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heaven…sent leader that man who should first help them to be quit of
their present misery。 They agreed； and in utter ignorance began to
advance at random。 Nothing； however； distressed them so much as the
scarcity of water； and they had sunk ready to perish in all directions
over the plain； when a herd of wild asses was seen to retire from
their pasture to a rock shaded by trees。 Moyses followed them； and；
guided by the appearance of a grassy spot； discovered an abundant
spring of water。 This furnished relief。 After a continuous journey for
six days； on the seventh they possessed themselves of a country；
from which they expelled the inhabitants； and in which they founded
a city and a temple。
Moyses； wishing to secure for the future his authority over the
nation； gave them a novel form of worship； opposed to all that is
practised by other men。 Things sacred with us； with them have no
sanctity； while they allow what with us is forbidden。 In their holy
place they have consecrated an image of the animal by whose guidance
they found deliverance from their long and thirsty wanderings。 They
slay the ram； seemingly in derision of Hammon； and they sacrifice
the ox； because the Egyptians worship it as Apis。 They abstain from
swine's flesh； in consideration of what they suffered when they were
infected by the leprosy to which this animal is liable。 By their
frequent fasts they still bear witness to the long hunger of former
days； and the Jewish bread； made without leaven； is retained as a
memorial of their hurried seizure of corn。 We are told that the rest
of the seventh day was adopted； because this day brought with it a
termination of their toils； after a while the charm of indolence
beguilded them into giving up the seventh year also to inaction。 But
others say that it is an observance in honour of Saturn； either from
the primitive elements of their faith having been transmitted from the
Idaei； who are said to have shared the flight of that God； and to have
founded the race； or from the circumstance that of the seven stars
which rule the destinies of men Saturn moves in the highest orbit
and with the mightiest power； and that many of the heavenly bodies
complete their revolutions and courses in multiples of seven。
This worship； however introduced； is upheld by its antiquity； all
their other customs； which are at once perverse and disgusting； owe
their strength to their very badness。 The most degraded out of other
races； scorning their national beliefs； brought to them their
contributions and presents。 This augmented the wealth of the Jews；
as also did the fact； that among themselves they are inflexibly honest
and ever ready to shew compassion； though they regard the rest of
mankind with all the hatred of enemies。 They sit apart at meals；
they sleep apart； and though； as a nation； they are singularly prone
to lust； they abstain from intercourse with foreign women； among
themselves nothing is unlawful。 Circumcision was adopted by them as
a mark of difference from other men。 Those who come over to their
religion adopt the practice； and have this lesson first instilled into
them； to despise all gods； to disown their country； and set at
nought parents； children； and brethren。 Still they provide for the
increase of their numbers。 It is a crime among them to kill any
newly…born infant。 They hold that the souls of all who perish in
battle or by the hands of the executioner are immortal。 Hence a
passion for propagating their race and a contempt for death。 They
are wont to bury rather than to burn their dead； following in this the
Egyptian cus
tom； they bestow the same care on the dead； and they hold the same
belief about the lower world。 Quite different is their faith about
things divine。 The Egyptians worship many animals and images of
monstrous form； the Jews have purely mental conceptions of Deity； as
one in essence。 They call those profane who make representations of
God in human shape out of perishable materials。 They believe that
Being to be supreme and eternal； neither capable of representation；
nor of decay。 They therefore do not allow any images to stand in their
cities； much less in their temples。 This flattery is not paid to their
kings； nor this honour to our Emperors。 From the fact； however； that
their priests used to chant to the music of flutes and cymbals； and to
wear garlands of ivy； and that a golden vine was found in the
temple； some have thought that they worshipped father Liber； the
conqueror of the East； though their institutions do not by any means
harmonize with the theory； for Liber established a festive and
cheerful worship； while the Jewish religion is tasteless and mean。
Eastward the country is bounded by Arabia； to the south lies
Egypt； on the west are Phoenicia and the Mediterranean。 Northward it
commands an extensive prospect over Syria。 The inhabitants are healthy
and able to bear fatigue。 Rain is uncommon； but the soil is fertile。
Its products resemble our own。 They have； besides； the balsam…tree and
the palm。 The palm…groves are tall and graceful。 The balsam is a
shrub； each branch； as it fills with sap； may be pierced with a
fragment of stone or pottery。 If steel is employed； the veins shrink
up。 The sap is used by physicians。 Libanus is the principal
mountain； and has； strange to say； amidst these burning heats； a
summit shaded with trees and never deserted by its snows。 The same
range supplies and sends forth the stream of the Jordan。 This river
does not discharge itself into the sea； but flows entire through two
lakes； and is lost in the third。 This is a lake of vast circumference；
it resembles the sea； but is more nauseous in taste； it breeds
pestilence among those who live near by its noisome odour； it cannot
be moved by the wind； and it affords no home either to fish or
water…birds。 These strange waters support what is thrown upon them； as
on a solid surface； and all persons； whether they can swim or no；
are equally buoyed up by the waves。 At a certain season of the year
the lake throws up bitumen； and the method of collecting it has been
taught by that experience which teaches all other arts。 It is
naturally a fluid of dark colour； when vinegar is sprinkled upon it；
it coagulates and floats upon the surface。 Those whose business it
is take it with the hand； and draw it on to the deck of the boat； it
then continues of itself to flow in and lade the vessel till the
stream is cut off。 Nor can this be done by any instrument of brass
or iron。 It shrinks from blood or any cloth stained by the menstrua of
women。 Such is the account of old authors； but those who know the
country say that the bitumen moves in heaving masses on the water；
that it is drawn by hand to the shore； and that there； when dried by
the evaporation of the earth and the power of the sun； it is cut
into pieces with axes and wedges just as timber or stone would be。
Not far from this lake lies a plain； once fertile； they say； and the
site of great cities； but afterwards struck by lightning and consumed。
Of this event； they declare； traces still remain； for the soil；
which is scorched in appearance； has lost its productive power。
Everything that grows spontaneously； as well as what is planted by
hand； either when the leaf or flower have been developed； or after
maturing in the usual form； becomes black and rotten； and crumbles
into a kind of dust。 I am ready to allow； on the one hand； that
cities； once famous； may have been consumed by fire from heaven；
while； on the other； I imagine that the earth is infected by the
exhalations of the lake； that the surrounding air is tainted； and that
thus the growth of harvest and the fruits of autumn decay under the
equally noxious influences of soil and climate。 The river Belus also
flows into the Jewish sea。 About its mouth is a kind of sand which
is collected； mixed with nitre； and fused into glass。 This shore is of
limited extent； but furnishes an inexhaustible supply to the exporter。
A great part of Judaea consists of scattered villages。 They have
also towns。 Jersualem is the capital。 There stood a temple of
immense wealth。 First came the city with its fortifications； then
the royal palace； then； within the innermost defences； the temple
itself。 Only the Jew might approach the gates； all but priests were
forbidden to pass the threshold。 While the East was under the sway
of the Assyrians； the Medes； and the Persians； Jews were the most
contemptible of the subject tribes。 When the Macedonians became
supreme； King Antiochus strove to destroy the national superstition；
and to introduce Greek civilization； but was prevented by his war with
the Parthians from at all imp