xxxvi, 11; Pausan. i, 42, 2). The splendid tombs of the kings also increased its splendor (Diod. Sic. i, 46). But when Memphis became the residence of the Egyp- tian kings Thebes began to decline, and later, bj' the invasion of Cambyses, lost forever its old magnificence. In Strabo's time the city was already in decaj'; but its remains were still eighty stadia, or nearly ten miles, in circuit, and the inhabited parts formed several consider- able villages. Indeed, its ruins are still extensive and splendid (Joilois, Devilliers, and Jomard, Descript. de V Egypt, with many plates, vols, ii, iii; F. Cailland, Voy- age a I'oasis de Thebes (Paris, 1821) ; G. Belzoni, Reis. !/. d. Schi-iftenverz. ; Heeren, Ideen, ii, 11, 216 sq. ; Man- nert, x, 1, 334 sq.; Ukert, Africa, i, 226 sq.; Ritter, Erdkunde, i, 1, 731 sq. [2d ed.] ; Wilkinson's View of An. Egypt, and Topography of Thebes [Lond. 1835] ; Pro- kesch, Erinner. i, 279 sq. ; Robinson, Researches, i, 29- 34). It is difficult to determine which overthrow of Thebes is referred to by Nahum (iii, 8). Most inter- preters refer the words to Shalmanezar (Salmanassar), of whom however nothing is known but that he made an incursion into the interior of Egypt (comp. Ditmar, Beschr. v. Aegp. p. 121 sq.). Rosenmliller {in loc.) ex- plains the passage as referring to Tartan, general under king Sargon, and the facts stated in Isa. vi agree well with this view (comp. Sviskind in Stud, iind Krit. 1835, p. 151 sq.; Gesen. 7'/(es.ii,835). But Gesenius {Hall. Lit.- Zeit. 1841, No. 1) remarks that an overthrow of Thebes by the Assyrians does not accord well with the context in Nahum, for, had the conqueror been an Assj'rian, the prophet could hardly have predicted the destruction of the Assyrian capital without making prominent the contrast between her situation as destroyer and as de- stroyed. He accordingly refers this passage to an in- vasion of the Scythians in the beginning of the 7th century before Christ. Ewald believes this destruction of Thebes to have been occasioned by the great inter- nal commotions of Egypt in the early part of the 7th century before Christ. — Winer, ii, 160. See Thebes.
Noachian Precepts (tii 133 niaia VZ-il), a name for the seven precepts which the rabbins allege (Talmud, Sanhedrin, 59 «) God gave to the sons of Noah (q. v.). The Noachian Precepts set forth the nat- ural rights of mankind, the observation of which alone was sufficient to save them. These precepts are : 1. De Judiciis. — Obedience is due to judges, magistrates, and princes. 2. De cultu extraneo. — The worship of false gods, superstition, and sacrilege are unlawful. 3. De maledictione nominis sanctissimi.—As also cursing the name of God, blasphemy, and perjurj'. 4. De re- velatione tnrpitudinum. — Likewise all incestuous copu- lation, as sodomy, bestiality, incest, etc. 5. De san- guinis effiisione. — Also the effusion of the blood of all sorts of animals. Murder, wounds, and mutilation. 6. De 1-apina. — Likewise theft, fraud, and lying. 7. De membro animuUs virentis. — The parts of animals still alive are not to be eaten, as was practiced by some pa- gans. Some rabbins add to these the following pre- cepts : 1. The prohibition of drawing out the blood of a living animal in order to drink it. 2. The prohibition of mutilating animals. 3. The prohibition of magic and sorcery. 4. The prohibition of coupling together ani- mals of a different species, and of grafting trees. This is what is found in authors concerning this matter; but what inclines us to doubt the antiquitj' of these pre- cepts is that no mention is made of them in Scripture, or in Josephus or Philo, and that none of the ancient fathers knew any of them. The Hebrews would not suf- fer any stranger to dwell in their country unless he would conform to the Noachian precepts. The foreigners who accepted and submitted to these conditions were denom- inated the Proselytes of the Gate (^"U; "^^.i), in con- tradistinction to the Proselytes of Righteousness ("^"15 pliJ). who entered into the community of Hebrew citi- zens by the solemn ceremonies of circumcision (H?'iJS),
NOADIAH
144
NOAH
baptism (fl^'^SIi), and a sacrifice Cj^'^p). Comp. Tal- niiul, >S(iii/ieiln'n, 06 a; Raslii on Ahoda Sara, 51 a; Maimonides, lad Ha-Chezaka, Ililchoth Mvlachim, ix, 1 ; Molaul, h-raelite Indeed, p. 5G ; Buxtorf, Lexicon Tal- viudicum cl Rahhinicum, s. v. "l5 ; Prideaux, Connection of the 0. and X. T. ii, 263 (Wheeler's ed. Lond. 18G3); Kaliseh, Historical and Critical Commentari/ on Genesis, p. 2 18 ; the same, On Exodus, p. 433 ; Lange, Commen- tari/ on Genesis, p. 331 (T. Lewis's transl.) ; Theologisches Universal- Lexikon, s. v. Noachische Gebote ; Schenkel, Bibel-Lexikon, s. v. Noah, iv, 341 ; Hamburger, Real- Enciiklopddiefur Bihel u. Talmud, i, 797 sq. (Breslaii, 1870).
Noadi'ah (Heb. Koadyah', tl^'l^'i!, met by Jeho- vah, from l^'i ; Sept. 'NujaSia v. r. Nwa^a), the name of two persons.
1. A Levite, the son of Binnui, who assisted Mere- moth and others in weighing the precious vessels of the Temple whicli Ezra brought back to Jerusalem (Ezra viii, 33). B.C. cir. 459,
2. A professed prophetess, who, in conjunction with the Samaritan enemies of the Jews, endeavored to ter- rify Nehemiah from the work of building the wall at Jerusalem (Neh. vi, 14). B.C. cir. 445.