Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
this undertaking , tendered to Zerubabel proposals , of assistance , which were rejected , on the ground that the Edict of Cyrus extended only to the Jews ; and that therefore , as the Samaritans were not of the pure stock of Abraham , Isaac and Jacob , nor in the practice [ of relig ion according
to the law of Moses , their advances had more the nature of destruction than assistance ; for it could scarcely be supposed that a people who worshipped several strange gods in conjunction with JEHOVAH , could be sincere in their professions of aid towards the construction of an edifice dedicated to Jehovah alone . The Samaritans made this
refusal the pretext for opposition . The Edict was peremptory , - and ordained , amongst other things , that " such as shall presume to act in opposition to this ( my ) Royal Proclamation , shall be condemned to the loss of their lives , and the confiscation of their possessions * . " This decree , therefore , the Samaritans ^ new it would be dangerous to tamper
with , issuing from so powerful a monarch as Cyrus , and they had recourse to bribes and flattering promises to gain over to their interest the Commissioners whom Cyrus had appointed , to prevent any intervening obstacle arising from the jealousy or opposition of the neig hbouring tributaries , from defeating the execution of the work . These men ,
seduced by the artifices of the Samaritans , withheld their aid under plausible pretences ; and under the semblance of continued friendship , obstructed the undertaking by a tedious delay in furnishing the necessary succours . This conduct produced the intended effect ; and during the life of Cyrus the building proceeded no farther than the
foundations . Zerubabel , however , continued , with the assistance of Solomon's ancient allies , the Tyrians , to collect materials ; and procured , by the way of Joppa , a vast quantity of cedar wood from the forest of Lebanon .
On the death of Cyrus , the Samaritans , through the medium of Rehum the chancellor , and Shimshar the scribe , represented to his successor Cambyses the danger to which his government would be exposed by the restoration of the Jews , as it would effectually cut off his communication with Phoenicia and Coelo Syria . This princewho
, was influenced by first impressions , immediately issued orders to the governors of Samaria and Phoenicia to stop the progress of the building ; which , thus impeded by royal authority , remained in its present state nine years , until
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
this undertaking , tendered to Zerubabel proposals , of assistance , which were rejected , on the ground that the Edict of Cyrus extended only to the Jews ; and that therefore , as the Samaritans were not of the pure stock of Abraham , Isaac and Jacob , nor in the practice [ of relig ion according
to the law of Moses , their advances had more the nature of destruction than assistance ; for it could scarcely be supposed that a people who worshipped several strange gods in conjunction with JEHOVAH , could be sincere in their professions of aid towards the construction of an edifice dedicated to Jehovah alone . The Samaritans made this
refusal the pretext for opposition . The Edict was peremptory , - and ordained , amongst other things , that " such as shall presume to act in opposition to this ( my ) Royal Proclamation , shall be condemned to the loss of their lives , and the confiscation of their possessions * . " This decree , therefore , the Samaritans ^ new it would be dangerous to tamper
with , issuing from so powerful a monarch as Cyrus , and they had recourse to bribes and flattering promises to gain over to their interest the Commissioners whom Cyrus had appointed , to prevent any intervening obstacle arising from the jealousy or opposition of the neig hbouring tributaries , from defeating the execution of the work . These men ,
seduced by the artifices of the Samaritans , withheld their aid under plausible pretences ; and under the semblance of continued friendship , obstructed the undertaking by a tedious delay in furnishing the necessary succours . This conduct produced the intended effect ; and during the life of Cyrus the building proceeded no farther than the
foundations . Zerubabel , however , continued , with the assistance of Solomon's ancient allies , the Tyrians , to collect materials ; and procured , by the way of Joppa , a vast quantity of cedar wood from the forest of Lebanon .
On the death of Cyrus , the Samaritans , through the medium of Rehum the chancellor , and Shimshar the scribe , represented to his successor Cambyses the danger to which his government would be exposed by the restoration of the Jews , as it would effectually cut off his communication with Phoenicia and Coelo Syria . This princewho
, was influenced by first impressions , immediately issued orders to the governors of Samaria and Phoenicia to stop the progress of the building ; which , thus impeded by royal authority , remained in its present state nine years , until