Ephraimites .... .. ..... 22-30 CHAPTER IV THE INROADS OF CANAANJTISil RELIGION The mode of life altered by the settlement- The governing bodies­ Infiltration of the Baal cult-Micah's idolatrous shrine-The outrage of Gibeah--Shiloh ............................... ......... 31-34 CHAPTER V THE RISE OF THE MONARCHY (1080-1030) Wars with the Philistines--Samson-Capture of the Ark and death of Eli--,Samuel-The assembly at Mizpah-Jabesh in Gilead calls for help--Saul-Jon.athan's feat at Michmas-Saul's melancholy ....35-39 CHAPTER VJ SAUL AND DAVID (1030-1013) David--Saul's jealousy-David's flight-At Nob-Slaughter of the priests-David in the mountains of Judah-seeks the protection of Achish~Ziklag raided by Amalekites-Battle of Gilboa-Death of Saul and Jonathan-David's lament .... .. ........... ..... , .......40-44 VII VIIJ TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER VII \ DAVID. THE CAPTURE OF JERUSALBM (1013- 1006) David proclaimed king at Hebron- lshbaal and Abner-Joab slays AThner-Ishbaal murdered- David king of Israel and Judah-Wars with 'tire ~hilistines-The capture of Jerusalem-Transfer of the Ark .. 45-50 CHAPTER VIII THE WARS OF DAVID (1006-980) War with the Ammonites-Capture of Rabbab- Wars with Afameans­ Subjection of Moab and Edam-The extent of David's realm-His army-:-The altar in Araunah's threshing-floor- David's attitude to Sa!Jl's· family , ,,., .. ,,.,,,, .. ,, ...................... .....51-54 CHAPTER IX THE REVOLTS OF ABSALOM ANO OF SHEBA (980-973) · David and Bath-sheba-Amnon and Tamar-Amnon slain-Absalom banished-The revolt of Absalom-David flees across the.Jordan-The end of Absalom-The revolt of Sheba- The succession- Death of David-His character and place in history ...... , , ......•..... 55-60 I CHAPTER X I SOLO~!ON. THE TEMPLE (973-933) Svlomon comes to terms with Egypt-loses territory in the north­ I Solomon opens up the country to commerce-His buildings-The Temple -The IGng's Palace-The dedication of the Temple-Solomon's foreign marriages-Ahijah of Shiloh abets the revolt of Jeroboam-Jeroboam ~. flees to Egypt .. , .••• • •.•••. .... , .. ,.,,,., •..• , ••• , •• ,, ... 61-66 CHAPTER XI l' THE SECESSION OF THE NORTH t (933-875) Rehoboam and Jeroboam-Decentralization in the North-War between Israel and Judah-Abijah- Nadab-Baasa-Asa king of Judah-Elah son of Baasa-Omri founds the third dynasty in Israel ...... , , . 67-69 CHAPTER XII THE LORD OR BAAL?-ELlJAB (887- 851) Omri-Samaria-The reconquest of Moab-Omri's alliance with the Phoenicians- Ahab king of Israel-Jehoshaphat king of Judah- The prophets- Elijah- The contest on Mount Carmel-Elijah's flight to Horeb-The judicial murder of Naboth- Elijah's translation .... 70-74 CHAPTER XIII AHAB AND THE ARAMBANS (854.-843) Ahab and Ben-hadad-The Assyrian advance-The battle of Karkar­ The battle of Ramoth in Gilead-Death of Ahab-Ahaziah-Jehoram . 75-77 TABLE Oi" CONTENTS ll' CHAPTER XIV ELISHA. JEllU (843) Revolt of Mesha-Edom proclaims its independence-]ehoram king of Judah- His successor Ahaziah-Elisha plans the destruction of the Omri dynasty-The revolt of Jehu-The slaughter of Ahab's house- The bloodshed at Samaria ............ ..................... 7i"'80 CHAPTER XV THE ADVANCE AND RETREAT OF ASSYRIA (843-746) Athaliah reigns in Judah-Jehoiada seats Jehoash upon the throne­ The repairs of the Temple-Jehu pays tribute to Shalmaneser-The Aramcan invasions-Jehoahaz succeeds Jehu-Renewed attacks by Arameans under his son Jehoash-Adadnirari IV the 'deliverer'­ Arnaziah succeeds his father Jehoash in Judah- Victory over t11e Edomites-Azariah (Uzziah) king of Judah and Jeroboam ll Icing of Israel. ......................................... , . .. .... 8il-M CHAPTER XVI LIFE UNDER THE MONARCHY Husbandry-Domestic lab-Or-Handicrafts-Life in the large cities­ Uneven distribution of wealth-Particularism and centralization­ Education-Popular religion- Priests, prophets, wise men-Gun-ents and cross-currents ...................................• , , , • ,85-8~ CHAPTER XVII AMOS AND HOSEA (760-734) Amos at Bethel-call to repentance-The people's wrong piety-The 'Day of the Lord'- Amos essentially a moralist-Hosea witness of the disintegration of the Northern Kingdom-His castigation of image worship- Israel's vacillating policy-Restoration to come un<iler a new David-The 'writing prophets' .............................. 90-94 CHAPTER XVIII ISAIAH AND THE ASSYRIAN ADVANCE (744-720) Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah kings of Israel-Abaz king of Judah­ The Syro-Ephraimitic war-Isaiah-Vision of the doom and of the restored 'Remnant'- Deportation of Israelite population to Assyria­ Hoshea last king of Israel-Ahaz introduces Assyrian worsJ~ip ..95 -98 CHAPTER XIX THE FALL OF SAMARIA. HEZEKIAH (729- 692) Tiglath-pileser king of Babylon (Pul)-Egypt spurs Palestine on to revolt- Sargon's capture of Samaria-Deportation of Israel-Samaria settled with foreigners-Isaiah counsels submission to theAssyrians­ Hezekiah and his abortive reformation- The Siloam tunnel-The cap­ ture of Ashdod- Sennacherib invades Palestine- Jerusalem delivered 99-lOJ x TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER XX MANASSEH. JOSIAH. JEREMIAH (692-609) Assxrian conquest of Egypt- Manasseh's reaction- Beginning of the deq~ne of Assyrian power-Amon-Josiah-The finding of the Book of t;he Torah- Complete reformation in the spirit of Mosaism- Jeremiah quick,ly disenchanted- The fall of Nineveh--Death of Josiah in bat- tle., ................................................. 104-180 CHAPTER XXI THE END OF THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH (608-586) J ehoahaz- Jehoiachin-Jeremiah predicts the destruction of the Temple ---'Battle of Carchemish-Nebuchadrezzar-Jehoiachin led into cap­ tivity__:_Zedekiah-Ascendancy of the anti-Babylonian party-The destruction of Jerusalem- Gedaliah governor at Mizpah-His murder­ The flight of his adherents to Egypt-Jewish settlements in Egypt 109-113 CHAPTER XXII THE BABYLONIAN EXILE (586-538) The life of the exiles-Ezekiel-Individual responsibility-Resurrection of the nation in its own home-Release of JP.hoiachin-The fall of Bab­ ylon-Cyrus gives permission for the return to Palestine--The Great Unknown Prophet-Israel's mission .. ................. .. :114-118 CHAPTER XXIII THE RESTORATION (538-432) The home-comers under Sheshbazzar-Cambyses and the conquest of Egypt-Darius I.-Zerubbabel-Haggai and Zechariah- The Temple built- Unfriendly rteighbC>rs-Malachi-Ezra-DissolutiM C>f unlaw­ ful marria~es-Preparations to rebuild the walls and denunciations by the .$,amantans- Nehem,iah builds the walls-Reading and acceptance ofthe Torah-Nehemiah once more corrects abuses-The Samaritans 119-125 CHAPTER XXIV FROM PERSIAN RULE TO GREEK (424-187) Ba~olii-The Jews of Elephantine-Queen Esther-Alexander the Great- Wars of the generals after his death-The Seleucids and Ptol­ emies- Battle of Panium and the Seleucid domination of Palestine­ Ptolemy II. and the Greek translation of the Torah-Life in Palestine­ The Scribes and the Great Synagogue-Simon the Just- Worldlingsand pietists . ................. ............... .. .. .. .. .... 126-133 CHAPTER XXV HELLENISTS AND PIETIS'l'S . ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES (187- 165) The house of the Tobiads-Hyrcanus-Character of Antiochus Epiph­ anes- J ason secures the high priesthood-Greek fashions in Jerusalem­ Menelaus high priest- Antiochus returns from Egypt and orders the . suspension of the Jewish religion- The author of the book of Daniel­ } udah the Maccabee-Defeat of Nicanor at Emmaus-Rededication of the Temple ... ... , ..... .... ·. .... .. ................... 134- 141 ~TABLE OF CONTENTS Xl CHAPTER XXVI