nation of Ezra's government by the mission of Nehemiah | commonly believed by the antient fathers of the Christian to Jerusalem from Artaxerxes Longimanus, in the twen-church that all the Sacred Scriptures of the Jews were entieth year of his reign, B.C. 445. As Daniel's seventy pro- tirely destroyed in the conflagration of the temple and city phetic weeks commence at the going forth of the edict of of Jerusalem by the king of Babylon, and that, on the reCyrus to Zerubbabel or of that of Artaxerxes to Ezra, turn of the Jews from the Chaldæan captivity, these writings these events have been the subject of much critical investi- were wholly reproduced by a divine inspiration of Ezra. gation among biblical critics. (See Irenæus, Adversus Hæres, 1. iii. c. 25; Tertullian, De The contents of the first six chapters are briefly as follow. Habitu Mulierum, c. iii. ; Clemens Alexandrinus, Strom. i.; Chap. i. gives an account of the proclamation of Cyrus con- Basil, in Epist. ad Chilonem.) The following passages cerning his release of the captive Jews, permitting them from the second Apocryphal book of Ezra, xiv. 26, 45, to go from Babylon to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple; 46, 47, appear to sanction this opinion. Behold, Lord,' of the restoration of their property, sacred vessels and says Ezra, 'I will go as thou hast commanded me, and reutensils; and of presents made by the Chaldæans of money prove the people. The world is set in darkness, and they and various provisions. Chap. ii. states the numbers of that dwell therein are without light, for thy law is burnt; each of the families composing the multitude which re- therefore no man knoweth the things that are done of thee; turned to Judæa with Zerubbabel, and the number of their but if I have found grace before thee, send the Holy Ghost beasts of burden. All this account, excepting some of the into me, and I shall write all things that have been done in numbers, is repeated word for word in the seventh chapter the world since the beginning, which were written in the of Nehemiah, beginning at ver. 6. In ver. 64 and 65 of law; And God said, Go, prepare to write swiftly, and when Ezra, the total number of the people is said to have been thou hast done, some things shalt thou publish, and some 42,360, which appears not to agree with the preceding par- things shalt thou show secretly to the wise.' The learned ticulars, since the addition of these produces only 29,818, Dr. Prideaux (Connection, p. 260, fol.) remarks, that 'in that is, a deficiency of 12,542. The numbers given in the time of king Josiah (B.C. 640), through the impiety of Nehemiah occasionally differ very widely from those in the two preceding reigns of Manasseh and Ammon (a period Ezra for instance, the children of Azgad are said in Ezra of sixty years), the book of the law was so destroyed and lost; (ii. 12) to have been 1222; but in Nehemiah (vii. 17) they that, besides the copy of it which Hilkiah, the high-priest, are said to have been 2322, or 1100 more. Nehemiah accidentally found in the Temple (2 Kings xxii. 8, &c.; repeats precisely the total given by Ezra, 42,360; but the 2 Chron. xxxiv. 14, &c.), there was then no other to be had; addition of Nehemiah's particular numbers makes 31,089, for Hilkiah's surprise in finding it, and Josiah's grief in or a deficiency of 11,271. The numbers of horses, 736, hearing it read, do plainly show that neither of them had mules 245, camels 435, and asses 6,720, exactly agree in ever seen it before; and if this pious king and the highthe two accounts; but in Ezra, ver. 69, the chief fathers priest were without it, it cannot be thought that any one give to the treasury 61,000 drams of gold; in Nehemiah, else had it.' If this were the authentic copy laid up before ver. 71, they give only 20,000. Chap. iii. records the events the Lord in the Temple, it was burned, as believed by all of setting up the altar at Jerusalem and re-establishing Jewish and Christian writers, in the burning of the Temple, the Jewish sacrificial worship. An account of the in- fifty-two years afterwards, by Nebuchadnezzar. Dr. Priterruption of the building of the Temple by the decree deaux takes it to be implied in several passages which he of Artaxerxes, and its completion by a subsequent de- cites that, from the copy accidentally found by the highcree of the same monarch, with transcripts of the docu- priest Hilkiah, some transcriptions were made previous to ments written on these occasions, occupy chapters iv., v., and the destruction of the Temple, and that from these scattered vi. Chapters vii. and viii. contain an account of Ezra's copies Ezra formed his improved edition of the sacred text. commission from Artaxerxes to undertake the government In common with most other modern divines, he rejects the of Judæa, his preparations and reception of presents for his opinion of the fathers respecting the restoration of the journey thither, with a multitude of Jews, who it appears Scriptures by a new revelation to Ezra, observing (p. 261) still remained in Babylon after the return to Judæa of the that it would very much shock the faith of many should multitude under Zerubbabel; an enumeration of the people it be held that the sacred writings owe their present and families who returned, and the weight of gold and silver being to such a revival; it being obvious for sceptical percontributed by the king, his councillors, and the Israel- sons to object that he who is said thus to have revived ites, for the use of the Temple at Jerusalem (viii. 25-28). them forged the whole.' All, he continues, that Ezra did The value of these presents amounts to 803,6007. Chapters was-'he got together as many copies of the sacred writings ix. and x. relate the proceedings of Ezra in separating from as he could, and out of them all he set forth a corrected their wives and children all the Israelites who had married edition, in which he took care of the following particulars: women from among the surrounding nations, and thus-1. He corrected all the errors introduced into these 'mingled the holy seed with the abominations of the Gen- copies by the negligence or mistakes of transcribers; for, tiles. Ezra (x. 3, 5, 19, 44) made all the Israelites who by comparing them, he found out the true reading, and set had 'strange wives and children' swear, and give their all to rights. 2. He collected together all the books of hands, that they would put them away, which accordingly which the sacred Scriptures did then consist, disposed them was done. The latter half of the last chapter contains a long in proper order, and settled the canon of scripture up to list of the husbands and fathers who were the subjects of that time.' The Jewish writers state that the canon was this national renovation. The part from iv. 8 to vii. 27 decided by a congress of 120 elders under the presidency of is written in the Chaldee idiom, the rest in Hebrew. Ezra; but since they mention as members of it, not only the The period to which the four last chapters relate, com- contemporaries of Ezra, as Daniel, Shadrach, Meschech, prising the Jewish history from B.C. 458 to B.C. 445, is and Abednego, but the high-priest Simon the Just, who coeval with the age of Pericles. The subject matter of the lived 250 years later, it is evident that they mean the book of Nehemiah being identical with that of Ezra, the number of those who successively arranged and rectified the collation of the two affords a mutual illustration. Chapter canonical books. Ezra divided all the books he collected viii, of Nehemiah relates circumstantially the fact of Ezra's into three parts; the law, that is, the Pentateuch; the solemn reading and exposition of the law to the assembled prophets, containing all the historical and prophetical books; Israelites, who, according to Dr. Prideaux, were taught the and the hagiographa, which comprised all the writings not signification of the Hebrew words by means of Chaldaic included in the two other divisions. (Josephus, advers. interpreters (8); for, since their seventy years' captivity in Apion.) He divided the Pentateuch into 54 sections, one Babylon, the Chaldee instead of the Hebrew had become of which was read every Sabbath; and, according to the their vernacular language. (Dean Prideaux's Connection, Jewish authorities, he was also the author of the smaller fol., p. 263.) The critical arguments adduced in opposition divisions called Pesukim, or verses, and of the various to the opinion that the Israelites lost the Hebrew language, readings and suggested corrections inserted in the margins and understood only the Chaldæan, are well exhibited in of the Hebrew copies. These, called Keri Cetib (that which Dr. Gill's learned 'Dissertation on the Antiquity of the is read and that which is written), appear however in the Hebrew Language,' 8vo., 1767. The two principal under- books attributed to Ezra himself. (On these particulars takings of Ezra were-1. The restoration of the Jewish see the remarks of Prideaux; Buxtorf, Vindiciae Verilaw and ritual, according to the modes observed before tatis Hebraica, par. ii. c. 4; Walton's Prolegom., viii. § 18; the captivity; and 2. The collection and rectification of the and Dr. Gill's Dissertation on the Hebrew Language.) Sacred Scriptures. On account of these important ser- Most biblical critics state that Ezra changed the antient vices the Jews regarded him as a second Moses. It was names of places for those by which these places were known in his time, and some say that he wrote out all the Scrip- tradition of equal authority, and believing the latter to be Eddystone or Edystone Light- Ehrenbreitstein, 318 Edda, 268 Eddoes, 268 Eddy, 268 house, 268 Easement, 246 East, 246 East India Company, 246 East Indies, 252 Easter, 252 Edentata, 269 Edessa [Orfa] Edfu, 269 Edgar, 270 Edgar Atheling, 271 Ebb [Tides] Eichhorn, Johann Gottfried, 318 Eichstätt (bailiwick), 319 Elasticity, 326 Elberfeld (circle), 330 Elbing (circle), 331 Elborus, Elburz, or Elbrooz, [Caucasus, p. 382] Elcaja, 331 Elche, 331 Elden Hole [Derbyshire] Elder Tree [Sambucus] Eleatic Philosophy, 332 Election, 332 Election (law), 334 Elector [Boroughs of England; Commons, House of] Electra [Cellariæa, vol. vi., p. 401] Electricity, 334 Electricity (Latent) [Molecula Electricity (medical application Electro-Chemistry, 339 Electro-Magnetism, 342 Electrómeter, 343 Electrum, 344 Ebersbach, 254 Edgehill [Charles I. of Eng- Edgeworth, Richard Lovell, 272 Edinburgh County, or Mid-Lo- Edward I. (the Elder), 284 284 Eichstätt (town), 319 Eider [Denmark] Eider-Duck [Fuligulina] Eighth (in music), 320 Electuary, 344 Eledóne [Cephalopoda; Sepi ada] Elegy, 344 Eikon Basilike [Charles I. of Elégit, 344 Eimbeck, or Einbeck, 320 Eisenach (principality), 320 Eisenstadt, 321 Elemi, 344 Eucharist, 61 Euchysiderite, 61 Euclid [Geometry of the Greeks] Eudocia the younger, 64 Eudy'namys [Cuculidae, Cucu- Eugénia, 65 Eugeniacrinites [Encrinites, vol. Evágora [Medusa] ix., p. 393] Eugenin, 66 Eugénius I., II., III., IV., 66 Eúlabes (zoology) [Rollers] Eulen-Spiegel [English Drama, Evágrius, 97 Eulímene [Branchiopoda, vol. Evidence, 101 Euler, Leonard, 67 Eúlima, 67 V., p. 343 Euly'mene [Medusa] Eumédonus, 68 Eúmenes, 68 Euménides, 68 Eumorphus, 69 Eunomia [Milleporida] Evil Eye, 103 Evil, King's [Scrofula] Evolute [Involute and Evolute] Eumolpus,Eumolpida [Eleusis] Evolution [Involution and Evo- Ethero-Sulphuric acid-Ethio- Eunápius, 69 lution] Evolutions, Military, 104 F is a labio-dental aspirate bearing the same relation to the other labio-dental aspirate V which the letters called tenues, p, k, t, bear to the media, b, g, d. It occupies the sixth place in the English as in the Latin alphabet, thus corresponding with the digamma of the old Greek alphabet, and the vau of the Hebrew. In power and form it is likewise closely related to those two letters. [ALPHABET.] The letter F is interchangeable with the other aspirates eh or h and th, and also with the lip-letters p and b. 1. Fin Latin corresponds to h in Spanish, as Latin formoso, beautiful; Spanish hermoso; Latin femina, female; Spanish hembra; Latin fugere, fly; Spanish huir. Other examples may readily be found in a Spanish Dictionary under the letter h. The same change prevailed between the Latin of Rome and the Sabine dialect of that language. 2. Fin Latin corresponds to th in Greek, as Latin fera, a wild beast; Greek Onp. Latin fle, weep; Greek Opɛ, as seen in Opvos. Indeed this interchange prevailed among the dialects of the Greek language itself as in ovpap and ουθαρ; όλην and θλαν ; φλεβω and θλίβω. This however seems to depend on the proximity of the letters 7 and r. (See L.) 3. Fin Latin corresponds to b in German and English, as frang-ere, brech-en, to break; frater, bruder, brother; fago, buche, beech, &c. 4. F in English and German to p in Latin, as pelli, fell, fell (comp. fellmonger); ped, fuss, foot; pug-na-re, fechten, to fight, &c. F, in Music, is the fourth note, or degree, of the diatonic scale, answering to the fa of the Italians and French. It was originally used as the base clef, to which it gives a name; but while serving as a sign, time has gradually altered its form into that which as a clef it now takes. This letter is also an abbreviation of the Italian word Forte, strong, or loud. The double F signifies the superlative of Forte,-Fortissimo. FABA'CEE. [LEGUMINOSE.] FA'BIUS MAXIMUS and the FABII FAMILY. The Fabii were a numerous and powerful gens or patrician house of antient Rome, which became subdivided into several families or branches distinguished by their respective cognomina, such as Fabii Maximi, Fabii Ambusti, Fabii Vibulani, &c. They were of Sabine origin, and settled on the Quirinal from the time of the earliest kings. After the expulsion of the Tarquinii, the Fabii as one of the older houses exercised considerable influence in the senate. Cæso Fabius being Quæstor with L. Valerius, impeached Spurius Cassius in the year of Rome 268, 486 B.C., and had him executed. It has been noted as a remarkable fact, that for seven consecutive years from that time, one of the two annual consulships was filled by three brothers Fabii in rotation. Niebuhr has particularly investigated this period of Roman history, and speculated on the causes of this long retention of office by the Fabii as connected with the struggle then pending between the patricians and the plebeians, and the attempt of the former to monopolize the elections. (History of Rome, vol. ii., The Seven Consulships of the Fabii.) One of the three brothers, Quintus Fabius Vibulanus, fell in battle against the Veientes, in the year 274 of Rome. In the following year, under the consulship of Caso Fabius and Titus Virginius, the whole house of the Fabii proposed to leave Rome and settle on the borders of the territory of Veii, in order to take the war against the Veientes entirely into their hands. After performing solemn sacrifices, they left Rome in a body, mustering 306 patricians, besides their families, clients, and freedmen, and encamped on the banks of the Cremera in sight of Veii. There they forti ed themselves, and maintained for nearly two years a harassing warfare against the Veientes and other people of Etruria. At last in one of their predatory incursions they fell into an ambuscade, and fighting desperately, were all exterminated. (Livy, ii. 48. 50; and Niebuhr's History, on the Veientine War.) One only of the house, Quintus Fabius Vibulanus, who had remained at Rome, escaped, and became the parent stock of all the subsequent Fabii. He was repeatedly consul, and was afterwards one of the de F. cemviri with Appius Claudius for two consecutive years, in which office he disgraced himself by his connivance at the oppressions of his colleague, which caused the fall of the decemvirate. In subsequent years we find several Fabii filling the consulship, until we come to M. Fabius Ambustus, who was consul in the year 393 of Rome, and again several times after. He fought against the Hernici and the Tarquinians, and left several sons, one of whom, known by the name of Quintus Fabius Maximus Rullianus, attacked and defeated the Samnites (429 of Rome) in the absence and against the orders of his commanding officer, the Dictator Papirius, who would have brought him to punishment for disobedience, but was prevented by the intercession of the soldiers and the people. This Fabius was five times consul, and dictator twice. He triumphed over the Samnites, Marsi, Gauls, and Tuscans. His son, Quintus Fabius Gurges, was thrice consul, and was the grandfather of QUINTUS FABIUS MAXIMUS VERRUCOSUS, one of the most celebrated generals of Rome. In his first consulate he triumphed over the Ligurians. After the Thrasymenian defeat he was named Prodictator by the unanimous voice of the people, and was intrusted with the salvation of the Republic. The system which he adopted to check the advance of Hannibal is well known. By a succession of skilful movements, marches, and counter-marches, always choosing good defensive positions, he harassed his antagonist, who could never draw him into ground favourable for his attack, while Fabius watched every opportunity of availing himself of any error or neglect on the part of the Carthaginians. This mode of warfare, which was new to the Romans, acquired for Fabius the name of Cunctator, or temporizer,' and was censured by the young, the rash, and the ignorant; but it probably was the means of saving Rome from ruin. Minucius, who shared with Fabius the command of the army, having imprudently engaged Hannibal, was saved from total destruction by the timely assistance of the dictator. In the following year however, 536 of Rome, Fabius being recalled to Rome, the command of the army was intrusted to the consul T. Varro, who rushed imprudently to battle, when the defeat of Cannæ made manifest the wisdom of the dictator's previous caution. Fabius was made consul in the next year, and was again employed in keeping Hannibal in check. In 543 of Rome, being consul for the fifth time, he re-took Tarentum by stratagem, after which he narrowly escaped being caught himself in a snare by Hannibal near Metapontum. (Livy, xxvii. 15, 16.) When some years after the question was discussed in the senate of sending P. Scipio with an army into Africa, Fabius opposed it, saying that Italy ought first to be rid of Hannibal. Fabius died some time after at a very advanced age. His son, called likewise Quintus Fabius Maximus, who had also been consul, died before him. His grandson Quintus Fabius Maximus Servilianus, being proconsul, fought against Viriatus in Spain, and concluded with him an honourable peace. (Livy, Epitome, 54.) He was afterwards consul repeatedly, and also censor. He wrote Annals, which are quoted by Macrobius. (Saturn. i. 16.) His brother by adoption Quintus Fabius Maximus Emilianus, the son of Paulus Emilius (Livy, xlv. 41), was consul in 609 of Rome, and was the father of Fabius, called Allobrogicus, who subdued not only the Allobroges, but also the people of Southern Gaul, which he reduced into a Roman province, called from that time 'provincia,' or 'Gallia ulterior. Quintus Fabius Maximus, a grandson of Fabius Maximus Servilianus, served in Spain under Julius Cæsar, and was made consul in the year 709 of Rome. Two of his sons or nephews, Paulus Fabius Maximus and Quintus Fabius Maximus were consuls in succession under Augustus. There was also a Fabius consul under Tiberius. Panvinius and others have reckoned that during a period of about five centuries, from the time of the first Fabius, who is mentioned as consul, to the reign of Tiberius, 48 consulships, 7 dictatorships, 8 censorships, 7 augurships, besides the offices of master of the horse and military tribune with consular power, were filled by individuals of the Fabian house. It also could boast of thirteen triumphs and two ovations, (Augustinus de Familiis Romanorum.) |