The Old and New Testament Connected, in the History of the Jews and Neighbouring Nations Volume 2; From the Declension of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, to the Time of Christ (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1836 Excerpt: ...great festival omo, n(r the Jews is their Passover; seven weeks numbered from thence brings them to their Pentecost, or feast of weeks; from thence this sect continued to number still seven woeks nn, nod every seventh Sunday was a new festival with them, till, by repeating it seven times over, they concluded the year, and then began again from the Passover the same round as before. What Pliny saith of this sect, is what I am next to lay before the reader. The account which he gives of them, is as followeth.3 "On the western side of the Lake Asphaltites dwell the Essenes, seating themselves inwardly from it to avoid the shore as hurtful to them. They are the alone sort of men, and herein, above all others in the world, to be admired, that live without women, without the use of copulation, without money, feeding upon the fruit of the palm tree. They are daily recruited by the resort of new comers to them, in a number equal to those they lose, many flocking to them whom the surges of ill-fortune having made weary of the world, to drive them to take shelter in their institution and manner of life. And thus for several thousands of years (it is incredible to be said, ) this people is perpetually propagated without any being born among them, so fruitful and prolific unto them is the repentance of others as to their lives past." 1 Here Philo seems again to Hyperbolize, it being scarce possible to support nature with such scanty and mean (are. 8 Plin. lib. 5, c. 17. Thus far I have given the several accounts of the three authors above mentioned concerning this sect, as far as I can make them plainly speak in the English language. Porphyry, Eusebius, Epiphanius, and several others of the ancients, have also spoken of them; but all that they have said on this subje...