PATRIARCHS, or Fathers of Families; such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their sons.

      Judges, Temporary Supreme Governors, immediately appointed by God over the children of Israel.

      Kings, Supreme Governors, either of the whole nation, or, after the falling off of the ten tribes, of Judah, and of Israel.

      Elders, Senators, the LXX, or Sanhedrim.

      Officers, Provosts, Sheriffs, or Executioners.

      Judges, Inferior Rulers, such as determined controversies in particular cities.

      Israelites, Hebrews, descendants from Jacob.

      A Hebrew of Hebrews, an Israelite by original extraction.

      A Proselyte of the Covenant, who was circumcised, and submitted to the whole law.

      A Proselyte of the Gate, or Stranger, who worshipped one God, but remained uncircumcised. There is much doubt entertained by many learned men, whether there was a distinct class of proselytes known by the designation of "Proselytes at the Gate."

      Tirshatha, or Governor appointed by the kings of Assyria or Persia.

      Heads of the Captivity, the chief of each tribe or family, who exercised a precarious government during the Captivity.

      Maccabees, the Successors of Judas Maccabeus, high priests, who presided with kingly power.

      Presidents, Governors sent from Rome with imperial power.

      Tetrarchs, Governors of a fourth part of a kingdom, or those who exercised kingly power in four provinces.

      Proconsuls, Deputies of provinces.

      Publicans, Tax-gatherers.

      Centurions, Captains of one hundred men. [23]

      High Priest, who only might enter the Holy of Holies.

      Second Priest, or Sagan, who supplied the high priest's office, in case he were disabled.

      High Priest of the War, set apart for the occasion of an expedition.

      Priests, Levites of the sons of Aaron, divided into twenty-four ranks, each rank serving weekly in the temple.

      Levites, of the tribe of Levi, but not of Aaron's family; of these were three orders, Gershonites, Kohathites, Merarites, several sons of Levi.

      Nethinims, inferior servants to the Priests and Levites, (not of their tribes) to draw water and cleave wood, &c.

      Prophets, anciently called Seers, who foretold future events, and denounced God's judgments.

      Children of the Prophets, their disciples or scholars.

      Wise men, called so in imitation of the eastern Magi, or Gentile Philosophers.

      Scribes, writers and expounders of the law.

      Disputers, who raised and determined questions out of the law.

      Rabbies, or Doctors, Teachers of Israel.

      Libertines, freed men of Rome, who, being Jews or proselytes, had a synagogue or oratory for themselves.

      Gaulonites, or Galileans, who pretended it unlawful to obey a heathen magistrate.

      Herodians, who shaped their religion to the times, and particularly flattered Herod.

      Epicureans, who placed all happiness in pleasure.

      Stoics, who denied the liberty of the will, and pretended all events were determined by fatal necessity.

      Nicolaitans, the disciples of Nicolas of Antioch, who is said to have held and taught the doctrine of community of wives, and to have made no difference between common meats and those offered to idols.

      Nazarites, who, under a vow, abstain from wine.

      Nazarenes, Jews professing Christianity.

      Zelots, Sicarii, or murderers, who, under pretence of the law, thought themselves authorized to commit any outrage.

      Pharisees, a famous sect of the Jews, who, distinguished themselves by their zeal for the tradition of the elders, which they derived from the same fountain with the word itself; pretending that both were delivered to Moses from Mount Sinai, and were therefore, both of equal authority. From their rigorous observance of these traditions, they looked upon themselves as more holy than other men; and, therefore, separated themselves from those whom they thought sinners, or profane, so as not to eat or drink with them; and hence, from the Hebrew word pharis, which signifies to separate, they had the name of Pharisees, or Separatists.
      This sect was one of the most ancient and most considerable among the Jews, but its original is not very well known; however, it was in great repute at the time of our Saviour, and most probably had its origins at the same time with the traditions.
      The Pharisees, contrary to the opinions of the Sadducees, held a resurrection from the dead, and the existence of angels and spirits.

      Sadducees, a famous sect among the Jews; so called, it is said, from their founder, Sadoc. It began in the time of Antigonus, of Socho, president of the Sanhedrim at Jerusalem and teacher of the law in the principal school of that city. Antigonus having often, in his lectures, inculcated to his scholars that they ought not to serve God in a servile manner, but only out of filial love and fear, two of his scholars, Sadoc and Baithus, thence inferred that there was no rewards at all after this life; and, therefore, separating from the school of their master, they taught there was no resurrection nor future state, neither angel, [24] nor spirit, Matt. xxii. 23. Acts xxiii. 8. They seem to agree greatly with the Epicureans; differing, however, in this, that though they denied a future state, they allowed the power of God to create the world; whereas the followers of Epicurus denied it. It is said, also, that they rejected the Bible, except the Pentateuch; denied predestination; and taught that God had made man absolute master of all his actions, without assistance to good, or restraint from evil.

      Samaritans, an ancient sect among the Jews, whose origin was in the time of King Rehoboam, under whose reign the people of Israel were divided into two distinct kingdoms, that of Judah, and that of Israel. The capital of the kingdom of Israel was Samaria, whence the Israelites took the name of Samaritans. Shalmanezer, King of Assyria, having besieged and taken Samaria, carried away all the people captives into the remotest parts of his own dominions, and filled their places with Babylonians, Cutheans, and other idolaters. These, finding they were exposed to wild beasts, desired that an Israelitish priest might be sent among them, to instruct them in the ancient religion and customs of the land they inhabited. This being granted them, they were delivered from the plague of wild beasts, and embraced the law of Moses, with which they mixed a great part of their ancient idolatry. Upon the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, it appears that they had entirely quitted the worship of their idols. But though they were united in religion, they were not so in affection with the Jews; for they employed various calumnies and stratagems to hinder their rebuilding the temple of Jerusalem; and when they could not prevail, they erected a temple on Mount Gerizim, in opposition to that of Jerusalem. [See 2d Kings xvii. Ezra iv, v, vi.] The Samaritans at present are few in number, but pretend to great strictness in their observation of the law of Moses. They are said to be scattered; some at Damascus, some at Gaza, and some at Grand Cairo in Egypt.

[TLO4 23-25]