BIBLE HISTORY, IN CONNECTION WITH THE GENERAL HISTORY OF THE WORLD. WITH NOTICES OF SCRIPTURE LOCALITIES AND SKETCHES OF SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS LIFE. BY THE REV. WILLIAM G. BLAIKIE, A.M., PREFACE. THE BIBLE HISTORY now offered to the public possesses several features that are not found, at least together, in other works of the same kind :— 1. It follows the great outline of the Bible narrative, arranging and classifying the leading facts, so as to aid the eye and the memory in grasping the whole. 2. For vivifying the narrative, it takes advantage of the mass of Biblical illustration of which recent years have been so prolific, in researches, travels, and expeditions in Bible lands. 3. It notices briefly the chief countries, towns, and other scenes of Bible history as they occur; bringing before the reader the facts that contribute most to the full understanding of what is said of them in the Bible. 4. It glances at the parallel history and progress of the leading nations of the world,-showing what was going on elsewhere while the history of the Bible was being enacted. 5. It traces the progress of religious knowledge, and the state of social and of spiritual life at different periods. 6. Its silent but steady aim throughout is to bring out the great lessons of the Bible, and point the whole to high practical and spiritual ends. The importance of bringing such side-lights as these to bear on Bible history is now admitted by all. When this is done, the facts get imbedded in the mind as vivid realities, which no cavils of unbelievers can easily dislodge. They retain their place as firmly as anything "which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon." It is hoped that the present volume, besides its more direct uses, will prove instrumental in so lodging a sense of the reality of the great facts of the Bible in many a young mind, that infidel ridicule and infidel reasonings alike shall be thrown back from it, and fall harmless as the wave at the foot of the rock on which it dashes in vain. It would be tedious to enumerate all the books that have been laid under contribution for this work, and which readers may desire to consult for fuller details. They are very numerous, and will commonly be found quoted at the proper places. The number of new books on the Holy Land alone is now Legion. Two of these must be specified, that have appeared within the last few months—both very remarkable in their way :—Murray's “ Handbook for Syria and Palestine," by the Rev. J. L. Porter of Damascus; and "The Land and the Book," by the Rev. Dr. Thomson of Beyrout. Mr. Porter's admirable work was read first by the present writer while correcting the proof-sheets of this volume ; but several foot-notes have been subjoined from it, as vouchers for the correctness of statements in the text. The very remarkable work of Dr. Thomson has been published still more recently. The MS. paper of Cyril L. Graham, Esq., from which an extract is given at page 124, was, in the absence of that gentleman, kindly lent to the writer by his honoured friend and relative, Dr. Keith, who had got permission to make use of it for the new edition of his "Evidence of Prophecy." One word as to Chronology. On the disputed question between what is called the short and the long chronology, or that of the Hebrew Bible and that of the Greek Septuagint, we have no hesitation-for reasons that need not be detailed here-in declaring adherence to the latter. We would not have hesitated to give its dates alone in the margin, if only we had been satisfied that, in matters of detail, Hales, who is usually quoted as its best expositor, is a satisfactory guide. As it is, the dates according to the old Hebrew chronology-that of Usher-have usually been printed in bold figures, while a plain type has been used for the amended dates of Hales. The Bible Gazetteer at the end is designed chiefly to supply notices of places that could not be introduced in the body of the work. EDINBURGH, April 1859. W. G. B. |