The Political System

AT the time of the birth of Jesus Palestine had already long lost her political independence. Indeed, her geographical position gave her little hope of preserving it. In her corner of Asia she was the highway linking north and south, east and west. She had always been a small state, even in the days of her legendary splendour under David, and when, immediately after Solomon's death, she was split up into two kingdoms which were soon in a state of chronic hostility, it was inevitable that she should become the battlefield and the prey of her mighty neighbours. First Egypt and Assyria despoiled her, then Persia, then the Hellenized Lagids and Seleucids, and finally Rome. Not one of the upheavals which shook this part of the Orient passed her by, and none left her unscathed. Her history was a very tissue of calamities. I shall only recall here a few dates and facts to which reference will be made later. ¹