We might say, if it was a daring innovation, it was abundantly justified by the changed conditions. The Deuteronomy law was of great value at the time instituted, in preventing the spread of idolatrous notions through the ministrations of ignorant village priests; but "new occasions bring new duties;" that was no longer to be feared. Again, the two-and-a-half tribes in the days of Joshua (see Josh. xxii) offered a precedent in building a second altar, when nothing but the Jordan separated them from the rest of Israel. Lastly, it was almost a realization of the exquisite Messianic picture in Isaiah xix, 19-25, where an altar would be built in Egypt, and Israel, Assyria and Egypt would be united under God's blessing. So built it was, at Leontopolis, in old Goshen, land of early Israel's sojourn, and near the famous Memphis. It received royal sanction and aid; but it never acquired for Egyptian Jews the validity and sanction of the Temple at Jerusalem. Philometer's confidence was further shown in appointing Onias Arab-arch, i.e., commander of the Arabian province Heliopolis, and also custodian of the Nile ports. In the following pages we shall see Egypt gradually losing power and independence through the growth of Rome; but we will notice also that through all these changes the status of the Jews remains almost undisturbed--that unfriendly attacks are confined almost wholly to literary slanders. But then, grave persecutions often began with the pen throughout all Israel's history. NOTES AND REFERENCES. _The Septuagint_: So many Hebrew terms and constructions were used in this Greek translation that it became a modification of the language, a sort of Jewish-Greek. Schürer, _Jewish Life in the Times of Christ_, 2d Division iii, (Scribner). This is a very valuable work on this era, but should be accepted with reservation. _Temple of Onias_: A "mound of the Jews" recently unearthed near Leontopolis, doubtless marks the ruins of the Temple of Onias. Read articles "Alexandria" and "Diaspora," _Jewish Encyclopedia_, Vols. i and iv respectively. _Christianity._: The fairest presentation of the Judaism of these times by a non-Jewish author is Toy's _Judaism and Christianity_. _Theme for Discussion_: "Are there traces of Greek philosophy in the Septuagint?" Freudenthal, _Jewish Quarterly Review_. Vol. ii. BOOK II. JUDEA INDEPENDENT