Julian Period.

A. M. Olymp. U. C. 4706 3996 193-1

4708 3998

B.C.

746 8 Augustus corrects the calendar, by ordering the twelve ensuing years to pass without intercalation; the month Sextilis receives the name of Augustus, by a decree of the senate.-A census at Rome: 4,233,000 citizens. The temple of Janus shut, in consequence of a universal peace.

3 748 6 Tiberius invested with the tribunate for five years; but, jealous of the favour shown by Augustus towards the sons of Agrippa, he retires in disgust to Rhodes.-Conception of John the Baptist announced to his father Zacharias.

5 Our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST born at Bethlehem, in Judea, on
Monday, the 25th of December (according to the Romish church), four
years and six days before the common era.- -Q. Varus appointed
governor of Syria, and Cyrenius of Jude.-A comet seen in China.
4 JESUS CHRIST circumcised on the 1st of January (according to the church
of Rome): the wise men, or magi of the East, guided by a star, arrive
in Judea to make their offerings.

3 Joseph and Mary take the holy child into Egypt, during which Herod
cruelly orders all infants under two years of age to be slaughtered,
hoping that among them Jesus might perish.

2 Herod dies on the 25th of November, and the Roman emperor and senate divide his kingdom among his sons: Herod Archelaus has Judea, Idumea, and Samaria, with the title of ethnarque, or prince; Herod Antipas is created tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, or the country beyond Jordan; and Philip is made tetrarch of Trachonitis and the adjacent country.-Joseph and Mary return from Egypt, and settle at Nazareth, in Galilee.-Augustus banishes Julia, widow of Agrippa, to the little isle of Pandatarium, off Campania, on account of her incontinence.– Caius Cæsar goes as general in the Armenian war.

An interview, in the island of Samos, between Caius Cæsar and Tiberius, whereby their mutual aversion is rather increased.

EPOCHA XI.

FROM THE CHRISTIAN ERA TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE: 476 YEARS. FIRST CENTURY OF THE VULGAR CHRISTIAN ERA.

Augustus in the 32nd year of his reign.-Caius Cæsar makes peace with the
Parthians.

Tiberius returns to Rome; and, soon afterwards, Lucius Cæsar, one of the sons of
Augustus, dies at Marseilles.

Caius Cæsar, another son of Augustus, dies at Lymira, in Lycia, in consequence of a
wound received in Armenia.

Tiberius, returning from Rhodes, is adopted by Augustus, and a second time invested
with the tribunate.-Cinna's conspiracy detected. The temple of Janus re-opened,
in consequence of fresh disturbances in Germany, whither Tiberius repairs.-Bis-
sextile, or leap-year, which had been observed every third year, changed to every
fourth.

Tiberius, having extended his conquests to the Elbe, grants the Germans peace.
A great famine at Rome.-Revolt of the Pannonians and Dalmatians, against whom
Tiberius and his nephew Germanicus are sent.

Herod Archelaus, king of Judea, against whom the Jews and Samaritans had com-
plained, is deposed, and his dominions added to the province of Syria; Coponius
being the first governor of Judea.-Judas of Galilee appears about this time:
Acts v. 37.

JESUS CHRIST, at the age of twelve years, questions and disputes with the Jewish doctors in the temple, in April, the passover being ended.-The Pannonians

reduced.

Dalmatia subjected by the Romans.

4723 763 10

4724 764 11

4727 767

14

4730 770 17

4731 771

18

4732 772 19

20

225

4734 774 21

24

4737 777
4739 779 26

4740 780

27

Three legions, under Varus, cut to pieces in Germany, by Arminius; Varus stabs himself, and the barbarians send his head to Augustus.

Tiberius reduces the Germans, for which service Augustus makes him his colleague
in the empire, August 28.

A census at Rome: 4,037,000 citizens.-Augustus dies at Nola, on the 19th of
August, aged 76, and is succeeded by Tiberius.

Achaia and Macedonia become provinces to Cæsar.-The war renewed in Germany.
Arminius defeated by Germanicus, in two battles.-The mathematicians and
magicians expelled Rome.-Conspiracy of Drusus discovered.

An earthquake in Asia destroys twelve cities.-Cappadocia made a Roman province.
-Germanicus triumphs for his successes in Germany, May 26.-The first African
war, under Tacfarinus, begins, and continues four years.

The city of Tiberias, in Galilee, built by Herod Antipas.-A new island appears in
the Archipelago.-Germanicus goes on an expedition to the East.
Germanicus, poisoned by Piso, dies at Antioch, about the beginning of December.-
Caiaphas high-priest of the Jews.-The Jews banished Rome.

Agrippina, widow of Germanicus, brings her husband's ashes to Rome.

The theatre of Pompey, at Rome, consumed by fire.-Silius reduces Gaul, which had revolted.-Tacfarinus defeated and driven into the deserts by the Roman governor Blesus, which ends the war.

Tacfarinus slain by Dolabella, which ends his second war.

Tiberius retires to the island of Caprea, leaving the management of public affairs to
Sejanus. John the Baptist begins his ministry in the wilderness of Judea; and,
towards the close of the year, Jesus is baptized by him in the river Jordan, being
about 30 years of age.-Pontius Pilate made governor of Judea.

A conflagration at Rome consumes all the quarter of Mount Celius.-50,000 persons
said to have been killed by the fall of an amphitheatre at Fidena.
John the Baptist beheaded about this time, by order of Herod Antipas.

Our Saviour JESUS CHRIST crucified by the Jews, on Friday, April 15; rises from the
grave on the following Sunday, April 17; and ascends to heaven on Thursday, the
26th of May.-Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, 5th June.
Ananias and Sapphira struck dead for their hypocrisy.

31 Sejanus disgraced, and put to death.-Nero, eldest son of Germanicus, dies.—
Stephen, the first Christian martyr, stoned to death by the Jews, Saul of Tarsus
assisting.—A great persecution of the followers of Christ in Judea ensues.
Philip baptizes the Ethiopian eunuch.

Saul of Tarsus, converted, becomes an eminent preacher and apostle, better known
by the name of Paul.-Drusus, son of Germanicus, dies.

Peter cures Eneas of the palsy, at Lydda, and restores Tabitha to life, at Joppa.
A fire at Rome destroys part of the circus, and the quarter of Mount Aventine.—
Tiberius declares himself friendly to the followers of Christ, but is prevented by '
the senate from enrolling JESUS among the gods.

Tiberius dies at Misenum, near Baiæ, on the 16th or 26th of March, aged 78, and is
succeeded by Caligula, son of Germanicus.-Disgrace and death of Pontius Pilate.
St. Matthew writes his gospel.

Cornelius the centurion converted about this time.

Caligula, put to death by Chæreas and others, is succeeded by Claudius, brother to
Germanicus.-Seneca banished to Corsica.-Mauritania reduced, and made a
Roman province.

The name of Christians first given to the followers of JESUS CHRIST, at Antioch.
Claudius undertakes an expedition to Britain.

St. Mark writes his gospel.—St. James, the brother of John, put to death, and Peter
imprisoned, by Herod Agrippa, at Jerusalem. Vespasian, having fought 30 battles
with the Britons, taken 20 of their towns, and subdued two British nations,
establishes himself in the Isle of Wight.

A dreadful famine, foretold by Agabus, Acts xi. 28, rages in Judea at this time. Thrace becomes a Roman province.-A new island, called Therasia by Seneca, appears in the Ægean sea.

The Secular games celebrated at Rome.-Caractacus, the British king, conquered by the Romans.-Claudius adds three new letters to the Roman alphabet, of which the names of two only remain, viz., the Æolic digamma, answering to our v, and

་

the antisigma, answering to ps.-Claudius puts many noble Romans to death, to gratify his wife Messalina.-The canal between the Rhine and the Maese cut. The empress Messalina, having filled Rome with her debaucheries, publicly marries Caius Silius, during the emperor's life-time, for which they are both put to death by Claudius.-The Gauls admitted into the senate.

Miserable death of Herod Agrippa, Acts xii. 23.-Seneca recalled from banishment,
and made preceptor to Nero Cæsar, son of the empress Agrippina.

The city of London built by the Romans about this time.-Cologne founded by
Agrippina.

Caractacus, sent in chains to Rome, receives his liberty from Claudius.-The apostles
hold a council at Jerusalem.-St. Paul preaches at Athens.-Astrologers expelled
Italy.

Claudius, poisoned by his empress Agrippina, is succeeded by Nero, son of the empress, and grandson of Germanicus.

The city of Rotterdam built about this time.

Nero puts his mother Agrippina to death, and begins his public debaucheries. St.
Paul pleads at Cæsarea, before Felix, governor of Judea, Syria, &c.

St. Paul makes his defence before Festus, the successor of Felix, and appeals to the
court of Rome; soon afterwards, he preaches before, Herod Agrippa, king of the
Jews.--A remarkable comet appears.

Boadicea, queen of a part of Britain, defeats the Romans, and burns the city of London; but is soon afterwards conquered by Suetonius, and poisons herself in the year 64.

St. Mark, the Evangelist, dies about this time.-St. Paul, sent in bonds to Rome, by sea, from Sidon, in the beginning of winter, is shipwrecked at Melita, or Malta: the ensuing spring he pursues his voyage, and arrives safe in Italy.

A great earthquake on the 5th of February destroys part of the city of Pompeii, at the foot of Vesuvius, and greatly damages Herculaneum.

The city of Rome, set on fire by Nero, burns for six days; upon which the first Gentile persecution of the Christians begins.-The Jews begin their revolt by pelting the governor Florus with stones.

Seneca, Lucan, and many other eminent characters, put to death, at Rome.—The city of Lyons destroyed by fire.

Nero goes into Greece, and holds public trials of skill with tragedians, musicians, dancers, and charioteers.-The Jewish war begins in May, under Vespasian, in consequence of Nero having decided the controversy relative to Cæsarea, in favour of the Syrians.

Simon Magus, founder of the sect of Gnostics, causes St. Peter and St. Paul to be
cast into prison, and shortly afterwards put to death, the former by crucifixion, the
latter by decapitation.-Vespasian defeats the Jews, and takes Josephus, the his-
torian, prisoner.

Nero, deposed by the senate, kills himself, and Galba is proclaimed.
Civil wars between Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian; the latter remains master
of the empire. The temple of Jupiter Capitolinus destroyed by fire.
Vespasian orders the capitol to be rebuilt, the first stone of which is laid on the
21st of June.-Titus, son of Vespasian, takes Jerusalem, on the 7th of September,
which puts an end to the Jewish war. The city and temple are levelled with the
ground, and the lands of Judea sold.

Vespasian triumphs for his victories over the Jews.-The temple of Janus is shut, for
the sixth time, the empire being at peace.

Subject to Rome.

Independent.

No. V.

Although the Table No. III. gives a full as well as a synchronical view of the reigning princes in all the countries connected with Scripture history, it is scarcely explicit enough in showing the succession of the Asmoneans and Herodians in Judea. The following will supply the information, which is of some importance to a clear perception of those periods of the Jewish history during which these princes flourished :—

CHAPTER III.

HISTORICAL MEMORANDA.

ALTHOUGH it forms no part of our object to give an analysis or summary of the Scripture narrative, there are some two or three topics connected with the history of the Hebrews that call for distinct notice, inasmuch as a knowledge of them is intimately connected with the interpretation of the Scriptures. Of these, the principal are, Forms of Government, Jurisprudence and Legal Procedure, and Military and Fiscal Affairs; each of which may properly furnish the subject of a section.

followers as the lieutenant of the Lord of Hosts. In truth, the martial labours to which his office called him, placed the successor of Moses at the head of his countrymen in the quality of a general, guiding them on their march, or forming their array in the field of battle, rather than as a teacher of wisdom, or the guardian of a peculiar faith and worship. Until the conquered lands were divided among the victorious tribes, Joshua was a soldier, and nothing more; while, on the other hand, the congregation of the Hebrews, who seconded so well his military plans, appear at that juncture on the page of history in no other light than that of veteran troops, rendered hardy by long service in a parching climate, and formidable by the arts of Tributary Condition of the Hebrews-Of the Maintenance of discipline, under a skilful and warlike leader.

SECTION I.

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT.

Patriarchal -Theocratical-The Hebrew Commonwealth

the Kings.

1. THE earliest form of government among the Hebrews, of which we have any knowledge, was the patriarchal, as exercised by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is quite natural to suppose that Adam, the progenitor of mankind, would be acknowledged as supreme among his children, and that the authority he exercised over them would be unlimited. When his posterity separated into distinct families, the respective fathers of each tribe were acknowledged as princes, maintaining the chief power and command, without being accountable to any other authority. They also officiated as priests in their respective families. This form of government appears to have been continued, under some modifications, to the time when Moses was invested with the supreme authority, to liberate his oppressed brethren from the yoke of Egypt; for during the negociations which preceded their deliverance, the applications and messages were all addressed to the patriarchal rulers of the people. "Go, gather the Elders of Israel together," was the command of Jehovah to the son of Amram, when the latter received authority to rescue the descendants of Isaac from the hand of the tyrant.

2. During the pilgrimage in the wilderness, and more particularly when the tribes approached the confines of the devoted nations of Canaan, the original jurisdiction of the family chiefs was rendered subordinate to the military power of their inspired leader, who, as the commander of the armies of Israel, was obeyed and esteemed by his

From the exode, in short, till towards the end of Joshua's administration, we lose sight of that simple scheme of domestic superintendence which Jacob established among his sons. The princes of tribes, and the heads of families, were converted into captains of thousands, of hundreds, and of fifties'; regulating their movements by the sound of the trumpet, and passing their days of rest amid the vigilance and formality of a regular encampment.*

3. With the Levitical law, another and extraordinary form of government was introduced, which has obtained the distinctive appellation of a thecracy; Jehovah assuming a marked and visible relation to the posterity of Abraham; becoming their lawgiver, king, and judge. Under this character he gave the Law from Sinai, appointed judges and magistrates, made peace and war, and received the half-shekel as a tribute or revenue. Whatever may have been the authority possessed by the various orders in the Jewish state, it stopped short of making and promulgating the laws, which was a prerogative retained by the divine Head of the tribes:-"Now, therefore, hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes, and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them; that ye may live, and

go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I

* Russell's Palestine, p. 47.