Helon's Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Volume 1 (of 2): A picture of Judaism, in the century which preceded the advent of our Savior.Strauss, Friedrich
History
Helon's Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Volume 1 (of 2): A picture of Judaism, in the century which preceded the advent of our Savior.
Strauss, Friedrich
Jews -- History -- To 70 A.D. -- Fiction
“I perceive, Myron, that your eyes are turned towards the west, and I
read your meaning. You think that the Romans, before whom already
Carthage and Corinth have fallen, and to whom so many nations have bowed
the neck, may threaten the liberty of Israel. But stern and implacable
as they are to all their enemies, they keep faith with their friends and
allies; and he whom they aid may think himself secure upon his throne.
Besides, Israel has still higher hopes. Let me only remind you of the
commencement of my narrative, in which I showed, that Israel was
destined to communicate the faith of Abraham to all nations, by means of
the law; and that the Messiah is to be the Patriarch of the human race.
To bring this to pass, Israel became a nation in Egypt, received the law
from Sinai, conquered the Holy Land under the judges, obtained a temple
under its kings, and was taught obedience by the vicissitudes of
calamity and prosperity in successive centuries. All now exists
together—Israel is a nation, has the law and obeys it willingly. The
time therefore cannot be remote, when all the nations of the earth shall
be blessed in the seed of Abraham and the son of David. The sins which
are still found in Israel alone prevent his immediate appearance. As
soon as they repent, and keep but one sabbath as they ought, the
expectation of Israel will come. For thus has Isaiah prophesied; ‘Thus
saith the Lord; my salvation is near and my righteousness is about to be
revealed. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that
layeth hold on it, that keepeth the sabbath free from pollution, and
restraineth his hand from doing any evil.[73] He that is promised shall
come and that speedily. Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the
glory of the Lord is risen upon thee! The Gentiles shall come to thy
light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.’[74] In this hope I
conclude my narrative, which, long as it has been, is too short for the
subject, with that psalm, so full of thankfulness and hope:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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