THE DELPHI OF THE HEBREWS. 193 



hundred years Ephraim remained the dominant tribe, 

 and with Ephraim the high priest took up his abode. 

 At a place called Shiloh there was erected an enclosure 

 of low stone walls, over which the sacred tent was 

 drawn. This was the oracle establishment, or House of 

 God, to which all the tribes resorted three times a 

 year to celebrate the holy feasts with prayer and sacri- 

 fice, and psalmody, and the sacred dance. 



The Levites had no political power, and no share in 

 civil life ; but they had cities of their own, and they 

 also travelled about like mendicant friars from place to 

 place performing certain functions of religion, and sup- 

 ported by the alms of the devout. 



It was owing to these two institutions, the oracle and 

 the monkish order, that the nationality of Israel was 

 preserved. Yet though it escaped extinction it did not 

 retain its unity and strength. So far from extending 

 their conquests, after their first inroad under Joshua, 

 the Israelites constantly lost ground. They were 

 divided into twelve petty states, always jealous of one 

 another, and often engaged in civil war. The natives 

 took advantage of these dissensions, and subdued them 

 one by one. Now and then a hero would arise, rouse 

 them to a war of independence, and rule over them as 

 judge for a few years. Then again they would fall 

 apart, and again be conquered, sometimes paying tribute 

 as vassals, sometimes hiding in the mountain caves. 

 However, at last there came a change. The temporal 

 and spiritual powers, united in the hands of Moses, were 

 divided at his death. Joshua became the general of 

 Jehovah ; the high priest became his grand vizier. 

 Joshua could do nothing of importance without con- 

 sulting the high priest, who read the commands of the 

 Divine Sheik in the light and play of Urim and 



N 



