HISTORY 331 



Hellenic culture. But what it may be needful to remark 

 about it must be deferred till we have noted various facts 

 about those who so influenced it, and therefore we must 

 now leave the Greeks and direct our attention to the 

 Hebrews. 



The Jews 'were a relatively small Semitic* people 

 whose influence on the world has been even more 

 profound and important than that of the Greeks, 

 because it has affected not science, literature and art, but 

 morals and religion. Very little need be said about their 

 history in a work addressed to English-speaking people 

 who are so familiar with the Bible. Much would have to 

 be said, however, if there was here any need to consider 

 and weigh questions which modern Biblical criticism 

 has made matters of controversy ; but in dealing with 

 the mere elements of history it will be enough simply to 

 refer to them. 



When the reputed descendants of Abraham began and 

 completed the conquest of Canaan, sacrifices were offered 

 in various parts of the land, and by men who were not 

 priests, as we read in the Books of Judges, Samuel, and 

 Kings. Nevertheless they were worshippers of one God, 

 Jehovah whether or not he was regarded as more than 

 a tribal deity who watched over the Jewish nation, as 

 other nations were watched over and protected by their 

 various gods. The prophets, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, and 

 Micah most probably date from before 623 B.C. They, 

 and indeed all the prophets, defended the exclusive 

 worship of Jehovah, insisted on his moral character, and 

 proclaimed morality to be not only absolutely necessary, 

 but that it is the chief element of all true worship. 



In the separate Northern portion of the nation (Israel) 



* See ante, p. 317. 



