The Jews in ancient, mediaeval and modern times . with such extraordinaryfire, and set off with such intense, picturesque other human type has such vividness andcolor! It is not altogether surprising arrogancethen when the Jew lays claim to a remarkable emi-nence. The Christian and the rationalist, on differ-ent grounds to be sure, are ready to say that therehas been nothing in the world so wonderful as thecareer of the Israelitish nation. Certainly no intelli-gfent man can fail to see with Freeman that the 8 THE STORY OF THE JEWS. phenomenon of the Jewish race is one of thestrange
The Jews in ancient, mediaeval and modern times . with such extraordinaryfire, and set off with such intense, picturesque other human type has such vividness andcolor! It is not altogether surprising arrogancethen when the Jew lays claim to a remarkable emi-nence. The Christian and the rationalist, on differ-ent grounds to be sure, are ready to say that therehas been nothing in the world so wonderful as thecareer of the Israelitish nation. Certainly no intelli-gfent man can fail to see with Freeman that the 8 THE STORY OF THE JEWS. phenomenon of the Jewish race is one of thestrangest in history. The more it is thought of,the more its utter strangeness appears—that its posi-tion is completely unique. To attempt some sketchof the progress of this people during its long history,to depict its ancient state, to sketch the depth ofhumiliation through which it has been forced topass, and the signs that can now be discerned thatit is about to issue into a time of extraordinary^ tri-umph,—this certainly is a theme of CHAPTER II. THE MORNING-TIME IN PALESTINE. The southwestern corner of Syria, known asPalestine, the Hoh Land, is a country small inextent. Its boundaries are somewhat indefinite ; forin different ages the power of the Hebrews wasextended now over a greater, now over a smallertract. It was about one sixth as large as England,scarcely larger, in fact, than the State of Massachu-setts. From a high mountain peak in the centre, itwould be quite easy for an observer in a clear day tobehold on every side the most distant limits—to thesouth the ranges bordering upon Arabia, to thenorth the summits of Lebanon ; the Mediterraneanto the west would seem not far distant; so, too, theunproductive steppes into which, on the easternfrontier, the pasture lands are gradually as the journe}^ would be between the farthestpoints, consuming scarcely half a day with our waysof travel, great contrasts of scenery would beencountered. The lofty m
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