THE JEWISH PEOPLE.
A History of the Jewish People during the Maccabees* and Boman Periods. By James Stevenson Riggs, D.D. (Smith, Elder, and Co. 6s.)—This is an interesting addition to the valuable "His- torical Series for Bible Students," a set of manuals now being prepared by American academic experts "in response to a wide- spread demand for non-technical yet scholarly and reliable guides to the study of the history, literature, and teaching of the Old and New Testaments, and of the contemporary history and literature." Few stories are more fascinating, so far at least as the history of post-exilic Judaism is concerned, than that of the brilliant Maccabean revolt and of the agony which preceded the final triumph of Titus and his Romans. Dr. Riggs does not affect an ability to throw any fresh light upon this historical romance, but he retells it with lucidity. Above all things, he never loses sight of the spiritual and political significance of the Jewish struggle, especially during the time of the Ma ccabees,— the combat between the rival forces of Hellenism and Hebraism. Nor does Dr. Riggs fail to perceive and to emphasise the moral weaknesses as well as the military capacity of the men—including even John Hyrcanus himself—who made their country indepen- dent for about a century and a quarter. The struggle with Rome is not of course so inspiriting as that which preceded it, but Dr. Riggs perceives the inner significance. Although he does not conceal his pronounced views, he seeks to be absolutely fair even to such
men as the two Herods. It may be questioned also if anywhere there exists an account at once briefer or more tersely written of the politico-religious systems indicated in the phrases " Scribes " and "Pharisees" than that supplied by Dr. Riggs's volume.
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