File:Ridpath's Universal history - an account of the origin, primitive condition and ethnic development of the great races of mankind, and of the principal events in the evolution and progress of the (14761417666).jpg

Identifier: ridpathsuniversa05ridp (find matches)
Title: Ridpath's Universal history : an account of the origin, primitive condition and ethnic development of the great races of mankind, and of the principal events in the evolution and progress of the civilized life among men and nations, from recent and authentic sources with a preliminary inquiry on the time, place and manner of the beginning
Year: 1897 (1890s)
Authors: Ridpath, John Clark, 1840-1900
Subjects: World history
Publisher: Cincinnati : Jones
Contributing Library: University of Pittsburgh Library System
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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nial on the other. Itis the peculiarity of religious systemsto become petrified in forms, usages,statutes, ceremonials, and, worst of all, THE HEBREWS.—RELIGION. 313 dogmas, from which there is no depar-ture, no appeal; in which there is noallowance for improvement and adapta-tion to the ever-expanding and varyingthought of the given race. Thus it was in Israel. Preeminentlywas it true of the Hebrew race that their religion became soSefo^l:^m. fixed and bounded that there was in it neitherprinciple nor opportunity of reform.Reform, however, was precisely the Public opinion and priestly lore hadcoincided in delineating the characterof the expected leader and redeemer ofthe people. He was to be a king andruler and conqueror. Israel was to bereestablished as a nation. vShe shouldsubordinate the surrounding nations andbecome the one great kingdom of theearth. Of that kingdom there shouldbe no end. As the state sank lowerand lower, expectation became moreand more intense. When Judaea was
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JEWS iJAV OF ATUNKMEXT. condition which was necessary to per-petuity. Judaism survived in the pe-riod succeeding the decline of the He-brew state like a dead but undecayingtree. Vainly did the later prophets andthe men of reform, the national heroessuch as the Maccabees, strive to revivifyand reestablish the wasted energies ofthe national religion. For ages together Israel had expect-ed a Deliverer. The prophets hadvoiced the popular expec- Expectation and prediction of a tatlOU of OUC who should e iverer. come and restore the king- dom to its pristine energy and power. made a Roman province, though thesubjection of Israel was extreme, theoutlook for the apparition of the prom-ised king and restorer was more eagerthan ever. The day of redemption wasbelieved to be at hand. Amid all the excitement attendantupon the existence and prevalence ofsuch a belief, there was no The priestsexpectation of reform. The ^^veVonTheSanhedrin did not desire Mosaic system,either to reform itself or to be

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