384 LECTURES AND ESSAYS [1874- 



The first part of the period covered by Dean Stanley s 

 lectures is also taken up by the Jewish scholar, H. Graetz, 

 in the last - published part of his Geschichte der Juden 

 (vol. ii. part ii. B.C. 586-160. Leipzig). Like all the 

 writings of this author the book is full of acute observation 

 and of startling combinations, which in many cases are 

 plainly untenable, but in others invite examination on 

 the basis of a fuller statement of the argument than Dr. 

 Graetz is accustomed to give. I do not venture to express 

 any opinion as to how much of what is new in the book 

 will bear the test of such examination. Apart from this, 

 the volume has a real value from the great rabbinical 

 learning of the author, who, in spite of his radical views 

 on critical questions, and his large, though irregular, use 

 of the results of Christian scholarship, is still essentially 

 a rabbi in all habits of thought. A truly rabbinical whim 

 is that which identifies Nehemiah with the messenger 

 of the covenant in Mai. iii. 



An admirable historical monograph is Professor 

 Kuenen s tract, Over de Mannen der groote Synagoge 

 (Amsterdam, 1876), the argument of which may be briefly 

 stated for those to whom the Dutch is not accessible. 

 The men of the great synagogue are once mentioned in 

 the Mishna, where they appear as filling the gap in Jewish 

 oral tradition between the prophets and Antigonus of 

 Socho. In Midrash and Gemara they are often named, 

 and divers ordinances are ascribed to them. The later 

 Jews went still further ; and Elias Levita ascribed to 

 Ezra and the Great Synagogue the task of closing the 

 canon a view which has influenced many Christian 

 writers. The whole tradition on the subject was, however, 

 discredited in last century by the objections raised by 

 several Christian scholars, especially by Rau of Herborn. 

 Of late there has been a reaction, and recent writers are 

 pretty unanimous in admitting the existence of an 

 official body called the Great Ken6seth, though there is 

 no tolerable agreement as to its functions. Now, Pro- 



