Morris.] OiKj [Oct. 5, 



The Ethics of Solomon. 



By J. Cheston Morris, M.D. 



{Read before the American Philosophical Society, October 5, ISD^.) 



Probably at no period of human history, unless it be in our own time 

 and case, do we read of such changes as came over the Hebrew nation in 

 the course of the century covering the reigns of Saul, David and Solomon. 



For three or four centuries preceding, the land of Palestine had been oc- 

 cupied by the twelve tribes who took possession of it under the leadership 

 of Joshua, the successor in command of Moses the great lawgiver. Trained 

 in Egyptian knowledge and civilization, we should naturally look for 

 marks of the impress of Egyptian modes of thought and expression in 

 their writings; and accordingly we do find much that is to be explained by 

 their contact with, and departure from, this phase of human development 

 as illustrated by the monuments and mummies which have been and are 

 now so carefully studied. A pastoral and agricultural people, living in 

 detached communities, associated more or less closely by consanguinity 

 and common dangers, and with a worship which separated them from the 

 idolatrous nations surrounding them, they seem to have enjoyed varying 

 degrees of prosperity and freedom under the judges or rulers w-ho arose 

 among tliem from time to time. The ancient empire of the Hittilcs had 

 crumbled and disappeared ; the rival Assyrian and Egyptian empires had 

 alternately prospered and waned, and were then, as they continued to be, 

 in frequent contact and struggle for supremacy. Along the east coast of 

 the Mediterranean were powerful cities of Philistines and the commerce- 

 loving Tyrians and Sidonians. As in after ages, the rich and fertile plains, 

 the valleys and mountain fastnesses of tlie land of Canaan, Gilead, Bashan 

 and Moab produced food and cattle in enormous quantities for the supply 

 of these neighboring nations, and caravan routes were well established 

 along the coast and across tlie Arabian and Syrian deserts. By these 

 communication was made and exchange efiected between the products of 

 the valleys of the Nile and the Euphrates ; while by the commerce of 

 Tyre, the Iberian peninsula and possibly the shores of Albion were 

 brought into intercourse with far Cathay, as we may infer from the length 

 attributed to the voyages of the navies of Hiram and Solomon and the 

 cargoes with which they were freighted. But with the movements or 

 interests of their neighbors the Hebrews hitherto had had little concern — 

 they might hardly even have had more title to be considered as a nation 

 than have to-day the wandering Bedouin bands that are the sole permanent 

 inhabitants of Arabia. Their territory was raided by Moabite, Amalekite 

 or Philistine : no advance in arts or sciences took place among them ; and 

 even their monotheistic faith seemed likely to die out, as it degenerated 

 into a superstitious reverence for the Ark, or was overlaid with the idola- 

 try of the surrounding peoples. After the capture of their great Palladium 



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