John Hyrcanus perhaps represents the dividing line. He started on a career of conquest simply to satisfy national ambition; though he had forced Judaism on the Idumeans. In his later years, he rejected many traditional observances of the Oral Law that completed his estrangement from the Pharisees. Taking a material and external survey, Hyrcanus left the Jews at the end of his life with an independent State, that in power and extent was as great as Northern Israel in its palmy days, as great perhaps as the realm of Solomon. He could mint his own coins, on some of which, still in existence, we find inscribed, "Jochanan, High Priest of the Commonwealth of the Judeans." Yes, it was all very splendid! But surely the Jews had learned by now the insufficiency of national glory that was material and external, that that kind of splendor was apart from the Jewish ideal, "not by might, not by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord." The age needed a Jeremiah again. Alas, the era of the Prophets was over! NOTES AND REFERENCES. _Hasmonean_: This was the family name of Mattathias, afterwards assumed by his descendants. _Pharisees and Sadducees_: Geiger, "_History of the Jews_," vol. i, chapter viii, translation. The fact that Jesus of Nazareth condemned the false Pharisees--as Micah condemned false prophets (see Matthew xxiii and Luke xi) has much to do with their general condemnation in literature. The Talmud is also bitter against the false Pharisees, the _Zebuim_, the tainted ones, who do evil like Zimri and claim the goody reward like Phineas. In its severe denunciation of the false Pharisees, it divides them into six classes: 1. Those who do the will of God for earthly motives. 2. The ostentatious who go with slow steps and say "Wait for me, I have a good deed to perform." 3. Those who knock their heads against a wall because in their looking up they fear they may see a woman. 4. Those who pose as saints. 5. Those who say, "Tell me of another duty." 6. Those who are pious because of the fear of God. "Who are the genuine Pharisees?" asks the Talmud. "Those who do the will of their Father in Heaven because they love Him." _King_: Carlyle reminds us of the derivation of "King" from _Können_--the man who "can"! _Samaritans_: See _People of the Book_, vol. iii, p. 244. _Theme for Discussion_: Compare modern with ancient parties in Israel. [Illustration: COIN OF JOHANAN THE HIGH PRIEST.] CHAPTER VIII. A ROYAL HOUSE AGAIN. Aristobulus.