and expressed high approbation of Helon's determination to become a priest, they laid themselves down to rest.

The institution of genealogists may be traced up to the earliest times of Israel's existence as a nation. Jehovah was their true and only ruler. Under him the people lived in families, which together formed tribes, the families themselves being subdivided into houses. Each tribe had its own prince, chosen probably by the heads of families, who were thenselves chosen by the heads of houses. The princes and the heads of families were called elders; their number was seventyone, aud besides them there were judges, and genealogists who kept the registers of the different families. Although at various times the supreme power was by turns in the hands of heroes, kings, princes and high-priests, yet the fundamental principle of the constitution was, that Jehovah was sole and absolute monarch of his people Israel, and that they obeyed him, under all intermediate magistrates, whatever their titles or offices might be.

The genealogist of each family was a very important person, and especially in the tribe of Levi, in which so many privileges were attached to purity and certainty of extraction. He who wished to serve as a priest before Jehovah, must not only descend on the father's side from Aaron, but be of irreproachable birth on that of the mother. The series of Helon's paternal ancestors had been very exactly carried on in Egypt, and Elisama had brought documents thence with him to establish it. But his mother was also the daughter of a priest, and as her family lived in Judah, it was necessary that the genealogy on this side should be examined into, and the descent shown to be regular.

The following day was occupied with these researches. The genealogist showed the pedigree of his family to Helon; his name was formally entered under that of his mother, and he thus stood on her side among the children of the course of Abia,* as on his father's he belonged to the course of Malchia.

*Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was of the course of Abia. Luke i. 5.

On the fifth day our travellers returned to Jerusalem. Helon, rejoicing in the success of his journey, compared his own lot with that of the children of Habaiah, Hakoz, and Barzillai, of whom Ezra and Nehemiah write, that after their return from the captivity they sought for their registers, and not being able to find them, forfeited their sacerdotal office.* On their return they passed through Lachish, which Helon had not seen before, of which the prophet Micah said, “Thou art the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion." This town was taken by Joshua from a Canaanitish prince ; it was fortified by Rehoboam.§ Amaziah was put to death in it ;|| and the ambassadors of Hezekiah came hither with presents to Sennacherib. Next he saw Libnah,** which, like Lachish, was situated in the plain of Sephela, and was memorable for its defection from king Joram. At last they came to Socho, near which is the grove of terebinths, where David fought with Goliah. In the earlier part of their day's journey they had also seen the cave of Adullam, doubly memorable as having afforded a hiding-place to David, and as being the place where Judas Maccabæus kept the first sabbath, which we read of as having been celebrated after the atrocities of the king of Syria tt

Happy in having stored his memory with many pleasing pictures of the Land of Promise, infinitely more happy in the thought that there was now no obstacle to his admission into the priest-hood, Helon greeted the Holy City a second time.

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CHAPTER XVII.

THE FEAST O F THE NEW MOON.

ELISAMA and Helon, as they drew near the gates of Jerusalem, soon perceived from the commotion among the people, from the triumphal preparations, some wholly, some only partially finished, and from the influx of strangers, that a public rejoicing was at hand. It resembled the preparation for the Passover, but there was more of mirth, and altogether a more worldly character in it. The acclamations of joy which had been heard on the first intelligence of the victory were now renewed, on the evening before the victors were to make their solemn entry into Jerusalem.

Iddo was standing at the gate of his house, a place in which, according to the custom of the Jews, the father of the family was seldom seen, not even Iddo, lively and active as he was. On this occasion, however, he had stationed himself there, in order to lose none of the animating sights which the busy and crowded streets exhibited. Beside him stood the Nazarite, who had already arrived, in his coarse garments and unshorn locks.

The feet of the guests were washed and the supper served up. The conversation turned on what the travellers had seen during their journey, and what had passed in Jerusalem during their absence. All were in eager expectation of the spectacle of tomorrow, and as Elisama was weary, they speedily separated and retired to rest. On the following day, as early as the commencement of the morning sacrifice, the multitude streamed towards the gate of Ephraim, by which the victorious army was to enter. The streets of the New City and the Lower City, as far as the castle Baris, were strewed with fragrant flowers; tapestry of various colors hung from the parapets of the roofs, and banners were displayed from the Alijahs, while on the pinnacles of the temple were hung

the curtains which in former years had closed the entrance of the sanctuary. A chorus of virgins passsed out at the gate of Ephraim, under a splendid triumphal arch, to meet the victorious army. Messengers were hastening to and fro, the crowd increased, and every one was endeavoring to find himself a commodious place. The music of the temple was heard between. Sallu had secured one of the highest places for his masters, from which the whole scene lay before their eyes. In this way several hours had passed; the messengers, mounted on horse-back, went and returned more frequently at length, from thousands of voices was heard the exclamation, "They come !"

The chorus of virgins arose with their psalteries and tabrets, and sung in bold strains the valor of the conquerors, the fall of Samaria, and the mercy of Jehovah to his people. When they reached the advanced guard of the army, way was made for them, till they reached the car on which the youthful Maccabees were seated. Standing before it they began an ode, the burthen of which recalled the immortal song of Miriam, the sister of Moses, the first of the female singers of Israel :

Sing unto Jehovah, for he has triumphed gloriously:

He hath filled Samaria with trenches of water!

Then the hymn took up the praises of the princes and the warriors and the whole people, and the defeat of Samaria; and at the close of every strophe, all with united voice and instruments, raised the chorus of Miriam.

The victorious princes thanked the virgins, who advanced before them to the triumphal arch at the gate of Ephraim. Here stood the high priest with the whole of the Sanhedrin, and a great multitude of the priests and Levites. To the sound of the temple music they sang the ninth psalm.

Priests, warriors, and citizens listened in silent veneration. The aged man who wore the insignia of the high-priest's office looked at times with moistened eyes upon the car in

which his sons were seated, as if the remembrance of his own youthful heroism revived in his mind.

When the psalm was ended, he approached his sons: they descended from their chariot and hastened to throw themselves into the arms of their father, who embraced and blessed them. The music began again; the triumphal procession arranged itself and advanced through the city, which resounded on every side with songs of congratulation. The maidens with their tabrets and psalteries headed the procession; they were followed by a multitude of victims for the sacrifice, adorned with flowers, branches and fillets, designed to be offered as a thank-offering on the morrow. Then came the prisoners in fetters, and the huge elephants which had been taken from the Syrians. Each of these animals bore a wooden tower upon his shoulders, in which were thirtytwo warriors, besides the Ethiopian who guided him.*

After these came the high-priest with the Sanhedrim, the priests, and Levites, and the temple-music. The two sons of Hyrcanus, on their car, formed the centre of the procession, and after them came the military music of flutes, horns, aduffs, and trumpets. The army itself followed, adorned with branches of laurel and palm. First came the heavy armed infantry with shields and lances, in companies of hundreds and thousands. They had no upper garment, and their under garment, which was girt up short, was of various form and color, as the fancy of each individual dictated; but all had a sword hanging at their girdle; their feet and arins were protected by metal greaves and arm-pieces, the body was covered with a coat of mail, the head with a helmet, and over the back hung the large shield. The light-armed infantry followed in like manner, but with less cumbrous defensive weapons, and slings, bows, and darts for offence. The cavalry were few in number and lightly armed; the Jewish state had never maintained any large force of this description. The military engines followed, of which the Israelites had

* 1 Maccab. vi, 37.