4. The collection of the so-called Psalms of Sohvion furnishes a strong confirmation of the belief that all the canonical Psalms are earlier than the Maccabivan a?ra. This collection, which bears the clearest traces of unity of authorship, is, almost beyond question, a true Jlacca- bsean work. There is every reason to believe (Ewald, GescMchte, iv, 343) that the book was originally com- posed in Hebrew ; and it presents exactly those charac- teristics which are wanting in the other (conjectural) Maccabtean Psalms. '• The holy ones" (p'l oaioi, C^^DO [see Assin.BANs] ; o'l (pojiovj.twoi top Ki'oioj') appear throughout as a distinct class, struggling against hypo- crites and men-pleasers, who make the observance of the law subservient to their own interests (Psa. Sol. iv, xiii-xv). The sanctuary is polluted by the abomina- tions of professing servants of God before it is polluted b}' the heathen (Psa. Sol. i, 8 ; ii, 1 sq. ; viii, 8 sq. ; xvii, 15 sq.). National unfaithfulness is the cause of national punishment; and the end of trial is the "justification" of God (Psa. Sol. ii, 1(5; iii, 3; iv, 9; viii, 7 sq. ; ix). On the other hand, there is a holiness of works set up in some passages which violates the divine mean of Scrip- ture (Psa. SoL i, 2, 3 ; iii, 9) ; and, while the language
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is full of echoes of the Old Testament, it is impossible not to fed that it wants something which we find in all t!ie canonical writings. The historical allusions in the I'salms of Solomon are as unequivocal as the description which they give of the state of the Jewish nation. An ciieniv " threw down the strong walls of Jerusalem," and " (ientiles went up to the altar" (Psa. Sol. ii, 1-3 ; comp. 1 Mace, i, 31). In his pride " he wrought all things in Jerusalem, as the Gentiles in their cities do for their gods" (Psa, Sol. xvii, 16). "Those who loved the as- semblies of the saints {avvayioyuQ (xriaii'), wandered (lege tTrXafuiiTo) in deserts" (Psa. Sol. xxvii, 19 ; comp. 1 JMacc. i, 54 ; ii, 28) ; and there " was no one in the midst of Jerusalem who did mercy and truth" (Psa. Sol. xvii, 17 ; comp. 1 Mace, i, 38). One psalm (viii) appears to refer to a somewhat later period. The people wrought wickedly, and God sent upon them a spirit of error. He brought one " from the extremity of the earth" (viii, 10; compare 1 Mace, vii, 1 — "Demetrius from Rome"). '• The princes of the land met him with joy" (1 Mace, vii, 5-8) ; and he entered the land in safety (1 Mace, vii, (1-12 — Bacchides, his general), " as a father in peace" (1 Mace. vii, 15). Then "he slew the princes and every one wise in counsel" (1 INIacc. vii, 16), and " poured out the blood of those who dwelt in Jerusalem" (1 Mace, vii, 17). The purport of these evils, as a retributive and purifying judgment, leads to the most remarkable feat- ure of tlie Psalms, the distinct expression of Messianic hopes. In this respect they offer a direct contrast to the books of Maccabees (1 Mace, xiv, 41). The sorrow and the triumph are seen together in their spiritual as- jject, and the expectation of " an anointed Lord" {xp'(T- TUQ KvptoQ, Psa. Sol. xvii, 36 [xviii, 8] ; comp. Luke ii, 11) follows directly after the description of the impious assaults of Gentile enemies (Psa. Sol. xvii ; comp. Dan. xi, 45; xii). "Blessed," it is said, "are they Avho are born in those days, to see the good things which the Lt)rd shall do for the generation to come. [When men are brought] beneath the rod of correction of an anoint- ed Lord (or the Lord's anointed, i'tto pajilov Traicdag Xpi(TTov Kvpiov) in the fear of his God, in wisdom of spirit, and of righteousness, and of might" .... then tiiere shall be a "good generation in the fear of God, in the days of mercy" (Psa. Sol. xviii, 6-10).
5. Elsewhere there is little which marks the distin- guishing religious character of the pera. The notice of the Maccabfean heroes in the book of Daniel is much more general and brief than the corresponding notice of their great adversary', but it is not, on that account, less important as illustrating the relation of the famous chapter to the simple history of the period which it em- braces. Nowhere is it more evident that facts are shad- owed fortli by the prophet only in their typical bearing on the development of God's kingdom. In this aspect the passage itself (Dan. xi, 29-35) will supersede in a great measure the necessity of a detailed comment : ''At the time iippainted [in the spring of B.C. 168] he [Anti- ochus Epiph.] shall return and come toicard the south [ Egypt] ; but it shall not be as the first time, so also the last time [though his first attempts shaU be successful, in the end he shall fail]. For the ships ofChittim [the Koinans] shall come against him, and he shall be cast down, and return, and be very vroth against the holy cov- enant; and he shall do [his will]; yea, he shall retuiii, and hare intelligence iritk them that forsake the holy cov- enant (compare Dan. viii, 24, 25). A nd forces from him [at his bidding] shall stand [remain in Judaea as garri- sons ; comp. 1 ]\Iacc. i, 33, 34] ; and they shall pollute the sanctuary, the stronghold, and shall take aivay the daily [sacrifice]; and they shall set vp the abomination that maketh desolate [1 Mace. 5,45-17]. And such as do vickedly against (or rather such as condemn')-the cove- nant sh(dlbe corrupt [to apostasy] by smooth words ; but the people thatkno7V their Godsh(dlbe strong and do [ex- ])loits]. And they that understand [know God and his law] anumg the people shall instruct many : yet they sh(dl fall by the sword and by Jlume, by cajitivity and by spoil