of them was added to that of the law. Besides these synagogues, the Jews had ПIpooevxa,* prayer-houses, built in the open fields, or on mountains, for the use of those that occasionally wished for private devotions: but these prayerhouses were nothing more than inclosures, open to the sky. Our Saviour spent a whole night in one such prayer-house.

After the death of Nehemiah, the Jews had no more particular governors deputed by the kings of Persia, but the high-priest, who possessed all religious authority, had the direction of most civil matters also, being entrusted with this power by the Persian governors of Syria, of which satrapy, or district, Judæa formed a part. The first remarkable innovation made upon the regular succession of Aaron's family, was by Bagoses, governor of Syria, who deposed Johanan, the son of Joiada, and appointed in his place Jeshua, his younger brother. This outrage caused a tumult within the temple, and in the confusion Jeshua was slain by Johanan; upon this, Bagoses, although unclean, violently forced his way into the inner court, and, as a punishment for their opposition to his will, he com

Proseuchai.

pelled the priests to pay a fine of thirty-one shillings for every lamb sacrificed throughout

the year.

When Alexander, king of Macedonia, in the course of his victories, laid siege to Tyre, the Samaritans assisted him with troops: but the Jews, respecting their oath of allegiance, refused to acknowledge him as master, as long as Darius, king of Persia, lived. This conduct, however noble it might be in itself, raised the ire of Alexander, who, from the terror inspired by his brilliant victories, had long been unused to such boldness of speech; however, he determined to exact ample punishment as soon as he had reduced Tyre, which was defended with obstinate resolution. But God had long since doomed Tyre to destruction, because she relied so much upon her own strength, her wisdom, her riches, and her alliances; she had forgotten the punishment that had been inflicted upon her by the Lord, by the hand of his servant Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, nearly four hundred years anterior to her being besieged by Alexander. After a desperate defence, Tyre was taken by storm, sacked, and all the inhabitants put to the sword by Alexander's order, excepting those

of them was added to that of the law. Besides these synagogues, the Jews had IIpoσevya,* prayer-houses, built in the open fields, or on mountains, for the use of those that occasionally wished for private devotions: but these prayerhouses were nothing more than inclosures, open to the sky. Our Saviour spent a whole night in one such prayer-house.

After the death of Nehemiah, the Jews had no more particular governors deputed by the kings of Persia, but the high-priest, who possessed all religious authority, had the direction of most civil matters also, being entrusted with this power by the Persian governors of Syria, of which satrapy, or district, Judæa formed a part. The first remarkable innovation made upon the regular succession of Aaron's family, was by Bagoses, governor of Syria, who deposed Johanan, the son of Joiada, and appointed in his place Jeshua, his younger brother. This outrage caused a tumult within the temple, and in the confusion Jeshua was slain by Johanan; upon this, Bagoses, although unclean, violently forced his way into the inner court, and, as a punishment for their opposition to his will, he com

• Proseuchai.

pelled the priests to pay a fine of thirty-one shillings for every lamb sacrificed throughout the year.

When Alexander, king of Macedonia, in the course of his victories, laid siege to Tyre, the Samaritans assisted him with troops: but the Jews, respecting their oath of allegiance, refused to acknowledge him as master, as long as Darius, king of Persia, lived. This conduct, however noble it might be in itself, raised the ire of Alexander, who, from the terror inspired by his brilliant victories, had long been unused to such boldness of speech; however, he determined to exact ample punishment as soon as he had reduced Tyre, which was defended with obstinate resolution. But God had long since doomed Tyre to destruction, because she relied so much upon her own strength, her wisdom, her riches, and her alliances; she had forgotten the punishment that had been inflicted upon her by the Lord, by the hand of his servant Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, nearly four hundred years anterior to her being besieged by Alexander. After a desperate defence, Tyre was taken by storm, sacked, and all the inhabitants put to the sword by Alexander's order, excepting those

who had taken shelter in the temples, and about 15,000 that were saved by the Sidonian soldiers, serving in Alexander's army. For they, (having entered the city with the conquerors, and recollecting their ancient affinity with the Tyrians, Agenor having founded both Tyre and Sidon,) carried off these on board their ships privately, and conveyed them to Sidon.

After his success against Tyre, Alexander immediately marched against Jerusalem, with the full intent of treating it as rigorously as he had Tyre. In this imminent danger, Jaddau the high-priest, and son of Johanan, had recourse to the Almighty, as their only refuge in this extremity he therefore issued orders that public prayers and sacrifices should be offered, in order to propitiate the Deity. The night after, "God appeared to him in a dream, and bade him to cause flowers to be scattered up and down the city; to set open all the gates, and go clad in his pontifical robes, with all the priests dressed also in their vestments, and all the rest clad in white, and meet Alexander, and not fear any evil from that king, inasmuch as he would protect them." Jaddau executed the command of this vision to the letter: he conducted the