compute the exact Time:-Yet many Calculations made by Rabbies in different Ages.-Recent Prognostications.-Bene- fits expected by Jews from their Messiah.-Ten Signs to pre- cede and attend his coming:-Ten Consolations.-All Israel to be restored to Palestine :-To be entertained by Messiah with a grand Festival-Spectacles and Games,-Sumptuous Ban- quet, Music and Dancing.-Messiah to possess universal Empire: To live long and be succeeded by his Posterity.- The Earth to bring forth spontaneously.-All Work and La- bour to be performed by Gentiles.-Israelites to enjoy perpe- Dresses worn by Jews.-Talleth or Tsitsith, a square Garment with Fringes or Tassels:-Small one worn constantly:-Large one for daily Prayers and other Occasions.-Great Virtues of these Vestments.-Tephillin or Phylacteries,-for the Head,― and for the Arm:-made with minute Care, and possessed of wonderful Virtues.-Mezuzoth, or Schedules for door-posts.. 304 Number required for a Congregation.-Synagogues;-hired, or built.-General description of them.-Copies of the Law used in them.-Separate Part for Women.-Officers.-Privilege of Forms of Prayer:-All in Hebrew.-Daily Prayers.-Recital of MODERN JUDAISM, &c. &c. CHAPTER I. Old Testament received by the Jews:-Threefold Division:-Order of the Books :-Jews unjustly accused of corrupting the Hebrew Text:--Have counted the Words and Letters of the Pentateuch,-and the Letters in the Bible.-Table of Sections of the Law and Prophets as read in the Synagogues. OUR first inquiry respecting Modern Judaism is naturally directed to those writings, which are regarded by its professors as standards of the system. By the great body of the Jewish people the scriptures of the Old Testament have always been received as written by divine inspiration. They divide the sacred books into three classes,-the Law, the Prophets, and the Hagiographa, or Holy Writings. Of the reason of this division nothing certain can be determined. Some modern rabbies affirm it to have been a designed allusion to the threefold division of the tabernacle and temple: the Law B 2 answering to the Most Holy Place, in which were the Ark, the Propitiatory, and the Book of the Law; the Prophets corresponding to the Holy Place, in which were the Table of Shew-bread, the Golden Candlestick, and the Altar of Incense; and the Hagiographa to the Court of the Temple, where stood the Altar of Burnt offering.* But whatever may have been the reason of the division, it is doubtless of high antiquity. The son of Sirach seems to allude to it in the preface to the book of Ecclesiasticus, written and published about a hundred and thirty years before the Christian era; where he mentions The Law, the Prophets, and the other Books of our fathers.' It is probable that the same was intended by our Lord, when he spoke of "The Law of Moses, and the Prophets, and the Psalms," in an address to his disciples after his resurrection. Josephus, who wrote soon after the destruction of the second temple, says: We have only twenty two books, ' which contain the records of all past times, which are justly believed to be divine. Of them, five belong to Moses, which contain his Law, and the 'traditions of the origin of mankind till his death. In the interval of time from the death of Moses to the reign of Artaxerxes, successor of Xerxes, 'king of Persia, the Prophets who were after 'Moses wrote down what was done in their times, in thirteen books. The remaining four books * R. Ephod (or, more correctly, Peripoth Duran) Præf. in Gramı. cited by Simon, Crit. Hist. O.T. B. i. c. 9. R. Abarbinel, Præfat. in Josuam, vel. Dissert. viii. Basil, 1662. + Wolf. Bib. Heb. vol. i. p. 255, &c. Luke xxiv. 44. |