MESSIAHS, False. Jesus warned his disciples that false Christs should arise (Matt, xxiv, 24), and the event has verified the prediction. No less than twenty- four such impostors have been enumerated as having appeared in different places and at different times; and even this does not exhaust the list. One by the name of Simeon was the first of any note who made a noise in the world. Being dissatisfied with the state of things under Hadrian, he set himself up as the head of the Jew- ish nation, and proclaimed himself their long-expect*d jVIessiah. He was one of those banditti that infested Jud^a, and committed all kinds of violence against the Romans ; and had become so powerful that he was chos- en king of the Jews, and bA' them acknowledged their Messiah. However, to facilitate the success of this bold enterprise, he assumed the name of Bar-Cocheba (q. v.), alluding to the star foretold by Balaam; for he pre- tended to be the star sent by lieaven to restore his na- tion to its ancient liberty and glory. This epithet was changed by his enemies into that of Bar-Cozeba, i. e. son of a lie. He chose a forerimner, raised an army, was anointed king, coined money inscribed with his own name, and proclaimed himself Messiah and prince
MESSIAH
14!
MESSIAH
of the Jewish nation. Hadrian raised an army, and sent it against liim : he retired into a town called Bither, ■where he was besieged. Bar-Cocheba seems to have been killed in the siege, the city was taken, and a dread- ful havoc succeeded. The Jews themselves allow that during this short war against the Komans in defence of this false Messiah they lost five or six hundred thousand souls. This was in the tirst half of the 2d century. In the reign of Theodosius the Younger, A.D. 434, another im- jiostor arose, called Moses Cretensis. He pretended to be a second Moses, sent to deliver the Jews who dwelt in Crete, and promised to divide the sea and give them a safe passage through it. Their delusion jiroved so strong and iniiversal that they neglected their lands, houses, and other concerns, and took only so much with them as they could conveniently carry. On the day appointed, this false Moses, having led them to the top of a rock, men, women, and children threw them- selves headlong down into the sea, without the least hesitation or reluctance, till so great a number of them were drowned as to open the eyes of the rest, and make them sensible of the cheat. They then began to look for their pretended leader, but he had disappeared, and escaped out of their hands.
In the reign of Justin, about A.D. 520, another im- postor appeared, who called himself the son of Moses. His name was Dunaan, He entered into a city of Ara- bia Felix, and there he greatlj- oppressed the Christians ; but he was taken prisoner and put to death by Elesban, an Ethiopian general. The Jews and Samaritans re- belled against the emperor Justinian, A.D. 529, and set up one Julian for their king, and accounted him the Messiah. The emperor sent an army against them, killed great numbers of them, took their pretended Mes- siah prisoner, and immediately put him to death. In the time of Leo the Isaurian, about A.D. 721, arose an- other false Messiah in Spain: his name was Serentis. He drew great numbers after him, to their no small loss and disappointment; but all his pretensions came to nothing.
The 12th century was particularly fruitful in pro- ducing Messiahs. About 1137 there appeared one in France, who was put to death, and numbers of those who followed him. In A.D. 1 138 the Persians were dis- turijed with a Jew who called liimsclf the IMessiah. He ((lUccted a vast army; but he, too, was put to death, aiKl Ills followers were treated with great inhumanity. A I'lilse .Messiah stirred up the Jews at Cordova, in Spain, A.D. 1157. The wiser and better part looked upon him as a madman, but the great body of the Jewish na- tion l)elievc(l in him. On this occasion nearly all the .lews in Spain were destroyed. Another false Messiah who arose in the kingdom of Fez, A.D. 11()7, under the name of JJcivid Ahui (Alroy), brought great troubles and persecutions upon the Jews that were scattered throughout tliat country. Disraeli has taken this his- torical event as the jilot of his A Iroy. In the same j-ear an Arabian professed to be the Messiah, and pretended to work miracles. When search was made for him, his followers tied, and he was brought before the Arabian king. Being questioned by him, he replied that he was a |)rophet sent from God. The king then asked him what sign he could show to confirm his mission. " Cut off my head," said he, "and I will return to life again." The king took him at his word, promising to believe him if his prediction was accomplished. The pot)r wretch, however, never came to life again, and the cheat was sulKeiently discovered. Those who had been deluded by him were grievously punished, and the nation was condemned to a very heavy line. Not long after this, a Jew who dwelt beyond the Euphrates called himself the Messiah, and drew vast multitudes of jieoplc about him. He gave this for a sign of it, that he had been leprous, and had been cured in the course of one night. He, like tlie rest, perished, and brought great persecution on his countrymen. A magician and false Christ arose in Per- sia, A.D. 1171, who seduced many of the common peo-