Effects of the Great Revolutions in the World, from the fourth to the eighth Century-Restoration of the Persian Kingdom and Magian Religion--Jews of Mesopotamia-Babylonian Talmud-Establish- ment of Christianity--Attempts at Conversion-Constantine-Julian -Rebuilding the Temple of Jerusalem--Theodosius and St. Ambrose -Conflicts between Jews and Christians-Conversions in Minorca and Crete-Tumults in Alexandria-Fall of the Patriarchate... 141 Irruption and Conquests of the Barbarians-Trade of the Jews-Slave Trade-Decrees of Councils-Of Pope Gregory the First--Conduct of the Christians to the Jews-Arian Kings of Italy-Pope Gregory the First-State anterior to the Rise of Mahometanism in the Eastern Empire-Insurrections of the Samaritans--Laws of Justinian-Dis- pute about the Language in which the Law was to be read-State of the Jews in the Persian Dominions-Persecutions-Civil Contests-- Conquest of Syria and Jerusalem by the Persians-Reconquest by Jews in Arabia--Jewish Kingdom in Homeritis-Rise of Mahomet- Wars against the Arabian Jews-Progress of Mahometanism-State of Spain-Cruel Laws of the Visigothic Kings-Conquest of Spain Persecutions in the East-Extinction of the Princes of the Captivity- Jews in Palestine-in the Byzantine Empire-Feudal System-Chi valry-Power of the Church-Usury-Persecutions in Spain-Mas- sacres by the Crusaders-Persecutions in France-Philip Augustus- Saint Louis-Spain-France-Philip the Fair--War of the Shep- herds-Pestilence-Poisoning of the Fountains-Charles the Fourth -Charles the Fifth-Charles the Sixth--Final Expulsion from France -Germany-The Flagellants-Miracle of the Host at Brussels 237 First Settlement-William Rufus-Henry II.-Coronation of Richard I.-Massacre at York-King John-Spoliations of the Jews-Henry Zeal of the Clergy-New Christians-Inquisition-Expulsion of the Jews in Turkey-In Italy-Invention of Printing-Reformation-Lu- Change in the relative State of the Jews to the Rest of Mankind-Jews in Poland-In Germany-Frederick the Great-Naturalization Bill in England-Toleration Edict of Joseph II.-Jews of France-Petition to Louis XVI.-Revolution-Buonaparte-More recent Acts for the Amelioration of the Civil State of the Jews-General Estimate of the Number of Jews in Africa, Asia, Europe, America--Conclusion 319 to face page 22 PLAN OF THE TEMPLE.... HISTORY OF THE JEWS. BOOK XVI. SIEGE OF JERUSALEM. State of the City-Advance of the Roman Army-Danger of Titus Capture of the first Wall-Of the second-Famine-Murders within the City-Crucifixions without-The City encircled with a Trench and Wall-Antonia taken-Capture-Conflagration of the Temple-Capture and Demolition of the City-Fate of John and SimonNumbers slain and taken Prisoners-Triumph of Vespasian and Titus. A. C. 69, 70. THE last winter of Jerusalem passed away in the same ferocious civil contests; her streets ran with the blood of her own children; and instead of organizing a regular defence against the approaching enemy, each faction was strengthening its own position against the unintermitting assaults of its antagonists. The city was now divided into three distinct garrisons, at fierce and implacable hostility with each other. Eleazar the son of Simon, the man who was the first cause of the war, by persuading the people to reject the offerings of the Roman Emperors, and who afterward had set himself at the head of the Zealots, and seized the Temple, saw, with deep and rankling jealousy, the superiority assumed by John of Gischala. He pretended righteous indignation at his sanguinary proceedings, and at length, with several other men of influence, Judas the son of Hilkiah, Simon the son of Ezron, and Hezekiah the son of Chobar, he openly seceded from the great band of Zealots who remained true to John, and seized the inner court of the Temple. And now the arms of savage men, reeking with the blood of their fellow-citizens, were seen to rest upon the gates and walls of the Holy of Holies: the sacred songs of the Levites gave place to the ribald jests of a debauched soldiery; instead of the holy instruments of music, were heard the savage shouts of fighting warriors; and among the appointed victims, men, mortally wounded by the arrows of their own brethren without, lay gasping upon the steps of the altar. The band of Eleazar was amply supplied with provisions; for the stores of the Temple were full, and they were not troubled with religious scruples. But they were few, and could only defend themselves within, without venturing to sally forth against the enemy. The height of their position gave them an advantage over John, whose numbers were greatly superior-yet, though he suffered considerable loss, John would not intermit his attacks; clouds of missiles were continually discharged into the upper court of the Temple, and the whole sacred pavement was strewn with dead bodies. Simon the son of Gioras, who occupied the upper city, attacked John the more fiercely, because his strength was divided, and he was likewise threatened by Eleazar from above. But John had the same advantage over Simon, which Eleazar had over John. It was a perilous enterprise to scale the ascent to the Temple, and on such ground the Zealots had no great difficulty in repelling the incessant assaults of Simon's faction. Against Eleazar's party they turned their engines, the scorpions, catapults, and balistas, with which they slew not a few of their enemies in the upper court, and some who came to sacrifice. For it was a strange feature in this fearful contest, that the religious ceremonies still went on upon the altar, which was often |