7.02. Preface

Preface THIS book is primarily a continuous exposition of a very important scripture which briefly but very graphically depicts Israel’s present state among the nations, and looks on prophetically to God’s dealings with them in the future. The summary of Jewish history, which might almost stand by itself, and which some readers may perhaps regard as not the least valuable portion of the work, is included chiefly in order to confirm and elucidate the Scripture, and to show how truly the Word of God has been fulfilled in the history of this unique people. Of the importance of this subject, especially in these days of unsettlement and doubt, I need not here speak. Christians, as stated in the book itself, have reason to be thankful for the confirmation of Scripture, and for the light thrown on its pages by recent historical and monumental discoveries; but, after all, the most eloquent monument to the faithfulness of God and to the everlasting truth of His holy word is the JEW; and there is an inscription more striking and legible than any which can be found written on papyrus or graven on rock—an inscription nearly twenty centuries long, consisting of the history of the Jewish nation since their dispersion, written for the most part in their own blood, and which supplies more light upon, and confirmation of, God’s living oracles, than can be obtained from any other source except within the Bible itself. But this is not primarily an apologetic or argumentative book. Much rather have I sought, by God’s help, not only to point out the true solution of the enigma of the history of the nation to which I have the honor to belong, and which I love, not less, but more, since by the grace of God I have been led to recognise in Christ Israel’s true Shepherd and King; but I have tried also to keep before me the spiritual profit of my readers, whether Jews or Christians.

One or two further explanations are perhaps necessary. The summary of Jewish history among the Christian nations is derived from various standard Jewish and Christian sources, as indicated in the footnotes; but I must specially acknowledge my indebtedness to the recently-published Geschichte des Jüdischen Volkes seit der Zerstörung Jerusalems, by Professor F. Heman, of Basel, the most important and most impartial history of the Jewish people since the destruction of the second Temple which has yet appeared, and which, it is to be hoped, will before long be made accessible to English readers. In reference to this section of the book, some may remark that it presents only the tragic side of the story of this undying race. But though it is true that the life of Israel through the Middle Ages was not quite “an unbroken horror of carnage and rapine,” and that “there were spells of respite, some of them fairly long, during which the Jews were permitted to live and grow fat”; these sabbaths of rest, as the same writer truly proceeds to state, “can be likened not inaptly to the periods during which a prudent husbandman suffers his land to lie fallow, in the hope of a richer harvest. They are only intervals between the acts of a tedious and bloody tragedy, and a continent for its stage, and seven centuries for its night.” The other elements which go to make up Jewish history since the dispersion—the development of the Rabbinic system and its effects on Jewish character—the social life, and manners and customs of the Jews, of which the synagogue might be said to be the emblem and centre—concerns more inner Judaism; and, though an acquaintance with them is of importance to the student and specialist, they are not of equal interest to the general reader. It would, moreover, be outside the scope of this modest work to enter into these details. For the same reason I have omitted all reference to that part of the Jewish nation whose lot has been cast among Mohammedan and heathen peoples; not only because they have for many centuries formed a very inconsiderable minority of the Diaspora, as compared with the masses of their brethren in Christendom, but because they have placed no special rôle in the world’s history, nor have they in any perceptible degree influenced the destiny of the peoples among whom they lived. If the physical suffering which they endured has been less intense than that to which Israel has been subject in Europe, the scorn and contempt to which they were with few exceptions exposed, from races much inferior to themselves, has been if anything greater, and, intellectually and morally, they are on a lower grade than their brethren who are scattered in European countries. For the copying and translation of longer and shorter passages from German sources, as well as in sifting the facts in the historic summary generally, I am indebted to the able and diligent pen of my dear wife, who has so truly been a fellow-worker with me for the Kingdom of God these past twenty-seven years.

Finally, I would beg my reader to note, in reference to the Scriptures dealt with, that while the whole psalm which forms the basis of my subject, and which stands at the commencement, has been copied from the Revised Version, in the exposition itself I have not been bound to any translation, but have had the Hebrew text before me.

It is the prayer of my heart that at least in some little way these pages may conduce to the glory of the great Shepherd of Israel and to the blessing of His long-scattered and suffering flock, concerning which He has still wonderful purposes of grace, and thoughts of salvation.

DAVID BARON.