B. JEWISH HISTORY. For Jewish history. the following subdivisions naturally suggest them selves: (1) From Ezra and Nehemiah to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, A.D. 70: (2) from the beginning of the Dispersion of the Jews to the beginning of the Karaite movement (c.761) ; (3) from the Karaite movement to the culmination of the Spanish Inquisition in the expulsion of the Jews from Spain (1492) ; (4) from the expulsion from Spain to the beginning of the emancipation movement, which sets in with the French Revolution (1789) ; (5) the emancipation of the Jews and the modern period marked by the of Jews into the politi cal and social world.
There was comparatively little to disturb the peace of the Jewish community in Jerusalem during the century that elapsed between Ezra and the appearance of Alexander the Great. While some of the patriotic zealots may have looked forward to an actual restoration of a Hebrew kingdom. the bulk of the people were satisfied with the Persian rule. It is noticeable that the 'Priestly Code,' though embracing civil regulations, makes no provision for a lay chief: and this indifference to political independence was probably characteristic of the religious party whose ideals were realized in the constitution of a religious community at the head of which stood the high priest. Perfect freedom was allowed the Jews in their religious affairs. and to a large measure autonomy in local matters. At times the high priests came into conflict with Persian authority, and occasionally a movement was organized to throw off the Persian yoke, hut neither these conflicts nor movements assumed serious dimensions. Internal dissensions began to manifest themselves, but it was not until the fourth and third centuries B.C. that they led to serious divisions. The Jewish settlements in Palestine, as well as in the East Jordan dis tricts, increased. and a new feature is presented by the colonists in Babylonia and Egypt. who, while identified with the interests of the country in which they dwell, yet manifest their allegiance to their old home by contributions to the temple at Jerusalem. The dispersion of the Jews, gives Judaism its peculiar twofold aspect as :t religion of a national type and yet with universal tendencies. is thus contemporary with the con stitution of the Jews as a religious community.
Persia and Egypt exhausted what vitality re mained in them by. constant conflict, With one another, and both fell an easy prey to the vigor ous Greek forces led by Alexander the Great, The policy of Alexander resembled that of Cyrus. Ile was prepared to conciliate the nations whom he conquered, and permitted them to retain as much liberty as was consistent with a recognition of Greek supremacy. This liberty was extended to the religious cult, with which Alexander, standing under the influence of the common con ception in antiquity that regarded it as natural for every country to have its OW n gods, was careful not to interfere. The Jews submitted quietly to the new ruler.
The generals and successors of Alexander, how ever, were in constant rivalry. Ptolemy, the son of Lagus, surnamed Sohn-, one of Alexander's generals, who had become King of Egypt, invaded Syria. deposed Laoniedon, the Governor, and took possession of Palestine and Plicenicia ( B.C. Conflicts continued, in which Syria and Palestine were frequently the battlefields. The Jews thus unfortunately situated were obliged to pay tribute to the Egyptian Ptolemies as well as to the Seleucid rulers in Syria. :Many Jews left Palestine for Egypt during this period. and soon the Jewish colonies in Egypt—notably in Alex andria—far outnumbered those settled in Baby lonia. The Egyptian 'dispersion.' destined to he of vast importance in the development of Juda ism and Christia nity. gradually spread from the Libyan Desert in the north to the boundaries of Ethiopia in the south, over Cyrenaica and part of Libya. and westward along the :Mediterranean coast. The Jews enjoyed equal rights With t heir fellow-subjects, both Egyptian and Greek, and were admitted to the highest dignities and offices. The free development allowed enabled them to reach. under Greek auspices. the highest eminence in science and art. They were ready nnd brilliant disciples of their masters in states manship and learning, and even their artisans and workillell were sent for by different countries. An extensive literature was produced, including the Greek translation of the Bible known as the Septuagint, which, while it estranged the people more and more from the language of their fathers, gave rise to a vast pseudepigraphical and aline 1-y•plial literature.