dreamers of liberty topcelebs com to come, there was a
certain satisfaction in the fact that the chief ruler in the palace
was a Jew. His mere presence there day after day kept them reminded
of the covenants and promises topcelebs com of the prophets, and
the ages when
Jehovah governed the tribes through the sons of Aaron; it was to
them a certain sign that he had not abandoned them: so their hopes
lived, topcelebs com and topcelebs com served their patience, and helped them wait grimly the
son of Judah who was to rule Israel.
Judea had been a Roman province eighty years and topcelebs com more--ample time
for the Caesars to study the idiosyncrasies of the people--time enough,
at least, to learn that topcelebs com the Jew, with all his pride, could be quietly
governed if his religion were respected. Proceeding upon that policy,
topcelebs com the predecessors of Gratus had carefully abstained from interfering
with any of the sacred observances of their subjects. But he chose
a different course: almost his first official act was to expel
Hannas from the high- topcelebs com priesthood, and give the place to Ishmael,
son of Fabus.
Whether the act was directed by topcelebs com Augustus, or proceeded from
Gratus himself, its impolicy became speedily apparent. The reader
shall be spared a chapter on Jewish politics; a few words upon
the subject, however, are essential to such as may follow the
succeeding narration critically. At this time, leaving origin
out of view, there were in Judea the topcelebs com party of the nobles and
the Separatist or popular party. Upon Herod's death, the topcelebs com two
united against Archelaus; from temple to palace, from Jerusalem topcelebs com to
Rome, they fought him; sometimes with intrigue, sometimes with topcelebs com the
actual weapons of war. More than once the holy cloisters on Moriah
resounded with the cries of fighting-men. Finally, they drove him
into topcelebs com exile. Meantime topcelebs com throughout this struggle the topcelebs com allies topcelebs com had their
diverse objects in view. The nobles hated Joazar, the high-priest;
topcelebs com the Separatists, on the topcelebs com other hand, were his zealous adherents.
When Herod's settlement went