3.) _The Syr'i-an supremacy_, B. C. 198-166. About the year B. C. 198 Ju-de'a fell into the hands of the Syr'i-an kingdom, also ruled by a Greek dynasty, the Se-leu'ci-dae, or descendants of Se-leu'cus. This change of rulers brought to the Jews a change of treatment. Hitherto they had been permitted to live undisturbed upon their mountains, and to enjoy a measure of liberty, both in civil and ecclesiastical matters. But now the Syr'i-an kings not only robbed them of their freedom, but also undertook to compel them to renounce their religion by one of the most cruel persecutions in all history. The temple was desecrated and left to ruin, and the worshipers of Je-ho'vah were tortured and slain, in the vain endeavor to introduce the Greek and Syr'i-an forms of idolatry among the Jews. Heb. 11. 33-40 is supposed to refer to this persecution. When An-ti'o-chus, the Syr'i-an king, found that the Jews could not be driven from their faith, he deliberately determined to exterminate the whole nation. Uncounted thousands of Jews were slaughtered, other thousands were sold as slaves, Je-ru'sa-lem was well-nigh destroyed, the temple was dedicated to Ju'pi-ter O-lym'pus, and the orgies of the Bacchanalia were substituted for the Feast of Tabernacles. The religion of Je-ho'vah and the race of the Jews seemed on the verge of utter annihilation in their own land. Blackboard Outline 1. =Four Per.= 1. Per. per. 1.) Sec. tem. 2.) Ez. ref. 3.) Sep. Sam. 4.) Com. O. T. can. 2. Gk. per. 1.) Rei. Alex. 2.) Eg. sup. 3.) Syr. sup. Review Questions With what history is that of the Jews interwoven during this period? What was the political condition of the Jews at this time? What are the four periods of this history? Who were the rulers of the Jews during the first period? What building was erected after the return from captivity? What great deliverance was effected by a woman? What great reforms were effected by a scribe? What title has been given to him? What were the events connected with the separation of the Sa-mar'i-tans? Who were the prophets of the restoration? By whom was the Old Testament canon arranged? What brought on the Greek period? What events of Jew'ish history were connected with Al-ex-an'der the Great? Under what people did the Jews fall afterward? What were the events of the E-gyp'tian rule? What is the Septuagint? How was its translation regarded by the Jews of Pal'es-tine? In what kingdom, after E'gypt, did Ju-de'a fall? How was it governed by its new masters? Who instituted a great persecution? PART TWO 3. =The Mac-ca-be'an period=, B. C. 166-40. But the darkest hour precedes the day; the cruelties of the Syr'i-ans caused a new and splendid epoch to rise upon Is'ra-el.