Excerpt from Jewish Nation: Containing an Account of Their Manners and Customs, Rites and Worship, Laws and Polity

The manners and customs of the ancient Jews, and other nations mentioned in the Bible, differed very much from those of Europe and America at the present time. On this account it is not easy for a modern reader to understand some passages of Scripture. Hence many things in the Bible seem very strange to those who do not know the man ner in which people in the East lived in former times. Nor do the beauty and importance of many texts appear, unless What is alluded to in them is known.

The eastern manners and customs of old times may be explained from two sources -1. From the ancient writers of other nations, who have described the customs of former times. Their works contain many passages which confirm the accounts given in the Bible, and nothing which really contradicts them when carefully examined. Learned men have clearly proved this. Nor should we forget, that a great part of the Old Testament was written many hundred years before any other book now in existence - 2. Much also may be learned from modern travelers, who have vi sited the places mentioned in the Bible, and other countries of the East. People live there now very much in the same manner as they did in the times about which we read in the Bible, which were from two to six' thousand years ago. The books of eastern travelers now are full of such state ments; many are given in this volume, but they are only a small part of what might have been stated. Perhaps some travelers have gone too far, and mention as illustrations Of the Bible what are not really such.

Also the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish religion are too often carelessly passed by, from ignorance as to many of the particulars, which are very interesting when explained by the customs of the ancient Jews, or by the accounts of their own writers who lived about the time of our Saviour.

The laws and polity, or the political institutions of the Jews, contain much that is very important to be known, but which is not noticed by common readers; here, also, a knowledge of the manners and customs is of much use. All these things will be found interesting when inquired into. The design of this volume is to induce the reader so to study his Bible; and all who read it Should examine the texts noticed. It would have been easy to refer to a great many other texts, but most who read this book can look at a Concordance, or, if young persons, it is a good exercise to examine for themselves, and thus to be led to search the Scriptures. For this reason, as well as to save space, the texts are seldom given at great length in this volume. If that had been done, the book would have been doubled in size and cost, without any advantage in return while any plan that prevents the examining of the whole Bible is by no means desirable.

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