2. In age and importance the next to the Babyloni- an.was the Egyptian colony of Jews ; indeed, in influ- ence, this even stands the highest (comp. Strabo in Joseph. Ant, xiv, 7, 2). On the first immigration of Palestinian Jews thither, which began with the inti- macy under Solomon, and was cherished by the Egyp- tizing party during the latter days of the Hebrew monarchy (see 2 Kings xviii, 21, 24 ; Isa. xxxix, 16 ; XXX, 2 sq. ; xxxi, 1 ; xxxvi, 6), and confirmed (see Gesenius, Jeaaias, i, 826, 967) as a support against As- syria (compare Herod, ii, 141), and still more (2 Kings xviii ; xxii, 29, 33) against Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings xxiv, 7) by an actual league with Hophra (Ezek. xvii, 16), on whose subjugation of Judaea many Jews took refuge in Egypt (J^r. ii, 18 ; xli, 17, 42-44), as the only safe retreat (Ewald, Gesch. Isr. i, 268 sq.), see Von Bohlen {Genetig, p. 83, Einl.). Nebuchadnez- zar appears, however, during his irruption into Egypt, to have carried off to Babylon the Jews who had retired thither (Joseph. Ant. x, 9, 7). On the other hand, Alexander the Great placed a considerable num- ber of Jews in the Alexaadria founded by him, and bestowed upon them equal rights with the Egyptian citizens (Joseph. Apum^ ii, 4; comp. Ant, xix, 6, 2). Ptolemy Lagi intrusted Jews with military positions, allowed a portion of the Jewish population to settle in Cyrene (Joseph. Apum^ 1. c), and strengthened the Egyptian colonies by the transmigration of many Pal- estinian Jews thither (Joseph. Ant. xii, 1), B.C. 320. Ptolemy Philadelphus (B.C. 284) is said to have caused the Jewish book of the law to be translated into Greek at a great expense for the Alexandrian library (Jo- seph. AnL xii, 2; Apion, ii, 4), See Skptuaoikt.
With (his favor towards the Jews their 1nh«mi£p ment by Ptolemy Philopator stands in ntost ble contrast, according to the third book of*' (q. v.). But the truth of this circmnataKe k doubtful, and Josephus {Ap. ii, 6, only cxtBt h a) Latin) ascribes this procedure to Pcolcaiy Yk^, Under Ptolemy PhOometor (B.C. 180 »q.) sad Ii »- gent-mother Cleopatra the Jews were veir ferwi' • treated ; high offices, namely in the army, v^ i their hands, and the court granted them the j^nas confidence (Joseph. Ap. ii, 6). Even the erBfikt proper Jewish temple at Leontopolis was aDdvo! seph. Ant. xiii, 3 ; War, vii, 10, 2), and on tke ca border of the kingdom a Jewish town COwci, »j founded (Joseph. War, i, 9, 4; Ant. xiv, 8, 1). »iii was important in a mUitary point of view. Ite Egypt fell under the Boman away, the asmcnfe i^ enjoyed, under the first emperors, oontiniied p»?r ity (comp. also Philo, Opp, ii, 563) and freedom m though they experienced occasional violatJess cf tic rights on the part of the Greek inhabitants, w!i& ^'. on the other hand, provoked by the encroocbBeK the Jews (Joseph. Ant, xiv, 7, 2) ; and even A^^i found it necessary to protect the Jews in Cywae fc» j special edict (Joseph. Ant. xvi, 6, 1 sq.). Bot a tH ble vengeance of the Greeks against the Jewi, t: were continually incurring the deepening hate e^d community, took place under the empercv Csltgt I The Jews in Alexandria and other parts of Egypt \A attacked with bloody violence, their syna^og^e uj molished, their rights trampled upon (iada^^ q exemption from the bastinado [q. t.3, Philci, Ojif. '1 628); the Roman governor Flaccus Amiias i^i was in league with the mob against the Jews. C^.j the intercessions of the Jewish king Herod A^f< who informed the emperor of these otitrages, rtxa' thi Jews for a moment from the persccutiaa. ^^ quarrel soon broke out afresh, and even an e&la^ which the well-known Philo headed, resnhed ^ a Jews only in scorn ; their existence in Egypt »pf«^= to be at an end. At thb juncture CaUguU ^ec ;Ai 41), and the Jews breathed more fireely agaia is'f Claudius (see Joseph. Ant, xvi, 8, 1 ; espedallv I^ adv, Flaccum, in his Opp. ii, 617 sq. ; also vt^ e&r* or ad Catum, lb. p. 646 sq.). Their ri^ts and fired- were restored by a special ordinance of tiiis esfri" (Joseph. AfU. xi2c, 6,2). But under Nero (AD.N:. the old enmity between the Greeks and Jews is !!''■ andria again manifested itself; a great maisftcrr v< committed by the Roman military that bccsse =- volved, the Jews were greatly reduced ia ncaie^ and many came to beggary (Joseph. War^ ii, 18. 7 k To add to these misfortunes, their temple at Le>~r*' olis was at last shut up against them (Josefi. Wr vii, 103). See Egypt.
The Jews, however, for a long period (at tfee t? of PhOo, about a thousand years ; see his Opp. h. It' enjoyed great privileges in Egypt; indeed, not ^^•■ quently they were better off there than in Pkksti^ itself. No other colony could exhibit a tem^ c'j priesthood of their own. Alexandria contained an ^ al synagogues, one of which was very splendid (hiil Opp. ii, 665 ; Vitringa, De ayna^oga, p. 256). Tr^ :'| the five quitters of the city were occupt^ afaaost n] clusively by Jews (Philo, Opp, ii, 625), and these Bt'H up well-nigh one half the population (tB. p. 63). "H j religious connection with Palestine, howevo, w b ! on that account abandoned, since Alexandrians ht: •: peculiar synagogue in Jerusalem itself with Ae « r renians (Acts ix, 6) ; and the Egyptians, like tbf '> renian Jews, transmitted the yearly Temple-tax (FIZ Opp. ii, 668, 646 ; Joseph. Ani. xvi, 6, 1, 6 : qb tiie i- pendency of the priesthood at Leontopolis npoo ^ Jerusalem, see Joseph. Apian, i, 7 ; comp. Grw::^ De philotophia Saddncmorum, i, 6). The dbid* o&^ the Egyptian Jewish colonies was an etkmardk (^^ probably the highest judge of his people (Strabo is*