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which Jehovah commanded the children of Jacob, who named Israel.* So these nations feared Jehovah, and se their graven images, both their children, and their childr children; as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.*

THE SAMARITAN S.

SANBALLAT, the Horonite, who, in some character other, had exercised the chief authority in Samaria several years, married one of his daughters to Manasse a son of Jehoida, the high priest, at Jerusalem, and whs Nehemiah attempted to dissolve all the unlawful marriag which had taken place in Judah, Manasseh fled to Samit and settled there, under the protection of his father-in-la!

Darius Nothus, or Ochus, who had succeeded to the thre of Persia, having engaged in a war with Amyrtæus Saits who had raised an insurrection in the province of E marched into Phoenicia; when Sanballat obtained permissi from that monarch, to build a temple on mount Gerizim, imitation of that at Jerusalem, and made Manasseh bi priest of it; from which period Samaria became the comman resort of all the refuse inhabitants of Judah; but in progres of time, they became more strict and correct in the observances of the rites and ceremonies of the Mosaical law, than even the Jews, except in respect of the heterodoxy of performing them in an unauthorized place. From this period, too, arse that deadly hatred between these nations, which on the part

* 2 Kings, xvii. 24-34.
Nehem. xiii. 3-28.

+ 2 Kings, xvii. 41.

§ Prid. i. 486.

the Jews, exists against the very name of a Samaritan, or uthean to this day.*

Dr. Prideaux supposes that Sanballat died shortly after is at the siege of Gaza.†

When Alexander the Great was besieging the island of yre, he sent both to the Jews and Samaritans for provisions nd other assistance. The former pleaded their oath of fealty › Darius Codomanus, king of Persia, but the latter not only ɔmplied with his demands, but sent him eight thousand men assist in the siege.

After he had taken Tyre, and was proceeding to Jerusalem o punish the Jews for their refusal, he was diverted from his anguinary purpose by the extraordinary transaction we have lready related, upon which, the Samaritans finding what avours the Macedonian had granted to the Jews, anticipated hat he would confer similar benefits upon them. Having declined an invitation to visit their city, they applied to be relieved from tribute on the sabbatical years, alleging that they also were Hebrews, and observed the same law in that respect as the Jews; but Alexander not comprehending how this could be, deferred giving any decision till his return from Egypt, whither he was then marching.§

In revenge, most probably, for this neglect, whilst Alexander was pursuing his conquests in Africa, the Samaritans mutinied against Andromachus, one of his favourites whom he had appointed governor of Syria and Palestine; and on his coming to Samaria slew him in a tumult, by setting fire to the house where he was, and burning him to death. On his return from Egypt, the Macedonian caused all who had been concerned in the murder, to be executed, and expelling all the inhabitants, settled a colony of Macedonians in that city, giving their

Prid. i. 489-502.

Judah, p. 353.

+ Prid. i. 489.
Prid. 572, 573. Jos. ii. 123.

other territories to the Jews. The remnant of the Samar returned to Shechem, under mount Gerizim, and thenceforw that place became the chief metropolis of the Samari sect. As for the eight thousand Samaritan soldiers who a followed his army, Alexander sent them to colonize The in Egypt.*

A great number of them, however, as well as of the Jew settled at Alexandria, under the encouragements held on: them successively by Alexander, and Ptolemy, his succes in those dominions.+

After the death of Antigonus, his son Demetrius retair for some time possession of Tyre and Sidon, whence he, er lieutenants, made an inroad upon the Samaritans, and wast the country.+

When Antiochus the Great had subdued Galilee and neighbouring country, during his war with Ptolemy Phi pater, he placed Hippolochus and Kereas in the governme of Samaria with five thousand men, to secure his conquests When Antiochus Epiphanes had subdued Ptolemy Phi meter, on his return to Antioch he made Andronicus govern of Samaria.||

After Antiochus had returned to Antioch from bis the expedition into Egypt, he issued a decree for an uniformity of religion throughout the provinces subject to his authority. which was chiefly levelled against the Jews. Upon the occasion the Samaritans gave a signal instance of their deep duplicity. Whenever the Jews were in prosperity they claimed kindred to them, as descended from the common stock of Israel; but when pursued by adverse fortunes, they alleged they were the descendants of the Medes and Persians. In order to separate themselves from the persecution which evidently

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waited the Jews, they presented a petition to Antiochus, lleging they were of Sidonian origin, and praying that heir temple on mount Gerizim might be consecrated to the Grecian Jupiter.† Antiochus having acceded to their wishes, Ordered Nicanor, his deputy governor, to consecrate their emple accordingly, and exempted them from the penalties inflicted on the Jews.+

In the reign of Ptolemy Philometer, some of the Samaritans, who had found their way amongst the Jews who had established themselves at Alexandria, like Dr. Cox and his companions at Frankfort and Strasbourg,§ could not let the peaceable Jews worship their God in quiet, even at that distance from their native land, but excited a commotion there as to the right place for the worship of the God of Israel. And absurd and unimportant as the question would seem, and must have appeared in the eyes of the Egyptian monarch, the question was solemnly agitated before him and his council by professed advocates on either side; but the Samaritans, failing in their proofs, were convicted of sedition and their advocates put to death.||

Soon after the death of Antiochus Sidetes, king of Syria, John Hyrcanus, son of Simon Maccabæus, then high priest

Whenever it suited their purpose they pretended they were descended from the same stock as the Jews, as when Alexander the Great granted immunities to the Jews.-Jos. vol. ii. p. 133. But whenever the Jews were in difficulties they were amongst the first to separate themselves from them, and assist to oppress them. In this petition they blasphemously allege that their worship of a God without a name, was only in compliance with an ancient superstition of the Jews. Prid. ii. 216.

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Which transaction may be considered as the cause and origin of dissent from the Church of England.

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and prince of Judea, took Sechem, and destroyed the on mount Gerizim, which had been built by Sanballet. Samaritans, however, continued to have an altar there, to offer sacrifice as before.*

Some years afterwards he sent his two sons, Aristobuls z Antigonus, to besiege the city of Samaria, when Antion Cyzicenus came to their relief, but was defeated by the brothers; as were his generals and some Egyptian auxil sent to their aid by Apion or Lathyrus, king of E after which the city fell into their hands, when B demolished the place, razed the houses to the ground, & caused trenches to be drawn across it transversely, and s them with water, so that it might not be rebuilt. And: this state it remained till Gabinius, the lieutenant of Pump the Great, was made president of Syria, when marching one part of his army through the country, whilst the other pr was besieging Alexandrium, he rebuilt Samaria, togethe with Azotas, Gaza, Raphia, Anthedon, Jamnia, Scythops Apollonia, Dora, Marissa, and several other cities, which h been demolished during the wars of the Asmoneans.§

Whilst Gabinius was absent in the conquest of Egypti the restoration of Ptolemy Auletes, Alexander, the eldest of Aristobulus, assembled a large army, and after killi many of the Romans, drove the rest to mount Gerizim, where he besieged them; but upon the return of the Roman general a battle took place, in which Alexander was defeated with the loss of ten thousand men.||

Gabinius had ordered the rebuilding of Samaria, and it was for some time called the city of the Gabinians, but it

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Rather repaired, as it does not seem to have been rebuilt, till Herod the Great restored it by the name of Sebaste. Prid. ii. 383.

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